Rare Family Hauler: 1959 Edsel Villager Wagon
If ever there was a star-crossed car brand, Edsel was it. Ford established the division in 1958 to fill a gap in its mid-range lineup, but almost immediately, the country slipped into recession. Despite innovations perpetuated into Ford’s future models – self-adjusting brakes, the FE motor – customers did not like the styling. Complaints arose about the transmission shift buttons on the center of the steering wheel, too: most folks were planning to slam a hand into the horn – not first gear – when they hit that spot. Sales fell short of expectations in year one, and just two years later, the Edsel became a “has been”. The line-up didn’t suffer from a paucity of body styles – every model offered at least two, the Ranger offered five, including the later convertible, and buyers could select from three wagons. Here on Facebook Marketplace is a 1959 Edsel Villager nine-passenger wagon in green on green, with an asking price of $29,000. Travel to Cochran, Georgia to pick her up, and on the way, contemplate whether you will make an offer for the matching 1959 Yellowstone canned-ham vintage trailer. Thanks to T.J. for spotting this rare pair!
The standard motor in the Villager was the Super Express 361 cu. in. V8, but this one has its original Express 332 cu. in. eight dressed with a two-barrel carburetor, worth about 225 hp. Thankfully, the three-speed automatic shifts from the column, not the horn button. Like many ‘50s American cars, the Villager is ponderous, imprecise, and slow to come up to speed. At least this one has had its front brakes upgraded to discs. The fuel tank and parts of the suspension have also been renewed.
The seller’s interior photos are less than revealing. The instrument panel, glass, and finishes present well enough. Also in decent condition is the headliner. That is likely the factory-installed embossed cardboard, judging by its slight warpage – this piece is not reproduced and good luck finding a nice one in the tiny subset of Villager survivors out of a total of 2133 produced in ’59. Ditto the front door panels, where the company stamped “Villager”. On the other hand, a blanket cover hides the seat upholstery. I use the same item on my 1974 Ford F250 to protect the near-perfect seats, but who knows whether this seller shares the objective? The Edsel’s seats could be considerably less than perfect.
Here is that famous “horse collar” grille, also known by many other less flattering metaphors. While the style fell flat back in the day, collectors have grown fond of Edsel’s idiosyncratic looks. As an owner, you’ll have your choice of several clubs and plenty of enthusiastic help. Values are still reasonable across the Edsel line-up. This driver-quality six-passenger Villager sold for $16k, while a better-restored example made just over $29k at Bonham’s. What do you think about the seller’s price?
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Comments
I couldn’t care less about the price, well, maybe a little, but more importantly, what a cool car! I beg to differ on the “slow to come to speed”, as the MEL( Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln),MOTORS,,someone gave me a lecture about calling an engine a motor, were some hefty units, and were indeed powerful. For the time, they were considered one of Fords crowning achievements, and rightly so. When you see the total sales, it hardly justifies what must have gone into this car. Gee-gaws abound, from the gunsight fender doodads, to the side trim, all the way to the tail lights, it was too much for most. Wheel covers of some sort should be required on this car, it looks lousy without them, easily fixed, maybe even some cool mags, but as mentioned, it will attract a wide range of interest, simply because it’s so unusual, and not for the history.
I was always told that an engine runs off a fossil fuel and a motor runs off electric.
… except when you change the motor oil.
“The standard motor in the Villager was the Super Express 361 cu. in. V8, but this one has its original Express 332 cu. in. eight ….”
Other way around. The Express 332 was the standard engine. The 361 was optional.
The EDSEL was the right car at the Wrong time. 58 was a difficult year for ALL manufacturers. Despite much research, including the name which Ford family did not initially want, and turning to a poetess for names like Unitilitarian Turtle Top and Mongoose Civique, the family wisely chose EDSEL. The 58 EDSEL, IMO was not that bad. The 59 revision became a glorified Ford. Strange that a 60 EDSEL was introduced, only to be dropped within months, much like DeSoto in 61. FYI, there is a film, The BETSY, which seems to be based on the Ford family and development of the EDSEL.
I don’t care what anyone else says–between the garish green color and the classic Edsel styling, that’s a Rolling Mud Fence! Imagine trying to pick up kids from school in that monstrosity, and having them disown you on the spot!
IMO, kids have become too aggressive. Backtalking should be met with reasonable discipline. No matter what the car, they should be happy that parents can pick them up and actually do. But good manners and appreciation seem to be in short supply!
Thank you, Red Forman from “That ’70s Show”……………………
Alexander, we all get your sarcasm. You say “Red Foreman” like that’s a bad thing. Most of us had “Red Foremans” for dads, and we turned out okay( cough) Really, don’t pee on our parade, and keep the negative comments for FB. We enjoy being here. The cars you seem to trash, you’re trashing more than just the car itself, these cars remind most of us of our growing up years, and clearly you, and people like you, have no connection to that era. Your loss, fo’ sho’.
in 1959 I was 14 years old and would have loved this wagon mostly for the fender skirts this was a great looking car in 1959 and still is
Shoot walk 5 miles to school in the snow then maybe you’ll get some sense
Uphill, both ways
Very nice Edsel owner
Now with a new price, 28K for the car AND the camper.
Every time I see an Edsel I think what an ugly car and cannot fathom why and how they let it go to market looking like it did. They had to know it would be widely hated. The hardtop, coupe, convertible are all horrible.
