Edsel Roundup
Encyclopedia
The Edsel Roundup was a station wagon
produced by the former Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln (M-E-L) Division of the Ford Motor Company
of Dearborn, Michigan
, and sold through its Edsel
marque in 1958. Like the Edsel Villager
and Edsel Bermuda
station wagons, the Bermuda was built on a 116 inches (2,946 mm) wheelbase shared with Ford
's station wagons, as well as core body stampings. It had an approach angle of 21° and an overall length of 205.42 inches.
The Roundup represented the base trim level available within the Edsel brand for a station wagon, and was only available during Edsel's introductory year of 1958. The Roundup was available only as a six-passenger two-door station wagon. The Roundup came with black rubber flooring, armrests, front and rear ashtrays, dome and courtesy lights and a white vinyl headliner. A split-back front seat was standard to allow access to the back seat. In place of roll-down rear windows, the Roundup used sliding windows.
To further separate the Roundup from the Ford Ranch Wagon
on which it was based, the Roundup received Edsel's front fascia and grille assembly as well as unique boomerang-shaped taillights. The shape of the taillights posed a problem when used as turn indicators – the left hand taillight appeared as an arrow pointing right and vice versa from a distance.
All station wagons shared the Edsel Ranger
's engine availability, with a 361 cubic inch V8 as standard, as was a three-speed manual transmission
. Buyers also had the option of a three-speed automatic transmission
with a standard column-mounted gear selector, or could choose Edsel's highly promoted but trouble-prone Teletouch
automatic, which placed its drive-selection buttons in the steering wheel hub.
While its roll-out was highly publicized in the fall of 1957, the 1958 Edsel was a marketing disaster for Ford. Total output for the Roundup stood at 963 units. The low output number could be attributed to the declining popularity of two-door wagons in the American market and Edsel's lack of consumer appeal.
For the 1959 model year, the Roundup and the premium Bermuda station wagons were dropped, leaving the mid-value Villager as Edsel's sole station wagon model.
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Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
produced by the former Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln (M-E-L) Division 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. Like the Edsel Villager
Edsel Villager
The Edsel Villager was a station wagon produced by the former Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln Division of the Ford Motor Company of Dearborn, Michigan, and sold through its Edsel marque from 1958 to 1960. Like the two-door Edsel Roundup and premium Edsel Bermuda station wagons, the Villager was built on a...
and Edsel Bermuda
Edsel Bermuda
The Edsel Bermuda was a station wagon produced by the Edsel Division, and later Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln Division of the Ford Motor Company of Dearborn, Michigan, and sold through its Edsel marque in 1958...
station wagons, the Bermuda was built on a 116 inches (2,946 mm) wheelbase shared with Ford
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...
's station wagons, as well as core body stampings. It had an approach angle of 21° and an overall length of 205.42 inches.
The Roundup represented the base trim level available within the Edsel brand for a station wagon, and was only available during Edsel's introductory year of 1958. The Roundup was available only as a six-passenger two-door station wagon. The Roundup came with black rubber flooring, armrests, front and rear ashtrays, dome and courtesy lights and a white vinyl headliner. A split-back front seat was standard to allow access to the back seat. In place of roll-down rear windows, the Roundup used sliding windows.
To further separate the Roundup from the Ford Ranch Wagon
Ford Ranch Wagon
The Ford Ranch Wagon was a station wagon built by Ford Motor Company from 1952 to 1977. The Ranch Wagon was a full-size model, except in 1963 and 1964, when it was part of the intermediate-size Fairlane series, and represented the lowest-priced selection in its respective line.- 1952-1962 :In the...
on which it was based, the Roundup received Edsel's front fascia and grille assembly as well as unique boomerang-shaped taillights. The shape of the taillights posed a problem when used as turn indicators – the left hand taillight appeared as an arrow pointing right and vice versa from a distance.
All station wagons shared 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...
's engine availability, with a 361 cubic inch V8 as standard, as was 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...
. Buyers also had the option of 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 could 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.
While its roll-out was highly publicized in the fall of 1957, the 1958 Edsel was a marketing disaster for Ford. Total output for the Roundup stood at 963 units. The low output number could be attributed to the declining popularity of two-door wagons in the American market and Edsel's lack of consumer appeal.
For the 1959 model year, the Roundup and the premium Bermuda station wagons were dropped, leaving the mid-value Villager as Edsel's sole station wagon model.
External links
- Edsel Spotters Guide
- Edsel.com History, specifications, resources for owners.
- Smith Motor Company Virtual Edsel Dealer
- The International Edsel Club
- Edsel.US Restorer's discussion group