1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner (actual retractable top demo)

[SneakyGuy55]

I bought this same model car in 1963. It was my very first car. If memory serves me (it's been almost 50 years ago) the "upper" color of my car was white and the "lower" color was the same as the car in this video. I loved it. The top only gave me trouble one time but I pushed the button again and it worked. It always got a lot of looks when I put the top up or down. I love it that I can see something on a "device" called a computer that shows my first car almost 50 year after I bought it.

[RedWolf3487]

I'll save up $5000+ and go back in time to get this car!

[MrNismoSR20]

Man, can you imagine the feelings and looks people had on their faces when they first saw this in 57'? Awesome. Just awesome.

[Benzfever]

What a beautiful piece of engineering... 1957 before all was electronically controlled on car.

[crazychiliquaker1959]

Where do you put your luggage when the top is down???

[jims59DOTcom]

@crazychiliquaker1959 There is a light gray color square metal box visible there in the center of the trunk. All items were stored inside that area when the top was down. In fact Ford made some special luggage sets that fit into that area perfectly. These are prized collectors items for retractable owners. Thank you for watching.

[born2soon]

@jims59DOTcom A neighbor kid had one of these in the early sixties. I remember looking in the trunk and seeing a long row of solenoids, like 27 or 28. He said if one didn't work, the whole thing didn't work. Is that right?

[jims59DOTcom]

@born2soon I can't answer your question, it's not my car. Thank you for watching my video.

[charlestonchewy]

I like how he's playing with this classic as if it was a transformer, lol.

[IFreakingEatPeople]

we had one that was fully restored for a while

[DaBeastFoYoFlo]

@IFreakingEatPeople Wow!! That's nice, they're so rare today!!

[mustangmooney21]

This is one of Ford's "Better Ideas"! Beautiful!!!!

[jims59DOTcom]

50,000 views! Thank you for watching :)

[itsmegp46]

I recently showed this vid to a cousin of mine. He's spent most of his life in Europe and he's now 50. I asked him who was the first car maker to engineer a hardtop convertible. He replied, probably Mercedes Benz or Audo. When he saw this video he just flipped out. He said, it must be a customized car, no car American car from 50 years ago could possibly do that. Imagine.

[tomasmalin]

@itsmegp46 European Peugeot 401 Eclipse is the first hardtop convertible in the world with electric roof.

[theridoux]

azt a húúúú. na ezzel már lehet csajozni!

[KenMacMillan]

After all these years it still draws a crowd.

[mainstreetprod]

For those who wonder about the reliability of the mechanism - I had a red and white 57, previously had been sitting at a repair shop for months, needed restoration. A couple of days of tinkering with the switches and relays and I had the top working. The system was very reliable.

[dirtyshit450]

superbe caisse, très belle

[jwandhistools]

That is just way cool! When these cars were new, I am curious how long the retract mechanism held up? My mom once said this was here dream car. I can see why...

[TL250Rider]

The beloved Skyliner

[blizzfool]

wow that must have been so high tech

[raconter1]

Awesome video! Amazing how close the folding roof and the back deck approach one another...a great demonstration of Ford engineering! :) Jack

[sealerdave]

Why are you looking behind you ? is your red light not working on the dash ?

Just kiddin very nice I have a 57 also...

[jims59DOTcom]

I shot the video, I don't even know who owns the car. The kid is probably looking behind because that is Dad giving instructions standing back there at the rear of the car. Thank you for watching. Im happy for you that you own one also.. Congratulations.

[T444ENavistar]

best car ever built

[jims59DOTcom]

30,000 Views. Thank you for watching.

[instepfarms]

I bought one of these when i was 15. 1990. I paid 400 dollars for it and never done anything with it. Sold it for scrap and got a hundred bucks. I didnt know until years later what i had.

[bodyvegas]

That is a gorgeous car! I heard it uses a series of 7 motors to raise and lower the top. The motors supposedly are sealed and need no further lubrication. Not sure about 50 years later though. Awesome car though.

[psychopathtoine]

there is a ford galaxy fairlane '59 for sale in my country, only 4899 euro, wish i had the money :'(

[starconduky]

What a beautifoul car.......

[scac415]

My grandpa has 5 skyliners. They are some very nice cars

[jims59DOTcom]

Your Grandfather is a very fortunate guy! Thank you for watching my video.

[s30zman]

5 wow got any vids ?

[RobDog65]

Thanks for posting, Jim. The '57 is one of the most beautiful big Fords ever built, IMO.

[jims59DOTcom]

Thank you for watching. Yes, they are gorgeous. My personal favorite is the '59 Galaxie.

[bagelboi66]

These are so amazing. I read somewhere many years ago, possibly Road & Track, that the top mechanism was so over-engineered that it was often the most reliable part of the car. And to think they did all this without computers. Great video, an enthusiastic 5 stars, and that's from a GM guy!

[jims59DOTcom]

Thank you for watching, thank you for the compliment, and thank you for your rating. I'm a GM guy also.

