Lot 20
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner
OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

352 cid V-8 engine, 300 HP, Cruise-o-matic automatic transmission, front independent A-arms with coil spring suspension, rear semi-elliptic leaf springs, four-wheel power drum brakes; wheelbase: 118”


No American product in the ‘50s better captured the decade’s passionate obsession with technology than the Skyliner. From 1957 to 1959, the Ford Skyliner was the only true hardtop convertible available in the U.S. In 1959, Ford changed the name to Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner, a nod to both the new Galaxie model and their current top trim level Fairlane 500. It’s confusing, as the cars wear badging for both and, as it turned out, the 1959 retractable-hardtop Skyliner – as it was known - was the most expensive Ford produced that year at $3,346. Due to the engineering and installation of the complex top mechanism, these cars were completed only during the first eight weeks of production and required significant skills and craftsmanship to execute. Likewise, nicely restored Skyliners, such as this one, have well-serviced top mechanisms done by marque experts, with records provided with the purchase of this car to show their work.

This 1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner was completed in late 1958 at Ford’s Dearborn, Michigan plant. The car was restored with the correct black paint that it left the factory with and it retains a very nice tri-tone green soft-textured pleated vinyl interior. The car is powered by a clean and correct 300-horsepower, 352-cubic-inch V-8 engine that it shared with the Thunderbird, backed by a Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission, with power distributed through a 2.69:1 rear end. It features 9.6:1 compression ratio, four-barrel carburetor, and hydraulic lifters, and this example has been upgraded with front disc brakes, 15” wheels, and modern radial tires. Exterior features include dual sideview mirrors, dual exhaust, and very nice paint and trim. Power equipment on the car includes the power hardtop mechanism, brakes, steering, and factory air-conditioning, making this a very versatile and comfortable six-passenger vehicle.

This is a lovely example of a significant model in modern Ford history, and if you’ve ever seen one operate, you know it’s the one car guaranteed to draw a crowd whenever you lower or raise the top. For sheer car show drama, nothing beats this mechanical dance!