What was the first Ford hardtop convertible?

The First Ford Hardtop Convertible
The first Ford hardtop convertible was the 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner. It was the world’s first retracting hardtop convertible to be truly mass-produced by a car company from the factory, with close to 50,000 sales. This model marked the first time the hard roof featured a folding (front) section, which could retract and fit inside the car’s trunk. The retractable hardtop mechanism was a carefully choreographed system that included 610 feet of wiring, 10 solenoids, and seven high-torque electric motors, capable of raising or lowering the large hardtop roof in an astounding 25 seconds. Ford Motor Company introduced the Skyliner as the world’s only Hide-Away Hardtop, which could vanish into the rear deck at the touch of a button, converting the car from a closed hardtop to an open-air vehicle within 48-50 seconds.
This innovative model represented the beginning of a new era in automotive designs, offering great styling and innovative engineering. The 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner was a significant milestone in the history of hardtop convertibles, setting the standard for future models and influencing the development of retractable hardtop technology in the automotive industry.

What is the most rare Ford?

Only 12 GT40 roadster prototypes were built. As one of the finest and rarest examples of Ford’s iconic racing history, the 1965 GT40 Roadster Prototype commanded a staggering $7.6 million at an auction in 2019.

What year did Ford make a hardtop convertible?

Over fifty years ago, in mid-model year 1957, Ford introduced the first ever large-scale production of a hardtop convertible, the Fairlane 500 Skyliner.

How much is a 57 Ford Skyliner worth?

Q: What is the average sale price of a Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner / Galaxie Skyliner? A: The average price of a Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner / Galaxie Skyliner is $43,926.

What year were convertibles outlawed?

Convertibles were never banned but you may noticed it from the mid 70s until about the middle 80s there were no convertibles and that is because of rollover protection standards which had been adopted which could not be met by convertibles at the time.

What was the first hardtop convertible?

1935 Peugeot 402 Eclipse Decapotable
The earliest known car with a hardtop folding roof was the 1935 Peugeot 402 Eclipse Decapotable. Since then, there have been many manufacturers who have had commercial success with convertibles.

How many Ford retractable hardtops were made?

48,394 retractable hardtops
In all, Ford produced 48,394 retractable hardtops. Its proper name is the Skyliner, which is often confused with the similar-sounding Sunliner name of the regular convertible model.

How many years did Ford make a retractable hardtop?

three years
For three. years, from 1957 to 1959, Ford produced this unique. convertible with a steel top that folded into the trunk.

What is the rarest convertible car?

Car Scooping – The Rarest Convertibles in the World from around the World

• 00s ALPINA Roadster S, 1 of 305 built:
• Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster in rare tan on black color combo:
• Black on black Ferrari 355 GTS Spyder:
• Aston Martin DBS Convertible – E P I C:
• Two (2x!) 300SL Roadsters in mint condition:

How much did a 1957 Ford Skyliner cost new?

Even though the base price of $2,942 made it the most expensive Ford for 1957, most Skyliners were ordered with plenty of options. The automatic was far more prevalent than the stick-shift.

Did Chevy make a hardtop convertible?

Chevrolet was the first low-priced make to bring out a hardtop, the swank-trimmed 1950 Bel Air. See more classic car pictures. The 1950-1952 Chevrolet Bel Air was one of the first affordable hardtop convertibles, but the hardtop concept was not new.