Gunze Sangyo 1/32 1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner

The Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner is a two-door full-size retractable hardtop convertible, manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company for model years 1957–1959. However, early into the 1959 model year, its name was expanded to Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner. The retracting roof system was marketed as the Hide-Away Hardtop, and was exclusively sold on this Ford-branded model, for three model years.

Ford's 1957 Skyliner was the world's first retracting hardtop convertible to be truly mass-produced by a car company from the factory, coming close to 50,000 sales. Earlier, French car-maker Peugeot had offered several such models in the 1930s, with the help of a coachbuilding company, which sold only in very limited numbers. It also marked the first time the hard roof featured a folding (front) section, to retract and fit inside the car's trunk

This kit was purchased at a swap meet and was missing the tires, metal parts, and decals, hence the low purchase price. Based on the poor condition of the box and the bleached box end, this kit was not treated kindly. However, all the parts save those missing, were still in sealed bags and the single piece body was unbroken.

This is a curbside and it does not have an operating top. One does have the option of having the top up if one so wishes. The kit also comes with a continental kit, making the rear of the car even longer. Not a fan of these even when they were popular back in the late 1950s/early 60s.

The kit provides for steerable front wheels which is accommodated by having stub axles (which are missing from my kit). In the back a solid axle holds the wheels on. Replicating these missing axles with plastic stock should be easy enough with a bit of effort. The interior is adequate for the kit with molded on seats and separate side panels. Not having the decals means no logos. Now the kit does provide for being able to open the trunk and that is helped by having the trunk held in place by a few slivers of plastic that should be easy to cut with a hobby knife. There is some trunk detail and one can put the hardtop in this trunk. Conversely, one can build this with the top up and skip all the additional cutting and other work. Another option are chrome rear fender skirts.

Instructions are completely in Japanese, but there are lots of color photos of completed kits to offer color options. Something they didn't have when this kit was developed was the Internet, and that can also be a great source of color information.

I often buy kits like this with the thought that they could be converted into a slot car and that is still an option for me. One nice thing about having a slot car hobby is that I have a rather large selection of unused tires. I was able to find several that almost fit, being designed for a bit larger wheel and not the 14" diameter of the car. Despite this, these tires are a good solution when ones are missing.

August 2024

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