[jims59DOTcom]

It's June 2009 and I'm closing-in on 20,000 views. A superb clear and crisp October day it was when I shot this video back in 2007. The car was positioned well, the music in the background was superb, unique commentary by the enthusiastic guy standing next to me, and my excellent position on the courthouse steps with a nice down angle view. Thanks to all of you for the kind compliments, as well as the experts who have commented about the specific features of these wonderful automobiles.

[Curabichera]

There is no doubt that he guys that designed this mechanism where some kind of artists... Amazing video. Thank for shearing!

[Lynque]

"Like many things of the past, they do not meet the criteria of the present."

Well, I trust you of the present might later cherish today's criteria as we of the past do ours.

[rider660r]

they will never build a car of this quality/craftsmanship ever again!

[abmackay]

So if the hardtop was stowed, you couldn't get to your luggage? No offense to the enthusiasts, but this design reminds me of those Lego models I designed around a specific feature as a kid... they always looked kind of bulky and odd (like this thing's back end).

[jims59DOTcom]

Yes, your observation is correct. In fact that box in the center of the trunk was the only place items could be stored if the top were to be put down. (To prevent interference with the mechanism) Ford offered optional custom-fit luggage for these cars. Like many things of the past, they do not meet the criteria of the present. Lexus, Pontiac, BMW and others now make retractables quite similar to this design. I wonder how they deal with this space issue?

[YOURGODISNOWHERE]

The SL550 Mercedes operates on the same principle. The difference is that the fron part of the top folds down to make a "U" shape.

[bobby22863]

I have a Pontiac G6 that is a hard top convertible, and when the top is down, there is NO trunk room. You just have to use the back seat.

[chadn70]

Saaaaweet

[sealerdave]

Yes but only took Mercedes 50 years to figure it out ! I have a 57 model best car I ever drove.What engineers back then 650 ft of wiring 6 relays,electric motors and limit switches all have to kick in just right. etc to work this NON hydrolic top.

[charlie8575]

The mechanical parts were amoritized on the 1961-67 Lincoln Continental convertibles and 1958-66 Thunderbird convertibles, as their systems were all derived from the Skyliner. I remember seeing one in operation at the Summer Nationals in Worcester, Ma in 1997. All I could say was...COOL! It also shows how little there is that's truly "new," with the hardtop convertible being all the rage...only none of them will ever match the style of the 57-59 Fords. Thanks for putting this one up.

[jims59DOTcom]

You are welcome, thank you for watching my all-time most popular video!

[aussieracers]

I stumbled accross one of these (1957 model)in the car park at my local beach here in Sydney Australia. Had my camera gear on me, took a couple of pix and am in the process of writting a small story about the car for the local paper - gotta love the net. thanks for posting the video of such a facinating car.

[arvekvalvik]

Gotta love that!

[troypix]

This was the first car I bought after graduation from college. How neat it was! The one shown is almost the color of mine. How I wish I had it now! I will definitely add this to my 'Favorites'...

[sealerdave]

Nice Jim, I have a restored 57 So CA Club, thanks for posting so more people can see this unique auto

[jims59DOTcom]

Thank you for the compliment, thank you for watching.

[66Lincoupe]

The mechanism and actuation circuits are so Rube Goldberg... I LOVE it. '57 is my favorite year, too. It's amazing to me the complexity involved. I rebuilt my 1966 convertible and can appreciate the engineering.

[worthyprofile]

"There's no doubt about it"

[jims59DOTcom]

This YouTube web page is for the enjoyment of automobile enthusiasts. It is not a message board for verbal abuse, obnoxious opinion, derogatory comments or vulgarity. Users wishing to do so are invited to go elsewhere. Inappropriate posts will be deleted and blocked. Thank you to all who use this website for the purposes intended.

Best regards to fellow hobbyists, Jim

[firehorse57]

Nice car!! Take good care of it because it's really really nice and important.

[genoteleno]

what a wonderful example of American engineering that was once the envy of the world. What's happened to the intellect of the American car industry, these days?!

[trezbongez]

The best car ever

Nice bit of Shangri-las in the background too!

[raconter1]

Very nice demonstration. From what I understand, Ford offered this on their regular Fords to help offset the cost of research and development for the mechanism in the Lincolns with the folding convertible tops that dropped into the rear compartment.

:) Jack

[PilotFace]

Yes I am buying one at this time and am enthralled with the whole fifties fins theme that care caries. I love the top, it really demonstrated the American spirit of the future. Sending satellites in space and a coupe that can shed its top, that's the America I want to remember. This is going with my collection of convertibles, 67 Continental and 69 old 98.

[jims59DOTcom]

Many people are really interested in preserving Americana. The FORD retractable is an American Cultural Icon! I have been fascinated by the retractable since I first viewed one in my youth. A fellow across the street had a black 1959 model. I can remember looking out the window and watching the top go through the articulation and disappear into the trunk.

[jims59DOTcom]

These cars have several electrical motors with screw drives that pull the parts down into locked positions. Really a mechanical marvel for sure. If you watch closely in the video, you can see that I show the trunk deck lid being pulled down by the little screw-drive motors. The Lincoln Continental convertibles had similar devices. Thank you for viewing my video. See more vintage car videos on my You-Tube page.

[ibrakefordogs15]

i love this car i hope u take good care of it its a nice car and from the 50's its awsum !!!