1953 Ford Syrtis - AllCarIndex

The first true hardtop convertible design for a sedan was revealed today at a press preview of Ford Motor Company's new Styling Building at Dearborn, Mich.

Ford engineers took the wraps off a pet project of the advanced styling department. Named the "Syrtis," the three-eighths scale convertible model features an all-steel "Roof-0-Matic" top which lowers into the luggage compartment. A specially-hinged rear window can be lowered into the luggage compartment, left in position behind the rear seat, or swung overhead so it comes to rest against the back of the front seat, forming a tonneau windshield.

Earle S. MacPherson, Ford's vice-president - engineering, said the Syrtis is "one of many advanced styling ideas developed in the process of future product planning of Fords, Lincolns and Mercurys."

"As an advanced engineering project, we have designed this model with the thought in mind that we could apply this roof mechanism to any of our passenger car lines," he explained. "Its presence in the Styling Building preview is an excellent illustration of the way in which our stylists and mechanical engineers work hand in hand.

"The mechanical principles involved in building the Roof-O-Matic mechanism and a body and frame which will carry it are as revolutionary in the automobile industry as the true hardtop convertible idea itself," Mr. MacPherson said.

"We are not predicting when this idea may be incorporated in future Ford Motor Company products," Mr. MacPherson stressed. "It is still in the research and development phase, but we have gone far enough to learn that it is a sound, feasible idea -- one for which there is great public demand."

The new car design would be the first to give full sedan seat-room in a two door convertible. In addition, design of the tracks to carry the allsteel top backward under the deck lid permits use of a full width rear seat.

Other advantages of the all-steel design, Ford engineers say, would be greater safety of an all-steel top, removal of the danger of tears or fading in a canvas top, and reduced noise.

The sleek, functional Roof-O-Matic top would give a convertible all the comfort and snugness of a conventional hardtop car.

The top could be operated by the same simple controls found on today's convertibles. A pull of a lever would start the electric top-lowering mechanism. The car's rear window would rise slightly. The deck lid would open at the forward edge, and the entire steel top would slide quickly and gently backward and down until concealed completely under the deck lid.

In the model shown today, the rear window could be shifted to three alternate positions, regardless of whether the top was up or down. It could be left in position as a windscreen with the top lowered. It could be lowered, with the top in full raised position, giving wide-open ventilation to rear seat passengers. Or it could be rotated forward to rest against the back of the front seat, forming a tonneau windshield to protect rear seat passengers.

Ample luggage space is provided in the trunk, whether the top is raised or lowered. Spare tire space is provided in the floor of the rear deck, or a "Continental" spare tire mount can be employed.

Beyond the revolutionary hardtop feature, the Syrtis contains many other styling advances.

At the front, a wide sheath of chrome steel serves as a bumper and controls air flow through the grille to the radiator. Graceful wide bands of chrome trim follow the flowing body outlines around the front fenders and halfway back along the sides of the car.

Tiny micro-light headlight openings on the leading edges of the front fenders are a radical styling change. Main headlamps are concealed inside the fender housing, and beams of light are focused to cross through the tiny lenses throwing a full headlight beam on the road ahead.

Large simulated exhaust ports extend rearward beneath the convertible's doors, with actual exhaust stacks emerging through chromed jet tubes faired into the outward edges of the rear bumper. Above the exhaust stacks in matching chrome outlines, the stylists have designed dual taillights and turn indicators.

In the driver's compartment, a central pylon jutting from the instrument panel contains pushbotton electrical controls for the automatic transmission.

An ultra-thin steering wheel with a high-strength steel core has only one spoke, which rests at the bottom of the wheel's turning arc in normal driving position.

It permits unrestricted vision to the front and over the instrument panel, which is recessed at the top of the dash.

From grille to windshield, the car is completely free of chrome trim.

The hood sweeps upward to meet the windshield over a special coaming which rises above normal hood height.