Rare Corsair: 1959 Edsel Corsair
This 1959 Edsel Corsair runs and drives, and it appears that it could be driven as it stands. The new owner will probably want to undertake a restoration, but the car can be driven while the work is undertaken. You will find the Edsel listed for sale here on Craigslist. It is located in Westminster, California, and is listed with a clean title. The owner has set a price of $4,750 for the Edsel.
By 1959 the Edsel as a brand was pretty well dead in the water. The range had been pared from four models to two, and the Corsair was the premium model. This Corsair will require restoration work on the body, but we get no indication of the condition of the floors or frame. There is some rust around the rear wheel arches, in the rockers, and in the lower front fenders. It also looks like the back edge of the quarter panel on the driver’s side might have some Bondo in it. The car has also had a partial repaint, so there is a mismatch from one side to the other. Some of the exterior trim is also missing.
The interior of the Corsair is basically in good condition, although, quite literally, it is a bit frayed around the edges. The seats, door trims, and dash look pretty good, although the factory radio is missing out of the dash. The wheel has a couple of cracks in it, and the trim around the edges of the door closes is quite frayed in places. In reality, it is quite serviceable, and won’t take a lot of work to make it nice.
The car runs and drives, which is a real plus. There’s not much to say about the car mechanically. The 361ci V8 is hooked to an automatic transmission, but we can’t be completely sure whether it is a 2-speed or a 3-speed transmission, and the owner isn’t giving the secret away. It looks reasonably clean in there for a car of this age, and won’t take a lot to make it really nice.
The Edsel was an abject failure on introduction, and Ford managed to tear up $250,000,000 on the failed marque. It wasn’t that many years ago that you were lucky if you could give one of these away. Today they have developed a cult following, and there are always people looking to buy them In 1959 there were only 1,812 examples of the 4-door hardtop built, which places this car second only to the 1959 Corsair Convertible in rarity. That should ensure that this one finds itself a buyer. Could you be that person?
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Comments
Edsels got a bad rap.
They deserved a bad wrap. They were nothing but Re-badged Mercury’s for the most part. I had several Merks and in the early ’60 you couldn’t give them or Edsels away. For Ford to market Edsel in competition with itself (Fairlane and Mercury) was about as smart as GM having Buick and Oldsmobile.
Looks like a reasonable price if floor and frame are good. If any BF’ers go and check this out, please report back.
Pardon me, WHAT did you just call us?
Given that Ikey hasn’t replied, and this site is called “Barnfinds”, I’m guessing that’s his short form for “Barnfinder”, as in one who Barn finds??
Just kidding, Kevin. ; )
Why do you say you would probably want to do a restoration?
It looks good enough to drive right now.
I can’t for the life of me figure out why people pull radios out of the dash on these old cars.
I have even seen radios pulled out of a 1969 Ford Galaxie, and if you know where that radio was, you know they would never put a modern radio back in there.
I seen the Edsel on a car show the was about how cars changed America and it was mainly about Ford and chevy and Dodge that changed the name to Chrysler and Chevrolet was founded by a swedish race car driver I can’t remember his first name but his last name was Chevrolet and was not founded by an American I got off track sorry but any way the Edsel car was designed by edsels son and they showed the Edsel car on the show and they showed the steering wheel and it had the 3 speed push button automatic in it and the push button gear shifter was in the center of the steering wheel which looked neat and different
Phew !!
Billy Durant lost gm to the share holders. Basically he went back to square one and borrowed on the name of his former race car driver and with him started Chevrolet. He regained control of gm and pulled the chevrolet name into the gm fold. Louis chevrolet was not the brains behind chevy Billy Durant was. The full documentary was on the history channel and can be seen by going to Great cars YouTube.youll want to start with Buick as that is where the Durant story begins. Now as for the Edsel here, why would you not want to restore it, if it were mine I’d want to bring it back to its former self. Why would you want to leave it looking like a $h!t box. The fact is Edsel was a car ahead of its and carried innovation not yet present in other cars. Its ugliness is what sets it apart today I like cars like this because there not a dime a dozen.JMO.
It looked like this
When I first moved to Missouri in 2000 there was a run down looked to be big garage or small factory outside of town on the highway that had old cars all around it with weeds covering most and right up front was a Edsel. Well people must have been too nosey because a couple years ago a 8′ chainlink fence went up which was IMHO worth more than the building itself to keep parts robbers out. No one I’ve talked to knows anything about who owns the property or the cars.
Be careful
Edsel Al, where are ya?? I agree that the edsel got a bum rap. They were good durable cars like their Ford counterparts. I know of a friend who had one that was passed thru his family and when the got rid of it had 300k on it! Good luck to the new owner.
Cheers
GPC
sorry Charlie…just now saw this Edsel…..I have one that has 18,678 ORIGIONAL miles on it…and its a 2 door HT…took some “lookin” to find that one!!! Now, on to my next field trip!!
I just now found this submission..I winter in Fl….I’ve got 3 now…sold 2 overseas the past 2 winters….cant post pics anymore so trust me they are the cream of the crop- esp my 1 of 777 1960 Ranger 2 dr HT..
Edsel Al
Two considerations on this `59 if you are even remotely interested in buying it. First, it’s a 4dr. hardtop, with no B-pillar; a rare variant today where Edsels are concerned. Second, it’s the top-shelf Corsair model, a bit nicer than the standard Ranger. This one’s fairly complete and runs, which is half the battle right there. One more thing—the Edsel Owner’s Club has some of THE most helpful members of any car club to network with when looking for parts!!
