Have you ever felt that you were the odd one out in a crowd? I experience that whenever the subject turns to the Edsel. So much has been written about the styling, and much of that has been negative. However, I actually find them quite attractive in a quirky way. That feeling is heightened by this 1958 Edsel Ranger. It presents nicely, features a healthy V8 under the hood, and the first owner ordered it with some desirable options. Therefore, I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Tony P for spotting this beauty listed here on Craigslist in Victorville, California. The seller set their price at $22,500 for this driver-grade classic.
Edsel was a bold experiment that faced some opposition within Ford’s Management Team. Chief among the detractors was Robert McNamara, who believed that a better strategy would have been to add some features to the company’s Fairlane to move it more upmarket and develop an affordable compact. History proved that McNamara was right, with the Falcon part of his lasting legacy. Part of the problem was the price, with Edsel coming to market with sticker prices that overlapped the more prestigious Mercury offerings. The other, apart from the divisive styling, was the lack of quality control that damaged the marque’s reputation beyond repair. This Ranger is a first-year two-door Sedan that was ordered by its original owner in Powder Blue and Frost White. The owner doesn’t mention a restoration history, but its lack of paint and panel flaws suggests it has received a cosmetic refresh. There is little to criticize about the presentation, which is probably better than when it left the factory. Life in a dry climate is good news for potential buyers, with this Ranger confirmed as rust-free. The glass is clear, and the trim, including the distinctive grille, is excellent.
While the styling and quality control may have divided opinions, what Edsel bolted under the hood of this Ranger didn’t suffer the same fate. This car features a 361ci V8 delivering 303hp and 400 ft/lbs of torque. Shifting duties fall to a three-speed automatic transmission. The curb weight north of 4,000 lbs meant that the engine had a lot of steel to move, but it did so fairly effortlessly. One criticism of the Edsel was what many viewed as overly soft suspension, but moderating the speed in corners meant that it wasn’t a drama. The seller indicates that this car features a new carburetor, new whitewalls, and a new exhaust. They describe the Ranger as a nice driver, suggesting that the only thing standing between the buyer and the open road is the cash they will need to hand to the seller to become its new owner.
The exterior presentation shows promise, and this Ranger delivers with its interior. Trimmed in Blue cloth and vinyl, its condition is surprisingly good. There are no gaping holes or evidence of stains or abuse, and the headliner and carpet look extremely nice. Some aftermarket gauges are hanging under the dash, and this car features air conditioning. However, the lack of a compressor belt in the engine bay shots suggests that the system doesn’t work and may require attention to blow ice-cold. However, this interior scores extra points on a few fronts. It features the funky “floating” rotating dome speedometer, while the first owner ordered the car with a pushbutton radio and the extremely desirable “Teletouch” wheel-mounted transmission selector. Many people believe that the Teletouch didn’t offer any tangible advantage over a traditional column shifter and was little more than a gimmick. It also proved troublesome, although the seller states that this one works perfectly.
Timing can be everything, especially in the motoring world. Release the right car at the right time, and a manufacturer can smell like roses. Get it wrong, and that won’t happen. The Edsel experiment was one of the biggest failures in Ford’s history, costing the company hundreds of millions of dollars. There was not one single factor that was the culprit, but more of a perfect storm. However, a once unloved car has now developed cult status, and good examples of the Edsel, particularly first-year vehicles, are sought by enthusiasts who love the fact that Ford was so bold. This 1958 Ranger appears to be a gem, and it has only been on the market for a few days. The seller’s price is above the market average, and I would typically question that. This Ranger might be the exception, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it finds a new home fairly quickly. Do you agree?
I like it ! …..IMO the price seems about right. …..
I’d love to have this in my driveway.
Tums upp !
Just out of high school, a classmate of mine took a ’58 or ’59 two door like this and installed a 428 cu. in. super cobra jet from a wrecked Torino along with a 4 speed. In my neck of the woods that was one of the fastest cars. I’ve often wondered what became of it. It could be that the running gear today, would be worth more than the car all put together.
You never knew what you’d turn up stomping through the water puddles in the junkyard.
JW, the story you just told is one of those classic “Here, hold my beer!!” moments!! Love it!!
Yes Bob, I often despair comparing what salvage yards have to offer today with what was there in the early seventies. I knew of one yard that had a row of 10~12 Chevrolet Nomad and Pontiac Safari 2 door wagons and a whole host of SS cars and GTOs. That yard kept my cars on the road very often.
Everyone has always made sport of the Edsel, probably starting with old Henry himself. Truth is, 1958 was a dismally poor year for auto sales across the board. To make it worse, the Edsell was both a new line and in competition with Mercury. Sibling rivalry plus daddy hatred plus…you get the idea.
Henry Ford I passed away in April, 1947, ten years before the car was launched, and his grandson Henry Ford II originally didn’t want his dad’s name for the car.
And it was obvious to me, as a 16 year old in 1957 that the two less expensive lines were Fords with different sheet metal and trim, and the two more expensive lines were Mercury’s. I wondered then, and now, whether the retrimmed Fords were built on Ford assembly lines and the others on the Mercury lines. And, there were two Ford lines as well in ’57 and ’58 as well. Like Studebaker with 4 Hawks to begin with, and the eventual failure of GM’s Pontiac and Olds lines, too many cars with too little difference.
