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!

Your webmaster's pet peeve 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 Grille

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 Grille

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 Grille

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.

The Pickle
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:

  1. 4-door Hardtop
  2. 2-door Hardtop
  3. 2-door Convertible
1958 Citation 2-door hardtop

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:

  1. 4-door Hardtop
  2. 2-door Hardtop
1958 Corsair 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:

  1. 4-door Hardtop
  2. 2-door Hardtop
  3. 4-door Sedan
  4. 2-door Convertible
1958 Pacer 2-door hardtop

*A few Pacers are known to have 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:

  1. 4-door Hardtop
  2. 2-door Hardtop
  3. 4-door Sedan
  4. 2-door Sedan
1958 Ranger 2-door hardtop

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:

  1. 4-door 6-passenger wagon
  2. 4-door 9-passenger wagon
1958 Bermuda 4-door wagon

1958 Edsel Villager


The four-door wagon
without the wood
panelling.

Villager body styles available:

  1. 4-door 6-passenger wagon
  2. 4-door 9-passenger wagon
1958 Villager 4-door wagon

1958 Edsel Roundup


The only Edsel 2-door
wagon available during
any model year.

Roundup body styles available:

  1. 2-door 6-passenger wagon
1958 Roundup 2-door 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:

  1. 4-door Hardtop
  2. 2-door Hardtop
  3. 4-door Sedan
  4. 2-door Sedan
1959 Ranger 2-door hardtop

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:

  1. 4-door Hardtop
  2. 2-door Hardtop
  3. 4-door Sedan
  4. 2-door Convertible
 		1959 Corsair 4-door hardtop

1959 Edsel Villager


The only Edsel station wagon
for '59. Includes the side trim
style of the Ranger.

Villager body styles available:

  1. 4-door 6-passenger wagon
  2. 4-door 9-passenger wagon
1959 Villager station wagon

1960 Edsel Ranger


All 1960 Edsels are
Ranger models, with
the exception of the
station wagon.

Ranger body styles
available:

  1. 4-door Hardtop
  2. 2-door Hardtop
  3. 4-door Sedan
  4. 2-door Sedan
  5. 2-door Convertible
1960 Ranger 4-door sedan

1960 Edsel Villager


All 1960 Edsel station wagons are Villagers.

Villager body styles available:

  1. 4-door 6-passenger wagon
  2. 4-door 9-passenger wagon
1960 Villager station wagon