1959 Ford Edsel Ranger Customised to High Standard

Please note that the photographs were provided by the seller

Highlights 

• Stunning 1950s American coupe

• Quirky and rare model

• 4.8-litre V8 engine

• Built and finished to a high standard 

• Many period-correct parts

• Registered as an historic vehicle and fully road legal

• With a few finishing touches, can be used as a daily driver or further modified

Overview

When most people think of American Fords, it's usually the Mustang that invariably springs to mind. Or maybe the Thunderbird. Or perhaps the F-Series of trucks, if you're that way inclined. We think it's safe to say though that the Edsel Ranger isn't the most commonplace of models but that's not to say it isn't as exciting and evocative as those aforementioned and more populous models.

Ford’s Edsel Division was introduced as a fourth brand for the company in order to leverage market share from its rivals and the Ranger was one of the few cars it produced between 1957 and 1960. Unfortunately, however, it was a classic example of bad timing by Ford. Marketed as the car of the future, the Ranger was released in the midst of a recession that catastrophically affected the model and they sold poorly. Bad news for Ford in the late '50s but great news for car fans today because Edsel Rangers are now somewhat rare, making them an alluring and really rather exclusive proposition, especially when built to such an impressive spec as this particular example.

Fully built by the current owner, who is also the first registered UK keeper, this Edsel Ranger has been specified to a late '50s, very early '60s mild Kustom/early low rider style that can easily be modified further or be kept as it is. The vendor tells us that this is a recently finished, freshly painted turn key car that's ready to reliably drive home and can easily be used as a daily driver, with a few finishing touches.

The full spec list can be found below but suffice to say this Edsel Ranger is a beautiful slice of '50s Americana that will no doubt turn heads wherever it goes, whether that be to an exclusive car show or the local supermarket.  

History and documentation

• 1959 model year

• V5C present and correct in the vendor's name

• Zero former registered UK keepers

• Imported from Texas

• Built and painted by the vendor in their shop beginning in autumn 2022

• First registered 31 Dec 1959

• First registered in the UK Dec 2022 as an historic vehicle

• One key

• Self-serviced by the vendor

• Some miscellaneous paperwork

• Tax and MOT exempt

• HPI clear

• London ULEZ compliant

• 70,837 indicated miles

Interior

• Original interior is intact and presents well but the vendor reports a second clean is required as there are one or two stains and a couple cigarette burns hidden away

• Head liner is in excellent condition

• The wind lacing needs to be replaced, as does the carpet (vendor reports that carpet kits are available from the US for less than £200)

• Brightwork on the dash could do with a polish as there is some minor pitting present

• The dashboard face presents well overall but the vendor suggests a respray as they have already done across the top

• Garnish mouldings are all present and have been resprayed

• Sun visors are also in great shape and show the pattern well

• Door cards and parcel shelf were damaged from the Texas heat so new ones have been made and trimmed in “angel hair” faux white fur

• The vendor informs us that all of the gauges work

• Charging, water temp, and oil pressure gauges are vintage after market Stewart Warner “twin blue” marine gauges from the mid-late '50s on a chromed Stewart Warner gauge cluster mounted under the dash

• “Emergency lite” hazard switch installed  

• Factory fuel sender

• New speedo cable made which runs to the correct mph

• The rear view mirror is also a period correct accessory which has a chromed back and features a day/night tang for night driving

• Vintage Pabst Blue Ribbon beer pull gear selector

• Boot space is clean and tidy (Optima red top battery relocated)

• Engine bay presents well and has been completely rewired and cleaned up 

Exterior

• No dents or damage as reported by the vendor

• Paintwork has been freshly completed using a 2k blue/grey epoxy primer over a black high build primer base

• The body has been sealed in a 2k acrylic matte clear

• There are a few VERY small paint chips are present but nothing that can’t be touched up by the new owner

• Roof has been based in the same blue/grey epoxy, and then “lace” panelled with a Mercedes metallic blue and 1970s gold pearl fogging to match the gold pearl fogging within the trim insert and sealed with an acrylic gloss clear

• The roof has been sprayed with three coats of clear but needs to be flatted back to take the drips, sags, and leftover material from the lace out

• Vendor reports rust has been removed wherever present

• 1959 Chevrolet Impala light lenses, candied/darkened and polished, with OEM polished bezels-flipped

• 90% of stainless trim has been shaved and vehicle has been nosed, decked and static lowered (Google is your friend if you’re new to the scene)

• Deck lid peaked and boot and deck lid pinched 4” to accommodate correct fit of Chevy tail lights

• Main “spear” body trim, original end fork removed and replaced with 1959 Edsel wagon spear trim end to create return/finish

• 1959 Ford Galaxie front bumper, freshly rechromed and fitted on the rear; factory front bumper splits have had bolts smoothed and have been painted

• 2” body pinch to fit rear bumper correctly with new sheet metal rear gravel pan 

• Roof “step” filled and smoothed

• 1959 Ford Custom 300 rear glass trim used to delete factory stainless roof panels

• Lucas flamethrower lights (fluted low beam, smooth high beam with amber bulbs)

• Lucas style front turn lamps replace the OEM corner lights

• Grille slats removed and gold mesh added plus WWI German bayonet “Edsel Pickle”

• New front and rear glass rubbers and window felts

• New stainless peep mirror

• New era correct license plate – California ‘56 with correct 1959 white tag and NOS 1960s chrome surround

• Wheels are sought after Mercury 15” models with chrome nuts and beauty rings

• White wall tyres are bias ply Firestones up front and bigger General Jet Air models out back

• Underneath has been freshly sprayed with stone chip paint and presents very well

Mechanical

• 292 Y-block 4.8-litre V8 engine

• Rebuilt two-speed automatic gearbox with kickdown

• Rear-wheel drive

• Ford 9” rear axle

• Port matched tri-power intake

• New Stromberg 97 carburettor 

• New MSD distributor (points free)

• New timing chain and valve covers, fuel tank and electric fuel pump

• New alternator with new external regulator, all freshly wired in and charging as it should

• Dual 2” exhaust exiting through “pencil tip” stainless ends, run out through parking light holes with gold aluminium inserts

• New uprated shocks on all four corners

• Brand new front suspension with 3” lowering springs (vendor reports two tie rods and A-arm bushings to complete)

• 5” rear with blocks

• New soft brake lines and refurbished and reinstated park brake controls

• Some miscellaneous spares, including the original power steering unit and any associated rebuild parts as well as the original scuff plates that go on the inside bottoms of the door jambs

• The vendor informs us that the car is not 100% perfect nor 100% finished but it allows for the new owner to put their stamp on it and make it their own and that the car needs the following: replacement battery, new carpet, new door seals and rubbers for window tops to roof (although the current ones do work), deck lid/trunk rubber, new window cranks and door handles (factory chrome is pitted and one knob is missing), new driver's window (flat glass), pinion seal on rear axle

Summary

This stunning Edsel Ranger has been tastefully recommissioned and modified with period-correct parts and it really does stand out today in a sea of mundane motors. Sounding as good as it looks, it may have its quirks but this beast is infinitely more interesting, and indeed more fun than any modern electric econobox, so channel your inner '50s superstar and prepare to make a statement! 

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This car is located near Maidenhead, Berks.