Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner
The Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner is a two-door full-size retractable hardtop convertible, manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company for model years 1957–1959. However, early into the 1959 model year, its name was expanded to Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner. The retracting roof system was marketed as the Hide-Away Hardtop, and was exclusively sold on this Ford-branded model, for three model years.
- See also Ford Crestline Skyliner for the 1954 Ford and Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria Skyliner for the 1955–1956 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria, both with an acrylic glass roof panel.
| Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ford |
| Also called | Ford Galaxie (500) Skyliner Ford Retractable |
| Production | 1957–1959 48,394 produced |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size car |
| Body style | 2-door retractable hardtop |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 118 in (2997.2 mm) |
| Length | 210.8 in (5354.32 mm) |
| Height | 56.3 in (1430.02 mm) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria Skyliner |
Ford's 1957 Skyliner was the world's first retracting hardtop convertible to be truly mass-produced by a car company from the factory, coming close to 50,000 sales. Earlier, French car-maker Peugeot had offered several such models in the 1930s, with the help of a coachbuilding company, which sold only in very limited numbers. It also marked the first time the hard roof featured a folding (front) section, to retract and fit inside the car's trunk.