I posted "Edsel's Three Model Years" here, and "Making 1958 Edsels from 1957 Fords and Mercurys" here. The present post builds on those, focusing on 1959 Edsel design, the brand's only facelift. (The few 1960 Edsels were new designs, based on the redesigned 1960 Fords.)
Model year 1958 Edsels came in two body platforms. Entry-level Edsels used Ford bodies and came in two ranges: Ranger and Pacer. Upscale Edsels were Mercury-based: Corsairs and Citations. But for 1959, all Edsels were Ford-based, the model line reduced to Ranger and Corsair.
For detailed coverage of the Edsel saga, read "Disaster in Dearborn: The Story of the Edsel" by Thomas E. Bonsall (Amazon link here).
It seems that Ford management was starting to sour on the project even before the 1958 models were introduced to the public in early September of 1957. By late 1957, sales data revealed that the cars were not selling as well as anticipated. Given the lead-time to the introduction of 1959 models, it's likely that the decision to drop Mercury-based Edsels was made some time in 1957, not 1958.
In the Gallery below, 1958 and 1959 Edsel styling themes are compared. Some 1959 Ford images are included to indicate changes made to create Edsels.
A Mercury-based Edsel with the then-controversial grille design.
Frontal design was simplified. Headlights were moved from the fender fronts to the grille zone. The vertical grille element was somewhat integrated with the rest of the grille by adding horizontal bars. My opinion is that this resulted in a bland Edsel-look. I'd be tempted to put sone vertical bars in the vertical element. That would have toned-down the original grille's visual shock while still being proudly (enough) Edsel.
The basis for 1959 Edsels, in this case a two-door hardtop.
Galaxie was Ford's most expensive line. For 1959, it and mid-range Fairlane 500s were given wide C-pillars in Thunderbird fashion.
Ford's entry-level Custom 300 line received thinner C-pillars with panoramic backlight windows. This version was used on '59 Edsels.
The Ford fenderline was retained. Wheel openings were slightly different, along with the rear door's aft cutline. Edsel sides received new sculpting below the fenderline and, of course, new side trim.
Entry-level Ranger side trim differed from that of the senior-level Corsair shown here -- though the upper chrome pieces seem similarly placed.
Original Edsel rear end design on a Ford-based body.
For '59, trunk lid shaping was little changed, but not the rest of the rear. Ford invested in some new tooling here as well as on the sides and front end.
Ford rear ends were clearly unlike Edsels despite having the same basic body structure.
1 comment:
It was only the Galaxie series that received the wide C pillars (that was its distinguishing feature); the Fairlane and Fairlane 500 used the same roof as the Custom 300 and Edsels.
Post a Comment