The retractable top introduced by Ford in the late ’50s was supposed to breathe new life into the company’s full-size lineup, but this new system, which debuted on Porsche models approximately two decades earlier, failed to become a game changer.
Ford sold 20,766 units in 1957 when it launched the Fairlane 500 Skyliner, followed by 14,713 units a year later. In 1959, the last year when the Skyliner was offered as part of this generation, sales dropped to 12,900 units.
One of these Fairlane 500 examples with a retractable top landed on Craigslist in December, trying its luck at finding a new owner and possibly receiving a complete overhaul.
I’ll start with the worst part and tell you the tidbit that could make many people walk away. The vehicle has been sleeping under the clear sky for years, and if you’re a restorer, you can already figure out where this is going. The car likely exhibits plenty of rust, especially on the undersides, though the couple of photos shared by the seller reveal almost nothing about the vehicle.
The Skyliner stays in one piece, but the body looks like it needs some metalwork, so the best way to determine its shape is to go and inspect it thoroughly in person. Additionally, you should also put it on a lift and check out the undercarriage, as I expect rough floors.
The vehicle retains the two-door paint in some body parts, but someone attempting a complete restoration should also add a full respray to their to-do list.
The engine under the hood is a V8, but the seller didn’t share more specifics.
The engine lineup on the 1959 Skyliner included a 292 and a 332, while the top-of-the-range mill was the almighty 352 with 30 horsepower. The 352 was supposed to compete with Chevrolet’s 348, also available on full-size models like the Impala.
I wouldn’t expect the V8 on this Skyliner to start and run, but a good mechanic should be able to tell more about its condition by simply opening the hood. It’s also unclear if the V8 is original to the car.
The owner promises “lots of great parts,” but it’s impossible to tell if the Skyliner remains original and whether you can restore it to factory specifications without spending too much time searching for parts online.
The selling price makes sense for a Skyliner this old and in such a challenging shape. The owner is willing to let it go for $2,500, with the car selling with a bill of sale. You can find it parked in the same place, looking at the stars, in Mankato, and you’ll need a trailer to take the car and the extra parts back home.