THE FORD RETRACTABLE WAS THE FIRST CAR TO MASS PRODUCE A RETRACTING HARD TOP. DEVELOPMENT FOR THE RETRACTING HARD TOP BEGAN IN THE EARLY 50'S. IN 1954, AND OVER $2 MILLION LATER, FORD HAD THEIR FIRST APPROVED RETRACTING HARD TOP WHICH WOULDN'T BE USED UNTIL THE '57 MODEL LINE UP. ORIGINALLY THE DESIGN WAS INTENDED FOR THE MUCH MORE COSTLY LINCOLN CONTINENTAL BUT WAS SHIFTED TO A MORE AFFORDABLE FORD BY THE TOP BRASS. THE SYSTEM WAS COMPLETELY AUTOMATED INCLUDING THE ROOF LATCHES. THE TOP WORKS IN FIVE SEQUENCES AND OPERATED BY 7 ELECTRIC MOTORS, 10 LIMIT SWITCHES, 10 RELAYS AND CONNECTED BY 610 FEET OF WIRE. WATCHING THE RETRACTING TOP WAS AN EVENT THAT WOULD GATHER THE NEIGHBORS THEN AND STILL WILL TODAY. THIS RETRACTABLE HAS UNDERWENT A GROUND UP RESTORATION, INCLUDING, ENGINE, PAINT, INTERIOR AND CHROME.
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