1959 Edsel Corsair Convertible

drcoastline · 05-29-2021, 04:35 AM

Any Edsel fans? I was recently gifted this car. I don't know much about them, I never really gave the Edsel any thought. It was sitting unused about eight years. I cleaned it up a little, checked the fluids, dropped in a new battery took her for a ride. It's like driving a water bed. You just kinda float all over the place. The steering wheel moves almost a quarter turn before the car starts to move. It takes a fair amount of strength to turn this car at low speed, I almost hit a few parked cars it turns so wide. It's 20 feet long. It certainly is interesting and draws attention.

Norm K · 05-29-2021, 04:39 AM

Cool color.

_

masraum · 05-29-2021, 04:50 AM

Very cool. I suspect you could tighten things up a bit. My '65 Impala wasn't a sports car, but it wasn't that floaty.

flatbutt · 05-29-2021, 04:55 AM

Sweet, that and the Thunderbird have been sentimental favs of mine.

Scott Douglas · Scott Douglas's Garage

Wow, throw that thing at BaT and I bet it'd bring a tidy sum. Looks like it cleaned up pretty nicely. Is the interior as clean as the outside now? Straighten out the aerial and it'd look a lot better IMO.

Evans, Marv · 05-29-2021, 07:32 AM

Man, I'd forgotten how ugly those things were. Hope you make some $$$$ off it.

Zeke · 05-29-2021, 07:33 AM

What was the sign on the door in the first pic?

Not a fan of the Edsel design so I would do BaT myself. I'd rather see someone enjoy the thing rather than me suffer it. However, we all don't like red so if you dig the car then that's a nice score.

I agree, (with a new top) it should sell handily.

herr_oberst · 05-29-2021, 08:43 AM

Looks like someone loved it once. If someone gave it to me I'd drive it around for a while, then turn it into some money.

carambola · carambola's Garage

This one time a Flip Flops ....

drcoastline · 12:58 PM

Hey guys thanks for the posts.

Masraum- Yes I can hear a little rattling and squeaking in the front so will be going over everything up there. Tighten and replace what needs attention.

Flatbutt- I have always loved the original T-bird, recently even like the next gen.

Scott- Yes the interior cleaned up great. I would guess at some point the seats were redone, They are just to nice to be 62 years old.

Zeke- It's a magnetic sign that says Beecher-Kay Realty Company, the owners business. There is a brand new top in a box in the trunk. Looking into having it installed. I am not sure what I am going to do just yet. It's in overall nice shape, needs some more detailing cleaning and a few things tinkered with, I am going to toy around with it this summer and take it to a few shows.

Herr-Oberst- I joined the Edsel FB Group- one of the guys on their decoded the vin and ran the ownership history. It appears this car was owned from 1968 until 2004 by a man named Perry Piper the founder of the Edsel owners club. In 2004 it was purchased from Perry Pipers estate by the guy I am getting it from. It was maintained regularly until the became bedridden in 2014 it has been sitting since. It is numbers matching but does not appear to be 100% original, the tag indicates the paint scheme would have been all turquoise. Looking closely it has definitely had a repaint but doesn't appear to have been "restored" it looks to have been garaged kept and maintained as needed. Under the hood and dash all appear to be relative untouched. Carpets also look as though they could be original.

Carambola- yes that is Flip Flops.

Rusty Heap · Rusty Heap's Garage

sweet looking car, It's a keeper!

Superman · 05-29-2021, 01:40 PM

That is a very nice car. No wonder it turns heads. Interesting model. Ragtop. Very nice color. Great shape. I hope Dr. Coastline does some routine maintenance/repair, has the new top installed, and drives it proudly for a while. Then sells it for more than he would today. This car would probably pay you to keep it for a time.

I suggest you install a picnic table and some chairs in the trunk. It looks like there is room for a party there.

pwd72s · 05-29-2021, 01:43 PM

At least keep it long enough to go to a couple of cruise-ins. You could do what a guy did way back in my high school years as a finishing touch...glue a ring of fake fur around that center grille opening.

Poor guy drove it home that way..when his dad saw it he was grounded for a couple of months.

fastfredracing · 05-29-2021, 02:21 PM

Were they powered by ford, so that would be a y block car?
I think it is ugly , but cool as hell , and interesting, and beautiful, all in its own special way .
Id have to keep that and cruise it around, for at least a season . Anybody can buy a Camaro

Evans, Marv · 05-29-2021, 02:23 PM

It definitely is a cool score. It came out new when I was in high school, & I never liked the looks of it. There are cars from that time I like a lot and others I don't care for. It would be fun to cruise around in it for a while though.

Chocaholic · 05-29-2021, 04:28 PM

So, what’s the back story? Not often one is “gifted” such a vehicle...especially with that provenance. Guessing there may be entanglements that might complicate a quick flip for profit.

drcoastline · 05:40 PM

Thanks Rusty heap.

Supe- will certainly be doing some maintenance and feeling it out. Never thought I would have something like this, a T-Bird, vette a Willy's Jeepster or Desoto Wagon for sure. But the car does fit my town. They say we have the largest collection of midcentury modern architecture in the world.

pwd72s already have a few cruises, shows set up.

Fastfredracing- It's a ford product and shares a lot of ford, mercury parts. It has a 332 ci 225 HP "Express" V8 engine, It has the Mile-O-Matic 2-speed automatic transmission, 2.91:1 rear axle ratio. Which I understand is the exact same as the Ford-O-matic. "I think it is ugly , but cool as hell , and interesting, and beautiful, all in its own special way." I couldn't agree more.

Marv Evans- I fully intend to enjoy at least a season. We will see what comes after that. The town is one giant amusement park. The yellow sightseer is the tram car from the 1939 New York Worlds fair. Purchased by the Ramagosa family. They are still going.

flatbutt · 05-29-2021, 05:12 PM

Great boardwalk down there!

HobieMarty · 05-29-2021, 05:20 PM

Man I think that car is sweet, very nice color. I would rock that thing all summer. Top down summer cruise nights, oh yeah!!!!

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drcoastline · 05-29-2021, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

So, what’s the back story? Not often one is “gifted” such a vehicle...especially with that provenance. Guessing there may be entanglements that might complicate a quick flip for profit.

It's a 59 Edsel one owner started a a car club. It's not Steve McQueen's 930 or the Bullitt Mustang or James deans 550 that was found in a barn in Idaho. The owner was an Uncle by marriage.