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Ford Skyliner Retractable 1959 — an American full-size automobile, the culmination of a three-year production run (1957–1959) and the world’s first truly mass-produced model with a folding metal top. The model is remarkable for its incredibly complex electromechanical mechanism for the late 1950s, which retracted the hardtop into the trunk, allowing it to transform from a closed coupe into a convertible in approximately 40 seconds.
The development of the folding top originally began for the luxurious Continental Mark II, but due to the high cost, the project was reworked for the Ford brand. Engineers Ben Smith and Jim Holloway created a complex mechanism that utilized six reversing electric motors, solenoids, and nearly 185 meters of wiring on the 1959 model. Production took place at Ford plants in the United States. The 1959 model was officially named the Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner and was the last in the line—only 12,915 units were produced that year.
Technical Specifications of the Ford Skyliner Retractable: Engine: V8, with several options available: a base 292 cubic inch (4.8 L) engine producing 200 hp, as well as optional 332 cubic inch (5.4 L) and 352 cubic inch (5.8 L) engines producing up to 300 hp.
Transmission: 3-speed automatic Cruise-O-Matic.
Drive: Rear-wheel drive (RWD).
Brakes: Drum brakes.
Body: Steel, 2-door retractable hardtop.
The Skyliner became remembered as a bold engineering experiment and a symbol of American automotive enthusiasm from the late 1950s. Despite relatively low sales due to its complexity, pricing, and virtually no trunk space when the roof was folded down, the Skyliner earned respect as a technological masterpiece. Today, it is a coveted collector’s car, a frequent guest at classic car shows such as the Ford National Show, where restored examples receive top awards.
