I think, while it was common to say "Women don't know anything about it", they actually went against that saying by showing how easy it was for Lucy to use it.
The retractable roof was actually designed by and intended for the 1956 Continental Mark II. There would be a coupe and a retractable model available. Sadly the Continental division folded before the retractable could be produced. The Continental name and star went to Lincoln, the offices to Edsel, and the retractable design to Ford products.
The Continental division folded after 1957 (All Mark II's were built under the separate division). The Continental Mark III for 1958 was absorbed under Lincoln division but Continental was still a sub marque until 1986 for the Mark series (They were built by Lincoln but were not technically not Lincolns )
The "weekend luggage" had to be in the back seat because there was no room for it in the trunk when the top was in there! I was 9 years old and remember that.
Exciting, as long as you don't need to haul anything in the trunk! Also, didn't alot of these motors go bad in these things leaving the top halfway closed?
+lasuvidaboy The episode is "Lucy Goes To Mexico". There's two Buick Century convertibles that are used. And one of the cars waiting in line to cross the border is a '58 Impala.
Got to hand it to Ford for the Skyliner retractable hardtop convertibles. It was an interesting & innovative exercise in engineering & a brand new concept. Bu it only lasted 3 years it was too expensive & impractical & high maintenance for it to really catch on with the public. Sales were too low for Ford to keep it going so they stopped it after 1959. Ford & GM are not in the business to create "classics" but profits.
Ford sponsored I Love Lucy for the 1957 season. GM came on as a sponsor for 1958-59 season and provided a 1958 Buick in one episode of the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.
@arboldin You mean a real American car that got 12 MPG and might have lasted to 90,000 miles before being ready for the junkyard. There was a reason odometers in those days only went to 99.999.
And look at how many convertibles today have retractable hardtops - VW , Chrysler, GM . Lackluster sales, meaning a high price tag, and the commonly malfunctioning hydraulics killed this after 1959
They did'nt sell that many, because the cost of that top, put the price of the car, int the category of Lincoln/Cadillac/Imperial - 5 to 6 large. A year's earnings for most workers back then. I understand that BMW is paying Ford royalties on the patents for that top. I wonder how the BMW "hardtop convertable" has sold?
+mikeyl I think what would scare me the most is having the motor die while trying to get the top up and it's starts to rain...HARD! As for Desi and Lucy, Desi was a womanizer and a drunk the last five years of their marriage. But all in all they always loved each other.
It must have been great to live in the 50's
This was the first car I bought after I graduated from college-U.S.C. It was white a turquoise blue...Wish I still had it!
That's so funny. Did you hear him say, "But honey, this is a complicated machine, and women don't know anything about that..." That cracks me up.
Lucy didn't even have a lot of splainin' to do
I think, while it was common to say "Women don't know anything about it", they actually went against that saying by showing how easy it was for Lucy to use it.
My dad had one of these when i was a little kid, and for me, it was amazing!
The retractable roof was actually designed by and intended for the 1956 Continental Mark II. There would be a coupe and a retractable model available. Sadly the Continental division folded before the retractable could be produced. The Continental name and star went to Lincoln, the offices to Edsel, and the retractable design to Ford products.
The Continental division folded after 1957 (All Mark II's were built under the separate division). The Continental Mark III for 1958 was absorbed under Lincoln division but Continental was still a sub marque until 1986 for the Mark series (They were built by Lincoln but were not technically not Lincolns )
They’re all fords.
Only 20,766 Skyliners were produced in 1957. I have one my dad bought from the original owner in 1969.
Yeah, I love these!
So that's why you named yourself that! This car looks sick!!
Very stylish. Thumbs up.
The "weekend luggage" had to be in the back seat because there was no room for it in the trunk when the top was in there!
I was 9 years old and remember that.
And there's still plenty of room for Lucy's hat.
American Innovation when we could do almost anything Cool.
now THATS a car
60 years later this car just amazes me
Exciting, as long as you don't need to haul anything in the trunk! Also, didn't alot of these motors go bad in these things leaving the top halfway closed?
I have this video on a vcr cassette!
There's one exactly like this one at Russell's truck stop, Glenrio, NM. I 40, exit#369
Been there, great museum!
They also have a truck stop on I-25 just north of Springer NM, with the same kind of "mini-museum". I always make it a point to stop at both of them.
This is a great ad - *****
+lasuvidaboy The episode is "Lucy Goes To Mexico". There's two Buick Century convertibles that are used. And one of the cars waiting in line to cross the border is a '58 Impala.
in 1957 great techonology
Thank you for posting! These are my favourite classic American cars (hence my user name).
Sorry Esa, hydraulic mechanisms operate the top
Got to hand it to Ford for the Skyliner retractable hardtop convertibles. It was an interesting & innovative exercise in engineering & a brand new concept. Bu it only lasted 3 years it was too expensive & impractical & high maintenance for it to really catch on with the public. Sales were too low for Ford to keep it going so they stopped it after 1959. Ford & GM are not in the business to create "classics" but profits.
Sounds like a jet taking off.Scary stuff.
Ford sponsored I Love Lucy for the 1957 season. GM came on as a sponsor for 1958-59 season and provided a 1958 Buick in one episode of the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour.
Before that pontiac was featured.
@arboldin You mean a real American car that got 12 MPG and might have lasted to 90,000 miles before being ready for the junkyard. There was a reason odometers in those days only went to 99.999.
@arboldin I agree but the prius is an awesome car!
Het Gringo..No hydraulics on this car except the brakes. I have a restored on works fine they are electric motors that work the top.
i had a very good friend who worked on these back in day. LOTS of problems with hydraulics .
Raymond Kietur There is no hydraulics involved. The roof mechanism is actually very reliable as long as generator gives enough electricity.
maybe i misspoke. perhaps it was RELAYS. anyways, he is long gone but was like a father to me., it was all a very long time ago.
And look at how many convertibles today have retractable hardtops - VW , Chrysler, GM . Lackluster sales, meaning a high price tag, and the commonly malfunctioning hydraulics killed this after 1959
One in garage
They did'nt sell that many, because the cost of that top, put the price of the car, int the category of Lincoln/Cadillac/Imperial - 5 to 6 large. A year's earnings for most workers back then. I understand that BMW is paying Ford royalties on the patents for that top. I wonder how the BMW "hardtop convertable" has sold?
A convertible even a woman can use. Imagine this today 😂
in the trunk
+mikeyl I think what would scare me the most is having the motor die while trying to get the top up and it's starts to rain...HARD!
As for Desi and Lucy, Desi was a womanizer and a drunk the last five years of their marriage. But all in all they always loved each other.
And now the battery's dead..
lol @ 48 sec
Volvo c70.
Yeah, it's all fun and games until she runs the top down on the expensive golf clubs! :D
Wow. That's kinda ..... noisy.
Probably the most sexist commercial ever