The Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria Skyliner’s status as one of the most dazzling offerings of the Fabulous Fifties is well-deserved: Its exuberant styling was completed by an instantly recognizable acrylic roof panel set just above the windshield, a dream car touch drawn from the futuristic X-100 and X-500 concepts.
Debuting for in 1954 as a Fairlane Victoria Coupe model, Ford moved the “bubbletop” upmarket in 1955, making it a variant of the new, top-of-the-line Fairlane Crown Victoria—which also sported a chrome roof band dubbed the “tiara” or “basket handle.” This final version of the Skyliner saw production of 1,999 units in 1955 and another 603 in 1956, after which the glass roof became a thing of futures past. Of the 603 Skyliners produced in 1956, few remain. The rarest and most desirable of all Crown Victorias, they are one of the most fiercely sought-after Fords produced during a remarkable decade.
Story by RM Sotheby’s