Arizona plates. Is it registered in California?
If I had a buck for every air conditioned car missing the compressor drive belt and for every car for sale with a California front license plate I’d be fabulously wealthy.
Terrific looking Edsel. Great colors for the two tone treatment. Seems like it would be a great cruiser.
What a Fugly, Edsel beauty. Someone did a nice job on its cosmetic refresh along with mechanicals it seems. I love these year Fords and Mercurys better than most. I get the Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles confused at times. That looks like an older AC compressor clutch on what may be an updated compressor. The under dash AC looks more modern to me. Fair price for a turnkey, driver classic, but again on the wrong coast.
Lessons learned: NEVER introduce a new car line in the midst of a recession….AND never produce/build said new car line on a Lincoln/Mercury assembly line..ran into a few assembly line workers at a car show in St. Ignace, Michigan a few years back- the stories they told me would curl your ears..Robert McNamara, Yes, that Rob’t McNamara, did nothing to help the car line except push pencils…and empty suggestion boxes placed at points along the assembly lines for employees to offer their 2 cents worth on what could speed up/ improve the build process..Regardless, these are great cars..just too much going against them..
That last picture of the rear of the Edsel is what I saw coming at me as it backed it’s self off of a car trailer in front of me. (about 1976) It was quite a sight as we reloaded the car back on the trailer in the middle of traffic. It was more of an interesting sight as I also had an Edsel on a trailer behind my car. (ex-boss moving his collection from Detroit to Illinois)
A few years later a friend and I were test driving a Renault 5 (can you say LeCar?) and pulled up next to a pink Edsel at a traffic light. It was summer and all the windows were down. I said “there is something you don’t see every day, a pink Edsel!” Without a seconds hesitation and in a very embarrassed tone of voice the driver said “I do!”
I was just a little gear head when the Edsel came out but I still remember the hype and anticipation that Ford orchestrated before the unveiling. It was the grill that seemed to be the major turn off for most of the adults who expressed their opinions about the Edsel while I was in earshot. Remember, these were the days when a kid was reminded that children were to be seen and not heard. Horse collar, sucking a lemon and ugly as sin were a few of the comments I heard. And all these years later I actually think it’s pretty neat. GLWTS.
Those Edsel’s were ahead of their time design-wise. In 1970, Dodge used two Edsel grills mounted end to end and located them horizontally across the front of their Super-Bee.
Only Edsel I don’t like is the 1960. The only problem with Edsel is they were ahead of its time.
I loved the Edsel (except for the ugly 1959 that tried to continue their original styling-features on an entirely different body). The 1960 Edsel was pretty — especially in front — but by then the “space-age” internals were gone, and it was obviously a re-styled Ford Galaxie. I would like to see the higher-end 1958 Edsel show up (not that I could afford it, if it did). It is worth remembering that the Edsel appeared during the summer of 1957, before the other ’58s were out, and before we realised that we were headed into a recession. Also, for me, wrong coast. There were lots of pink 1958 Edsels, and I couldn’t stand the colour. Pink and black ones, also (GAG me!).
Harrison – Maybe you would like a yellow and black one better. Seems like pink was- still in the pink- in ’58, autos, bath tile and so on. Just guessing,but thinking perhaps the color was even more popular in the 50’s, with more pink Cadillacs and yard flamingoes.
Note that this A/C is a generic aftermarket unit. The factory A/C was integrated into the dash, with multiple cold air outlets at the base of the windshield.
Hey Bill, yes the compressor looks more aftermarket, as does the underdash unit. But that big clutch looks like mine used to on a 65 Mercury. Wonder why the AC belt isn’t attached. Probably needs some work. I converted all my older ones to 134 long ago.
Having grown up as kid in the 50’s, seeing one these was very noticeable with the ‘open mouth’ front grille and ‘alien eyes’ rear taillights. Coming from a Chevy family, the Fords were frowned upon and always belittled. When I saw that push button shifter was in the steering column, I simply could not understand how that worked. An uncle of mine had one briefly in the 60’s but I never heard anything good about it except that was always in need of repair! Now they are a cult classic due to their history and ‘infamy’!!
Yeah, Joey- – part of the push-button chic era–pushbutton phones, tv’s, appliances, you name it. Probably where ‘stop pushing my buttons’ got started.
The article says the engine is a 361 but the valve covers say E400.
At a local 3/8 mile dirt tract, one of the best cars racing was Sam Hanks original 1957 Indy car. This was a beautiful racer. Long, low and sleek.The owner always ran Edsel E475 engines and the local joke was that he bought up every Edsel available for the engines.
The owner/driver always would pull up to the high side rather than risk damaging the car in traffic. He was known as “Gentleman John”.
The 400 on the valve cover is the torque rating of the 361 engine, and the 475 is the torque rating for the 410 engine….More impressive numbers for marketing.
Thanks Al, for clearing that up !
you’re welcome
The best Edsel design.
Harrison….
Yes, Edsel “Al Leonard”: 1960 is mu favourite Edsel. The picture causes me to smile. Thank you!
Yes, Edsel “Al Leonard”: 1960 is my favourite Edsel. The picture causes me to smile. Thank you!