After a terrible first year, Edsel questions itself about its identity. For 1959, the company wants to position itself as the manufacturer of refined automobiles on the upper boundary of the low-price field. To fulfil this new aspiration, the line-up is simplified, the most expensive Pacer and Citation disappear, leaving only their simpler variants the Ranger and Corsair. Similar cuts reduce the station wagon line to the lone Villager. Engines are smaller, emphasis being now placed on economy. Despite all of this, sales remain poor, and by February 1959 Ford has to deny any plan to stop Edsel’s production.
Edsel Ranger
The 1959 Edsel line is closely based on this year’s Ford’s, though all models still adopt the company’s characteristic “horse collar” front grille. Style is squarish, and though the wheelbase is longer, the cars themselves are shorter. The smallest engine this year is a six, though this is actually considered an option to the standard V-8. Last year’s most modest engine now becomes the largest one, the large “Super Express” V-8 rated at 303 bhp. Gone is the trendy pushbutton automatic transmission of last year, replaced by a plain two-speed “Mile-O-Matic”.
● Introduction: October 1958. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 145 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 200 hp; and V-8, 5.9-litre, 303 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Two-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 536 cm. Top speed: 150 kph (six), 165 to 190 kph (V-8). Range: two-door sedan, four-door sedan, two-door hardtop coupe, four-door hardtop sedan.
Edsel Corsair
The new Corsair has very few in common with the old. It now shares its Ford chassis with the cheaper Ranger, but adds a larger V-8 as standard equipment, plus an array of minor improvements.
● Introduction: October 1958. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 5.4-litre, 225 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engine: V-8, 5.9-litre, 303 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Two-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 536 cm. Top speed: 170 to 190 kph. Range: four-door sedan, two-door hardtop coupe, four-door hardtop sedan, two-door convertible coupe.
Edsel Villager
The Villager is now the only Edsel station wagon. Its level of equipment is close to the Corsair’s, but it is powered by the same engines as the Ranger. As before, a third rear bench seat allows to increase the vehicle’s seating capacity from six to nine.
● Introduction: October 1958. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 145 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 5.4-litre, 225 hp; and V-8, 5.9-litre, 303 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Two-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 534 cm. Top speed: 150 kph (six), 165 to 190 kph (V-8). Range: four-door station wagon.
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Click here to return to a list of all Edsel vehicles presented on this blog.
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Edsel Ranger
The 1959 Edsel line is closely based on this year’s Ford’s, though all models still adopt the company’s characteristic “horse collar” front grille. Style is squarish, and though the wheelbase is longer, the cars themselves are shorter. The smallest engine this year is a six, though this is actually considered an option to the standard V-8. Last year’s most modest engine now becomes the largest one, the large “Super Express” V-8 rated at 303 bhp. Gone is the trendy pushbutton automatic transmission of last year, replaced by a plain two-speed “Mile-O-Matic”.
● Introduction: October 1958. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 145 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 4.8-litre, 200 hp; and V-8, 5.9-litre, 303 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Two-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 536 cm. Top speed: 150 kph (six), 165 to 190 kph (V-8). Range: two-door sedan, four-door sedan, two-door hardtop coupe, four-door hardtop sedan.
Edsel Corsair
The new Corsair has very few in common with the old. It now shares its Ford chassis with the cheaper Ranger, but adds a larger V-8 as standard equipment, plus an array of minor improvements.
● Introduction: October 1958. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled V-8, 5.4-litre, 225 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engine: V-8, 5.9-litre, 303 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Two-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 536 cm. Top speed: 170 to 190 kph. Range: four-door sedan, two-door hardtop coupe, four-door hardtop sedan, two-door convertible coupe.
Edsel Villager
The Villager is now the only Edsel station wagon. Its level of equipment is close to the Corsair’s, but it is powered by the same engines as the Ranger. As before, a third rear bench seat allows to increase the vehicle’s seating capacity from six to nine.
● Introduction: October 1958. Construction: body on separate chassis. Engine: water-cooled inline six, 3.7-litre, 145 hp, mounted at the front. Optional engines: V-8, 5.4-litre, 225 hp; and V-8, 5.9-litre, 303 hp. Transmission: to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox. Two-speed automatic gearbox optional. Suspension: independent at the front, rigid axle at the rear. Brakes: hydraulic, to drums on all four wheels. Servo optional. Length: 534 cm. Top speed: 150 kph (six), 165 to 190 kph (V-8). Range: four-door station wagon.
Any mistake you’ve just spotted? A detail to add? A suggestion? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment!
Click here to return to a list of all Edsel vehicles presented on this blog.
Click here to return to this blog’s initial post, featuring a list of all vehicles already presented.
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