BUT…
in wagon form it makes sense. Its as if it fully embraces its homeliness. And before long I find I actually kinda like it.
I remember in the mid 1990’s this woman in the neighborhood who enjoyed my vintage stepdown Hudsons telling me how she would love to have an Edsel. I had never heard anyone say that before. Of all the beautiful cars from the greatest decade in American history, and she wants an Edsel!
I have that same disbelief when I look at this Edsel for sale and read that he wants $29,000 for it. The color sure doesn’t help.
I like the Edsel wagon’s lines over a sedan. Pretty color combination too. In the early sixties we had a white over dark blue ’57 Ford Country Sedan. I remember it very fondly, EXCEPT for the trip from Columbus OH to Ft Pierce FL in the dead of winter. My father had not reinstalled the heater core, and the constant blast of frozen air did not make happy campers. I don’t think my mother ever really forgave him. I always thought ’57 and ’59 were neat years for Ford styling.
My aunt had sn Rdse wagon with the pushbuttons in the mddle of the steeringwheel.i thought it was weird but Mopars had been putting yheir trans buttons in different places too, ’56 Chrysler Windsor and 62 Dodge Dart, far-left side of the dash
As the proud owner of 7 Edsel’s over the years, I’ve had many opportunities to talk to people about the history and issues with the Edsel. Perhaps the 2 best comments came from 2 production line workers I met at the St. Ignace car show a few years back- one was the pencil pushers (i.e Robert McNamara) and the suggestion boxes that were at the end of the lines.. The pencil pushers were not “car” people- they only cared about the bottom line…and the suggestion boxes were dumped in the trash at the end of the day…many good suggestions from the people who built the car were never instituted.
The Tele-touch trans controls were a $231.40 option on only the Corsair and Citation models..and didn’t last the whole year because of inferior quality rushed into the introduction. Today, a few guys will rebuild the system so you can enjoy it the way it was intended..
The car was ahead of it’s time, many innovations that other makes soon replicated..It is a great car to drive and enjoy- it flows effortlessly down the highway…everywhere you stop you will draw a crowd. GLWTS
The comments about this car truly validates the old saying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As a kid when these came out it seemed to me that the grill was the most polarizing aspect of the Edsel. Once the haters piled on the car was doomed to marketplace failure. Too bad in my opinion. One thing for certain is that you won’t see another car like this when you drive this one to the local cars and coffee. GLWTS.
Also, the 1958 Edsel was the only car with the Tele-touch transmission controls..half way thru the year, they went to lever control as the Ranger, Pacer and wagons came std with..
Iola 2022, my 58 Corsair 2 dr HT- pretty much the same car that the late Cindy Williams drove in American Graffiti..complete with working Tele-touch controls!!
I liked that movie. I will have to dig it out and watch it again.
Not my type of vehicle, but I have always believed the whole Edsel line were serviceable cars.
Cathouse, you are right. It was also described to me as an engine propels a vehicle or other machines, the motors operate various components.
Don’t know why anyone would advertise a car like this on a limited view website such as facebook…and no there were 2133 Villager 9 passenger wagons made, not 978 so they aren’t that rare…in fact I have one that is next to restore….found on a military base in AZ…55K miles, last plated in 1984- will be fun!!
Restore? Only going by one photo of course, but I see what appears to be a solid survivor, which is way more interesting and valuable than another restored car. Of the road for forever and an AZ car, equals solid. There are all sorts of methods and tricks today to bring life back to old paint, etc. Fix/ rejuvenate/ preserve, not restore. Look up dry ice blasting, steam cleaning, paint correction, etc.
Or, if you’d like to sell it as is, please let me know : )
Purchasing a car like this in its day was different than purchasing this car today. You’re not just buying a car you’re getting something from a great era and this car represents that era. I love it.
🎵 It’s Good! 🎶Isn’t it Great? 🎵 Isn’t it Swell?🎶 Isn’t it Grand? 🎵 In fifty years or so 🎶It’s gonna change you know! 🎵But it’s Heaven 🎶Now a days! 🎵.It certainly HAS changed, Now a days! 👎 But 🎵 Gee our Old 🎵 LaSalle 🎶 ran great! 🎵Those WERE 🎶 the Days! 🎵 😉
I remember, in the day, the Edsel was described as an Oldsmobile sucking a lemon.
Green isn’t my favorite color, but on this wagon? It is spot on. I’d proudly drive this Edsel. And though I wasn’t around when the Edsel was introduced, I’ll bet that a lot of the negative media came via GM. And just like the “exploding Pinto” BS. As time rolls on, the sterotypes get imbedded in the car culture.
If the exploding gas tanks of the Pinto was BS, how is it that attorney David Mark Frankle of York, PA was the first one to win an exploding Pinto gas tank case in court for his client?
I drove a first year production Pinto.
I was 10 years old when the Edsel was introduced and the reactions to the styling of that car had nothing to do with GM. It was gaudy to the extreme and now serves as a curiosity piece at car shows, rather than a symbol of the 1950’s. At least, that is how I perceive that car.
I was 12 years old in 1958 when Edsel came out and everyone I knew loved them there where two new ones on my street and lots of neg was from gm people
3 million Pinto’s sold. And a handful of Ambulance Chaser’s got paid. Yeah. What a scandal.
Have we seen this one before ?
He’s changed the ad. It’s now a package deal – trailer and Edsel for $28K