Ford Drop Top Dynasty

Press Release

History of top-down driving

Sunny weather and the American road have long been synonymous with top-down driving.

In the early years of motoring, open-top, or touring, cars were the norm and enclosed cars were considered the exception, or premium option. In 1926, a five-passenger Ford Model T Fordor Touring could be had for $375, and more than 360,000 of them hit the road. In contrast, a five-passenger Ford Model T Fordor sedan cost $660, with just over 100,000 units finding their way to an eager motoring public.

As driving habits, roads and cars all changed and an increasing number of Americans got behind the wheel, closed cars became the norm while convertibles came to represent those who wanted to better enjoy their driving experience and greater express their individuality. In the 1950s, America was ripe with expansion and prosperity, and our cars became extensions of ourselves more than ever before.

Ford had its finger on the pulse of America in the 1950s and set out to define the bold spirit of the car driver with several convertibles. For 1955, the glamorous new Thunderbird appeared as a personal luxury vehicle — making quite a fashion statement. Not content to allow the dramatic two-seat Thunderbird to be the sole scene-stealer in the market, Ford grabbed everyone’s attention with the innovative Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner retractable hardtop, which was well ahead of its time.

The Skyliner was truly unexpected and set the motoring public abuzz. Unlike anything else on the market, the Skyliner offered a fully automatic top-down experience, as well as the comfort and security of a regular coupe when closed. Ford produced nearly 50,000 units of the vehicle over its three-year production run, from 1957 through 1959. Now, nearly 50 years after the Skyliner’s debut, retractable hardtops are being introduced at a rapid pace, proving the viability and marketability of the original concept.

As the ’50s roared into the ’60s, horsepower as well as safety features continued to improve. The Thunderbird remained a popular choice for those seeking personality, luxury and comfort; full-size Galaxie models offered value-conscious convertible buyers a great way to enjoy open-air driving; and the Fairlane offered a convertible option for intermediate buyers. New on the scene, the 1963 Falcon Futura convertible appealed to buyers seeking a compact convertible experience at an affordable price. It was during this era that Lincoln introduced what would eventually become one of the most prized collectible convertibles, the Lincoln Continental. This four-door convertible was produced from 1961 through 1967 and, like its sedan counterpart, was recognized as a design leader.

No story about convertibles would be complete without mention of one of Ford’s most celebrated cars, the Mustang. When the Mustang was unveiled in 1964, convertible versions were available. Throughout the ’60s, Mustang convertibles remained popular and were even included in limited batches of the legendary Shelby series. The success of the Mustang convertible relegated the Falcon Futura convertibles to the back burner, and they disappeared after 1965. Convertible Mustangs were offered through 1973, with sales beginning to slow some after 1966.

For the 1983 model year, the Mustang was once again ready to lead the charge for Ford, and has enjoyed uninterrupted production as a convertible since. Convertible Mustangs have been included in the limited-production SVT Cobra series including an all-new model for 2005, helping to solidly earn Mustang the position of convertible sales champ for 2005. Sales of 44,065 were reported, an increase of over 11,000 from 2004. Soon, Mustang enthusiasts will again see the Shelby name adorning a high-performance Mustang Convertible as the Shelby GT 500 makes its return for the 2007 model year.

Persevering where its rivals have faltered, Mustang convertibles are perhaps the best representation of the Mustang’s bold and innovative spirit, proving once again that Ford and exciting convertibles are part and parcel of the American experience.