By the outset of the 1959 model year, the writing was already on the wall for Edsel. Despite a spirited marketing effort to depict Edsel as innovative, forward-thinking, and reliable, none of this actually proved to be entirely factual; poor craftsmanship, poor dealer support, and, of course, the infamous front-end styling that became the face of Edsel’s shortcomings were the early hallmarks of failure that would ultimately doom the marque after just two and a quarter model years. Ford knew it needed a major pivot to save the nameplate, and this 1959 Villager station wagon, found on Facebook Marketplace in Manchester, Kentucky, with a $3,800 asking price, is an example of that pivot. Big thanks to Barn Finder Pnuts for locating this interesting find.
Edsel emphasized economy in 1959. This was evident in all of their sales literature, which touted the 1959 Edsel lineup as “America’s finest car in the low price range”. The original seven models offered in 1958 were reduced to just three for ’59: the base-level Ranger, the higher-priced Corsair, and the Villager, the only of the three wagon models retained beyond 1958. A six-passenger and nine-passenger Villager wagon were produced, though it is difficult from the photos to determine whether or not this particular wagon is a two-row or three-row variant.
The standard engine that would have come in the Villager for ’59 would have been the “Express V8”, which was the 332 ci Ford FE engine previously only found in export-configured Edsels (and many ’58 Fords as well). For additional cost, the 361 ci “Super Express V8”, previously marketed as the “E400” engine, could be fitted. But this one, at first glance, seems to have been ordered with the cost-reducing engine option, the 223 ci “Economy Six” inline six-cylinder power plant, an interesting choice for a Villager. However, I question the authenticity of whether or not the engine in the car is the original engine to the car. The seller claims the engine is “fresh”, and this may be the case, but the presence of an 8-bolt “Ford” script valve cover instead of the correct two-bolt center-fastened blank valve cover suggests to me that the engine came out of a 1960 or later Ford. At minimum, the cylinder head has been changed; a view of the casting number on the block would clear up a lot of this confusion.
Few interior photos are included, so its overall condition is unknown, but the instrument panel photo at least shows the car was originally ordered with the three-speed, column-shifted manual. The seller incorrectly markets this as a “two-speed” manual transmission, but this type of manual transmission does not exist. While this wagon does not run and needs the engine bay wiring completed in order to do so, the car overall appears to be very solid and complete, with few missing parts. Edsel has a healthy following, so even somewhat hard-to-find parts, like the windshield the seller notes as broken, should be obtainable. There appears to be minimal cancerous rust, as well, and the body panels appear to be straight. The resale market on Edsels remains healthy; at $3,800, is this Villager a fairly priced restoration candidate, or is the asking price just as ambitious as the Edsel was in 1958?
Listing is no longer available. It looked like a decent project at a reasonable price. Good deals don’t last.
Steve R
I bet it sold fairly quickly. Nice car, if you want an Edsel.
I thought that the Edsel was discontinued because people thought that the car was ugly, but I know understand that early models suffered from faulty Teletouch push-button automatic transmissions (where wiring shorted near the exhaust), oil leaks, and misaligned parts, creating a legacy of buyer distrust. So it was mechanical issues that forced the Ford Motor Company to discontinue the Edsel.
I like this Station Wagon even though it’s as big as a truck. This one looks to be well preserved. How do collectors, today, deal with the issues that plagued the Edsel 65 years ago?
Besides the optional Teletouch selector? There wasn’t much on these cars that differed from Lincoln, Mercury, or Ford, as far as mechanical’s. The problem with the Edsel wasn’t it’s reliability. It was it’s styling, and the fact that the nation was in a recession, and it was priced above a Ford.
That and the general collapse of the midprice segment as Ford (division) Chevy and Plymouth caught up to them in size, glitz and features just as the first postwar recession hit.
Just bad timing I guess.
Edsel died the death of a thousand cuts, from Ford’s senior management (Robert McNamara) on down.
McNamara was also the guy who detested the idea of 4-barrel carburetors on the big block V-8s of the time, so the Lincolns etc. of the era had 2-barrels.
Then he became Defense Secretary. Google McNamara’s Morons. It’s puzzling how some people get where they are.
Actually Tim, it was Robert McNamara. He detested this new nameplate before the first ones were built in the summer of `57. He essentially killed the brand at his first chance, and didn’t even want a `60 variant at all. The Edsel was joined the fray when their mid-level standing was losing sales across the board. And the Edsel ended up being a costly ($250M) mistake the co. never quite got over.
Ford lost an estimated $350 million on the Edsel, but they recovered a good portion of that by utilizing leftover plant space to build even more Fords, Mercurys and light trucks. It was said that when the company needed more plant space in 1960 they had it at hand and it had been acquired at 1957 prices.
How cool. Priced to sell… Wish it was closer…
The Villager nameplate saw use again on Mercury’s Cougar Villager wagon and again on the Nissan/Ford jointly developed minivan! I had no Idea the name was used by Edsel! Nice looking project car! I liked Edsel and had empathy for the car’s namesake, Edsel Ford! In Henry’s eyes Edsel never measured up and the Edsel car suffered the same fait ( Fate?)
I’d like to also welcome Nick to the group, you’ll find we’re all bozos on this bus( some more than others, me) . This is where it gets ugly, I’m willing to bribe you whatever it takes to feature more trucks, what? You can’t? Meet me in the alley behind BFs, come alone,,,
You’ll find, we have a lot of fun here, hope all goes well. This is an okay find, yep, here it comes, the stick. The 6 is more than capable for any kind of travel today, but the stick has got to go. The Edsel has been gone long enough that nobody has any real connection to the car, just a quirky 50s car, aw dang, it’s a stick,,move along, ma. I thought the Edsel was a really neat car.
The person interested in buying this car, isn’t some 35 year old that grew up driving mom’s Camry, and dad’s Ridgeline. The person interested in this Edsel knows how to drive a stick. Or they’re going to pull the whole drive train and (sadly) plop an LS and GM transmission in it.
Sold by Ralph Spoilsport Motors in the city of Emphysema.
yeah, for that price no surprise it sold. these things are coming out like ants at a picnic.
remember there was a 1960 edsel it was call the comet it was ment to be a edsel that’s way it did not have a brand name on it in 1960 it only said comet in 1961 it became a mercury
There was also a full size 1960 Edsel Ranger based on the 1960 Ford that sold just over 2,800 copies.
The Comet had originally been intended as an “Edsel Comet” but Ford was certain the car wouldn’t sell if it had the Edsel name attached. So, the car was known as just Comet and it was sold at Lincoln-Mercury dealerships through 1961. The car became a Mercury model in 1962.
A lot of people made fun of the Edsel’s looks. However, if you look at a lot of the late 50’s cars. They were ugly and overblown with fins, funny angles and chrome. Now you have some thinking that they look ‘cool’. I hope this wagon went to a good home. It needs a refresh and opportunity to look ‘cool’ to someone.
Got to love an old horse collar grilled station wagon , the purest would have a field day with me but I would have a hard time not going full tilt retro and pro streeting that beauty !
Got to love an old horse collar grilled station wagon , the purest would have a field day with me but I would have a hard time not going full tilt retro and pro streeting that beauty !
This was featured in January, linked below. Nice to see the engine (hopefully) got squared away. Looks like the same seller, and they wanted $700 more back when the engine was just tossed in? Great wagon, someone got a deal.
https://barnfinds.com/rebuilt-six-banger-1959-edsel-villager-wagon/
I commented last night that this was featured on here in January, with the engine not bolted in or finished and they were asking more to boot. Not sure why my comment isn’t here, is it because I included a link to the prior feature?