The Edsel came in with a bang in 1958 but went out with a whimper in 1960. It was an expensive lesson for Ford Motor Co., which lost hundreds of millions of dollars on a car that no one seemed to want or buy. The rarest of the lot are the 1960 models, of which only 2,846 saw the light of day, including 1,288 Ranger 4-door sedans like this one. We’re told it runs well, but is rough cosmetically, including some rust in the rear quarter panels. But it could suffice as a weekend driver for a while. Located near Denver, Colorado, this running project is available here on craigslist for $7,500. Thanks for the latest tip, Barn Finder Mike F.
In 1958, the new Edsels were different than the Fords and Mercurys that they borrowed from. Their most noticeable feature was the vertical “horse collar” grille that wasn’t seen as beautiful in the eyes of many. As first-year sales were disappointing, that feature was toned down in 1959, and the cars shared more corporate equipment. Other than some exaggerated sheet metal differences in 1960, the last Edsels were basically Galaxie 500s. 118,000 Edsels were built in 1958-60, but Ford’s break-even was much higher.
Ford cut the 1960 Edsel models down to two: Ranger sedans, hardtops, and convertibles, and Villager wagons. They were only on the market for two months before Ford announced they were throwing in the towel. The seller’s Ranger is perhaps a survivor, though it needs work, and the odometer stopped working at 69,000 miles. Under the hood lies a 292 cubic inch “Y-block” V8 supported by an automatic transmission. As a runner, recent work has been done to ensure that, including a tune-up, an alternator replacing the generator, a new battery and tires, and some brake work.
We’re told the Ranger is complete, including the Edsel lettering. The windshield is cracked, but one from a Galaxie will fit. The rear quarters will need work, and the front seat has a blanket over it, suggesting the upholstery is used up. With such low production numbers, these last-year Edsels don’t turn up very often – in any condition. This could be a drive-it-while-you-fix-it car, and the seller would consider a Foxbody Mustang in trade.
Tha 60 Edsel had the most bizarre tail lights of any car ever made. It is like they took lights off of another model and forced them to fit.
It is amazing how many of these seem to have survived