Edsel.com Gallery: Special Use & Custom Creations

Edsel.com Gallery
Special Use & Custom Creations

Some Edsels were taken directly from the factory and modified for use as emergency vehicles, for police, fire and ambulance service. Still other cars became hearses, Edsel factory service vehicles, etc. And there's no shortage of imaginative customizers, who have taken a torch to their own Edsel to create vehicles ranging from the unique to the outright wild.

(Keep in mind, there were no "El Camino/Ranchero"-style Edsels produced by FoMoCo. All "Edcheros" (or less commonly, "Edselcheros") started out life as either Edsel station wagons or Ford Rancheros with an Edsel nose bolted on.)

Click images to enlarge.

Special Use Edsels

The cops were on the scene.

The perp was quickly apprehended.

Hey! It's Mike Brogan! What did he do this time?

Perhaps the rarest '58 of all, a Memphian ambulance, based on a big series car. It reminds me of a Japanese tin toy come to life. I've only ever heard of one other besides this one. They were built in Memphis by Memphis Coach. They built mostly Dodges, Plymouths and Chryslers.

This car is owned by Bruce Raymond and is undergoing restoration. There are pictures of the late-fifties Memphian Chrysler products in books about ambulances. The coachwork similarity to the Edsel is very much apparent.

Here it is again.

A RARE big series Memphian Ambulance, currently under restoration in Guyton, Georgia, by its owner Charles Shearouse.

Ambulance in Upstate NY, ca. 1976

Steve Shultz' authentic '60 Edsel police car, photographed in 1982.

You can be sure this car isn't powered by a 223. That's a Bob Jones dealer script.

Rare '59 Amblewagon.

Customized Edsels

What if the Edsel Division survived? Many have pondered, but Florida's Rob Cerame actually crafted a 50th Anniversary edition Edsel based on the Ford Crown Victoria! This '08 Edsel sports a customized grille, bumpers, taillights, and interior/exterior Edsel trim.

For accuracy, Rob changed only the same things that are different between a Crown Victoria and a Grand Marquis, as these items would be the things that separated Edsel from Ford/Mercury. Taillights follow the styling of the 1958 Edsel.

Details include Edsel cloth in the door panels and seat inserts, as well as embroidered "50th Anniversary" designations on the seats and on the vinyl roof treatment.

Everywhere you look, right down to the spinner wheel covers with Edsel insignias, this car's the best example of what a showroom-new Edsel would look like today.

The car was completed in late July 2008 after 11 weeks of conversion. Rob even went as far as having a warranty book and owner's manual covers printed, so it looks like it has all the complete factory manuals! Makes you wonder what the DMV entered on the vehicle registration..

Patrick Bezuur spotted this 1959 "Bermuda" wagon at the monthly American car meet near Amsterdam in the summer of 2007. Look close at the tailgate and you'll find it's even got a Bermuda script!

The car is absolutely loaded with accessories, including roof rack, spinner wheel covers, exhaust deflectors, air conditioning, and both a hooded mirror and spotlight mirror.

The custom side trim appears to be really well designed and applied. Too bad the Edsel Division didn't have the heart to produce this beauty!

Texas-based contracting firm Spaw Maxwell had a vision for their entry in the 2006 Houston Art Car parade.

It's March 11, 2006, and this junkyard-bound Pacer 4-door hardtop had to be parade-ready by May..

Two days later the car arrives for its award-winning makeover.

The Pacer is prepped, primed and painted

May 11, 2005: The unveiling.
The car is reborn as a backhoe/front-end loader!

The implements really function, with elecronic actuators. Comes complete with two light bars, wig wag headlights, emergency flashers at all parking lights, a back-up beeper and air horn.

Getting in is a little tough, with access limited by wheelchair-motor-driven treads mounted to both sides of the project.

There's even a public address systems at the driver's seat and the operator's chair, which is built into the trunk.

The car won first place in the performance division and 3rd place overall. A far better fate than what had laid ahead at the junkyard!

Dave Hooten's one-of-a-kind '60 "Roundup"

Dave used a Ford Ranch wagon to create this 2-door fantasy.

Again, from behind.

Here's a happy picture!

