1958 Edsel Pacer Convertible

This 1958 Edsel Pacer Convertible is a unique 50s convertible from the short-lived Edsel marque and is believed to be 1 of 1,876 produced in 1958. In the late 1940s, the Ford...

This 1958 Edsel Pacer Convertible is a unique 50s convertible from the short-lived Edsel marque and is believed to be 1 of 1,876 produced in 1958. In the late 1940s, the Ford Motor Company, then under the direction of Henry Ford II, sought to bolster it coverage across the automobile market to better compete with its fellow Big Three rivals, General Motors and Chrysler. After a brief hiatus during the Korean War, Ford's Special Products Division was established in 1955 and began developing a car with the code name of the "E-Car." The designers of the "E-Car" were tasked with creating a car so recognizable that it could be identified from a block away. Ultimately, the "E-Car" Special Products Division become the Edsel Division, named after Henry II's father Edsel Ford. However, the Edsel brand was short-lived; perhaps due in part to poor timing, with the onset of an economic recession in 1958. Nonetheless, the early Edsels remain, as they were intended to be, one of the most recognizable cars ever produced with their iconic "horse collar" grilles. The Edsel Pacer was an intermediate level car, sitting above the entry-level Ranger but below the Corsair and Citation. Interestingly, Edsel only offered convertibles in two of its four series, in the Pacer and in the Citation. Of the 19,057 Pacers produced, only 1,876 were convertibles thus representing under 10% of the total Pacer production in 1958. Under the hood on this '58 Pacer is a E400 361 Cubic Inch V8 engine paired with a single 4 barrel carburetor that pushed out 303 horsepower when new. Exhaust exits the 361 V8 via a dual exhaust setup that gives this convertible a nice throaty sound. The E400 engine is backed by an automatic transmission that is shifted using the famous, steering wheel mounted, Teletouch shifter which was a pretty cool novelty back in 1958. For an intermediate level Edsel, this Pacer has some great options. Power brakes makes bringing this convertible to a full stop much easier and improves the overall driving experience. With power steering, getting in and out of those tight spots at the local drive-in or car show is a breeze. The black vinyl power convertible top goes up and down with ease with the simple flick of a switch mounted under the dash, and when the top is down, it tucks beneath a matching white vinyl boot. Riding on a set of wide whitewall tires with full wheelcovers, this '58 Edsel has a classic 50s look. The exterior is finished in a two-tone paint scheme consisting of Sunset Coral and Frost White, just how it came from the San Jose, California factory back in 1958. The interior on this 1958 Edsel is well-appointed. The front and rear bench seats are correctly upholstered in Coral and White vinyl. The coral painted dash, coral and white vinyl door panels, and black carpeting are in nice shape and appear to be in their stock configuration. The power windows work great and they go up and down with the flick of a switch. The dash is equipped with the famous 120 MPH floating saucer-like Edsel speedometer, 5,000 RPM tachometer, temperature gauge, fuel gauge, and clock, as well as an AM push-button radio. Whether you're purchasing your first classic car or you're adding to your existing collection, this 1958 Edsel Pacer Convertible would make an excellent choice. Give us a call today!