Ford Skyliner 50th Anniversary - April 2007
The Newest Kind of Ford
The car the whole world wanted, but only the engineers at Ford could produce. The Miracle Car of this generation. The 1957 Ford Skyliner.
While Henry Ford may not have approved of the concept behind this newest kind of Ford, he definitely would have liked the fact that so many Americans could own this car - its versatility, its reliability, and its inherent "57 Ford" good looks were undeniable. In fact, the Skyliner was within reach of 90% of the people who bought convertibles in 1957.

So well within reach was the Skyliner that it became the 4th best-selling convertible car in 1957 even though its introduction was 7 1/2 months after the others!

1958 Ford Skyliner. Note early production painted headlight doors.
Consider the concept. Consider the engineering capabilities of the day. Consider the fact that nearly everyone could afford it. Consider, too, the sheer size of this convertible with a retracting hard top and you will agree that the Skyliner is one-of-a-kind. A miracle.
1959 Ford Skyliner. This is a "pre-Galaxie" Fairlane 500.
Over the years, the other car companies imitated Thunderbird, they all tried to copy the Mustang, and a couple even came up with "competition" for the LTD. But nobody - nobody - could duplicate the Skyliner, the car everyone wanted but only Ford could create.

Even as the year 2007 is well under-way and Skyliner is 50 years old, no car manufacturer has been able to produce a car that can match the concept, the availability, or most importantly the magic of the Skyliner.
Please take 2 1/2 minutes now to enjoy the same commercial that first aired on Wednesday, April 10, 1957. The birth of a mechanical miracle: Skyliner. The newest kind of Ford. LOVEfords offers two different DVDs with several 1957-1959 Skyliner commercials in high-resolution format.
The Five Best-Selling Convertibles 1957-1959
1957

Ford Fairlane 500 Sunliner - 77,728

Chevrolet Bel Air - 47,562

Ford Thunderbird - 21,380

Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner - 20,766

Pontiac Star Chief - 12,789

 1958

Chevrolet Impala - 55,989

Ford Fairlane 500 Sunliner - 35,029

Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner - 14,713

Chevrolet Corvette - 9,168

Cadillac Series 62 - 7,825

 1959

Chevrolet Impala - 69,282

Ford Sunliners* - 45,868

Pontiac Catalina - 14,515

Ford Skyliners* - 12,915

Pontiac Bonneville - 11,426
* 1959 Ford production includes "pure" Fairlane 500 and Galaxie Skyliners.  "Pure" Fairlane 500 Skyliner production was merged into the Galaxie line in October, 1958.
LOVEfords acknowledges with great admiration the work of Jerry H. Magayne:

Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner 1957-1959

This book is an invaluable, continuing source of reliable information for www.lovefords.org. It was published by Motorbooks International and is ISBN 0-87938-649-5. If you can find one, buy it.

Do it again, Bob!