OU11W702096

Dataplate specifications
Ranger, 2-door sedan, Black Velvet
Silver vinyl/Black cloth interior

292 Ranger V8, 3-speed manual transmission, 3.56:1 axle ratio
Edsel number 702096 manufactured in Louisville, KY on October 14, 1959


Information as of:  January 2016

Owner:   unknown (online auction car)
Location:   Brenham, Texas
Owned since:   September 2015

Mileage:   11,488 on a replacement gauge
Condition:   Drives, but needs restoration
Originality:   Customized, with major changes

Accessories included:   unknown

Notes:
This customized 1960 Edsel Ranger show car was built in the early 1960s by a gentleman named Doug Mattix and his father.  The car is known as the "Silver Cloud".  It appeared in many shows in the North and Central TX area in the 60s and 70s before it fell into obscurity.  The car has Barris badges, which I believe were added by the second owner who also showed the car.  I have a hand drawn show sign for the Silver Cloud that George Barris signed, however there is nothing to prove this is a Barris car and several sources have verified that George Barris had nothing to do with the building of the car.  It is likely that Barris autographed the show sign when the Silver Cloud was on display.
The car has appeared in at least one magazine (1001 Custom Car Ideas, 1965).

The second owner put the car into storage and it was later sold at auction in 2011.  It appears after that the car might have passed through several owners via private sale.  I stumbled upon the car purely by accident in September of 2015 when it appeared on the side of the road with a for sale sign.  From what I've heard speaking to other car guys in the area, the car has reappeared in the past couple years at a car show here and there.

It currently has a Chrysler 331cid non-cast bell housing V8 topped with a chrome Weiand Tri-Power intake, which is pretty rare in itself.  The last Wieand HEMI tri-power intake I saw, in worse condition, sold for almost $2k.  The intake is topped with three chrome Rochester 3G carburetors.  It's currently only running off the center 3GC carb.
The factory paint color is still there, but is covered in a reported 30 gallons of lacquer.  The lacquer has seen better days, and is checking, cracking and has flaked off in some places.  The previous owner left the car outside much of the time.  Unfortunately, I haven't been much kinder to the car.  However, I have kept the car under a car cover and on jack stands since I brought it home.

The top is really unique.  It's almost a rubber/vinyl combo with a really visually appealing texture.  The car has custom tail lights and custom Chrysler Imperial headlamps.  Pretty cool.  The current interior is full custom and has remained the same since the early '60s.  The interior is from a T-Bird and features a custom dash, Stewart Warner gauges, headliner, door panels, bucket seats front and rear, custom console stretching front to rear, and shag carpet.  The interior appointments continue into the trunk.  I believe the car is still running the stock standard transmission w/o overdrive and original rear gears.  The exhaust on the car is a real hack job and will need to be completely redone from the exhaust manifolds to mufflers.  The car has some surface rust associated with the paint degradation, but there is no body rot.  The chrome and stainless is not perfect and could use restoration as there is pitting.  The 15" Chrysler spoke wheels also have pitting and some dings in the rim edge and two center caps are missing.  The tires are old Goodyear Double Eagles that need to be replaced badly.

The car runs and drives, but not great.  I would highly recommend trailering the car.  I haven't touched or modified a single thing since I purchased it.  The car shows 11,488 miles on the Stewart-Warner odometer.  I believe the actual mileage on the car is probably closer to 20k miles, but who knows as the original gauges are long gone.  However, if you take into account that the car was modified and built in the early 60s, the actual mileage probably isn't too far over what the SW odometer is showing.

(Sold on eBay for $7500, January 17, 2016)


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