Vehicle Description
An award-worthy American hardtop convertible is exactly what you
need to stand out on the crowd. And this 1959 Ford Fairlane 500
Skyliner not only has that distinction, but also a terrific story
to go with its exceptional condition. So while your eyes already
tell you this is quite authentic, you should know that even the
International Ford Retractable Club scored this a 195 out of
200.
Collectibility often starts with the right numbers and a great
story, and this car has them both. 1959 was the final year for the
Skyliner retractable hardtops, and this August 1959-built car means
it was one of the last ones before the model year switchover. We're
told that this one was sold to a salesman at a local Ford dealer.
He kept all three model year Fairlane 500 Skyliners as
summer/parade cars. So they didn't see the winter, and they were
more about special use. They were in service for 16 years until he
passed away. They remained in storage on jack stands for about 35
years, until the consignor got this one through the estate sale.
The tale cannot be fully verified, but there are enough elements to
it (and a detailed writeup from the consignor) that will let you
confidently carry on this car's unique story with pride. In fact,
part of this story also supports how the low odometer is suspected
of representing the car's full actual mileage. More than just
history, this Skyliner is attractive for its sense of style. The
'59 Fords has a commanding presence with the quad headlights, a big
chrome bumper, and star-like grille all leading the way. The rear
had tailfins, afterburner taillights, and the largest chrome
chevron they could fit! But of course, the best piece is the side
trim where the sweeping brightwork tucks into the tailfin, and
provides a separation for the two-tone. And speaking of the paint,
this was born a Colonial White car, but it looks like the dealer
/owner added Ford's Flame Red quite early on. It's such a usual
thing that the International Ford Retractable Club doesn't even
deduct points for it in their judging when it looks so sharp and
correct.
The car's hallmark retractable hardtop was serviced in 2019 by
Skyliner expert Wayne Rollins. So it's easy to show off the concert
of motors that work together to smoothly store the hardtop in the
trunk. And you'll do that often because this is the kind of
interior you want to share with the world. The upholstery was
preserved in covers, and so you really get to see the red and white
that coordinate with the upgraded exterior, and the black center
section coordinates with the carpeting for a full uniform
presentation. This is a true '50s design, so there's plenty of
stylized chrome. For the driver it starts with the inner ring of
the steering wheel, the gauges, and it even spreads to the dash
where it frames the working Town & Country AM radio. This was a
highly optioned car that came with great power features like a
power front seat, power steering, and power brakes. Plus, not all
of the Skylines had power windows. It's extra-nice to have this
option so that you never have to leave the driver's seat to open
this one up to the world.
The consignor is also a Ford collector who has the right patience
to resurrect a vehicle like this. That meant he went through the
correct fluid procedures before trying to get the motor to run on
its own. Also he knew that the components that had sat for decades
would slowly reveal their need for attention. So the three-speed
automatic transmission was given a complete rebuild in 2011 (and
only about 7k miles put on it since then.) The optional 332
cubic-inch V8 has the right date code to be original to this car.
And by 2013 it was ready for a professional rebuild. Items like the
power steering pump, steering ram, starter, generator, and dual
exhaust were also correctly done over the last few years. The
original radiator even had the core re-done in 2017. So not only do
you have an engine bay that has a day-one kind of tidiness, but
this also runs and drives with a like-new kind of confidence,
too.
So now you know the tale of this unique Skyliner that has a great
history, and the right mix of preservation and restoration to make
sure that the legend stays alive. The sale even comes with the
owner's manual, service manuals, build receipts, complete
maintenance records, and valuable extras (call for the full list.)
So, don't miss your chance to pick up the ultimate 1950s
collectible. Call now!
