Ford had high hopes when it introduced the new Edsel line of cars for 1958. They would compete alongside Ford’s automobiles, Mercury, and Lincoln, giving the company a fourth division, just like Chrysler (remember DeSoto?). For a variety of reasons, the Edsel was a sales and financial letdown right from the start and would only survive for little more than two years. Located in Pueblo, Colorado, this ’58 Ranger 2-door hardtop is a project that the seller no longer has the time or money for. It’s available here on craigslist for $3,000 OBO. Thanks, Gunter Kramer, for another neat tip!
In 1958, four models of the Edsel were offered with the Ranger positioned as the entry-level car. Along with the Pacer, it shared its platform with Ford’s models while the upper-level Corsairs and Citations had Mercury bones underneath. Edsels were innovative cars in several ways, such as their use of rotating domes for speedometers, warning lights for several key functions, and the “Teletouch” push-button automatic transmission mounted in the steering wheel hub.
For all the cool features the Edsel may have offered buyers, it turned out to be a car the market didn’t want. The styling was unorthodox, the pricing was too similar to what Ford and Mercury already offered, and the cars were introduced during an economic recession when people were buying fewer cars, to begin with. Sales were half what the bean counters needed, so the Edsels for 1959-60 were closer in execution to the rest of the company’s offerings, giving even more reasons for consumers not to buy. Just two months into the 1960 model year, Ford pulled the plug on the Edsel, losing something like $350 million in the process.
This first-year Edsel Ranger may be a father/son project that never got off the ground. It’s been in storage for years and the time has come for it to move on. The motor, likely a 292 cubic-inch Y-block V8, is said to have been running when they bought the car, and it will have to be coaxed back into action. It has the gee-whiz automatic transmission in a car with a reported 87,000 miles. Only 6,000 or so Ranger 2-door hardtops were built by Edsel in 1958.
Though rough around the edges, the seller says this car is largely complete. There is some rust in the fenders and floor panels, but the car is captive inside the garage so it’s hard to tell even what color the car was when it was new. The chrome, which we understand is hard to find now, we’re told is in decent shape. The interior is going to need a lot of help as well, especially the upholstery. Some attempts may have been made to work on the Edsel as it comes with new aftermarket taillights. The seller is willing to transport the car for the buyer as he has access to a truck and trailer. Who’s looking for an Edsel project?
I wonder why this car cost so much to develop. It’s based on the Ford and Merc cars of the era, and the running gear was pretty much right out of the Ford parts bin, right?
So, it would seem that tweaking the body/trim/features was similar to the usual yearly refresh that the big-3 did every year in those days. So why did Ford take such a bath on this car? Russ?
According to most online sources, Ford lost at least $350 million on the Edsel because of the cost of setting up separate sales channels and the marketing associated with it all. Not to mention the separate engineering for the 1958 models, which were less like Fords and Mercurys, but that changed for 1959-60 as they scrambled. And there’s the cost of shutting it all down 2-3 years later. Even if the losses were a quarter of that figure, it’s still big bucks in 1960 dollars.
Also not to mention looking like ‘an Oldsmobile sucking a lemon’.
Distributer is up front..it’s a MEL not a y-block..most likely a 361..but could be lucky and it could be a 410.
The 361 was an FE big block, not an MEL.
The Edsel 410 MEL was only available in the Corsair and Citation, the larger Mercury based cars.
Mercury offered a 410 FE in 1966 and 1967, but the Edsel’s 410 was an MEL.
They spent a ridiculous amount of money hyping and marketing the release of this car. It was such an over-hyped car that some dealers apparently had 1000’s of people show up on launch day. Add in poorly put together vehicles, many arrived at dealer with parts in the trunk to be installed, a price point that allowed you to step up to the next level for next to nothing. Just strange all around.
Thank you Russ for the information.
Offer a $1000 and see where it goes, wonder if the headlight & grill trim is included ? Recover the seat, do brakes and other mechanicals swap in a 390 and 4 speed would be a cheep & cool street rod.
Engine is NOT a Y block. It was an FE 361. Basically a 390 with a 352 crank. The FE first appeared in the Edsel, then later in other Fords. FE stood for Ford Edsel. This is WAY overpriced for a rusty parts car and being the Ranger was the bottom of the line model. $500 if you can find someone that wants it. Some engine parts are desirable like the trans shifting system, the exhaust manifolds, if not cracked. Good luck
For being a Ranger, it is special. Most seem to be 4 doors. Also has a lot of accessories not common to Ranger models.
As one who has found…and rehabbed 8 edsels back to life the past 10 years, I see this one as a money pit…altho the 2 dr is desireable, and unless you can do most if not ALL the work yourself, this is a $500 car as is……the parts needed will suprise you to make this car safe..
He probably wanted the money for the T-Bird money pit next to it.