Art & Inspiration The Edsel Raven

As long as I don't have to actually do the work in the steel, here's another one to chew on.

Now we're back to the wheelbase from post #69, and back to stock length 4 door front doors, but with the cowl and complete door/door opening pushed back a bunch, and the door bottoms reshaped front and rear to better resemble the T-bird doors.

 

Doors, windshield and rear wheel opening reshaped again in this one. Getting way more complicated to do than the original plan, but it really has the T-bird look now.

 

now it's looking like it should! Which is kind of what I was thinking, at the beginning...but then realized how much work it would be. It looks really neat that way. Another thing...then you'd want to make it about a foot less wide, and maybe section it 4", etc. It never ends!

 

Jim,

What if you took a thin pie cut out of the rear quarter panels above the spear- it would give it more of the T Bird missile shape and dramatically improve on the boxy look that it has at the moment!

 

I'm not too worried about trying to make a 59 edsel into a good looking car. I just don't want to screw it up too much more than I have to. But yeah, if you were trying to make it look good, that's a swell idea.

 

The pie cut in the quarters might not be all that difficult to pull off if you've got to cut that whole section out anyway with the trunklid intact. Along with a pie cut in the tops of the doors, that's a damn ***y looking profile now.



As a bonus, this version doesn't need the front end extended to look nice. I think the shortened front fender trim helps too (probably the only easy mod on this car so far!)

 

http://www.hotrod.com/cars/featured/hrdp-1107-1959-chrysler-imperial-speedster/

Always liked the way this one turned out, save for the funky wheels that give the car a cartoonish proportion. A lot of food for thought!

 

I looked at that a little while ago. It's neat...and kind of the idea I want, but way way way too much work! for an edsel.

 

Pick up a couple of Edsel model car kits and go at it with a razor saw. That would give you an immediate sense of scale. The AMT kits are 2-door.

 

Just wondering if you could add a few inches between the A-pillar and the fender, and then slide the main body section back on the frame. The firewall would move back, and you could use the distance removed in front of the rear quarter as room for sliding back. You could use some of the rear door sheetmetal to match the profile in the fenders and front door I think? Although this would probably require some wheelbase and frame shortening in the final result. Not sure where the hood hinges are, if on the firewall you would lengthen the hood. If on the inner fenders, then add filler panel to the cowl vent area behind the hood. This would physically lengthen the front end, and then with shorter rear, gives better proportions. The key is the heavy front overhang needs help and this lengthening would make it less heavy visually.

I think by the time you do this Edsel Raven, if it actually comes about, you should name yours the Edsel Buzzard.

 

I thought about ways to lengthen the front, then I thought about how much work it would take...but yeah, you have kind of the same idea I had.

I like the name! although Raven would be easier to make out of a Ranger name plate

 

Admit it....You really LIKE this car now... When you win the Ridler, you'll stop saying " it's just an old Edsel"..
Keeping the hood latches after it becomes a radical custom?

 

If I can find someone to donate a nice hood, and hinges, and latch, then I'll fix it. I'm not in any hurry to spend money on stuff like that.

 

Just going to sit back and watch. Interesting to see where it goes!

 

Here's another way to have fun with an Edsel. You could do some desert running before you cut the top off. I don't know where this picture came from, but it looks like Bill Stroppe paint scheme.

 

Excellent idea right there. Nothing like seeing it in three dimensions before you hack and whack.

 

59 edsel 4 door model kits? Where?

 

The chart will show I'm referring info from the white zone. The model idea came from the green zone which by p***es the yellow zone. There fore the blue and red became purple before this caused you to go black. That should sum things up ?

 

I think he's been in the Arizona to long the Sun out there
will burn anybody's Brain..!
when I lived there my Brain started to get Messed up
so I came Back to NY
but while I was there I Started to Build weird Cars

Just my 3.5 cents
or when the Cows
Come Home.!

 

That's friggen awesome, made me laugh...

 

haha ! Hey Jim ..... there are 4 door "wagon" models for sale. Can you chop the top off of one of these .... and uhhhh' ..... maybe throw in some photo shop, and then ..... make it into a four door, so you can then chop it up ... to make a convertible .... and ummm' ... (lol) ... well, where's the Arizona peyote' again ?

 

I saw this at 2013 Speed week.

 

I did, too. Neat car....but it's basically a street rod, with some Edsel panels stuck on it. Not quite what I'm building

 

Sell it and build something you really want.

 

This is post 75. The lower door corners are too large, smaller corners would help. How about some rounded front lower door corners too? Also, what about closing up the rear part of the front wheel opening, just straightening the angle more vertical, and moving the bottom 2-3 inches forward would help make the front end appear longer. Gene

 

Squirrel I think you have more than enough car to achieve the sporty unit you're proposing...As you and others have said...challenge for sure but worth the adventure.

This slice and dice below involves shortened wheelbase and ***ociated changes...driveshaft, frame, lines...etc. a cut through the floor, roof area and further cutting rear half of roof around lower back window area and moving it forward.

Front door is stock length.

Anyways something to ponder. I had fun with it...

The Moredrbird





















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This one is cool, but it feels like the rear wheel is too far forward. I wonder what it would look like with the rear wheel in it's stock location or even splitting the difference this pic and stock?

 

Make a 4 door roadster, less work to do and maybe even more fun, Ive seen a few of different brands done and always thought they looked fun and even good if done nicely with nice paint etc. dont pay attention to the wheels on this 63 chevy. do a search (4 door convertible) and you will see a few decent examples, I saw a 55 chevy that was done a few years ago turquoise and white and was original looking but had no top,It looked good because it was tastefully done.

 

Neat idea, but the car is just way too long....it would seem even longer, without the roof.

 

Probably no longer than a normal convertible but I get what you are saying, You like what you like, but it is sometimes fun to figure out something that you didnt know you liked