I get teary eyed because this was my Grandparents’ time 🥹 It’s so incredible how different life is now. When TH-cam was new, I used to look these commercials up because I always loved classic commercials as a kid especially the old cars. Beautiful.
There was a great deal of buzz in the market when this was introduced, and Ford offered the retractable hardtop model for three years, but discontinued it for 1960. I would guess they didn’t sell as many as they needed to be profitable. However the motorized trunk lid concept from this car appeared later on some Thunderbird and Lincoln soft top convertible models.
@DamnStraightM35A2 The '57 Fords were introduced in the Fall of 1956. All of the manufacturers had Fall introductions in those days. It was a big event at all local dealerships. Just a comment about those hideaway hardtops. A few years ago Mercedes-Benz made a big deal out of their "new" hideaway hardtop. But they forgot to mention that the basic technology was the same that FORD had used 50 years earlier. Smart ass Krauts! FORD had the better idea first!
There is a newer Hide Hard top that found and its cool but not really cause it folds the top in half then stores it in the trunk. And yes like bulldogbarks55 said, Ford did come up with newer stuff first like the Glass hard top in 55 i think and the Retractible hard top. People say they came up with it first But all Ford lover and Ford knows it was Ford! Also i read a thing about Ford offering a add on to Mustangs with a Glass hard top like the 50's Ford glass hard top but they didnt say
@bulldogbarks55-FYI- Ford was NOT the first manufacturer to offer a retractable hardtop. In the US, maybe. But Peugeot had the 402 Eclipse in 1938... Oh, and don't be crapping on Mercedes. I've been able to operate the roof on my SLK in the time it takes for a red light to change- I'd like to see you try that with a Skyliner! ;)
+Dan McCarthy It was in 1935 that Peugeot introduced the 402 Eclipse that was power operated but went manually operated in 1936 however in small numbers.American Ben Ellerbeck introduced the folding hardtop first (manually)in 1922 on a 1919 Hudson Super Six.Comparing the speed of a Mercedes folding top to the Ford's Skyliner is like a comparing a teenager racing an elderly man.Different eras and different technology
I am fortunate to own one of these mechanical marvels. Of all the old cars I have owned and still own, this is my absolute favorite.
I get teary eyed because this was my Grandparents’ time 🥹 It’s so incredible how different life is now. When TH-cam was new, I used to look these commercials up because I always loved classic commercials as a kid especially the old cars. Beautiful.
Great Looking 1957 Car!
That was a great car , Had I been 23 years old , instead of 11 years old . I would of ran out ,and bought one . Very, very very great Idea !!!
An "all steel hardtop." You won't find that anymore!
There was a great deal of buzz in the market when this was introduced, and Ford offered the retractable hardtop model for three years, but discontinued it for 1960. I would guess they didn’t sell as many as they needed to be profitable. However the motorized trunk lid concept from this car appeared later on some Thunderbird and Lincoln soft top convertible models.
Fantastic Ad! 😊
Isn't that Ward Cleaver behind the wheel?
This is a 1957 also. You can see that it is different from a 1956. Plus, the retractable hardtop was only introduced in 1957.
@DamnStraightM35A2 The '57 Fords were introduced in the Fall of 1956. All of the manufacturers had Fall introductions in those days. It was a big event at all local dealerships. Just a comment about those hideaway hardtops. A few years ago Mercedes-Benz made a big deal out of their "new" hideaway hardtop. But they forgot to mention that the basic technology was the same that FORD had used 50 years earlier. Smart ass Krauts! FORD had the better idea first!
@DamnStraightM35A2 Maybe the commercial came out in the fall of 1956
Probably not because you couldn't get a Skyliner until April 1957.
There is a newer Hide Hard top that found and its cool but not really cause it folds the top in half then stores it in the trunk. And yes like bulldogbarks55 said, Ford did come up with newer stuff first like the Glass hard top in 55 i think and the Retractible hard top. People say they came up with it first But all Ford lover and Ford knows it was Ford! Also i read a thing about Ford offering a add on to Mustangs with a Glass hard top like the 50's Ford glass hard top but they didnt say
Dude, the whole point of this commercial is how the Skyliner allows you to be a showoff. If that isn't about ego, I don't know what is.
@bulldogbarks55-FYI- Ford was NOT the first manufacturer to offer a retractable hardtop. In the US, maybe. But Peugeot had the 402 Eclipse in 1938... Oh, and don't be crapping on Mercedes. I've been able to operate the roof on my SLK in the time it takes for a red light to change- I'd like to see you try that with a Skyliner! ;)
When I have kids, then I'll worry about that. :)
+Dan McCarthy It was in 1935 that Peugeot introduced the 402 Eclipse that was power operated but went manually operated in 1936 however in small numbers.American Ben Ellerbeck introduced the folding hardtop first (manually)in 1922 on a 1919 Hudson Super Six.Comparing the speed of a Mercedes folding top to the Ford's Skyliner is like a comparing a teenager racing an elderly man.Different eras and different technology
+ML M Btw I forgot to mention the Hudson never went in to production.
I see the potential for pinched fingers, scraped scalps and other unfortunate injuries every time this complicated procedure gets carried out.