Attractive mostly original car with recent repaint. Fully operational top. Beautiful interior. G-code 332 cubic inch V8 with automatic and power steering. Includes lots of spare parts. A great-driving Retractable!
The Retractable is an icon of '50s tech and style, and they always look best wearing flashy two-tone paint combinations like this car's Colonial White over Torch Red. It's crisp, clean, and bright, and you have to admit, you're not buying a Retractable because it's subtle. It's a mostly original car that's holding up well and thanks to a recent repaint, this Ford remains a one-car parade. Experts will note that this one was originally Raven Black, but there's just no trace of the black paint anywhere, suggesting it was a thorough job when the time came to change colors. There's an appropriate shine to the paint, not too modern and perfect but just right for a car that you're going to drive. Panel fit is good, including the deck lid, which snugs itself down properly, and the doors which don't sag a bit. There are a few minor issues, but none of them should stop you from enjoying the car. As a product of the '50s, there's a lot of chrome and stainless trim, including Ford's distinctive side spear with the gold anodized insert. All of it remains in good to excellent condition, including the massive grille up front and unique stainless quarter trim with gold anodized inserts.
It sports correct red and white vinyl upholstery that matches the bodywork and adds to the Retractable's upscale image. Most importantly, the top has been recently serviced, and all seven motors, four lift jacks, a series of relays, ten limit switches, ten solenoids, four locking mechanisms for the roof and two locking mechanisms for the trunk lid, and a total of 610 feet of wiring are all in excellent health. Touch the rocker switch under the dash to release the header then pull the knob and the whole beautiful mechanical system springs into action and makes the top disappear in about 30 seconds. The only place you might need to compromise is in the trunk, where there's a lot of space with the top up but only a small cooler-sized box for luggage if you intend to travel with the top down.
Travel is easy with Ford's all-new-for-1958 G-code 332 cubic inch V8. Rated at 265 horsepower with a 4-barrel carburetor, it's a good match for the Skyliner's mass, which isn't insignificant. Nevertheless, the strong-running FE motor never seems to work very hard and makes great V8 sounds as it goes about its business. It starts easily and after a few seconds settles into an easy idle that you can hear but not feel. It's also finished in Ford Blue engine enamel with a chrome air cleaner and "Thunderbird" valve covers. Power steering is a nice addition on a 4200-pound convertible and most of the fittings and hardware are correct Ford pieces. Most Skyliners used Ford's 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission, and that's what you'll find in this one as well. It's really the right choice, and with 2.69 gears out back, it remains an effortless highway cruiser. Ford's X-frame is incredibly robust for the big convertible and it's in great shape with no signs of accident damage in its past. There are floor patches in the lower rear trunk, which is where water tends to collect in these cars and you won't find many that haven't been patched in this area. It doesn't present any issues today and the important areas are quite solid, including the rocker areas and floors. A newer dual exhaust system with just the right rumble to it gives the Skyliner just a bit of an attitude. Also note that the brakes have been serviced, the power steering doesn't make any unpleasant noises, and it sits on right-sized G78-14 wide whitewalls that are ideal for a 1950s cruiser.
"Iconic" doesn't even begin to describe Ford's wondrous Retractable, and this one certainly attracts attention everywhere it goes. Would today's hardtop convertibles have been possible without it? It lasted only three years, yet made a huge impact on the industry and remains a favorite among collectors decades later. And if you're going to own such a machine, doesn't it make sense to own one that's ready to drive and enjoy so it can wow crowds everywhere you go? Call today!
Harwood Motors recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.