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When the Skyliner technology was introduced in 1957, it was the first American production car to have a retractable hardtop. By pulling a switch under the dashboard, the conventional-appearing hardtop coupe would transform into a convertible. The hinged steel top would fold neatly and slip away under a reverse-hinged rear deck within two minutes. This was done with the help of 600 feet of wiring, 10 power relays, 8 circuit breakers, 10 limit switches, 3 drive motors, and 4 lock motors.
Production of the Skyliner lasted three years with the final year ending in 1959. 12,915 examples were sold, despite a $400 premium over the conventional Sunliner ragtop, making it, at $3,346, the most expensive full-size Ford. The Skyliner was part of the Fairlane 500 series at the beginning of the model year, but it was made into a Galaxie halfway through the year.
This particular example was privately acquired for Richard and Linda Kughn's collection several years ago. The car wears its original colors of Indian Turquoise over Colonial White and is powered by a 225 horsepower, 332 cubic-inch V8 and mated to a Ford-O-Matic transmission. It has power steering, power brakes, power windows, a dual exhaust, deluxe trim, tinted glass, and a rear-mounted Continental kit spare.
The car has been restored to show-quality standards. It has been displayed at several events including the Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance, the Glenmoor Gathering, and the International Ford Retractable Club Showcase.By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2014
Production of the Skyliner lasted three years with the final year ending in 1959. 12,915 examples were sold, despite a $400 premium over the conventional Sunliner ragtop, making it, at $3,346, the most expensive full-size Ford. The Skyliner was part of the Fairlane 500 series at the beginning of the model year, but it was made into a Galaxie halfway through the year.
This particular example was privately acquired for Richard and Linda Kughn's collection several years ago. The car wears its original colors of Indian Turquoise over Colonial White and is powered by a 225 horsepower, 332 cubic-inch V8 and mated to a Ford-O-Matic transmission. It has power steering, power brakes, power windows, a dual exhaust, deluxe trim, tinted glass, and a rear-mounted Continental kit spare.
The car has been restored to show-quality standards. It has been displayed at several events including the Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance, the Glenmoor Gathering, and the International Ford Retractable Club Showcase.By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2014
The Ford Skyliner was an innovative full-size automobile with a retractable hardtop produced by the Ford Motor Company in the late 1950's. Based on the North American Ford Fairlane, the Skyliner had a complex mechanism that folded the front of the roof and retracted it under the rear decklid. This mechanism was prone to failure, and the large top took up vast amounts of trunk space, limiting the car's sales. Nonetheless, the retractable hardtop reappeared in the 1990's with the Mitsubishi 3000GT Spyder and Mercedes-Benz SLK.
The Skyliner, which was produced for model years 1957, 1958, and 1959, had a squared-off roofline style that was admired by the public and found its way onto most Ford two-door hardtops until 1965, including the Thunderbird, Galaxie and Fairlane. The Skyliner name was previously applied to another Fairlane derivative, the Crown Victoria Skyliner. This vehicle had a clear acrylic glass roof panel over the front row of seats. To purchase it new would have cost approximately $3,346.
This car has been restored to show quality standards and is well-optioned with power steering, power brakes, power windows, continental kit, dual exhaust and deluxe trim.
The Skyliner, which was produced for model years 1957, 1958, and 1959, had a squared-off roofline style that was admired by the public and found its way onto most Ford two-door hardtops until 1965, including the Thunderbird, Galaxie and Fairlane. The Skyliner name was previously applied to another Fairlane derivative, the Crown Victoria Skyliner. This vehicle had a clear acrylic glass roof panel over the front row of seats. To purchase it new would have cost approximately $3,346.
This car has been restored to show quality standards and is well-optioned with power steering, power brakes, power windows, continental kit, dual exhaust and deluxe trim.
2014 RM Auctions - Amelia Island
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $60,000-USD $80,000
Sale Price :
USD $66,000
1959 Ford Galaxie Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Ford Galaxie
(Data based on Model Year 1959 sales)
1959 FORD GALAXIE SUNLINER CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: 476BK59520563 Sold for USD$44,000 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale AZ | |
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner Chassis#: c9fw160406 Sold for USD$31,900 2023 Mecum : Indy | |
1959 FORD GALAXIE SUNLINER CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: H9RC144547 Sold for USD$107,800 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Az. | |
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner Sold for USD$25,300 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner Sold for USD$38,500 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Sunliner Sold for USD$22,000 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner Sold for USD$41,800 2022 Mecum : Las Vegas | |
1959 FORD FAIRLANE 500 GALAXIE SKYLINER RETRACTABLE Chassis#: H9KW110044 Sold for USD$102,300 2022 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner Sold for USD$54,000 2022 GAA : February 2022 | |
1959 FORD GALAXIE SUNLINER CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: C9KC161995 Sold for USD$30,800 2022 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Arizona | |
1959 FORD GALAXIE CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: C9KC161995 Sold for USD$40,700 2021 Barrett-Jackson : Houston | |
1959 FORD GALAXIE SUNLINER CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: 476BK59520563 Sold for USD$53,900 2021 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas | |
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Sunliner Sold for USD$50,600 2021 Mecum : Indy 2021 | |
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner Sold for USD$39,600 2021 Mecum : Indy 2021 | |
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner Sold for USD$34,100 2021 Mecum : Indy 2021 | |
1959 FORD GALAXIE 500 SKYLINER RETRACTABLE Chassis#: H9KW120037 Sold for USD$89,100 2021 Gooding & Co : May : Geared Online | |
1959 Ford Galaxie 76-B Sold for USD$26,000 2021 GAA : April 2021 | |
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Sold for USD$18,700 2020 Mecum : Houston | |
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner Sold for USD$42,900 2020 Mecum : Las Vegas | |
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner Sold for USD$30,800 2020 Mecum : Las Vegas |
Ford Galaxies That Failed To Sell At Auction
1959 Ford Galaxie's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1959 Ford Galaxie 500 | b9hs137529 | 2023 Mecum : Kansas City | $20,000 | ||
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Sunliner | h9gc145834 | 2023 Mecum : Indy | $30,000 | ||
1959 Ford Skyliner | H9EW262665 | 2023 Spring Carlisle | |||
1959 Ford Galaxie 500 Skyliner | H9KW120037 | 2022 GAA : November 2022 | $80,000 | ||
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie | 2022 Carlisle Auctions : Spring Carlisle | ||||
1959 FORD GALAXIE SUNLINER CONVERTIBLE | 476BK59520563 | 2022 BarrettJackson : Scottsdale, Arizona | |||
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie | 2020 Mecum : Houston | $16,000 | |||
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner | 2020 Mecum : Kissimmee Summer Special | $30,000 | |||
1959 Ford Galaxie Sunliner | 2020 Mecum : Eddie Vannoy Collection | ||||
1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner | H9KW117171 | 2020 RM Sothebys : Palm Beach Online | $90,000 | $110,000 | |
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner | 2019 Mecum : Las Vegas | $42,500 | |||
1959 Ford Galaxie Sunliner | 2019 Mecum : Las Vegas | $27,500 | |||
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner | 2019 Mecum : Dallas | $44,000 | |||
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner | 2019 Mecum : Phoenix Auction | $40,000 | |||
1959 Ford Galaxie | 2018 Leake Dallas Fall 2018 | $23,000 | |||
1959 Ford Galaxie | 2018 Leake Dallas Fall 2018 | $20,000 | |||
1959 Ford Galaxie Convertible | B9FC262361 | 2018 RM Auctions : Auburn Fall | |||
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Sunliner | B9FC271573 | 2018 RM Auctions : Auburn Fall | |||
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner | 2018 Mecum : Indianapolis | $55,000 | $60,000 | $85,000 | |
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner | 2018 Mecum : Indianapolis | $37,500 | |||
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner | 2018 Mecum : Kansas City | $27,000 | |||
1959 Ford Skyliner | 2018 Leake Auction : Oklahoma City | $22,000 | |||
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Sunliner | H9FC103831 | 2018 Mecum : Los Angeles | $30,000 | ||
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner | 2018 Mecum : Kissimmee | $27,000 | |||
1959 FORD SKYLINER RETRACTABLE | C9EW286105 | 2017 Premier Auction Group | $29,000 | ||
1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner | 2017 Auctions America : Auburn Fall | $60,000 | $70,000 | ||
1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner | H9RW172995 | 2017 Mecum : Los Angeles | $60,000 | ||
1959 FORD GALAXIE SUNLINER | 2016 Leake Dallas Market Hall | $38,000 | |||
1959 FORD GALAXIE SUNLINER | 2016 Leake Dallas Market Hall | $40,000 | |||
1959 FORD GALAXIE SUNLINER RESERVE | 2016 Leake Dallas Market Hall | $37,500 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $33,448 range.
1927 CITROËN 5CV TRÈFLE Chassis#:56933 Sold for $33,600 2024 Gooding & Co: Selections From The Mullin Collection Auction | |
1957 Oldsmobile Super 88 Chassis#:73637sd800489 Sold for $33,550 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |
1953 Volkswagen Beetle 'Zwitter' Chassis#:1-0434015 Sold for $33,600 2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia | |
1984 Austin Mini 1000 Tickford Chassis#:SAXXL2S1N21239618 Sold for $33,426 2024 Artcurial : Retromobile | |
1990 Citroën 2CV Charleston Chassis#:VF7AZKA00KA356850 Sold for $33,426 2024 Artcurial : Retromobile | |
1984 Peugeot 205 GTI 1.6L Chassis#:VF3741C66F5526968 Sold for $33,426 2024 Artcurial : Retromobile | |
1951 Panhard Dyna Type X86 Saloon Chassis#:X86477591 Sold for $33,736 2024 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde a Paris | |
1963 Ford Galaxie 500 Chassis#:3d63g103740 Sold for $33,550 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1910 Sears 14hp Model K Motor Buggy Chassis#:3058 Sold for $33,438 2023 Bonhams : The Golden Age of Motoring Sale | |
1978 Chevrolet K10 Pickup Chassis#:ckl148j119877 Sold for $33,550 2023 Mecum : Dallas | |
1949 Packard Eight Deluxe Club Sedan Sold for $33,600 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
1932 Ford Roadster 'Red Raven' Street Rod Sold for $33,320 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
1972 GMC 1500 Custom Pickup Sold for $33,600 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk Sold for $33,600 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
Jacky Ickx Rothmans Porsche Race Suit Sold for $33,537 2023 RM Sothebys : Le Mans | |
1954 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Long Wheelbase Empress Line Limousine Chassis#:LDLW18 Sold for $33,600 2023 Bonhams : The Greenwich Auction | |
1956 Ford Thunderbird Roadster Chassis#:P6FH221772 Sold for $33,600 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Enthusiast Auction | |
1948 HILLEGASS-HAL SPRINT CAR Sold for $33,600 2023 Gooding & Company : Estate of Mark Smith Auction | |
1929 FORD MODEL A ROADSTER Sold for $33,600 2023 Gooding & Company : Estate of Mark Smith Auction | |
1973 Volkswagen Type 181 'Thing' Chassis#:1833024537 Sold for $33,600 2023 Broad Arrow Group : Amelia Island |
1959 Ford Galaxie
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