About three years ago, my cousin bought his wife a BMW 3 series, a hardtop convertible. Of course he wanted to show it off and knowing I love cars, wanted to share his pride with me first. Which of course is great. A few hours later, after dinner, he commented on how great German engineering is. I responded with but Ford did it 50 years ago. He said no way, its not possible. Then I showed him this video and several more like it. Thank God for youtube and the people who upload proof positive!
@patriciaclements9457
5 жыл бұрын
OMG. My Dad had one of these, exactly the same as the video. My sister and I were teenagers and showed it off as often as we could. I went off to college and my sister who did not yet have a driver's license totaled it; just tore it apart. I don't think I ever really forgave her for that.
@davidcowee1869
Жыл бұрын
Just amazing ! So ahead of their time, all the American cars of that period. 👌
@leonardmills5003
2 жыл бұрын
I love the sound of that engine note!
@Bcroft39
8 жыл бұрын
She's a beautiful piece of American history. Absolutely beautiful.
@TheMrRockola
13 жыл бұрын
This is the prettiest car I've seen bar none! The car with it's fold down hardtop AND in RED, the most beautiful color to my eyes. In my opinion prettier than any 1957 Chevy, although they are both fantastic. It's amazing that both Ford and Chevy hit home runs in 1957.
@mr.blackhawk142
2 жыл бұрын
@Rockola, My all-time FAV car is the 1968 Mustang GT 500 Shelby Cobra KR convertible! I drove a 1965 Mustang conv from 1978 until 1988. It had a rebuilt 289 CID, and a rebuilt C4 Transmission in it. I regret selling it. BTW, "Pro Speed and Custom" did the work on it. Jack Mezzomo was a great engine guy! He passed away a few years ago.
@avantgardeaclue
Ай бұрын
My uncle's sister's father's brother-in-law's cousin's next door neighbors' son's fiance's step- father had one of those. Nice car.
@killajakez
9 жыл бұрын
Just wow. So beautiful! What a masterpiece. She still shows her beauty today. Take care of her.
@andysedgley
6 жыл бұрын
It might be heavy and impractical, but that folding roof is probably the coolest thing ever.
@mr.blackhawk142
2 жыл бұрын
@ Andy, yup, my older brother had one of these and it was red too. It was quite a production watching the top go up and down!
@maryspaabeck2074
4 жыл бұрын
That's a beautiful machine it sounds and looks fantastic
@constantdarkfog49
5 жыл бұрын
Really nice looking Classic, amazing how several of today's convertibles have readopted retractable tops. It always blows me away how advanced the 57 was.
@mr.blackhawk142
2 жыл бұрын
@ Chuck, yup, my older brother had one of these and it was red too. It was quite a production watching the top go up and down!
@Bigroberto2008
12 жыл бұрын
a classic in its prime.....well done sir.
@alex1999x
Жыл бұрын
Now that is a great car!!
@olde4eyes
Жыл бұрын
Awesome…just awesome 👏
@Autohunter06
3 жыл бұрын
What a beauty man
@FRANCIS6189
13 жыл бұрын
I can still remember the first time I saw one of these tops work. I was a little kid in the 60's and I saw one being demo'd on a used car lot. So funny how every one laughed at these cars in the 60's and 70's and NOW the new cars are doing this again!!!! I always thought it was a great idea!!
@mr.blackhawk142
2 жыл бұрын
@PAUL, which new cars are doing what? Hiding the top in the trunk?
@paulpeterson4311
2 жыл бұрын
@@mr.blackhawk142 I wrote this 10 yrs ago and yes was referring to the new cars Mercedes, Volvo and others who were hiding the hardtop in the trunk.
@devilnme
3 жыл бұрын
Wow very verrry nice.
@maryspaabeck2074
4 жыл бұрын
Found out you have luggage space, but it's only available when the hard top is on the car not when its stashed in the trunk! Pretty nice!
@swabby429
10 жыл бұрын
My uncle has a Lexus IS 350C that has a similar feature. I remember a nextdoor neighbor we had back in 1960. They owned a 1959 Skyliner in white and turquoise paint. I've had rides in both and enjoyed both.
@MM-cu1rb
6 жыл бұрын
My dad bought my mom one just like this one when I was 6 yrs old.Candy Apple Red with white leather interior. Absolutely stunning...
