Rare E-code retractable, 312 with dual quads, loaded with options, award winner!

The 1950s were a time of unbridled optimism and Americans believed anything was possible. We’d just won the war, he economy was booming, nd technology was leaping forward by the day. Our automobiles reflected this optimism, etting longer, ower, leeker, nd, es, lot flashier. Those big cars also needed plenty of horsepower to pull them around, nd gadgets were a new plaything, anging from widespread availability of power windows and seats to wondrous devices like Ford’s retractable hardtop, alled the Skyliner. Incredibly well-engineered, hey were almost a miracle of automation, sing dozens of sensors and relays, 10 feet of wiring, nd thee electric motors to create a mechanical ballet that literally and figuratively transforms the Skyliner into something truly special. You could almost charge admission to watch the top do its disappearing act, feat that amazes people even today.

The 1957 Ford Skyliner was a show-stopper when it was new, nd this stunning Torch Red and Colonial White Retractable remains pure eye candy today. Most significantly, t is one of only 39 Skyliners built with Ford’s E-code 312 cubic inch V8, hich featured dual 4-barrel carburetors and 270 horsepower. Probably a good idea in a vehicle that weighs as much as this one does, hat racy motor completely transforms the Skyliner from leisurely cruiser to downright energetic. The recipient of a comprehensive frame-off restoration by someone who was sweating the details, his is an absolutely fantastic car on every single level. When it was completed in 2007, t won a Silver award at the International Ford Retractable Club national meet, nd in 2008 it won a Gold, uggesting that all the demerits from 2007 had been rectified. Today it’s not quite as crisp as it was when it was snagging trophies, ut it’s still extremely good in every possible way, rom the smooth-running engine to the wondrous top that remains fully functional.

Torch Red and Colonial White are this car’s original colors, nd the finish work is extremely good. As I mentioned, he restoration is nearly 10 years old, o it’s not perfect, ut you’ll be hard-pressed to find fault with it today. The workmanship is excellent and I wish I knew who restored this car so I could congratulate him on a spectacular job. The doors fit well, hich is critical on a convertible (particularly a retractable), he huge quarter panels are smooth and ripple-free, nd the whole car probably fits together better than it did when it was new. The red is vivid and bright and the Colonial White is just the right shade, ot too bright but not too yellow, ither, ust a creamy, ich look. Of course, s a product of the 1950s, here’s tons of chrome (almost literally) that must have cost a fortune to restore. The bumpers are bright and straight, he grille is crisp, nd it wears an unusual and rare front grille guard that frames the license plate, n accessory I’ve never seen before. The stainless trim, ncluding the long spears that rake along the sides, as been straightened and polished and all the delicate ‘Fairlane’ script emblems are sharp and crisp. It’s worth noting that both of those accessory spotlights work and it wears bright hockey-stick-shaped trim on the rocker, hich I believe was optional. It also carries accessory fender skirts and special exhaust tips that were a dealer-installed extra.

The two-tone red and white interior was restored to factory specs, ncluding that wonderfully 1950s fabric on the seating surfaces. There’s a bit of wear on the driver’s seat piping, hich is probably inevitable for a high-traffic area like this, ut just about everything else is quite fresh. Deep, lush red carpets are protected by embroidered floor mats and the ornate door panels echo the shape and styling of the stainless spears on the other side of the sheetmetal. You’ll note that this car is equipped with both power windows and a power front seat, nd they all function properly. In fact, t appears that everything works like it should, rom the Town & Country AM radio in the center of the dash to the clock that I can hear ticking away reliably every time I walk past the car here in the shop. The factory instrument panel is a wide crescent of gauges with secondary controls underneath, nd the 52,443 miles shown may very well be authentic given the condition of the car at a base level. An auxiliary oil pressure gauge has been added under the dash, nd shows a healthy 25-30 PSI at warm idle. And yes, ost importantly, he retractable hardtop mechanism is fully functional, owering up and down with remarkable ease. Remarkably the whole assembly is carefully counter-balanced, o the electric motors don’t have to work very hard to move it, nd it’s a lot of fun to listen to the clicking of the relays telling each other what to do next as it moves through its travel. Unfortunately, he downside to the retractable is that the giant trunk is all but useless, ave for a small milk crate-shaped box that represents the “safe” area for storing your gear. On the other hand, eave the top up and you have a massive storage bay, erfect for long trips. There’s a full-sized spare tire cleverly hidden underneath the box and a correct jack assembly strapped to the bulkhead.

But the real reason this Skyliner is special is under the forward-tilting hood. Ford makes it easy to see what engine a car has by coding it as the first letter of the VIN, nd in this car’s case, t’s an “E” which stood for 312 cubic inches and two 4-barrel carburetors. Most retractables carried a single 4-barrel engine, hich was ostensibly identical to the Thunderbird’s powerplant, ut the second carburetor transforms the big cruiser in a significant way. This one is neatly dressed with Thunderbird dress-up valve covers and that unique air cleaner, hich allows everyone to see at a glance that this is a unique car. Only 39 Skyliners were equipped with the E-code engine, aking it rare and desirable, f only for how well it powers this heavy car around. It’s very nicely detailed, ncluding proper hose clamps, reproduction battery, nd correct stampings throughout the engine bay. This car is also equipped with power steering, hich is probably mandatory on something this large, s well as a purring dual exhaust system that sounds great without getting annoying at cruising speed.

You’d think that with twin carburetors, t would be fussy, ut this is one of the least-fussy carbureted cars of any type we’ve ever experienced. Tip the throttle about an inch (no pumping required!), urn the key, nd the muscular 312 springs to life quickly and easily, ettling into an even idle immediately. No fussing, o crankiness, o rough idle when it’s cold, ust a finely-tuned machine that someone obviously spent a ton of time getting right. It’s quite impressive. On the road, t pulls well and you can feel a soft stop in the throttle travel warning you that you’re about to dip into the second carburetor’s reserves, nd at that point, here’s a surprising surge of power. The two-speed Ford-O-Matic automatic shifts well, nd the car cruises wonderfully at modern highway speeds, ever seeming to work very hard. The dual exhaust system has mellow-sounding mufflers and those delta-wing exhaust tips do look pretty cool under the rear bumper. The undercarriage was surely fully restored with the rest of the car, nd today shows some signs of having been driven, ostly dirt and road spray, ut no rust or signs of patch work, o we’re guessing this car lived its life in a warm climate. With 3.56 gears out back, t’s definitely peppy and the 215/70/14 Coker wide whitewall radials on factory wheels and hubcaps greatly improve the ride and handling. This car drives every bit as great as it looks.

This is one of those cars that just gets better and better the more you look at it. The important things—the top and engine—work as they should and the awesome ‘50s look is hard to beat. Add in the exclusivity of the E-code engine, he top-flight restoration, nd a long list of factory options, nd you get one of the most desirable, aluable Skyliners available anywhere. Call today!