It is said that time heals all wounds, and that has certainly been the case with the Edsel. A dismal sales disaster when released, it has come to develop a cult following. It has been transformed from a car that nobody wanted into a desirable collectible. This particular Edsel Pacer is offered for sale here on eBay. Located in Dade City, Florida, it comes with a clear title. Spirited bidding has seen the price rise to $3,656 on this No Reserve auction.
The first thing that I will say is that there are some potential issues with this Edsel. I’m pretty sure that it doesn’t carry all of its original paint as there are some signs of significant over-spray on door seals and a few other areas. The underside of the car generally appears to be quite reasonable with only surface corrosion to consider, although some of this is getting quite heavy and will need to be dealt with fairly quickly. However, there is rust evident in the bottom corners of both doors, the underside of the rocker on the driver’s side, the leading edge of the hood and possibly some beginning to appear between the rear window and the deck-lid.
The rust that is of greatest concern is this that has appeared on the dog-leg of the driver’s side A-pillar. This has the potential to have a real negative impact on the structural integrity of the car, especially in a roll-over situation. It also appears that this same rust may be becoming apparent in the same spot on the passenger side of the car. This is the sort of rust that shouldn’t be tackled by an amateur as it requires professional expertise. The windshield is also cracked and will require replacement. While some of the external trim is in good condition, some of it is not so great. I have noticed some trim which is damaged and has been re-attached to the car using self-tapping screws.
The interior of this Edsel reinforces my belief that this car has not spent its life in the driest of environments. There looks like there is some water damage and mold on the carpet on the driver’s side (possibly from water entering the car through the previously mentioned rust hole). The carpet also appears to be very ill-fitting, especially on the back floor. The seats, headliner and door trim all look good, as does the dash pad. I think that the metal on the dash has been the recipient of a re-paint at some stage, as there appears to be over-spray in evidence. The most damning thing for me with the interior is the condition of the dash trim, which all appears to be dull and have rust bubbles appearing under the chrome plating.
Under the hood is the 361ci E400 V8 engine backed by the automatic transmission. The seller has listed the car as a non-running project car. The engine winds over and the fuel pump runs, but he hasn’t had the engine running. The car has only been sitting in storage for around a year, so logic says that it should run unless it was originally parked because it didn’t run.
I want to like this car, and in truth, I do like it. However, I look at it and to do it justice I believe that it will need a full restoration. The underside really needs to be completely stripped to stop the corrosion before it gets too bad. There is significant rust beginning to become evident in the body, almost all of the external and internal chrome trim will need refinishing along with the painted surfaces on the dash, and the whole car is going to require a re-spray. To me, it just doesn’t make economic sense.
Two things: First, if you want protection in a rollover crash, a ’58 Edsel probably isn’t the best car for the job, regardless of any rust issues. Second, you are correct that central Florida is not the driest of environments, not by a long shot.
Rex, I once parked next to a `75 Buick Apollo coupe in Miami, with a rusted roof! There were holes all the way through along the dip rails!! Cars down there rot in places that never happen up north.
When I was in Florida back in ’89, I saw pick up truck with the tail gates and beds rusted half way up the body.
When I see somebody in Florida advertise a rust free car, I think there is no way that could be true.
A lot of Fords from this era had structural weaknesses, most notably in the roof panels. One main reason not many are around today.
Unfortunately, Edsels were released during a national recession, received a lukewarm reception, and never fully recovered. I might be in the minority but I always liked them. They offered a full range of vehicles, from convertibles to stationwagons.
I’m a fan of oddballs, & orphans of the automotive world. Count me in with that “minority” that always loved the much maligned Edsel. The aim was right, the target moved. Had Ford brought them to market a year or two earlier/later the brand might have gained a better tire-hold in the market. I’m partial to the 1960 Convertible, & wagon
I’m with you, loving the oddballs and orphans, and Edsel’s have always peaked my interest. This particular one is a beauty…..from 50 feet away! All that subtle rust hiding here & there is going to cost a fortune to fix properly, and that’s just the beginning. Too bad, it deserves to be saved. It’d definitely be a project of passion, not profit!
Yeah. They had their problems. And so many comments about the grille. (Saying nothing more there.). It was odd, to say the least. However, unfortunately for Ford, they never go the right combination. I don’t know if Mr. Edsel (his first name) himself was to blame, but, it all landed squarely on his shoulders It surely was a different design.
May be the 2nd dry out period for this submerged special. Check the water line.
Built on the 118″ wheelbase, along with the Ranger, but with a few more features than the Ranger. This looks pretty nasty to me, but I obviously can’t see the potential because it has already been bid up to over $3600 with 3 days remaining.
