Ford Retractable Roof

1959 ford skyliner jim odonnell talk about being ahead of the curve ford with its hide away hardtop was pretty much standing alone with the 1957 introduction of its retractable steel top skyliner convertible.

Ford retractable roof. Bill boyer s styling team had to stretch the tail of the standard fairlane convertible about 3 inches 76 mm and raise the rear deck to allow enough room for the stowed top. To promote the preservation and restoration of this unique automobile with its complex yet reliable roof mechanism. The benefits of improved climate control and security are traded off against increased mechanical complexity cost weight and often reduced luggage capacity. If you want to transform a space for your guests you have come to the right place.

The retractable roof mechanism also known as hide away hardtop was unique to ford branded products and was. Could it be a power retractable soft top. In 1971 john bobo of dayton oh founded the international ford retractable club. In 1959 the model name changed to ford galaxie skyliner very shortly after production of the 1959 models had started.

Read about the unique traits of this collectible car. A retractable hardtop also known as coupé convertible or coupé cabriolet is a car with an automatically operated self storing hardtop as opposed to the folding textile based roof used by traditional convertible cars. And to further the interest in the 1957 1958 and 1959 skyliner retractable hardtop as produced by ford motor company. Reluctant to write off the 2 2 million development cost for a retractable roof concept car incurred in 1948 manager of fords advanced styling studio gil spear created a two dimensional cardboard model of a retractable hardtop.

The 1957 1959 ford fairlane 500 skyliner was the world s first retractable hardtop convertible. The ford fairlane 500 skyliner is a two door full size car with a retractable hardtop that was produced by ford motor company for the model years 1957 to 1959. If you want to be open year round yet offer customers both an indoor and outdoor experience a retractable roof is the answer you need. The fairlane s stowaway steel roof made it a dream car for the masses.

The 1957 ford had not been designed with the retractable roof in mind and adapting it was a challenge requiring many unique components. The club s goals are.