SPOTTER'S GUIDE TO THE EDSEL
Here's a quick reference guide on how to identify an Edsel.
By studying this information, you'll amaze your friends at the next parade,
impress your date at the local cruise night, or just keep your Edsel-fanatic
friends from hurting you after you've convinced them to drive two hours to
look at a mint '59 Edsel that turns out to be a '56 Packard!
First, a quick Edsel tip..
It's not a "Ford Edsel" as many folks are fond of calling it.
You don't hear "Check out that Ford Mercury Cougar".
Or, "I drive a Ford Lincoln Town Car".
Or, "What year is that General Motors Chevy Impala?". Right?
Each has its own division, separate from the parent company.
Likewise, the Edsel Division was its own entity.
Now that that's cleared up, let's continue..
Identification by Year
1958 Edsel
Large vertical "horsecollar"-shaped grille. Split front bumpers.
Side indentation (or "scallop") running from rear quarter across the back to the other side.
Taillights are gull-wing style with unfortunately little protection from damage. Back-up
lenses, if so equipped, are in separate chrome housings between the taillight and the
bumper. (The exception is the station wagon, which has a large round taillight
on each side, with red ">"-shaped lenses slicing through them.)
EDSEL identification is prominent vertically on the grille, on the side scallop and
across the rear deck above the trunk. Model script is to the front of the front wheel
well.
1959 Edsel
Smaller vertical grille incorporated into a horizontal grille. Green "badge" built into
the top-center of the grille. Front parking lights are integrated in the corners of the
bumper. Side trim runs the length of the car, and defines an area of the body that is
most often a secondary color.
Three round flat tail lights are mounted on each chrome bezel. Typically, the outer
two lenses are red, and the inside lens is clear. (The exception is the station wagon,
which has the red lights mounted in sets of two on smaller bezels, and the back-up
lights are separate, below the tail lights.)
EDSEL identification is over the front grille, across the rear deck, and on both sides
starting on the front quarter panel and finishing on the front door. Model script is on
the rear quarter panel below the side trim.
1960 Edsel
Horizontal grille with hour-glass shaped centerpiece. Green "badge" built into the
top of the "hour-glass". Front parking lights are built into the sides of the grille,
and a continuous chrome strip extends from here to the length of the car. A second single
trim spear begins on the front quarter panel and tapers to the bottom of the rear bumper.
Two vertically-elongated taillights on each side are raised off of the rear deck. The
station wagon has smaller versions of the same lenses.
EDSEL identification can be seen on the rear quarter panels, and across the back of the
car. Model script is on the front quarter panel above the start of the tapered trim.
Another note..
The green "badge" found on the 1958 Citation trim, and the 1959-1960 grille,
is affectionately known in Edsel circles as "the Pickle".
Body Style
1958 Edsel Citation
Big-series frame.
Features a squared-off
roofline, a chrome side
strip, a prominent body
curvature above and to
the front of the chrome
strip, and a brushed-
metal insert within the side scallop.
Citation body styles available:
- 4-door Hardtop
- 2-door Hardtop
- 2-door Convertible
1958 Edsel Corsair
Big-series frame.
Features a squared-off
roofline, a chrome side
strip, a prominent body
curvature above and to
the front of the chrome
strip, and no side scallop insert.
Corsair body styles available:
- 4-door Hardtop
- 2-door Hardtop
1958 Edsel Pacer
Small-series frame.
Features a curved
roofline, a chrome
side strip, no prominent
body curvature above
the side strip, and
no side scallop insert*.
Pacer body styles available:
- 4-door Hardtop
- 2-door Hardtop
- 4-door Sedan
- 2-door Convertible
*Some Canadian-built Pacers included a
factory-installed "Citation"-style trim package, sporting a
smaller version of the aluminum scallop insert.
1958 Edsel Ranger
Small-series frame.
Features a curved
roofline, no front
side trim, and no
side scallop insert.
Ranger body styles available:
- 4-door Hardtop
- 2-door Hardtop
- 4-door Sedan
- 2-door Sedan
1958 Edsel Bermuda
The Edsel wagon with
the wood-grain side trim.
In fact, the ONLY Edsel
from any model year
available in this style
was the '58 Bermuda.
Bermuda body styles available:
- 4-door 6-passenger wagon
- 4-door 9-passenger wagon
1958 Edsel Villager
The four-door wagon
without the wood
panelling.
Villager body styles available:
- 4-door 6-passenger wagon
- 4-door 9-passenger wagon
1958 Edsel Roundup
The only Edsel 2-door
wagon available during
any model year.
Roundup body styles available:
- 2-door 6-passenger wagon
1959 Edsel Ranger
Can be distinguished by its
side trim. If the trim starts off
as a spearhead, extends with
a dip on the front door, and
then tapers back up to meet
at the end of the car, it's a
'59 Ranger.
Ranger body styles available:
- 4-door Hardtop
- 2-door Hardtop
- 4-door Sedan
- 2-door Sedan
1959 Edsel Corsair
Also distinguished by its
side trim. The Corsair trim
starts off as two separate
bars, and gradually expands
until it reaches the rear quarter
panel, where it opens wide
enough to include a brushed-
metal insert.
Corsair body styles available:
- 4-door Hardtop
- 2-door Hardtop
- 4-door Sedan
- 2-door Convertible
1959 Edsel Villager
The only Edsel station wagon
for '59. Includes the side trim
style of the Ranger.
Villager body styles available:
- 4-door 6-passenger wagon
- 4-door 9-passenger wagon
1960 Edsel Ranger
All 1960 Edsels are
Ranger models, with
the exception of the
station wagon.
Ranger body styles
available:
- 4-door Hardtop
- 2-door Hardtop
- 4-door Sedan
- 2-door Sedan
- 2-door Convertible
1960 Edsel Villager
All 1960 Edsel station wagons
are Villagers.
Villager body styles available:
- 4-door 6-passenger wagon
- 4-door 9-passenger wagon
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