Photo: challengerjim/eBay
Established in late 1956, the Edsel division was Ford's answer to mid-priced Oldsmobile and DeSoto products. But the company survived for only three years and went into the history books, leaving a $250-million hole in FoMoCo's budget. Edsel is also considered the world's biggest automotive flop.
The division's demise can be blamed on several factors. The cars looked quirky, rolled off the assembly line with poor fit and finish, and were a bit too expensive. The economic recession of late 1957 and Ford's failure to understand American buyers didn't help either.
The company sold only 118,287 vehicles over three model years, less than half the total Ford Fairlane production output for the 1958 model year. Edsel rolled out seven nameplates, including four sedans and three station wagons.
Unlike Ford, which had the F-Series truck and the car-based Ranchero pickup, Edsel didn't develop any haulers. And that's precisely why this two-door pickup is an exotic appearance.
No, this pickup is not a factory experiment. The vehicle left the assembly line as a Villager station wagon and became a truck down the road. There's no info as to which company handled the conversion, but the people behind it did a good job. The bed cut is perfect, and the cabin was sealed off with the Villager's tailgate window for a raked and somewhat stylish appearance, especially compared to the 1959 Ranchero.
The paint has a few issues around the doors, but that's probably because this pickup was built quite a few years ago. Even so, the President Red paint still shines on most body panels, while the chrome trim looks solid. The two-tone interior is no longer 100 percent original, but it appears to be period-correct and looks the part overall.
The engine, on the other hand, is a mystery. The seller says the pickup has a "354 with an FMX transmission," but Ford never offered this exact displacement. Unfortunately, there are no photos of the engine bay, so I'm forced to play the guessing game.
Ford had a 352-cubic-inch (5.8-liter) FE-type V8 at the time, but it did not become available in Edsel automobiles until 1960. So we're either looking at a swap or incorrect displacement for the original Edsel powerplant.
The Villager came with a choice of two V8 mills in 1959. The lineup included a 332-cubic-inch (5.4-liter) lump good for 225 horsepower and a 361-cubic-inch (5.9-liter) unit rated at 303 horses. The FMX was a three-speed automatic gearbox that was available only with the latter powerplant, so this pickup likely has the 361 V8. And that's good news as far as oomph goes.
Both the engine and the transmission have been overhauled and run perfectly, while the replacement nine-inch rear end also got a refresh, according to the ad.
If you're unfamiliar with the Villager, it was one of three wagons on Edsel's vehicle list. Available as a four-door rig with six- or nine-passenger capacity, the Villager slotted above the entry-level two-door Roundup and below the premium Bermuda. Both were discontinued after the 1958 model year, so the Villager remained the sole wagon option in 1959.
Edsel sold 11,367 units through 1960, and this conversion was one of 7,820 examples delivered during the 1959 model year. And even though it's a relatively rare classic, this Villager is better off as a one-of-none pickup and an excellent alternative to the 1959 Ranchero.
If it's something you'd park in your driveway, the hauler is being auctioned off from Hondo, Texas as we speak. The listing has 26 bids and has reached $12,000 as of this writing, with nearly five days to go.
The company sold only 118,287 vehicles over three model years, less than half the total Ford Fairlane production output for the 1958 model year. Edsel rolled out seven nameplates, including four sedans and three station wagons.
Unlike Ford, which had the F-Series truck and the car-based Ranchero pickup, Edsel didn't develop any haulers. And that's precisely why this two-door pickup is an exotic appearance.
No, this pickup is not a factory experiment. The vehicle left the assembly line as a Villager station wagon and became a truck down the road. There's no info as to which company handled the conversion, but the people behind it did a good job. The bed cut is perfect, and the cabin was sealed off with the Villager's tailgate window for a raked and somewhat stylish appearance, especially compared to the 1959 Ranchero.
The paint has a few issues around the doors, but that's probably because this pickup was built quite a few years ago. Even so, the President Red paint still shines on most body panels, while the chrome trim looks solid. The two-tone interior is no longer 100 percent original, but it appears to be period-correct and looks the part overall.
The engine, on the other hand, is a mystery. The seller says the pickup has a "354 with an FMX transmission," but Ford never offered this exact displacement. Unfortunately, there are no photos of the engine bay, so I'm forced to play the guessing game.
Ford had a 352-cubic-inch (5.8-liter) FE-type V8 at the time, but it did not become available in Edsel automobiles until 1960. So we're either looking at a swap or incorrect displacement for the original Edsel powerplant.
The Villager came with a choice of two V8 mills in 1959. The lineup included a 332-cubic-inch (5.4-liter) lump good for 225 horsepower and a 361-cubic-inch (5.9-liter) unit rated at 303 horses. The FMX was a three-speed automatic gearbox that was available only with the latter powerplant, so this pickup likely has the 361 V8. And that's good news as far as oomph goes.
Both the engine and the transmission have been overhauled and run perfectly, while the replacement nine-inch rear end also got a refresh, according to the ad.
If you're unfamiliar with the Villager, it was one of three wagons on Edsel's vehicle list. Available as a four-door rig with six- or nine-passenger capacity, the Villager slotted above the entry-level two-door Roundup and below the premium Bermuda. Both were discontinued after the 1958 model year, so the Villager remained the sole wagon option in 1959.
Edsel sold 11,367 units through 1960, and this conversion was one of 7,820 examples delivered during the 1959 model year. And even though it's a relatively rare classic, this Villager is better off as a one-of-none pickup and an excellent alternative to the 1959 Ranchero.
If it's something you'd park in your driveway, the hauler is being auctioned off from Hondo, Texas as we speak. The listing has 26 bids and has reached $12,000 as of this writing, with nearly five days to go.
Google News