Named after Henry Ford’s son, the Edsel division was founded in late 1956. It was FoMoCo’s fourth brand at the time, and it was supposed to help the company gain additional market share from General Motors and Chrysler.
The Edsel lineup was introduced in September 1957 following a massive marketing campaign. Ford strongly believed that the division would be a huge success. The cars had multiple features that were considered innovative at the time, but their initial design proved too unconventional for the public.
Ford acted accordingly and redesigned the cars for the 1958 model year, but it was too late. In November 1959, Ford discontinued the division after less than three years in showrooms. The Edsel affair cost Ford a whopping $350,000, the equivalent of nearly $3 million in 2024 dollars. It’s still regarded as the biggest flop of the automotive industry.
Edsel produced around 118,000 cars across seven nameplates, a laughable output for the era. Of the seven models introduced at launch, the Bermuda, Citation, Pacer, and Roundup were discontinued after one year. Edsel also stopped producing the Corsair in 1959, leaving the Ranger and the Villager the only options for the 1960 model year.
The latter were produced from October 15 to November 19, 1959. The ultra-short model year saw only 2,846 vehicles roll off the assembly line, making the 1960 Edsel the rarest of the bunch. Of these, 275 were Villager station wagons, and 2,571 were Rangers, which were offered in five body styles. The 1960 convertible you see here is the rarest Ranger produced that year.
While any 1960 Ranger is rare, the convertible is the only one that can brag about two-digit production numbers. Specifically, Edsel built only 76 of them. But this specific drop-top is much rarer than the average Ranger, thanks to its color. According to the owner, it’s one of only two painted Buttercup Yellow. Yup, it’s one of those cars you may never see in the metal.
Granted, a one-of-two status isn’t much for an Edsel, which doesn’t get as much attention as other classics from the era, but this Ranger is far more than that. It’s a museum-grade classic that’s flawless inside and out and still relies on the original drivetrain. It’s a very big deal because we’re also looking at a labor of love. These Edsel rarely exceed the $40,000 mark at public auctions right now.
Speaking of the drivetrain, this Ranger draws juice from a 292-cubic-inch (4.8-liter) Y-block V8 rated at 185 horsepower. Edsel also offered a 361-cubic-inch (5.9-liter) V8, good for 300 horses at the time. Yes, it may not have the most potent V8 under the hood, but the engine bay is squeaky clean. It’s not surprising that this Ranger won awards at Edsel car shows.