Introduced in 1957 after years of research, by 1959 the Skyliner was still the world’s only retractable hardtop. This was used as an example by Ford of the years-ahead engineering the customer would find in every Ford. The Skyliner lasted three years in production, with its final year being 1959, when it sold 12,915 units despite a $400 premium over the conventional Sunliner ragtop, making it, at $3,346, the most expensive full-size Ford. Part of the Fairlane 500 series at the beginning of the model year, it was made a Galaxie—a simple matter of new script—halfway through the year, and it helped Ford to all but tie rival Chevrolet for number one in industry sales. The new-for-1959 styling, an award winner at French style shows, and a beautiful build quality did not go unnoticed.