The first time Ford used the "victoria" as a naming convention was in 1932 on the Ford Victoria 2-door coupe. Ford's 1954 Crestline Skyliner was replaced in 1955 by the Fairlane Crown Victoria Skyliner, based on the new 1955 Ford design. It shared the flashy chrome "basket handle" which stretched the B-pillar across the roof of the 1955 Crown Victoria model but added a smoked acrylic glass window over the front seat area. It was an interpretation of a horse-drawn carriage bodystyle, called a "victoria". The model, commonly referred to as the "Glasstop Vicky" lasted just two years, with sales slipping sharply as customers realized the trouble of keeping the car cool. An optional snap-in sunshade or air conditioning system were desirable. The Skyliner name was later applied to the Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner hardtop convertible based on the 1957 Ford.

Similar roof panels were used on General Motors products of the time. The concept of a single, fixed window over the front seat reappeared in the late 1970s on Lincoln's full-size Continental models (through 1979), and later, over the rear seat of General Motors' 1964-1977 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser and Buick Sport Wagons. It later re appeared on the 1991 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser and Buick Roadmaster wagons.

For 1955, the Ford Fairlane was introduced as the premium Ford model range. Slotted above the Victoria two-door hardtop, the Crown Victoria debuted as the flagship trim of the Fairlane. In place of the popular hardtop roofline, the Crown Victoria was fitted with a B-pillared roofline. Similar to the Mercury XM-800 concept car (though changed in angle), the B-pillar was fitted with a wide stainless steel band ("crowning" the roof), giving a sleeker appearance to the roofline.

Alongside the standard two-tone roof, the Crown Victoria Skyliner was fitted with a fixed sunroof, a tinted acrylic glass panel formed the entire roof ahead of the B-pillar.

For 1956, the Lifeguard option package was introduced as an option for the Fairlane Crown Victoria (as with all Ford cars).

For the 1957 redesign of the Ford model line, the Crown Victoria was retired from the Fairlane series with no replacement. The Skyliner name made its return in a different form, denoting the Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner retractable hardtop convertible.

This rough and tumble project is one of those restoration shop gone awry situations where after paying lots of money to the shop this is what was delivered to my client when he finally got tired of it and demanded the car.

Needless to say this rare car is now probably hot rod fodder although it does appear some engine work was completed. What you see is what you get! It appears the dog house is in the car, and the glass top is present. We could not get the trunk open so more parts may languish there. We are going to make another run at this car and attempt to catalogue what is present, at some point. I did not see a windshield and doubt its in the trunk.