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Projects 1959 Edsel "field car"

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by ottoparts, Feb 4, 2017.

  1. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,870

    squirrel
    Member

    The neat thing about driving an Edsel, you get so many waves and smiles, out on the road....it's amazing.
     
  2. BigDogSS
    Joined: Jan 8, 2009
    Posts: 979

    BigDogSS
    Member
    from SoCal

    To the young folks, the Edsel is just another classic car.
     
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2017
  3. bedwards
    Joined: Mar 25, 2015
    Posts: 279

    bedwards
    Member

    I've been told at cruise ins, "you ought to keep it, everyone has seen Chevys, but no Edsels"
    No one has offered to come off the hip for a clean Edsel though :rolleyes:
     
  4. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,870

    squirrel
    Member

    Interesting how some cars just don't bring any money, yet folks really like them. I replaced my Edsel with a Lincoln, it's a bit too new for this forum....but it is in really nice shape, just turned over 35,000 miles last night, and only cost $3k. I sold the Edsel for $2k.

    Someone will buy it, but they won't give you much for it. It's a spectator car...everyone wants to see it, but no one wants to be seen in it.
     
    brEad and Blue One like this.
  5. Lebowski
    Joined: Aug 21, 2011
    Posts: 1,564

    Lebowski
    BANNED

    That's not true-some people actually are proud to drive theirs around and be seen in them. You should have said MOST NORMAL PEOPLE don't want too be seen in them.... :)
     
    brEad and 6-bangertim like this.
  6. Well it took a 4x4 John Deere to navigate the slippery muddy field. But we got the Edsel loaded up and out. Made it home with no issues as now it sits in the driveway.
    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]

    Sent from my SM-N920V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    Squablow, williebill, brEad and 4 others like this.
  7. Lebowski
    Joined: Aug 21, 2011
    Posts: 1,564

    Lebowski
    BANNED

    Cool. Keep the pics and updates coming....
     
  8. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,870

    squirrel
    Member

    Looking good!
     
  9. I learned about em, from a movie I saw as a teenager.
    Can anyone tell me what the movie was?
    The guys in movie, put a dead guy in one, and crashed it into something.
    It was in the cannonball movie era, early eighties?
     
  10. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 9,779

    BJR
    Member

    Like dating a fat chick, or riding a moped, fun to ride but you don't want your friends to see you.
     
    greg likes this.
  11. Hotrod1959
    Joined: Nov 3, 2007
    Posts: 806

    Hotrod1959
    Member

    USED CARS with Kurt Russell
     
  12. images.jpg Thanks Hotrod1959.
    So anyway, that brought Edsel to my attention as a teenager.
    I learned these cars got the nickname, Lemon.
    I actually thought they were cool, but then, I kinda like ugly cars. As a teenager, I liked most American cars from the fifties and sixties.

    I reckon the OP got a great score here.
    With minimal work, that car will be a runner, and depending on his plans, could make a great custom.
    I'm going to keep an eye on this one.
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2017
  13. Lebowski
    Joined: Aug 21, 2011
    Posts: 1,564

    Lebowski
    BANNED

    Would YOU buy a used car from this man? :D

    i032080.jpg
     
  14. one note to keep in mind on that brake swap...
    mind the front track width drum to drum vs the newer setup.
    also note the size of the hub center on the new hubs vs the old, it may affect you using your old wheels.

    might as well also change the master to a dual, most use a 74 ish Marverick, add a willwood prop valve and be ready to go.

    I agree with most, you have very good start. I would just clean it up get it running and even run the original brakes at that point, just make sure it is all safe.
     
    biggeorge likes this.
  15. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,870

    squirrel
    Member

    The original brakes work fine, if you drive it like it's a 1959 car, and not like it's a 2009 car.
     
  16. CoolYourJets
    Joined: Dec 16, 2016
    Posts: 178

    CoolYourJets
    Member

    [​IMG]
    I'm reading a good Ford book. I would recommend it because of the fantastic stories about many Ford cars. For the Edsel it talks about its production issues.

