For you Edsel lovers

I was just kiddin Gauge is not for sale..

I can print backround for you if you want..
color is about correct green though..

really impossible to print correct color, original backgrounds are metallic.
after 5 hours and 10 printed backgrounds I was quite happy for result.

Now I have grazy idea to print all 4 gauge backgrounds in about coral color , with white lettering and EDSEL logo, then everything is in same background color.. sadly I quess I am too lazy for this.. tacho is enough.

I also have 3 extra gauges under dash now..
volts- oil press- water temp.. I would be easy to do similar gauges,
but I must uninstall that lens and its holder, impossible to do that nicely without any signs of removal.

 

Production Edsels never did have a crash absorber behind the front bumper as illustrated in those drawings. Those have to be pre-production illustrations.

 

Wind Tunnel/cold room testing




Corsair at the test track

 

A French Canadian press photo shows a tri-tone Pacer 4 door hardtop. The red/white circle stickers above the rear view mirror and on the back window, allowed this prototype to enter the test track

 

A very early rendition dated May 11, 1956 which shows a retractable roof panel, bucket seats and a console. Note the Edsel name even though this name wouldn't be official until November of that year.

The following sketches are dated from August to October 1956. They were mounted on a "story board" in the styling studio like the photo below shows.

 

Wow, cool concept images.

 

An early clay model that continued the "gull-wing" theme of '58. Note the "Special Products" license plate and '58 Bermuda clay in the background.



This Mercury-based clay was a proposed Corsair on the left side and a Bermuda on the right side. This must have been before final approval of the model names was given as the production Bermuda was a station wagon.

 

A Bermuda proposal that incorporates the "boomerang" tail lights from the '58 model.


A proposed Mercury-based Citation convertible that wears '58 style wheel covers. The Mercury-based models would eventually be dropped as the project was scaled back. Note the Mercury clays in the background.


This front end, dated January 18, 1957, carries a Caravan name script.

 

This proposal looks to be fairly far along in the program.




This front end was rejected for the '59 model, but was the front runner for the '60 model before that styling was completely changed

 

A very early clay model of a proposed Citation. Note that it is different on each side.



Another early design study, this one of a Ranger/Pacer.


A Corsair clay model based on the Mercury body.

 

Tell me this dosen't have T-bird written all over it....




This concept was photographed in the Lincoln studio

 

In response to the longer, lower, and wider styling reflected in the GM and Chrysler production cars, Robert MacNamara ordered a crash program to play catch up with the competition. As a consequence, all designs based on the '59 models were scrapped and replaced with the new "Quicksilver" designs. Here are proposals based on the new directive.



"I've got plans for phasing it out." Robert Strange McNamara at the Edsel press introduction dinner, August 28, 1957

Some rear end concepts. Note that the flat Ford fin is still being used at this time






The design elements are refined on this Corsair clay model, which except for the side trim and small shark fins on top of the tail lights, looks close to the approved production car.

 

This Corsair 4 door hardtop was a working prototype built based on the approved design





Rather late in the program, after styling for the '60 model had been approved, Ford Chairman Ernest Breech toured the Edsel Studio and saw the prototype. He walked around it several times before declaring his disapproval of the front end styling. "Make it look more like a Pontiac" he was heard to say, and so the "Impact Bar" grille was out and a grille similar to the then current '59 Pontiac was in. These clays, showing the revised front grille, were created for management approval. This one wears Corsair trim

 

Found this a while ago.

Interesting to see an early T Bird along side a body in white Edsel.

T Bird has unusual fender openings.

Oldmics

 

Clean Cut Creations: Nice collection of Edsel prototype photos and illustrations!

 

I could spend hours just looking at those concepts. Seeing what made it to production, what was used on other cars. Those are awesome pictures CCC. Keep them coming!! Those Bermuda concepts.... man o man.

 

I can't take credit...You gotta thank THEEDSELGUY. He is a forum Mod on love-fords.org. He's got stuff that would blow you mind.....

 

x100,000,000.

I actually have several of these concept pics framed, displayed in my living room. . .

Would love to use a few of these design elements to kustomize my '60. . .

 

Ha --- I don't know if my Chevy roots would ever allow me to sign onto a "love-fords" forum. I may have to check that out....

I have an assembly line photo/poster framed of the 58 Edsels. I think its in this thread, too. The shot shows them setting the body on the frame. I realized after I lowered mine why the back tires are on when the body gets set down. The process for removing my rear tires SUCKS!

I have to take the rear shock lowers loose and the allow the axle to go to full droop then shimmy the tire out to the back. I have the process down and I actually doesn't take long now but I am not looking forward to the first time I have to do it in a parking lot or the side of the road.

Damn I love those shots. The history and story of this car are truly complete with all the background shots and models. It's one thing to hear that it was a financial disaster and kinda snicker about it, it's another entirely to see all the hours and people involved. I am learning more everytime I look back on this thread.

Keep it coming, keep it coming.

There's a picture I have been looking for and can't find. It's a 58 Edsel, big series coz I think it had all the chrome, abandoned in a storage yard under a Lucky Strike bill board. I always thought it would a cool poster.

 

Wow! Thank you so much! I've been looking for this photo for months.

 

I'm glad you guys like the pics! I was hoping you wouldn't get Edsel Info Overload. I'm just so amazed of the story of the short life of the poor Edsel that I can't help but share......They wanted to kill this project before it even started getting into production! It's so sad...

Rot in hell Mr. Robert Strange McNamara....for killing the Edsel and starting that horrible war.......

 

Hey Clean Cut, I've really enjoyed looking at the historical artifacts....very fascinating.

 

Man. why didn't I see this earlier. A lot of good looking Edsels out there. I just spent the last hour looking at this thread. I have a 58' Ranger 2 door hardtop. Got it from a kid in Georgia and he got it from Alan Mays. Here's the newest picture I have. No rude remarks about the model, she's my daughter-in-law. LOL

 

Here's a couple of pictures I didfn't see on here yet:

 

So here's a little photoshop picture that was done about a year ago and I still am thinking about it.

 

Bruce's Edsel is badass. The custom paint on roof and spear really set it off under the sun.

 

amazing weird edsel prototypes, thanks for sharing those !