Lipstick on a pig comes to mind .
It’s a cool car and I like it but it is also a rust bucket. Now that doesn’t mean it can’t be saved and I believe it should be saved after all it has become rare especially in a two door hard top. I’ve always liked these Edsels and 58 is my favorite year but with this one your going to need a lot of skill and a big tool box or just a lot of cash. As for return on your dollar if your looking for an investment most cars make poor ones and even the high priced classics take up space and cost money to properly store them, so even the high priced stuff is questionable as An investment. So restore for the love the hobby and go invest your money in something more predictable as car prices are a roller coaster ride.
Dad has a ’59 Edsel Ranger 2 door he bought new. Rumored to be the last living owner of an Edsel purchased new. I have a ’59 Ranger 4 door that dad and I put a 429 Big Block into last summer.
A friend of mine has almost the same car with functioning tele-touch shifting.
I am going to do my best to buy it from him.
It is even the same color.
I have a picture around here somewhere.
By the way, this car is not in the Edsel registry, so who knows what the history of this car is.
Ah, here it is.
That is really cool. Good luck. I heard that Tele-Touch was troublesome, but both cars are sweethearts, yours I’m sure a lot cleaner. While way before my time, looking at them today, they really are a nice styled car. The rust on the feature car is worrisome, but I wouldn’t so much worry about a rollover, but more if the door would fall off. BTW, as others said, Florida is one nasty, humid place. Even cars under carports rust like this , just the opposite of up north cars.
Nice!
In the late ’70’s, I drove a tractor trailer dump truck, and hauled a load of fertilizer to a farm in central Ill. When I got there, a young girl met me and said, her dad wanted it dumped ’round back. I noticed a few older cars out front, but didn’t think much of it, well, when I went ’round back, this guy had to have at least 40 Edsels,( or more!) wagons, 2 doors, 4 doors, you name it. When I was done, I said to her, “wow, someone likes Edsels”, she said, “yeah, that’s my dad, he’s up north, getting 2 more today”. I wonder what happened to all those Edsels?
A trend with Florida cars is that they rust from the inside out because of the humidity. I was looking at a 65 Chevelle that was beautiful. A buddy pointed out that the body appeared to be solid….then he broke the paint when he tapped on a lower front fender. I bet the metal was .00003″ thick. :Literally, the paint was the structure of that piece of metal.
Edsels like this one are like the previously-posted `58 Buick Limited sedan; you need to buy one in the best possible condition you can, or the restoration costs will get insurmountable. Me, I’d pass on this Edsel for all the noted reasons. There are enough `58 Pacer hardtops around to be able to get a nicer one. It also helps to know guys in the Edsel owner’s club that might be able to direct you to the best one you can afford.
I hate yellow engines. Hate them, hate them, hate them.
So no Cats for you, Miguel?
Excellent, we’ll leave him in the dust on the first hill, maybe he’s paid by the hour,,,
If those are the construction equipment, then no.
I bought a 1974 Dart 4 door that somebody had painted the engine yellow.
I can’t understand that.
They had to pull the engine to do that, but they did no work on it to make it run better, they just painted it.
That engine was pulled and is waiting the rebuild.
It will not be yellow when I am done with it.
The kid also painted the master cylinder and many other parts that have since been replaced.
Just yankin’ your chain a bit. Yes, yellow Caterpillar motors are the best.
So I guess Miguel wouldn’t have liked that
mustard yellow 75 Valiant I bought cheap
when some high-school kid refused to be
seen in it. Talk about rust. It was from the
Northern Rust Capital: Buffalo, lol
Jim, the car had a yellow engine?
Not for me but I was just thinking Ford had horses still on there mind when they made the Mustang with horse emblems and the Edsel with the horse collar on the front
Henry Ford the 2nd once said how the F did they expect to sell a car with a grille that looks like a c..t
After reading Adam’s post about this car, all I can say is run Forrest
run! Sounds like something I used to see on buy here/pay here lots
in Winter Haven. The worst of these was The Car Company located
near Lake Alfred, Florida. Looks like something they’d cobble together
and call it restored. Better check the VIN also to see if the car’s been
stolen or not. That happened a lot around here in the ’80’s and ’90’s.
FLORIDA
The sunny place for shady deals .
So I guess Miguel wouldn’t have liked that
mustard yellow 75 Valiant I bought cheap
when some high-school kid refused to be
seen in it. Talk about rust. It was from the
Northern Rust Capital: Buffalo, lol
The fuel pump runs? Electric pump on a ‘58 ?
I wondered about that also.
Someone thought there was enough there to give $4100 for it.