    For instance: Edsel contracted the Ford assembly line to build their cars. However, Ford still wanted their quota 60 cars per hour to pump out. So they would wedge an Edsel in once per hour and speed up the line to compensate.

    That made everybody on the assembly line work much faster. So when an Edsel came along, the assembly line people were quite bitter at it. You can imagine what some of those guys would do to it.

    However, they were certainly ahead of their time.
     
  17. gatz
    Joined: Jun 2, 2011
    Posts: 1,811

    gatz
    Member

    CoolYourJets
    Thanks for posting about the book.
    Got one on order.
     
  18. Jeff Walker
    Joined: Feb 6, 2007
    Posts: 498

    Jeff Walker
    Member

    Here's some more inspiration for you ottoparts.. 797.JPG
     
    williebill and biggeorge like this.
  19. BrandonB
    Joined: Feb 24, 2006
    Posts: 3,433

    BrandonB
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from nor cal

    Cool car and looks to be in pretty good condition. I had a friend, now deceased, that was really into the Edsels. He had two of them. One he bought and didn't tell his wife about and kept it over at my house.
    Also there is a really good looking one, tri-color, thats for sale in the classified. Don't know what the going rate is, but this one seems to be priced pretty reasonable and appears to be in nice condition.
    Enjoy your new project with your son.
     
  20. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,870

    squirrel
    Member

    the one for $13k? That might seem like a reasonable price for a similar condition mainstream car, but it's kind of high for an Edsel :)

    But if you like it, and think the price is reasonable, buy it and have fun with it. It'll definitely get a lot of looks, and you'll enjoy the ride...they're nice cars, despite the strange appearance.
     
  21. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    A guy from North of here built up a '58 Ranchero for his 'parts chaser', in his body shop.
    Wimbledon white Ranchero had Edsel front sheet metal and taillights...Very stunning Ranchero!
    Many asked if it was a Factory job...I loved it.
     
  22. Gotgas
    Joined: Jul 22, 2004
    Posts: 7,175

    Gotgas
    Member
    from DFW USA

    I think they're nice looking cars, especially the toned-down '59s. OP, have fun with yours! It looks super solid and complete. That's always the right way to start to a project.

    With them being so cheap, it would be a good base for a wild custom. ;) Knock the roof off, boat windscreen, 3" section...
     
  23. bchctybob
    Joined: Sep 18, 2011
    Posts: 5,189

    bchctybob
    Member

    Some more inspiration from the Sacramento Autorama last weekend..........
    Well, okay, just visualize it all black or all silver.

    IMG_0054.JPG IMG_0056.JPG
     
    chryslerfan55, catdad49, mr57 and 2 others like this.
  24. Weird One
    Joined: Feb 19, 2017
    Posts: 5

    Weird One

    Congrats..I like Edsels. That ones nice for a field find.
     
  25. chryslerfan55 likes this.
  26. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,870

    squirrel
    Member

    [​IMG]

    That paint job sure takes your mind off the ugly Edsel styling! :)
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  27. greg
    Joined: Dec 5, 2006
    Posts: 537

    greg
    Member

    I have a 59 villager. Was terribly rusted, but just kept rebuilding stuff. So far it's a neighborhood driver, and loads of fun.

    Sent from my SM-G925V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
    biggeorge likes this.
  28. Lebowski
    Joined: Aug 21, 2011
    Posts: 1,564

    Lebowski
    BANNED

    Let me know if you ever drive it across the river because I'm only about 45 minutes away at exit 17 of I-71....
     
  29. greg
    Joined: Dec 5, 2006
    Posts: 537

    greg
    Member

  30. its a chick magnet......
    Do some research on the right cam bearings to use. Plug off the end of the rocker shafts and go full pressure. Make sure the oil feed hole through the head and block is clean (pipe cleaners) It makes a "bend" at the head gasket and will get restricted with sludge. This is one of those engines that defines the term "change your oil at 3,000 miles or 3 months)
     

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