@raymondroberts350
2 жыл бұрын
I bought one with 68,000 miles in 1959.One of the best cars I ever bought. We loved it.
@cc9z
11 жыл бұрын
mine had factory in the dash a.c power steering windows brakes and seats and a hipo 352 god i loved that car sold her when i started a family
@eottoe2001
2 жыл бұрын
Even today, that is amazing tech.
@maryspaabeck2074
4 жыл бұрын
BEAUTIFUL AND NEAT TO WATCH! TODAYS CARS WITH ALL THEIR CHEAPLY MADE HIGH PRICED BELLS AND WHISTLES DONT COMPARE! This car with good care still runs like a champion after 50 plus years!
@Veyronp87
9 жыл бұрын
impractical and complicated but a true engineering masterpiece from over 50 years ago.
@killajakez
9 жыл бұрын
impractical? go buy a bmw hard top convertible and tell me how long the top works for. Hint..it's a 3,000 job outside of warranty.
@GeorgeBonez
8 жыл бұрын
+Veyronp87 I don't get the point of your statement and the counter statement from Veyon87? I mean are you two comparing this to todays technology? I would say "yes" you are but the part I don't understand is,,,, WHY? I mean why? The car is a 1957 convertible and was state of the art in technology for its period. Why do you think that you can compare it to your little convenient modern world of "now"? Sorry but you both came off as ignorant as hell and big-time unappreciative of historical technology in your very ignorant analysis of this car.. Your analysis isn't fair or warranted so you should both sort of STFU right? Right!
@Veyronp87
8 жыл бұрын
GeorgeBonez on your period?
@studinthemaking
8 жыл бұрын
a friend of my dads. had one of those as a kid. he got rid of it because the (7) motors needed to bring the top down and up was always breaking. A bunch of years ago he brought another one and than brought the best motors he could find for it. And than replaced everything else that had to do with the top going up and down with the best stuff he could find. And now it works like a dream!!!Did you do anything like that what this car?
@jeremythompson9122
4 жыл бұрын
I'm a Mopar guy first but the 50's car I would want the most that isn't a Mopar would be a 57 Ford Fairlane Skyliner retractable hardtop with the F-Code 312 Y-Block with the factory Paxton-McCulloch supercharger and the 3 speed manual trans. Ford rated the F-Code engine at 300 horsepower but Paxton-McCulloch said that it was good for anywhere from 340 to 360 horsepower...a huge number for 1957. An F-Code Ford was probably the fastest car you could buy in 1957. The 392 Hemi in a 57 Chrysler 300 was rated at 375 horsepower but the 300 was alot heavier than a 57 Ford Custom 2 door post sedan...the lightest Ford body other than a T-Bird. The 57 DeSoto Adventurer, Dodge Super D-500, and Plymouth Fury were all fast too for their day as well as the 283 fuelie Chevy's and Tri Power Oldsmobile's and Pontiac's... but the blown Ford's probably had them all beat. Ford had more wins in NASCAR than any other manufacturer in 1957 after Mopar's had dominated the 1955-56 seasons
@Intrepid175a
7 жыл бұрын
That thing had one heck of a trunk with the top up! :)
@MrMichael5695
12 жыл бұрын
First off about my post below the type Os having trouble with my eyes lately...I am 68 and have have over 300 cars..I stopped counting at 300..I just started looking at some of these beautiful cars on You Tube..and I am enjoying reading the things that people write in here..so I thought I would write a few things about some of the cars that I had..I had pictures of all of my cars that was a must..in 2003 a ISABELL hit and put 5 feet of water in my garage and the pictures were in there gone
@VintageAutoFan
12 жыл бұрын
That's a fine classic you got there :)
@diddlebug7241
2 жыл бұрын
A Ford trademark just like the OOOGA horn.
@eastside900
11 жыл бұрын
what a beautiful car !
@Rieksfier
7 жыл бұрын
What a wildly impractical car.
@buckolsen6470
6 жыл бұрын
You're just green with envy you don't have one.
@kevinbrown8420
11 жыл бұрын
Ah yes, my dad had a 57 and a 59, I still remember riding in it as a kid
@topgeardel
3 жыл бұрын
I know...an engineering marvel from the 50s. The cost of this ingenuity....absolutely no trunk space to take anything with you with the roof down. Virtually none either when it's up.
@u2mister17
3 жыл бұрын
Don't have many friends do you.