I appreciate all of the reasons stated for restoring the car. But I haven’t seen anything that tells me why it’s “rare”. There were lots of other cars of this era that were low production, as is this car.
Certainly would be a labor of love. Don’t get me wrong, I really like the Edsel line of cars. And this is coming from a GM guy! But there really isn’t enough information in the ad to assume it’s a daily driver. It’s probably gonna need an engine & tranny rebuild, new brakes, fuel system, cooling system, paint, upholstery, headliner, carpet, and missing trim, not to mention fixing all the rust and bad Probably better off buying one that’s already done. But I hate to see a beautiful and unique car go to the wayside. So, a labor of love.
Well, as my name implies, I have a few Edsels and am pretty familiar with them. (2 59 wagons to be exact). A few things to clear up…
1) The pushbutton tranny was on model year 1958 only. This one appears to be the 2-speed Mile-a-matic. (I see PRNDL – 5 letters, not 6 for the 3 speed)
2) The 1959 designs and product lines were already locked and loaded before the introduction (and subsequent flop) of the 1958 Model. So any changes had nothing to do with refining it as a reaction to the slow sales.
3) No — it was not designed by Edsel Ford, as he had previously died. The family DID NOT want the car named after him, but eventually caved in because the other names suggested were pretty awful. The project had always been referred to as the “E” car internally for several years, thus using Edsel and the “E” logo was already in keeping with the internal nomenclature.
4) This also appears to have Power Steering, which is well needed (One of mine has it, the other does not — huge difference in drivability for this big car.)
5) A total restoration on this car will be under-water in days, not weeks. My suggestion is to restore for safety and drivability, and minimal cosmetics until you are comfortable with it.
6) You can find an old radio as it isn’t Edsel specific (just an old 59 ford works except different knobs). The knobs were used well into the 61 model year in Mercury Comets, so any interior bits can be found. Costs $700 to get the guts changed out to a modern radio.
7) The Edsel community is very accommodating and parts aren’t terribly difficult to find. Except the holy grail of trim pieces, the horse-collar hooded mirrors!
8) Pretty much everything else is standard Ford mechanicals and bits using the Y-Block and accessories.
9) Is it worth it? Well, what four-door hard top from 1959 is bringing in big bucks? Not many. So don’t get into it for money, do it for the love of the oddball. Everyone at any car show will enjoy seeing it, and it will stand out more than most other cars from that era.
Bill, much of what you’ve said applies to just about any car from that era, especially when you’re talking comparable body styles. The annual big-buck auctions prove over and over again, that many consignors who show up with cost-be-damned restorations end up wanting to slit their wrists, when the time and money they’ve invested earns them 30 or (if they’re lucky) 40 cents on their spent dollars.
@edselbill In your item #2 you said “1959 designs and product lines were already locked and loaded before the introduction (and subsequent flop) of the 1958 Model”.
Any photos around of what the “big”(Mercury based) 59 or 60 models would have looked like?
Names rejected for the Edsel:
MONGOOSE CIVIQUE
ANTICIPATOR
REGNA RACER (couronne à couronne) sovereign to sovereign
AEROTERRE
Fée Rapide (Aerofée, Aero Faire, Fée Aiglette, Magi-Faire) Comme II Faire
Tonnèrre Alifère (winged thunder)
Aliforme Alifère (wing-slender, a-wing)
TURBOTORC (used as an adjective by Plymouth)
THUNDERBIRD allié (Cousin Thunderbird)
THUNDER CRESTER
DEARBORN Diamanté
MAGIGRAVURE
PASTELOGRAM
Regina-rex
Taper Racer
Taper Acer
Varsity Stroke
Angelastro
Astranaut
Chaparral
Tir à l’arc (bull’s eye)
Cresta Lark
Triskelion (three legs running)
Pluma Piluma (hairfine, feather foot)
Andante con Moto (description of a good motor?)
Utopian Turtletop
Hello EdselBill, I recently purchased a 59′ Edsel Corsair. With in a month of enjoying it a drunk driver side swiped it while parked in front of my house. I’m trying to find both doors for the drivers side and was hoping someone with your expertise could help point me in the right direction. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
@Chad B. I hope the SOB is currently in the slammer!
Jerry Lasseigne is your man for Edsel parts…..drop me a line and I can get you his info….
EdselAl
Ditto on everything you said Edsel Bill…I have a 59 Corsair 2 dr HT with 18765 origional miles, a 1959 6 pass wagon from AZ and a 1 of 777 1960 Ranger 2 dr HT….I’ve sold 2 other Edsels over seas the past 2 winters as they love them….will take my 59 Corsair to Florida in a few weeks…peace- love the Edsels!!!!
Edsel Al
Anything made in 1959 & is still running and driving.should at least appreciated..was never a fan until now
Always wanted to put this EDSEL front clip, rear quarters and dash bezel on my old Ranchero! but EDSEL’S are like rocking horse poo downunder
That would be fun!
I have a 1959 Edsel Corsair 2DRHT. My father-in-law bought it in 1960. It’s a litle rough around the edges but runs and drives fine. It was recently involved in an accident. Someone pulled out of a sidestreet and hit the driver side front fender and back quarter. We have located all the parts we need. We just need to settle with the insurance company. We always intended to restore it for sentimental reasons but don’t have the funds to do it all at once. Now we have to do the drivers side. Its definately a conversation piece at car shows.It has power brakes power steering and power windows and is fun to drive.