1959 EDSEL CORSAIR Convertible - Lot 272

1959 EDSEL CORSAIR Convertible Chassis W9U740656 French collector's registration - Extremely rare car - Beautiful patina - Many accessories fitted - Nice alternative to Cadillac When plans to create Ford's Edsel were set in motion in the early 1950s, the economy was strong and growing. At the time, Americans seemed to have an unquenchable thirst for fully equipped, powerful, chrome-plated cars. The Ford Motor Company set out to satisfy this thirst by launching a separate, more luxurious brand, "Edsel", on September 4, 1957. Unfortunately, the year Edsel was launched, the economy was hit by a recession and consumers' means suddenly tightened. Nevertheless, the public flocked to dealerships for the Edsel launch, with high expectations. These expectations would be short-lived, and very few people would go home with a set of Edsel keys in hand. Sales reflected the public's disappointment, and after the 1960 model year, Ford ended production. The Corsair Cabriolet was then the top of the range, with a plethora of equipment and prices approaching those of Cadillac. The example we offer is a Corsair Cabriolet imported into France in the late 1980s. It has been kept dry for some twenty years, and is now well preserved with a beautiful patina. Recently restarted, the brakes have been replaced and the engine drained. However, the carburetion will have to be overhauled, along with the engine sealing. The electric soft top has also been replaced by a more reliable standard one. The exhaust will be overhauled, and the bodywork shows signs of corrosion. A fine alternative to other American convertibles, the Edsel stands out for its rarity and fine finishes. 1959 EDSEL CORSAIR Convertible Chassis W9U740656 French collector's registration - Extremely rare car - Nice patina - Many accessories fitted - Nice alternative to the Cadillac When plans to create Ford's Edsel were set in motion in the early 1950s, the economy was strong and growing. At the time, Americans seemed to have an unquenchable thirst for fully equipped, powerful, chrome-plated cars. The Ford Motor Company set out to satisfy this thirst by launching a separate, more luxurious brand, 'Edsel', on 4 September 1957. Unfortunately, the year Edsel was launched, the economy was hit by a recession and consumers' means suddenly tightened. Nevertheless, the public flocked to dealerships for the launch of the Edsel, with high expectations. These expectations would be short-lived, and very few people would go home with a set of Edsel keys in hand. Sales reflected the public's disappointment and, after the 1960 model year, Ford ended production. The Corsair Cabriolet was the pinnacle of the range at the time, with a plethora of equipment and prices approaching those of Cadillac. The example we are presenting is a Corsair Cabriolet imported into France at the end of the 1980s. Kept dry for around twenty years, this car is now well preserved and has a beautiful patina. The brakes have recently been replaced and the engine drained. However, the carburettor will need to be overhauled, along with the engine seal. The electric soft top was also replaced by a more reliable standard soft top. A fine alternative to other American convertibles, the Edsel stands out for its rarity and fine finish.