The Edsel Pacer is an automobile that Edsel produced and sold in 1958. It was based on the shorter, narrower Edsel platform shared with Ford and the Ranger, and it sat a step above that base model in trim and equipment.
Edsel Pacer at a glance
| Maker | Edsel division of Ford |
|---|---|
| Production | 1958 model year only |
| Position | above the Ranger, below the Corsair and Citation |
| Chassis | Ford-based, shared with the Ranger |
| Wheelbase | 118 in (2,997 mm) |
| Engine | 361 cu in (5.9 L) FE V8, 303 hp, standard |
| Gearbox | three-speed manual; three-speed automatic; Teletouch optional at $231 |
| Trim | contoured seat backs, nylon cloth, colour-keyed mats, extra stainless |
| Bodies | two-door hardtop, four-door hardtop, four-door sedan, convertible |
| Price | $2,700–$2,993 |
| Built | 20,988 |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Edsel Pacer.
History of the Edsel Pacer
The Pacer was introduced with the rest of the Edsel range in the autumn of 1957. It used the Ford-based platform rather than the larger Mercury chassis of the Corsair and Citation, and it differed from the base Ranger mainly in equipment: contoured seat backs, nylon upholstery cloth, colour-keyed rubber floor mats, and additional stainless steel trim outside and in, including window mouldings. A basic heater cost $92, a radio $95, air conditioning $417 and a tachometer was optional.
All Pacers rode on Ford’s 118-inch wheelbase and shared the Ranger’s engine choices. The standard engine was the 303 hp 361 cu in FE V8 with a four-barrel carburettor; the 345 hp 410 cu in MEL V8 of the Corsair and Citation was not available. A three-speed manual gearbox was standard, with a three-speed automatic on a column selector as an alternative, or Edsel’s Teletouch automatic with its buttons in the steering wheel hub for $231.
Total output in the United States and Canada was 20,988: 1,876 convertibles built in the United States, 7,141 four-door sedans (6,083 US, 1,058 Canadian), 6,717 hardtop coupés (6,139 US, 578 Canadian) and 5,254 four-door hardtops (4,959 US, 295 Canadian). Prices ranged from $2,700 to $2,993. Despite being one of the best-selling 1958 Edsels, the Pacer was discontinued at the end of the model year, together with the premium Citation and the Teletouch system.
The Pacer name was later reused by another manufacturer, as was Citation; the Corsair name had earlier been used by Kaiser-Frazer for the Henry J.
Design and features
- Mid-range trim: contoured seats, nylon cloth and extra stainless steel over the Ranger.
- Ford platform: a 118-inch wheelbase and 303 hp 361 V8 shared with the Ranger.
- Teletouch option: the push-button automatic cost $231.
- Four body styles: hardtop coupé, four-door hardtop, four-door sedan and convertible.
Edsel Pacer versions
- Two-door hardtop: 6,717 built.
- Four-door hardtop: 5,254 built.
- Four-door sedan: 7,141 built.
- Convertible: 1,876 US-built cars.
The Pacer was the better-equipped brother of the Ranger, while the Corsair and Citation used the larger Mercury chassis. More cars are in the Edsel collection.
Video: 1958 Edsel Pacer Convertible
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Edsel Pacer, English Wikipedia: trim, engine, transmission, production, prices
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