@topgeardel
3 жыл бұрын
@@u2mister17 You make strange comments, don't you.
@erin19030
2 жыл бұрын
Althogh this is a very beautiful car, its not really practicable . I loved the lines of the 1957 Ford Fairlane, but my likes are simple. I bought the custom model, stick shift on the column, with a 272 cu V8. It was fast enough and super on gas , that was 25 cents a gallon. In 1963 I put a 292 cu in in it. When I came back from Nam i had it bored out to 302 CU and added a 4 bbl. The car was a hard top convertible. In 1967 I traded it in for a used 64 1/2 mustang with a 289 V8 automatic.
@RobDog65
13 жыл бұрын
"Impressive" doesn't begin to describe this Detroit masterpiece. :)
@getdusty1
12 жыл бұрын
@whoof333 - Two years old and you were the first to alert me to this. Thanks. Changed.
@CommonCent5
12 жыл бұрын
otherwise a genius of a car at its time
@chef2lare1
12 жыл бұрын
yeah,yeah,yeah, very nice my father have one in blue color the car was made in usa,imported to mexico and sold in guadalajara jalisco mex in at delearp i love the car ......viva mexico cabrones....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@soultownlansing4746
10 жыл бұрын
We had one of these, used, when I was a kid, probably around 1964. Of course the neighborhood kids liked to watch the roof work. No idea why my dad would buy this. :-)
@Scorponok2009
13 жыл бұрын
This is a cool car. I've seen one like this at auto shows in the area.
@nobux717
Жыл бұрын
This car was an engineering marvel. It was very hard to design and difficult to get everything to fit properly. But Ford succeeded.
@migedu1
14 жыл бұрын
Fantastic car! It's magic!
@mr.blackhawk142
2 жыл бұрын
Nope, it's 12 volts with hydraulic pumps. L0L
@BENIMKAAN
12 жыл бұрын
wooooow very nice. very nice. very nice. very nice. very nice.
@1badhaircut
7 жыл бұрын
You have to remember that convertible cars were far more popular in the 50s - and the downside of canvas compared to steel made wannabee-convertible owners buy the body style called "hardtop convertible" because it had convertible styling but the top did not godown --- this car was revolutionary - and not duplicated for decades. Worth HUGE money today.
@Blassie.P
2 жыл бұрын
Oh that's it right there.
@Srd1126
13 жыл бұрын
I always thought this was clever, but a lot of things to break.. Motor for the top, the trunk, folding part of the trunk, etc. It is one of the reasons I would pick a soft-top even today. But truly a symbol of an age when Detroit believed in itself and didn't have ads saying, "Imported from Detroit."
@larryspivey5146
5 жыл бұрын
I would love to retract that in my garage. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😦😭😦😭😦😦😦😦😦😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
@lilprincessred
12 жыл бұрын
There was a small tub like a wash tub that set in the back that you put your luggage in and everything had to fit in that tub when the top was down. When the top was up you could fill up the trunk. The spare sits down below the trunk floor. The trunk floor lifts up and you pull the spare out of a small reccesed area under the trunk. The top can be stopped at any point so acces to the trunk is no problem.
@petjobedet4650
3 жыл бұрын
Amazing!
@SITRUUNAPOREAYFAT
3 жыл бұрын
NICE ONE
@dinomike53
10 жыл бұрын
I had mine for 15 years and had no trouble with the top at all. sold it to a TX dealer in 2009. same colors exactly. Hmmm, could it be my old car?
@cherylthompsonlt8321
Жыл бұрын
So cool...
@Clarkiebarkie
12 жыл бұрын
My dad had one!
@mustangmooney21
12 жыл бұрын
Yes there is. There is a luggage tub located in the center of the trunk. It's limited space but there is room for a few suit cases. I owned a 59 Skyliner for 32 years. Never complained about lack of trunk space. Top up or down.
@getdusty1
12 жыл бұрын
@agenthelios1 It's showroom condition. He bought it at an auction some four years ago. OH YES!! It never sees rain, snow OR clouds!! He likely put less than 100 miles on it per year!! If he does drive it out of the garage, it's never parked until he gets out and puts it away again!!
@metalmoto
10 жыл бұрын
Very cool.
