1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner ‘F-Code’
The Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner ‘F-Code’ represents a fascinating intersection of automotive innovation, performance, and luxury in the late 1950s. Introduced in April 1957, the Skyliner featured a retractable hardtop that could fold down into the trunk with the push of a button, presaging modern retractable hardtop convertibles by over 40 years.
Of the 20,766 Skyliners produced that year, fewer than 20 came equipped with Ford’s top-of-the-line 312 cubic inch “F-Code” Thunderbird Special V8 engine, making the F-Code Skyliner an exceptionally rare and prized collectible today.
What set the F-Code engine apart was its McCulloch/Paxton VR57 centrifugal supercharger, which boosted power output to 300 horsepower. The supercharger was Ford’s answer to the fuel-injected engines coming from Chevrolet and the Hemi V8s from Chrysler during an era of intense competition among automakers.
Equipping the Skyliner convertible with this performance engine created a cruiser like no other – equally at home on the street or track with the ability to “magically and smoothly” transform its roofline at the push of a button.
The Fairlane 500 Skyliner retailed for a premium price in 1957 and included luxury amenities like an automatic transmission, fender skirts, and a factory clock. Its styling followed characteristic 1950s motifs with bold tailfins, abundant chrome trim and elegant two-tone paintwork.
The interior balanced comfort and style, with Ford’s designers creatively packaging the Skyliner’s retractable roof mechanism to minimize intrusions into passenger and trunk space.
With only a handful of F-Code Skyliners known to exist today, the model generates tremendous interest among collectors. A superbly restored example recently sold at auction, showing off a gleaming black exterior and period-correct 300 horsepower supercharged V8 under the hood.
For enthusiasts, the opportunity to own one of these rare pioneers of retractable hardtop technology and high-performance style remains an exciting proposition over 60 years after they first rolled out of Ford’s production facilities. The 1957 Fairlane 500 Skyliner F-Code stands as a symbol of American automotive optimism and ingenuity during the dawn of the space age.
Credit: Mecum
