West Coast Classics are proud to present a beautifully fully restored and absolutely stunning and great daily driving example of this very rare and desirable 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner Retractable 2 Door Hardtop factory ordered fully loaded and with the optional very rare (1 of reportedly only 39) and very desirable upgrade of the 'High Power Option' 312 CID Y-block 270HP 'E Code Thunderbird Interceptor Special' 2 x 4 BBL V8 engine with a 9.7:1 compression ratio, Ford-o-matic 2 speed automatic transmission, dual exhausts and with factory specifications including; Hydraulic Power Operated Top, 'Selectaire' air conditioning, electric clock, tinted glass, Power windows, Two Tone vinyl & nylon pleated upholstery, interior courtesy lightning, full floor color coordinated carpeting, stainless front, rear and side window surround moldings, body side stainless trim, full length body side stainless trim, rear fender skirts, full wheel covers, hydraulic power operated hard top, and factory added options of:
Continental kit
Twin Dual Purpose Spot Lights & Mirrors
Air Heater & Defroster ($85)
AM radio ($100)
Master-Guide Power steering ($69)
Swift-Sure Power brakes ($38)
4-Way Power Seat ($60)
Windshield washers ($10)
& White sidewall tires ($27).
This particular example has been fully restored with no expense spared with an absolutely stunning professional two stage repaint in it's original 'Flame Red over Colonial White' (Paint code VE2) with it's original correct matching factory specification 'Red Airweave' (Trim code BF) Soft-Textured Vinyl 'Red & White' interior, all new chrome, stainless and trim. This is a car which was has obviously always been garaged from the elements prior to the restoration has also obviously always been well maintained with solid floor boards, trunk and all the typical rust-prone areas and the car has no signs of any kind of accidents - obviously an always garaged and cherished car since new.
This car drives absolutely magnificently - must be driven to be fully appreciated - does not miss a beat and purrs like a kitten - drives straight as an arrow with no strange road wobbles, shakes or rattles - a truly remarkable daily driver that will give any modern day car a run for it's money! The transmission shifts smoothly through the gears and the car has four virtually new white-wall tires. The car's retractable hardtop roof is fully functional as are all the power options.
The Ford Fairlane was an automobile model that was sold between 1955 and 1970 by Ford in North America. The name was derived from Henry Ford's estate, 'Fair Lane', near Dearborn, Michigan and over time the name referred to a number of different cars in different classes; the Fairlane was initially a full-sized car, but became a mid-sized car from the 1962 model year. In 1956 Ford replaced the P-code 292 V8 engine with an optional new 312 'Thunderbird Special V8' version of the Y-Block and by 1957 it had 245HP with the automatic transmission or 270-285HP with the dual quads E-Code engine.
Ford received a fairly heavy handed facelift for 1958 with quad headlights and tailights, a larger chrome front bumper and grille, dummy hood scoop and new bodystyle trim. The Ford Fairlane 500 Sunliner Convertible cost $400 less than it's sibling and the retractable hardtop convertible - the 'Skyliner Retractable'; was the world's first true Hardtop convertible. Nevertheless both models earned their 'Milestone car status' and today both models are highly sought after by Ford and classic American car collectors internationally, especially rare unmolested and well preserved models like this one and obviously for the ultimate collections super rare examples like this car with the highly desirable E-Code 312cid 270HP 'Thunderbird Special' V8 engine with dual 4 BBL carbs & exhausts or the 'F' Code supercharged 300HP V8 are highly prized.
The Fairlane was heavily restyled and re-engineered again in 1959 and officially became part of that year's new 'top-of-the-line' Galaxie series, although it continued to wear the 'Fairlane 500' script. A true 'Milestone' collectible car today and always a proven 'crowd pleaser' for its technical fascination and a testament to the time that Detroit would attempt and achieve the seemingly impossible for it's day! The Fairlane was Fords's answer and rival to Chevrolet's successful Bel Air and came in six different body styles with a choice of six-cylinder or V8 engines. The range was restyled for 1957, gaining new, lower bodies adorned with the latest styling fad-tail fins-and the Fairlane 500 introduced as the ultimate trim level. 1957 was also notable as the year of the Skyliners introduction. Considerably more expensive than the conventional Sunliner convertible, the Skyliner featured a hard top that at the touch of a button automatically retracted into the boot. For its last year of production in 1959, the Skyliner was both re-engineered and restyled, becoming part of the new range-topping Galaxie lineup, though continuing to be badged as a Fairlane 500.
Just like the Sunliner soft top convertible, the Skyliner was also available with any V8 engine offered by Ford for 1957, including the 270-285HP E-Code reportedly installed in only 39 models and the 300-hp Paxton-supercharged 312-ci top-of-the-line 'F' code motor which was reportedly installed in only 13 models in '57 with very few of either model known to remain in existence today. Also available were all choices in transmissions, all three-speeds: manual, manual with overdrive, and Fordomatic. Even though the base price model of $2,942 made it the most expensive Ford for 57, most Skyliners were ordered with plenty of options making these highly optioned models by far the most expensive Ford's of their day. This extraordinarily rare E-Code Skyliner is reportedly 1 of only 39 built with very few know to remain in existence today.
This is therefore a rare opportunity to own an absolutely beautifully restored, both cosmetically and mechanically, example of an otherwise very stock and original and fully factory loaded 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner Retractable 2 Door Hardtop Convertible with the rare E-Code 312 Dual Quads 270-285HP V8 engine and a car which can further boast factory air conditioning, Power Windows, Power Brakes, Power Steering, Power Seat, Heater, Dual Spots, Skirts & Continental Kit!
