Models 1958
Ranger
|
- price: 2,484
- 2,558$
- wheel base: 118 in
- engine: V8
- displacement: 361
cu in
- power: 303 bhp
- torque: 400 ft lbs
- transmission: 3 speed auto,
Teletouch optional
|
Pacer
|
- price: 2,700
- 2,993$ (Convertible)
- wheelbase, engine etc. as Ranger
|
Corsair
|
- price: 3,311
- 3,390$
- wheelbase: 124 in
- engine: V8
- displacement: 410
cu in
- power: 345 bhp
- torque: 475 ft lbs
- transmission: Teletouch
3 speed auto
|
Citation
|
- price: 3,500
- 3,766$ (Convertible)
- wheelbase, engine etc. as Corsair
|
Roundup, Villager, Bermuda
|
- price: 2,481
- 3,212$
- engine: as
Ranger and Pacer
- transmission: 3 speed manual,
optional 3 speed auto and Teletouch
- available with 2 or 4 doors, 6
or 9 passenger
|
About 90% were ordered with automatic transmission. Best selling options
were heater, radio, white wall tires, power steering and power breaks. Simple
safety belts were also offered, but rarely ordered. Comfort was more important than
safety
.
Test drivers agreed that the power of the E475 engine was impressive. One
wrote it would be strong enough to pull the Empire State Building out
of it's foundation. (Of course this was impossible, but the Edsel came with
one of the most powerful engines available in a mass production car.) Acceleration
from 0 to 60 mph was measured less than 10 seconds, and I had to study many
reports until I found one were the maximum speed was reported: 120 mph ! I wouldn't
have tried this with those radial tires available at that time.
Test drivers were pleased with the ride of smaller models, but the suspension
of the larger models was too soft even for American drivers. On sharp turns
the car leans over very much but stays on the road with heavily squeaking tires.
By the way, modern steel belted tires will increase safety significantly
for the price of slightly reduced suspension comfort.