1954 Ford Skyliner

    1954 Ford Skyliner    LIMA -- "You can pay more, but you can't buy better," says a magazine advertisement for the 1954 Ford Models or "You can have just the kind of car you want in a Ford," says another advertisement. Three model lines were offered during this year which included the Mainline, Customline and Crestline. Of these three, the Crestline Skyliner, a 2-door hardtop with the Plexiglas roof over the front seat was Ford's luxury car in 1954. This was the first production car to have any roof other than cloth or solid steel. It is a Plexiglas and is non-movable. It is see-through and lets in a lot of light, and unfortunately, heat. This is the great-great-grandfather of all sunroofs and moonroofs today. Ford had a new engine, their Y block engine, as opposed to their old Flathead engine. Today, the Skyliner has become a very valuable collectible car.    Steve Burchett, of Lima, brought his 1954 Ford Skyliner to The Lima News' Real Wheel Cruise-In. Car enthusiasts everywhere can appreciate this classic with the Plexiglas roof. Burchett's view of the world is colored green while driving his Skyliner down the road. He can rest on the fact that he has one of the first true sunroofs.      Please note author is: Merri Hanjora, The Lima News