This next car comes as a tip from DT tipper SecondMouse who writes: Do you know a Mary Kay lady who needs a new whip? Trying to find a car to match those plastic pink flamingos you put in the yard? Look no further than this 1959 Ford Edsel Ranger, sensibly priced at $12,500 OBO.
The Merkur wasn't the first time FoMoCo thought they needed something to slot either between Ford and Mercury or Mercury and Lincoln sedans. In today's automotive climate, that's a bit like going to the deli and asking for something between White American and American pre-wrapped cheese slices. The real story is a little more complicated than that but is a cautionary tale that the consumer has the last word. Find this 1959 Edsel Corsair for sale in Cape Coral, FL for $5,500 via craigslist. Tip from dascpcu.
For the last car of the 1950s, take a look at the decade's biggest failure. Who really knows whether it was due to bad marketing, odd styling, confusing product lines and pricing, or just plain bad timing, but after its disappointing 1958 release, the newly minted brand lasted only (barely) into the 1960 model year. I happen to think the '59s are the least awkward looking, and still represent a good value in the classic car world today. Find this 1959 Edsel Ranger 2-door Hardtop survivor for sale in Concord, CA for $15,000 via craigslist. This post is part of DT's 2016 Birthday Celebration of 100 cars; enjoy the ride!
Edsel. Mere mention of the name will cause a variety of reactions among members of the public who are old enough to remember the late 1950s, and within the circle of gearhead historians who store random facts about orphaned car brands in their craniums. It would be fair to associate the word Edsel with the words failure, flop, and fugly depending on context, but I happen to like the darn things for some reason. Find this survivor grade 1959 Edsel Corsair for sale in Pickford Township, MI (Upper Peninsula) for $12,000 via craigslist.
The Citation was a 1958 model year only flop that was the first salvo in the total failure of branding known as Edsel. It was a shame that Edsel become the punchline to many jokes because the rolling dome speedo and teletouch steering wheel mounted transmission selector are some of the coolest features you'll ever find in a 50s automobile. Find this 1958 Edsel Citation 4-door offered for $8,000 in Denver, CO via craigslist. Tip from iNteloper
For three exciting years in the late 1950s Ford manufactured futuristic looking cars under the Edsel nameplate. Tipper Rene C writes: What would George Jetson drive? Better than a Starliner. Imagine how this could be resto-modded. The last Edsel model to ride off the Louisville, KY manufacturing plant assembly line was a Edsel Ranger, like this one. Find this 1960 Edsel Ranger Hardtop
currently bidding for $6,800 reserve-not-met with with 5 days to go in Roseburg, OR.
While there have been many sales flops in the history of the automobile, and many controversial designs over the years, surely the most infamous "failure" is the Edsel. This was Ford Motor Company's late-'50s attempt to start a new mid-level brand to compete with the likes of Pontiac and Plymouth - a bit nicer and better equipped than a basic Ford, but cheaper than a Mercury. Edsel started with a full lineup for 1958 with two different wheelbases and a selection of sedans, hardtops, convertibles and wagons...but was killed off after only two and a half model years. Today's 1959 Edsel Villager 9-passenger wagon is the middle child in the short-lived Edsel family tree (and to this editor, the most attractive). Find it here on ebay with bidding near $4k and a $10.5k Buy it Now price in Midland, TX.