@emjayay
11 жыл бұрын
Not to drag this out, but like several others also described here, there is actually a bin about 30x30 in. in the middle of the trunk to put some luggage in, so when the top goes down the luggage isn't crushed. There is a photo of the bin in Note 4, Wikipedia Ford Fairlane 500 entry.
@02chevyguy
13 жыл бұрын
@itsmegp46 Although I'm not a big Ford fan, I have to give them credit for this original design and idea. But the reliability of the mechanism also crossed my mind. What happened if it would give out when it was least expected? It would suck not to be able to get the top up or down or have it give out half way. I'm sure this feature also cost quite a bit to repair. And didn't the trunk space diminish to zero when the top was stored?
@emjayay
11 жыл бұрын
A lot of relays and motors, working in a sequence. Nothing could screw up or the process was over! No microchips of course.
@jamescann5892
11 жыл бұрын
Actually, pretty much the same as when I bought it. Thinking back, I have to admit to not paying much attention to routine care--what does a 20 year old know, anyway?---however, it always got me there and back again, the top system never faltered, and again, I should never have let it go. PS: I do agree on the potential for spending the sums you refer to.
@getdusty1
11 жыл бұрын
Sorry "emjayay"!! You are correct. My statement was incorrect. It should have read, "Once the top (not trunk) was down, there was NO trunk space".
@MrMichael5695
12 жыл бұрын
I had both a 1957 and a 1958....I been told that this was an option..on the right front fender there was something that looked like a little thimbul..If the top was down and it started to rain the windows would gp up and the top would close..thing thing worked...it was only on the 58...my friends had a lot of fun with this..if they saw my car..they would spit in to it and I would come out and che car would be all closed upoh one other thing..with top down NO TRUNK SPACE they were both great cars
@getdusty1
13 жыл бұрын
Thanks!!
@emjayay
11 жыл бұрын
The trunk bin is also shown in the KZitem 1957 Ford Fairlane 500- "Cruisin' with the top down" video. It's the one with a white Skyliner in front of a blue and white striped wall.
@kennsaunders1690
8 жыл бұрын
Sweet, I recognize the Ontario Historic Vehicle plate. I think I've seen this car in London Ontario where I live. Am I right???
@06DESMARAIS
13 жыл бұрын
I just found out today,1/9/2011 that there are convertibles almost like the 1957 Ford skyliner convertible hardtop, there in today's form meaning 21 century. They fold in half to go into the trunk of a car, the trunk lide comes out similar like the the skyliner, but, going back it has to be in two pieces to come out and go into the trunk of a hardtop convertible of todays form. if your confused look up "Ford Focus Convertible...Brendan's New Toy!!!" and see the differences and simalirities.
@02chevyguy
13 жыл бұрын
@itsmegp46 I read somewhere that most of the Chrysler line from '56 to '60 were notorious for rust problems.
@t.versteeg3723
3 жыл бұрын
Works just like on my Mercedes SLK.
@Explorersea
12 жыл бұрын
very cool
@mrbiston1
12 жыл бұрын
Maravilhoso, muito lindo mesmo, parabens... Wonderful, very pretty even, congratulations ...
@DaytonCarCare
11 жыл бұрын
BMW 507, now that's a car worth keeping.
@buckolsen6470
6 жыл бұрын
Yes sir! If can find one of the 252 that were built in the late '50s you'd have a gold mine. Funny thing is they're so so expensive today but BMW lost a big chunk of money developing, building & marketing them they gave up on the project after 4 yrs.
@robertbrunner9619
8 жыл бұрын
very nice. From what I understand the car had to be on perfect flat surface or else it would leak in a good rainstorm.
@getdusty1
8 жыл бұрын
Unsure. Most of them in this shape are in a garage.
@SnuggleBear1970
12 жыл бұрын
After the top gets put up how do you access the trunk space?
@getdusty1
13 жыл бұрын
That's what my cousin was talking about right at the end of the video. He said something like, "Fifty year old technology and the new cars are offering it... the tuck away top".
@jamescann5892
11 жыл бұрын
Correction. There was indeed space, a 'pen' about 30" by 30" in the center of the area. If you needed more space--and the top was up-- you could remove the pen, but you'd have to work around the hydraulic network when loading whatever and, naturally, the top would have to stay up.
@a741976
11 жыл бұрын
I Love car!!!!
@googogogogogogogo
11 жыл бұрын
very good , only 50 seconds!!
