LOVEfords - Disappearing Top Body Styles

1958-1967 Ford and Lincoln "Disappearing Top"

Convertible and Retractable Hardtop Comparison Chart

The cars in this chart use hydraulic and electro-mechanical equipment to lower and raise their steel or fabric roof. On each car, the trunk is hinged at the rear. To lower the top mechanism, the trunk opens automatically and the top "disappears" into the trunk, completely out of sight. 1958-1960 Lincoln Continental models are unique in that there is a special compartment between the trunk and the rear window which opens and holds the lowered top. All of these cars share the same basic concept of top operation, however there are design and feature differences. There were no body styles produced before 1957 or after 1967 that used the "hideaway" design.

The name "Skyliner" is used by the 1957-1959 Ford all-steel, retractable hardtop and the 1954-1956 plexiglas-roof models. The Skyliner was not referred to as a "retractable convertible" or a "retractable hardtop convertible" by Ford Motor Company. For more information on the 1959 Ford Fairlane 500 and Galaxie see Note 4 below, and also the 1959 Ford Registry.

Please note that no "traditional" Ford, Mercury, Edsel, or Lincoln convertible models are included in this chart.

Year	Make	Series / Body Style / Marketing Name See note 1 below	Body Series Code	Body Style Code	Roof				Suggested Factory Price	Production	Note
					Composition		Automatic
					Steel	Fabric	Semi	Fully
1957	Ford	Fairlane 500 Skyliner	W	51A	x			x	$2,942	20,766	2
1958	Ford	Fairlane 500 Skyliner	W	51A	x			x	$3,138	14,713
1958	Ford	Thunderbird Convertible	note 3	76A		x	x		$3,914	2,134	3
1958	Lincoln	Mark III Continental Convertible	G	68A		x		x	$6,223	3,048	4
1959	Ford	Fairlane 500 / Galaxie Skyliner	W	51A	x			x	$3,346	12,915	5
1959	Ford	Thunderbird Convertible	J	76A		x	x first half	x second half	$3,979	10,261
1959	Lincoln	Mark IV Continental Convertible	C note 4	68A		x		x	$7,056	2,195	4
1960	Ford	Thunderbird Convertible	J	76A		x		x	$4,222	11,860
1960	Lincoln	Mark V Continental Convertible	85	68A		x		x	$7,056	2,044	4
1961	Ford	Thunderbird Convertible	73	76A		x		x	$4,637	10,516
1961	Lincoln	Continental Convertible	86	74A		x		x	$6,713	2,857
1962	Ford	Thunderbird Convertible	85	76A		x		x	$4,788	9,844	6
1962	Ford	Thunderbird Sports Roadster	note 6	76B		x		x	$5,439	note 6	6
1962	Lincoln	Continental Convertible	86	74A		x		x	$6,720	3,212
1963	Ford	Thunderbird Convertible	85	76A		x		x	$4,912	5,913
1963	Ford	Thunderbird Sports Roadster	89	76B		x		x	$5,563	455
1963	Lincoln	Continental Convertible	86	74A		x		x	$6,916	3,138
1964	Ford	Thunderbird Convertible	85	76A		x		x	$4,953	9,198	7
1964	Lincoln	Continental Convertible	86	74A		x		x	$6,938	3,328
1965	Ford	Thunderbird Convertible	85	76A		x		x	$4,953	6,846
1965	Lincoln	Continental Convertible	86	74A		x		x	$6,958	3,356
1966	Ford	Thunderbird Convertible	85	76A		x		x	$4,845	5,049
1966	Lincoln	Continental Convertible	86	74A		x		x	$6,383	3,180
1967	Lincoln	Continental Convertible	86	74A		x		x	$6,449	2,276

Note	Explanations
1	All Fords are 2-door body styles. 1958,1959, and 1960 Lincolns are 2-door body styles. 1961 through 1967 Lincolns are 4-door body styles.
2	Production Note: 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner introduced April 14,1957
3	Production Note: 1958 Ford Thunderbird Convertible introduced June 1, 1958. Body Series Note: Code "H" was shared with the 1958 Ford Thunderbird Hardop.
4	Body Series Note: All 1959 Lincoln Mark IV Continental models shared the same body series code of "C". 1958-1960 Lincoln Mark III-IV-V Continental Convertibles had a power operated, retractable glass rear window. All Lincoln Continental Convertibles (1958-1967) featured an automatic windshield clamp unlocking system, not offered on Ford.
5	1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner discontinued October 31, 1958. Ford Galaxie Skyliner introduced November 1, 1958. Both models used the same body series codes and body style codes. See also the 1959 Ford Registry.
6	1962 Ford Thunderbird Convertible body series code was "85" and the Sports Roadster body series code was "89". Body style code "76B" with body series code "89" was not used until consecutive unit number 127027. A total of 558 1962 Thunderbird Sports Roadsters were produced using body style code "76A" with body series code "85" and with a consecutive unit number of 127026 or lower. 1962 Ford Thunderbird Convertible and Sports Roadster total production was 9,844. Ford does not differentiate between Convertible and Sports Roadster production for 1962.
7	1964 Thunderbird Convertibles offered a tonneau cover (as used on 1962-1963 Thunderbird Sports Roadsters) as factory optional equipment at a cost of $269.00.