“The world’s most beautifully proportioned cars!”, was how Ford was promoting the new 1959 models. This Galaxie Sunliner convertible certainly lives up to that description, in a year that was probably full of the greatest automobile excesses, Ford had shown remarkable restraint.
Their cars got a complete restyle for 1959 and, as was becoming the practice, received Thunderbird influenced styling once more. Ford ornaments sat atop of the new, flattened front fenders with a correspondingly flat hood. The bumper and grille assembly was revised with the latter featuring four rows of floating stars. It was a look that was somewhat reminiscent of what Buick had done preceding year.
The Sunliner, just like the Skyliner, actually started the ’59 model year as a Fairlane 500. Shortly after the Galaxie series was launched as the new top-of-the-line and the Sunliner and Skyliner then became Galaxies.
Earlier cars will therefore have a Fairlane 500 script on the rear quarter and Galaxie once things changed. Interestingly, even after the name change, they still retained Fairlane 500 script on the trunk lid.
The red and black vinyl interior on this Sunliner has been redone looks great with the Torch Red and Colonial White paint. Thirteen paint colors (plus two tone options) were available for 1959.
Inside we see the redesigned for ’59 instrument panel with the new, flattened speedometer. We can also see the original owner of this Sunliner opted to purchase A MagicAire heater / defroster and AM radio costing $75 and $59 respectively.
For an extra $118 you got the 292 cubic inch Thunderbird V8 engine rather than the standard 223 cubic inch Mileage Maker 6 cylinder engine. For $141 you got a 225 horsepower, 332 cubic inch Thunderbird Special V8 which is how this Sunliner left the factory).
Also available was a 300 horsepower, 352 cubic inch Thunderbird Special V8 for $167. All came standard with a 3-speed manual transmission.
This Sunliner is fitted with a Cruise-O-Matic automatic transmission costing an additional $231. There was also another automatic transmission available – the Ford-O-Matic costing $190.
Ford sold 45,868 Sunliners during the 1959 model year. Prices started at $2,839 for the six cylinder version.
1959 was a great year for Ford with sales up over 45% over the 1958 figures and got very close to knocking Chevrolet off of the number one spot. It’s not surprising as Ford had, arguably, produced one of the finest looking cars in their history.
This 1959 Skyliner is currently for sale on eBay. (follow the link for lots more photos)
During 1958 Ford Motor Company Sponsored the Tennessee Ernie Ford Show on TV. Their Theme Song was “Ford, Ford 58 Ford Tennessee Ernie Ford Ford”. Meanwhile he’d walk in front of a row of new 1958 Fords.
59 Ford galaxie 500 was my first car.332 v8 with 2 barrel carb and auto trans Indian turquoise with white top.To me it is still one of the most beautiful cars I have owned in my lifetime.This was given to me by my father while I was in the Air Force
My father had a ’59 ford two door sedan with a 292 and a three speed manual trans. An ugly two tone brown paint scheme but a great car. It hauled a camper and three kids from New York State to California and back in 1960. Talk about being brave ! It also took us on many camping trips to Vermont , Maine, New Hampshire and all over the Adirondacks. It was his only car and provided safe travels for many years on his twenty mile trip to work each day.