This customized Ranger was being advertised in a local paper as a Citation! All the chrome around the rear scallops has been removed and filled. The "Ranger" and "Edsel" nameplates have been removed and filled. It has a sunken arial, frenched taillights and the deck lid was shaved. There's no moulding or trim bar for the lock.

The deck lid nameplate was replaced with three small round lights that light up when the brakes are applied. The interior is wild too. The dash and window frames are pinstriped. It has custom paint in a very light metallic blue, like the paint you see on expensive cars like Lexus. It's a pearly metallic sort of paint.

Dwight Deem's 1960 "Fordsel" two-door hardtop

A blue Villager spotted parked on the street in Cincinnati in 1974. Note the '59 Ford trim around rear wheel openings.

There, but by the grace of God, go some people and their vehicles.

A mid-1970s Ford LTD tries to pass itself off as a member of the Edsel family.

Look close and see that the disguise extends to the back of the car, too!

You know, sometimes it's just better to go bra-less.

'58 small series trailer.

From the back.

"Ed-chero's"

Who needs a tailgate?! "Edsel-Ranchero"s have been made from both Edsel station wagons and Ford Rancheros.
But here's a unique version from Montana, made from a 1959 Ranger 4-door sedan!

Pudge Wiley wanted a pickup truck when he was 16 in 1963, so he removed the roof from his mother's Pacer 4-door.

"This a photo shows my Dad seeing Mom's Edsel for the first time, after I cut the top off.", says Pudge, who surprisingly wasn't killed that day.

Tim & Jeannette Buris own this Edsel Ranchero, VIN B9UT741938

The car started out life as a 6-passenger Edsel Villager.
Note the use of the factory hatch as the new rear window!

Really nice workmanship all around.

Edsel Ranchero, Alfred, NY, 1975

Dave Ward's "Roundup pickup", 1994

Kurt Oelmann's nicely done Ranchero conversion

Again, from behind. The scallops really make this car.

Dwight Deem's '59 Edsel Ranchero

Charlie Kiser's Edchero started out as a Canadian Ford Ranchero, and is currently titled as an Edsel. Owned since April 1993, it inclides power windows and power seat.

Charlie's other Edsel-titled Ranchero was purchased in 1979, and has power steering, spinner wheel covers, dual exhaust. and '64 XL seats. It runs very strong with its 428 CJ and C6.

Custom Edsel Components

Glenn Lueders' Edelbrock-manifold E-400 that's currently powering his '58 Ranger.

	The cops were on the scene.
	The perp was quickly apprehended.
	Hey! It's Mike Brogan! What did he do this time?
	Perhaps the rarest '58 of all, a Memphian ambulance, based on a big series car. It reminds me of a Japanese tin toy come to life. I've only ever heard of one other besides this one. They were built in Memphis by Memphis Coach. They built mostly Dodges, Plymouths and Chryslers.
	This car is owned by Bruce Raymond and is undergoing restoration. There are pictures of the late-fifties Memphian Chrysler products in books about ambulances. The coachwork similarity to the Edsel is very much apparent.
	Here it is again.
	A RARE big series Memphian Ambulance, currently under restoration in Guyton, Georgia, by its owner Charles Shearouse.
	Ambulance in Upstate NY, ca. 1976
	Steve Shultz' authentic '60 Edsel police car, photographed in 1982.
	You can be sure this car isn't powered by a 223. That's a Bob Jones dealer script.
	Rare '59 Amblewagon.

	What if the Edsel Division survived? Many have pondered, but Florida's Rob Cerame actually crafted a 50th Anniversary edition Edsel based on the Ford Crown Victoria! This '08 Edsel sports a customized grille, bumpers, taillights, and interior/exterior Edsel trim.
	For accuracy, Rob changed only the same things that are different between a Crown Victoria and a Grand Marquis, as these items would be the things that separated Edsel from Ford/Mercury. Taillights follow the styling of the 1958 Edsel.
	Details include Edsel cloth in the door panels and seat inserts, as well as embroidered "50th Anniversary" designations on the seats and on the vinyl roof treatment.
	Everywhere you look, right down to the spinner wheel covers with Edsel insignias, this car's the best example of what a showroom-new Edsel would look like today.
	The car was completed in late July 2008 after 11 weeks of conversion. Rob even went as far as having a warranty book and owner's manual covers printed, so it looks like it has all the complete factory manuals! Makes you wonder what the DMV entered on the vehicle registration..

