Edsel Pacer
Encyclopedia
The Edsel Pacer is an automobile
produced by the former Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln Division (M-E-L) of the Ford Motor Company
of Dearborn, Michigan
and sold through its Edsel
marque in 1958. The Pacer was built off the shorter Edsel wheelbase, shared with the Ford Fairlane, as was the Edsel Ranger
. In addition, both shared the Fairlane's body shell.
Pacer
is one of two Edsel model names reused by manufacturers other than Ford, as was Citation
. The Corsair, a 1958-only Edsel model, used a name previously applied to the Henry J by the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation.
The Pacer represented a step up from the basic Ranger model. In addition to the Ranger's base trim appoints, the Pacer received contoured seat backs, nylon upholstery cloth, color-keyed rubber floor mats, and extra stainless steel
exterior and interior trim pieces and window moldings. A basic heater (as a US$92 option) and radio (at US$95) were available, and air conditioning was optional as well (at $417). A tachometer was optional.
All Pacers rode on Ford's 118 in (2997 mm) wheelbase (except the wagons, which used a 116 in {2946 mm} wheelbase) and shared the Ranger’s engine choices, with a 303 hp (226 kW) 361 in³ (5.9 L) E-400 V8 (with two-barrel carburetor
) as standard. (The 345 hp (257 kW) E-475 410 in³ (6.7 L), standard in the Corsair and Citation, was not available.) A three-speed manual transmission
was also standard. Buyers also could upgrade to a three-speed automatic transmission
with a standard column-mounted gear selector, or choose Edsel’s highly promoted but trouble-prone Teletouch
automatic, which placed its drive-selection buttons in the steering wheel hub, as a US$231 option.
While its roll-out was highly publicized in the fall of 1957, the 1958 Edsel was a marketing disaster for Ford and for Ford's corporate strategy for meeting General Motors product line for product line. Total Pacer output in U.S. and Canada for the model stood at 20,988 units, of which 1,876 were U.S.-built convertibles, 7,141 four-door sedans (6,083 U.S./1,058 Canada), 6,717 hardtop coupes (6,139 U.S./578 Canada), and 5,254 four-door hardtops (4,959 U.S./295 Canada). Prices for the Pacer ranged from US$2,700 to $2,993. Despite being among the best selling 1958 Edsel models, the Pacer was discontinued at the end of the 1958 model year. The premium Citation
model was also dropped, as was the trouble prone Teletouch system.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
produced by the former Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln Division (M-E-L) of the Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
of Dearborn, Michigan
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
and sold through its Edsel
Edsel
The Edsel was an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company during the 1958, 1959, and 1960 model years. The Edsel never gained popularity with contemporary American car buyers and sold poorly. Consequently, the Ford Motor Company lost millions of dollars on the Edsel's development,...
marque in 1958. The Pacer was built off the shorter Edsel wheelbase, shared with the Ford Fairlane, as was the Edsel Ranger
Edsel Ranger
The Edsel Ranger was an automobile produced by the former Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln Division of the Ford Motor Company of Dearborn, Michigan, and sold through its Edsel marque in 1958. Rangers were built on the shorter Edsel platform, shared with the Ford Fairlane as was the Pacer...
. In addition, both shared the Fairlane's body shell.
Pacer
AMC Pacer
The AMC Pacer is a two-door compact automobile produced in the United States by the American Motors Corporation between 1975 and 1980.Its initial design idea was started in 1971. The car's unusual rounded shape with massive glass area greatly contrasted with the three-box architecture with "square,...
is one of two Edsel model names reused by manufacturers other than Ford, as was Citation
Chevrolet Citation
The Chevrolet Citation was a compact car sold by the Chevrolet brand of American automaker General Motors for model years 1980-1985. The Citation and its X-body siblings were among GM's first front wheel drive compact cars, following the trend of front drive compacts such as the Honda Accord...
. The Corsair, a 1958-only Edsel model, used a name previously applied to the Henry J by the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation.
The Pacer represented a step up from the basic Ranger model. In addition to the Ranger's base trim appoints, the Pacer received contoured seat backs, nylon upholstery cloth, color-keyed rubber floor mats, and extra stainless steel
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
exterior and interior trim pieces and window moldings. A basic heater (as a US$92 option) and radio (at US$95) were available, and air conditioning was optional as well (at $417). A tachometer was optional.
All Pacers rode on Ford's 118 in (2997 mm) wheelbase (except the wagons, which used a 116 in {2946 mm} wheelbase) and shared the Ranger’s engine choices, with a 303 hp (226 kW) 361 in³ (5.9 L) E-400 V8 (with two-barrel carburetor
Carburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
) as standard. (The 345 hp (257 kW) E-475 410 in³ (6.7 L), standard in the Corsair and Citation, was not available.) A three-speed manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
was also standard. Buyers also could upgrade to a three-speed automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
with a standard column-mounted gear selector, or choose Edsel’s highly promoted but trouble-prone Teletouch
Teletouch
Teletouch was the trade name for the transmission controls found on many Edsel brand automobiles manufactured by the Edsel and Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln Divisions of the Ford Motor Company...
automatic, which placed its drive-selection buttons in the steering wheel hub, as a US$231 option.
While its roll-out was highly publicized in the fall of 1957, the 1958 Edsel was a marketing disaster for Ford and for Ford's corporate strategy for meeting General Motors product line for product line. Total Pacer output in U.S. and Canada for the model stood at 20,988 units, of which 1,876 were U.S.-built convertibles, 7,141 four-door sedans (6,083 U.S./1,058 Canada), 6,717 hardtop coupes (6,139 U.S./578 Canada), and 5,254 four-door hardtops (4,959 U.S./295 Canada). Prices for the Pacer ranged from US$2,700 to $2,993. Despite being among the best selling 1958 Edsel models, the Pacer was discontinued at the end of the 1958 model year. The premium Citation
Edsel Citation
The Edsel Citation was the top of the line automobile produced by the former Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln Division of the Ford Motor Company of Dearborn, Michigan, and sold through its Edsel marque in 1958. The Citation was built on the longer Edsel platform, shared with Mercury brand automobiles, as was...
model was also dropped, as was the trouble prone Teletouch system.
| Body Style | Units |
|---|---|
| 2-Door Convertible | 1,876 |
| 2-Door Hardtop | 6,717 |
| 4-Door Hardtop | 5,254 |
| 4-Door Sedan | 7,141 |
| Total | 20,988 |
External links
- Edsel.com History, specifications, resources for owners.
- Smith Motor Company Virtual Edsel Dealer
- The International Edsel Club
- Edsel.US Restorer's discussion group