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This is the only known pictureof my first car:
1959 Edsel Ranger, two-door hardtop. I have no idea how many miles were on it. I got it in 1985, and it seemed to have been driven daily. The frame was rusted out in places. The engine didn't run too well. The beige and brown interior was in decent shape. The entire lower half of the body was Bondo. A beautiful swimming pool blue.
The engine was a 200-something V8 with a two-speed automatic transmission. It was big enough to seat six people without anyone touching each other. The car sat high on the frame so there was only a low transmission hump. I liked to slide over and drive from the passenger seat.
The original owner's manual came with it. The car had five factory options - AM radio (ran on tubes), outside driver's side rear-view mirror, sun visors, chrome wheel covers, and I can't remember the other.
Before I got rid of it I removed the grille, which is in my basement. I drove it out of town to a friend of my mom's who was going to take it to the junkyard for me. The car had no grill, no plates, no registration and no headlights or taillights. I have no idea how I didn't get busted big for that. Just before I got to his house one of the back wheels fell off. *CLUNK*SCRAPE* I had forgotten to tighten the lug nuts after changing the tire. I was standing next to it and a farmer came down the road in his tractor and handed me the nuts. Looked like they came off one by one, just before the wheel came loose.
I wish I knew what yard he took it to. I'd like to see it. It was a fun car when it ran.
1959 Edsel Ranger, two-door hardtop. I have no idea how many miles were on it. I got it in 1985, and it seemed to have been driven daily. The frame was rusted out in places. The engine didn't run too well. The beige and brown interior was in decent shape. The entire lower half of the body was Bondo. A beautiful swimming pool blue.
The engine was a 200-something V8 with a two-speed automatic transmission. It was big enough to seat six people without anyone touching each other. The car sat high on the frame so there was only a low transmission hump. I liked to slide over and drive from the passenger seat.
The original owner's manual came with it. The car had five factory options - AM radio (ran on tubes), outside driver's side rear-view mirror, sun visors, chrome wheel covers, and I can't remember the other.
Before I got rid of it I removed the grille, which is in my basement. I drove it out of town to a friend of my mom's who was going to take it to the junkyard for me. The car had no grill, no plates, no registration and no headlights or taillights. I have no idea how I didn't get busted big for that. Just before I got to his house one of the back wheels fell off. *CLUNK*SCRAPE* I had forgotten to tighten the lug nuts after changing the tire. I was standing next to it and a farmer came down the road in his tractor and handed me the nuts. Looked like they came off one by one, just before the wheel came loose.
I wish I knew what yard he took it to. I'd like to see it. It was a fun car when it ran.
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no subject
Date: 2003-11-05 02:42 am (UTC)From:I don't know too much about the history of antique cars, but I have to think they didn't have too many production years on that model. But this doesn't look like the "Edsel" I think of when I hear the name. It has that distinctive center face plate, but it sort of looks like a Fairlane or some other model of Ford, otherwise.
I'm sure driving an Edsel creates a definite sort of reaction... especially if your wheel comes off as you roll down the street!
no subject
Date: 2003-11-05 03:16 am (UTC)From:My first vehicle was a 69 datsun pickup truck that I paid a whopping 100 dollars for and my father helped wire the thing back together so I could get around in it. The floorboard was rusted out under the pedals, so I could watch the road go by under my feet *grin* and I had to park it on a hill to get it started. My sister took out second gear when she was learning to drive.. I loved that little truck. I swear it was made of cast iron, I got it stuck in some of the most impossible places for a vehicle to be.
no subject
Date: 2003-11-05 06:15 am (UTC)From:Edsels WEREN'T lemons, BTW. They got that reputation because of Ford's massive marketing effort prior to their release. Unfortunately, Ford started making them right in the midst of a recession (in 1958). They were pricier than Fords, less than Mercuries.
Also, people thought they looked too much like Pontiacs. Their grilles have been described as a "Pontiac sucking a lemon", or as a horse collar.
End of Auto History 101...
no subject
Date: 2003-11-05 06:48 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2003-11-05 10:24 am (UTC)From:You probably could have fit many of the pieces in a shoebox.
no subject
Date: 2003-11-06 02:13 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2003-11-12 10:35 am (UTC)From:A bit more than 2½ years! 8~)
no subject
Date: 2003-11-12 09:13 pm (UTC)From:I knew where to find the stack of pictures that it came from. It was removed from them, though. Funny thing is, it was put with the rest of my old photos.
no subject
Date: 2003-11-05 08:27 am (UTC)From:http://www.lovefords.org/home/59_edsel_ranger.htm
http://www.hubcapcafe.com/ocs/pages01/edsl5903.htm
http://home.no.net/ayla/Edsel/pages/1959%20EDSEL%20RANGER.htm
http://www.motor-life.com/americanmotors/edsel/1959_eu3101/index01.htm
http://www.hubcapcafe.com/ocs/pages01/edsl5904.htm
I know they aren't the same... but they are close :)
no subject
Date: 2003-11-05 10:23 am (UTC)From:factory options
Date: 2003-11-05 12:03 pm (UTC)From:Re: factory options
Date: 2003-11-12 10:36 am (UTC)From: