Orphan of the Day, 01-15, 1958 Edsel Villager

[8E45E]

Craig

[Bob Andrews]

Even as a little kid I got a kick out of how they obviously used the 57 Ford body and cobbled up some taillights and trim to make it look like it was a different car<G> The lamest was the 60 Edsels on the 60 Ford body shells. Bizarre, but beautiful in their own way!

[Bill Pressler]

Even as a little kid I got a kick out of how they obviously used the 57 Ford body and cobbled up some taillights and trim to make it look like it was a different car<G> The lamest was the 60 Edsels on the 60 Ford body shells. Bizarre, but beautiful in their own way!

Yeah, those taillights are kinda ridiculous!

I like the '58 Ford-based Edsel two-door hardtops, best of all Edsels...Ranger and Pacer.

On a sort-of similar note, ever notice how the '58 Ford Ranchero had the '57's round taillights, even though '58 Ford wagons had the same taillights as the sedans and hardtops?

[55champion]

Looks like somebody did a good job getting this one right.Thanks for posting.

[56H-Y6]

Hi

Only in the '50's could automakers get away with silly designs like those taillights, I love 'em!

As a kids in the early '60's, we used to call those "bowling alley taillights". That referred to the large neon sign that advertised the Hornell Bowl-a-rama in Hornell, NY. The sign had two giant boomerangs pointed inward just like those taillights that flashed. It was one neat, funky sign, so typical of the period. Oddly enough just a couple miles up Route 36 was Arkport Motors, a Lincoln-Mercury-Edsel dealer who might have sold station wagons with just those crazy taillights. They may not have received an Edsel franchise until 1959 when it was obvious Edsel was going nowhere.

Another new dealership was built on Seneca Street in North Hornell to become one of those exclusive Edsel dealerships that Ford required initially. It lasted into 1959 before closing, the franchise 'awarded' to the Ford-Mercury dealership just over the bridge.

Steve

[BobPalma]

Craig: Is that wagon missing a piece of trim on the LF door, an extension of the front fender stainless spear?

As far as you know, were Edsels sold in Canada identical to those sold in The United States? BP

[8E45E]

Craig: Is that wagon missing a piece of trim on the LF door, an extension of the front fender stainless spear?

As far as you know, were Edsels sold in Canada identical to those sold in The United States? BP

Yes, Bob, it was missing a few chrome trim items: besides that door piece, its also missing the letter 'E' on the side near the rear. As far as I know, the Edsels were identical in Canada in 1958, but there were one of two small differences in an Oakville assembled 1959 that an Edsel expert could point out.

Craig

[BobPalma]

Yes, Bob, it was missing a few chrome trim items: besides that door piece, its also missing the letter 'E' on the side near the rear. As far as I know, the Edsels were identical in Canada in 1958, but there were one of two small differences in an Oakville assembled 1959 that an Edsel expert could point out. Craig

Yes, Craig; I remember reading about those differences in a 1959 Edsel article in, IIRC, Cars & Parts a couple years ago. Something about a certain engine/transmission combo being available only from that plant, I believe, and other peculiarities. BP

[JRoberts]

I love that wagon, including the tail lights. I have always thought that Edsels have gotten a rather bum rap as far as their looks go.

[S_Ferrell]

Edsel Wagon

Craig

This is what Donna Reed drove in the first season of her show.

[j.byrd]

Love 'em !!! I had a 59 Villager that I bought from the original owner when I was 19 years old. It had been hit in the right rear quarter panel, and had a replacement one laying in the back, but I never had it fixed. We drove it just a few months, it smoked like a coal-fired power plant, but ran smooth and quiet and rode great. A fellow that managed the "junk yard" at home kept after me, so I sold it to him. (he collected Edsels). That wagon seemed like it was the size of a small city to me, but I sure did enjoy it. There was a 59 Edsel patrol car for sale in Ft. Worth when we lived there, it was black on black, 2 door sedan, manual transmission, still had decal residue and appropriate holes for the antenna, spotlight, and lights, and had the big engine. That rascal would fly !! I didn't buy it tho', probably saved my own life, Ha !! Neat cars, thanks, JB