@mikevonkleist6767
4 жыл бұрын
My aunt bought one of these when I was 7 years old. I thought it was really cool when she demonstrated it to us. I guess it had limited trunk space?
@sanfranciscobay
4 жыл бұрын
Inside of the trunk was a metal corral that was about 3' wide 3' long and about 2' deep. That was the amount of space you could use when the top was down but with the top up there wa a large amoung of trunk space but you had to be careful that whatever you put in their did not interfere with the mechanical devices that open the trunk lid.
@terri200026
10 жыл бұрын
the top on the 57, 58, and 59 Fords were powered by electric motors switched with the same solenoids that ford used on it's starter system. I know, I owned a 1957 and a 1958 retractable in 1972. The top on my 1998 Mercedes SLK is powered by a hydraulic pump which is powered by an electric motor. It's top is quite a bit faster than the old fords, but then the whole car probably weighs less that the Ford top. LOL
@billfeld5883
2 жыл бұрын
1957 transformer!!!! 2022
@pamelav6364
Жыл бұрын
Woooow
@cesaralemao6591
2 жыл бұрын
Quero um desse sonho🤩🇧🇷🤠👍
@frankmolina6910
6 жыл бұрын
Wow!!!!
@MyFabian94
11 жыл бұрын
does it acutally drive or is it all about the show? If, who does it?
@wileecoyote5749
3 жыл бұрын
"My Hair,My Hair"
@secpac58chichi
2 жыл бұрын
FORD - " SEVEN MOTORS PERMANENTLY LUBRICATED" LOL
@zickie2000
12 жыл бұрын
Hey, TheMrRockola, bet you didn't know that not only was the 1957 Fairlane Skyliner "Motor Trend's Car of the Year, the entire Fairlane line outsold the Chevy line as fantastic as the '57 Chevy was.....
@terryhallahan4399
3 жыл бұрын
It's called a Skyliner, BTW
@emjayay
11 жыл бұрын
I guess you forgot the tub in the middle of the trunk marking off the available luggage space left under the top with the top down, around 30 inches by 30 inches.
@youzanf
12 жыл бұрын
incredibile già nel 57...avevano inventato una convertibile !!!
@emjayay
11 жыл бұрын
Chrysler 200 retractable hard top convertible, VW Eos, BMW 525i, Mercedes SL 500. Modern ones are faster and the hard tops fold up more, but exactly the same idea. On the other hand, they don't require the huge trunk so with the tops down there is pretty much zero luggage space in modern versions. You can find videos on KZitem.
@buckolsen6470
6 жыл бұрын
Wish i had time to keep up on all the cars like I used to....didn't even realise BMW had made a 5 series retractable hard top, lol
@getdusty1
11 жыл бұрын
That might be true "lynque67", but tell me this. What was the condition of the body when you sold it?? They, after 5 years or so, were pretty well played out. These have had tens of thousnads of dollars spent on them.
@RMAGEDN740
11 жыл бұрын
i bet when people saw this in 1957 they thought cars would be flying by the year 2000. pretty much we have only cut the time it takes to drop convertible tops in half!!
@MrNismoSR20
13 жыл бұрын
Now that's putting a roof over your head.
@whoof333
12 жыл бұрын
notice how in the description is pets& animals
@itsmegp46
13 жыл бұрын
@Wilson84KS I never said it wasn't cool. Ford just never ironed out the engineering details. This was at a time when new cars came with only a 30 day, 3,000 mile warranty. After that, anything that broke was paid for on your dime. Much like the 1957 Chryslers, Plymouths, Dodges and DeSotos. Fantastically styled cars, awesome handling for their time. But the company paid almost no attention to rust proofing, resulting in years of bad press.
@getdusty1
12 жыл бұрын
@agenthelios1 I'm not into it much. I think, considering the condition it's in, it's worth between 25 and 35, but he'll never sell it!!
@getdusty1
12 жыл бұрын
@SnuggleBear1970 - I'm not sure. It's not my car and I've never asked. I think however, that the top takes up a good chunk of the trunk. Anyone else out there know??
@jackorispontiac
7 жыл бұрын
Yes but Pontiac was the first car company to mass produce a hardtop convertible with the G6. And NO leaks! I own two
@buckolsen6470
6 жыл бұрын
Obviously Pontiac WASN'T the first car company to mass produce a hardtop convertible.
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