Projects My New "59" Edsel Ranger.

I recently made a deal to purchase a 1959 Edsel ranger and a Edsel Corsair. I happen to notice a car sitting back in a small field in the woods. So I dropped a note in the mail box asking about the car. The owner calls and he tells me he has two cars back there and they are 59 models. I ask if I could take a look. Once I saw the ranger (hidden from sight) I knew I had to have it. The corsair is alot rougher but has lots of good body panels and Windows. Unfortunately kids busted the side window on both, but thankfully not the front and rear windshield.




Here is what the cars is supposed to be equipped with if it still stock, super express v8 361
Made in Louisville, KY
Dual power automatic 3 speed and 2.91:1. It is a 2 door hard top. Saw on a site that the ranger with 361 is rare?is this true? Hope she will turn freely as it has been sitting 20 plus years. Let me know what you think.

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a Diamond in the rough

 

Great find! I had a '59 Ranger back in the early 90s.
'59 Ranger 2 dr hdtp, 5,474 made
The 361 was not standard on any '59 Edsel, optional on all, so I would guess that there weren't many of them. The 292 was standard on Rangers and station wagons. The 332 was standard on Corsairs and optional on others. The 223 six was optional on Rangers and station wagons.

 

neat! I bought a 59 Ranger today, too. 4dr sedan, not so much rust, 292, 3 spd w/od, no AC. Missing hood hinges, gas tank, and a few other things that would make it nicer.

I really dig the AC in that thing...

 

Thanks for the replies. I will post more pictures once I clean it up.

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Those and the '59 Fords share a lot of parts. Have fun with them.

 

Some of the '58s and all of the '59 and '60 Edsels were built here in Louisville. Are these your first Edsels? How bad is the rust? The '60 I have now is my 6th one so let me know if I can help with more info on it. There are 2 big Edsel Clubs-the Edsel Owners Club and International Edsel Club. Their annual conventions this summer are in Wisconsin and Utah if you have any interest in seeing a lot of restored ones. Here's a pic of my '60 Ranger. Good luck....

 

Nice find

 

Yes these are my first edsel's. Just some surface rust around trim and corner of the wheel wells. I got the both of the cars home today. Washed to the one I am gonna restore. Odometer reads a little over 20,000. Found a ignition key in the ashtray of the parts car. The found the original air breather in the trunk. Pretty excited about that. Now I just need to find a radiator.

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The radiator is out of a crown vice, gonna use it as a temporary for starting if the engine is free spinning. Want an original if I can find one.

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Put a wanted ad on this site for a radiator. One out of a Ford should work too since they all went down the same ***embly line together. You should think about joining at least one of the clubs. The IEC is the club with the meet in Wisconsin in July. They're also having a Southeastern Chapter meet in Kingsport, TN in a couple of weeks on May 13-15. Also, the club secretary is from Russellville, KY and his name is Jack Whipple. Email him at kyedsel@gmail.com if you want more info on the club or send me a PM. My name is Dave....

 

A car out in the weather that long gets condensation inside the motor, and rust can form on camshaft and wipe it out when started, just a word caution. Look for any rust on dipstick or inside valve covers. If you find it there dig deeper before you try to start. I have had it happen to me on a 85 BBC that sat in my driveway under carport for 3 years. Wiped out cam and put metal all thru motor in less than 50 miles The trans. I pulled and tore it after motor was out and there was rust in it, needed a overhaul 2. So just be careful.

 

Very Cool. I want that under dash A/C, too.

 

Radiator... what side is the lower hose on?

 

The rad can be recored if you can find a good rad shop. They are not so common since they went to aluminum rads.

 

lower hose is on the driver side.

 

Rats... I was trying to sell him one of my old ones.... lower hose on the p***enger side.

 

When I was a kid I thought Edsels were ugly,now that I'm 60 they have gotten pretty cool.Funny how time changes the way we think.Have fun with her.

 

shat ! I noticed the a.c.register and that is same as a 59 Merc that I took pics of in a wrecking yard near me. The old school air cleaner is aftermarket isn't. That's pretty good shape. Ifyou aim to do something else for wheels I'd like those 'C' body mopar rims for a car I have. It's amazing they didn't get the front and rear gl***.
There was a pilot at NAS Meridian when I worked there, say 2004 that had a lime and white Corsair, that he had bought a 3 x 2 intake that required 3 bolt carbs. He was retiring and don't know where he went. I hope he's still rolling in that Edsel.

 

if you want a radiator now, there's a used one on the auction site.

 

I'd take in an Edsel since they share lots with the '59 Ford, be familiar territory. Family up the block from me as a kid had one, 4-door something with horrible rust.

 

Cool find. Like said above, most Ford parts from that era will fit. The internet is full of info. The Super Express 361 FE was an upgrade then. Most 64 and earlier Ford 332,352,390 parts will work. Very few had air conditioning. I wish mine did.
http://www.edsel.com/index.html for more info

 

Drivers side...It's a pain in the ****. I usually get the pump side on first and it makes it easier to walk it onto the radiator.

 

It's an Auto, the ****** cooler is most likely integrated into the bottom of the radiator. Make sure the ****** lines are fed back into themselves or through a cooler. They come up on the p***enger side of the motor. I was replacing the motor mounts and oil pan gasket, it had hard lines running to the radiator and it cracked the ******s. I ended up having to cap off the ****** cooler ports on the radiator and run and external cooler.

 

I love Edsels! A Great Find! I was at a demolition derby a couple a years ago, and there was a station wagon in it. I wish it could have been put back on the street. The money it takes to build one of them. You could have make it road worthy, And then build it as you go. But that's just me, I used 59 Edsel trim in my 34 Dodge delivery. It cost me $10 dollars. I hope you keep us posted on your build. And thanks for saving a very COOL car. Ron...

 

This is likely outdated information... Leroy Walker of Beulah, NDakota had a wrecking yard for many years and had about 200 Edsels in it, as he was a considered an Edsel collector. I say had because in the fall of 2014, he had his yard crushed. I was to understand that he was going to hold back some amount of stuff from the crusher, but I don't how much or what he may have saved. He may have kept some/most/all of the Edsel stuff.

(Big) Maybe... he is still a source of Edsel parts, if you find yourself looking for something Edsel specific.

Best wishes and congrats on saving some more old cars,

Gotta56forme/Scott

 

Thanks I pulled the valve covers yesterday. They were chalk full of rust. Blow the rust dust out and saturated it with motor oil for now. Father in law is going to get me some kroil to soak the motor with.

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Not looking to good right now.
lol


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that's pretty rough....wonder what the rest of it looks like...

 

I may jion a club in time. I tried to post a wanted add but it said I was unable to.

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