	Patrick Bezuur spotted this 1959 "Bermuda" wagon at the monthly American car meet near Amsterdam in the summer of 2007. Look close at the tailgate and you'll find it's even got a Bermuda script!
	The car is absolutely loaded with accessories, including roof rack, spinner wheel covers, exhaust deflectors, air conditioning, and both a hooded mirror and spotlight mirror.
	The custom side trim appears to be really well designed and applied. Too bad the Edsel Division didn't have the heart to produce this beauty!

	Texas-based contracting firm Spaw Maxwell had a vision for their entry in the 2006 Houston Art Car parade.
	It's March 11, 2006, and this junkyard-bound Pacer 4-door hardtop had to be parade-ready by May..
	Two days later the car arrives for its award-winning makeover.
	The Pacer is prepped, primed and painted
	May 11, 2005: The unveiling. The car is reborn as a backhoe/front-end loader!
	The implements really function, with elecronic actuators. Comes complete with two light bars, wig wag headlights, emergency flashers at all parking lights, a back-up beeper and air horn.
	Getting in is a little tough, with access limited by wheelchair-motor-driven treads mounted to both sides of the project.
	There's even a public address systems at the driver's seat and the operator's chair, which is built into the trunk.
	The car won first place in the performance division and 3rd place overall. A far better fate than what had laid ahead at the junkyard!

	Dave Hooten's one-of-a-kind '60 "Roundup"
	Dave used a Ford Ranch wagon to create this 2-door fantasy.
	Again, from behind.
	Here's a happy picture!

	This customized Ranger was being advertised in a local paper as a Citation! All the chrome around the rear scallops has been removed and filled. The "Ranger" and "Edsel" nameplates have been removed and filled. It has a sunken arial, frenched taillights and the deck lid was shaved. There's no moulding or trim bar for the lock.
	The deck lid nameplate was replaced with three small round lights that light up when the brakes are applied. The interior is wild too. The dash and window frames are pinstriped. It has custom paint in a very light metallic blue, like the paint you see on expensive cars like Lexus. It's a pearly metallic sort of paint.

	Dwight Deem's 1960 "Fordsel" two-door hardtop
	A blue Villager spotted parked on the street in Cincinnati in 1974. Note the '59 Ford trim around rear wheel openings.
	There, but by the grace of God, go some people and their vehicles.
	A mid-1970s Ford LTD tries to pass itself off as a member of the Edsel family.
	Look close and see that the disguise extends to the back of the car, too!
	You know, sometimes it's just better to go bra-less.
	'58 small series trailer.
	From the back.

	Who needs a tailgate?! "Edsel-Ranchero"s have been made from both Edsel station wagons and Ford Rancheros. But here's a unique version from Montana, made from a 1959 Ranger 4-door sedan!
	Pudge Wiley wanted a pickup truck when he was 16 in 1963, so he removed the roof from his mother's Pacer 4-door.
	"This a photo shows my Dad seeing Mom's Edsel for the first time, after I cut the top off.", says Pudge, who surprisingly wasn't killed that day.
	Tim & Jeannette Buris own this Edsel Ranchero, VIN B9UT741938
	The car started out life as a 6-passenger Edsel Villager. Note the use of the factory hatch as the new rear window!
	Really nice workmanship all around.
	Edsel Ranchero, Alfred, NY, 1975
	Dave Ward's "Roundup pickup", 1994
	Kurt Oelmann's nicely done Ranchero conversion
	Again, from behind. The scallops really make this car.
	Dwight Deem's '59 Edsel Ranchero
	Charlie Kiser's Edchero started out as a Canadian Ford Ranchero, and is currently titled as an Edsel. Owned since April 1993, it inclides power windows and power seat.
	Charlie's other Edsel-titled Ranchero was purchased in 1979, and has power steering, spinner wheel covers, dual exhaust. and '64 XL seats. It runs very strong with its 428 CJ and C6.