The Edsel Corsair is an automobile that Edsel produced and sold in 1958 and 1959. In its first year it was the next-to-highest trim level, built on the longer, wider Edsel platform shared with Mercury; for 1959 it moved to the shorter, narrower Ranger platform shared with Ford and became the premium Edsel.
Edsel Corsair at a glance
| Maker | Edsel division of Ford |
|---|---|
| Production | 1958 and 1959 |
| 1958 chassis | Mercury-based, 124 in wheelbase |
| 1959 chassis | Ford Fairlane 500-based, 120 in wheelbase |
| 1958 engine | 410 cu in (6.7 L) MEL V8, 345 bhp |
| 1959 engine | 361 cu in (5.9 L) FE V8, standard |
| 1958 gearbox | Teletouch automatic, standard |
| 1959 gearbox | three-speed manual; Mile-O-Matic or Dual-Power Drive automatic |
| 1958 bodies | two-door and four-door hardtop |
| 1959 bodies | hardtop coupé, four-door hardtop, four-door sedan, convertible |
| Built | 9,987 in 1958; 9,318 in 1959 |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Edsel Corsair.
History of the Edsel Corsair
1958
The Corsair represented the next-to-highest trim level in the Edsel range. It rode on the 124-inch wheelbase and, like the premium Citation, shared its roof lines and internal body components with Mercury models; its panels could not be swapped with the Ranger or Pacer, which were built on the shorter, narrower Ford frames. Higher-grade interior appointments came with additional stainless steel trim and deluxe wheel covers, and a deep-dished safety steering wheel was standard. The engine was the 345 bhp 410 cu in MEL V8 with a four-barrel carburettor, and Edsel’s Teletouch automatic — a $231 option on the Ranger and Pacer — was fitted as standard. A basic heater cost $92, a radio $95 and air conditioning $460; an automatic boot release, tachometer, automatic lubrication system, seat belts, padded dashboard, warning lights and rear child-safety door locks were also optional. Output for 1958 was 9,987 cars: 3,632 hardtop coupés and 6,355 four-door hardtops, some of each built in Canada. Prices ran from $3,311 to $3,390.
1959
The 1959 Edsels arrived in the autumn of 1958 with much toned-down styling, and the vertical grille gave way to a fine bar pattern. The Citation and Pacer were dropped, and the Corsair became the premium model, now sharing its body panels with the Ranger and distinguished by trim and equipment. It gained four-door sedan and convertible versions and was based on the 1959 Ford Fairlane 500. The wheelbase shrank to 120 inches, the 361 cu in FE V8 became standard in sedans with a two- or four-barrel carburettor, and the Teletouch system was replaced by the two-speed Mile-O-Matic automatic or the three-speed Dual-Power Drive, the latter only with the 361. Output was 9,318: 2,468 hardtop coupés, 1,812 four-door hardtops, 1,343 convertibles and 3,695 four-door sedans. Hardtop sales fell by 31 per cent in two-door form and 71 per cent in four-door form against 1958, and prices dropped about 15 per cent to $2,812–$3,072. The Corsair was discontinued at the end of the year.
1960 prototype
A 1960 Corsair was never produced, though Ford considered offering it as a deluxe version of the Ranger. At least one prototype was built, a two-door hardtop based on the Ford Galaxie Starliner, with the 1960 Edsel grille and a tall chrome bar rising above the bonnet line, extra side trim and contoured seats. The model was cancelled, but its upgraded interior was offered as an option on Rangers.
Design and features
- Mercury base in 1958: a 124-inch wheelbase and Mercury roof lines for the premium Edsel.
- Teletouch standard: push-button transmission control in the steering wheel hub in 1958.
- Big V8: the 345 bhp 410 cu in MEL engine, shared with the Citation.
- Repositioned for 1959: premium status on the smaller Ford platform with the 361 V8.
Edsel Corsair versions
- 1958 two-door hardtop: 3,632 built.
- 1958 four-door hardtop: 6,355 built.
- 1959 hardtop coupé: 2,468 built.
- 1959 four-door hardtop: 1,812 built.
- 1959 four-door sedan: 3,695 built.
- 1959 convertible: 1,343 built, all in the United States.
The Corsair shared the Mercury chassis with the Citation in 1958 and the Ford platform with the Ranger in 1959. More cars are in the Edsel collection.
Video: Edsel Corsair -58
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Edsel Corsair, English Wikipedia: platforms, engines, equipment, production, prices
