Robert M. Woolley and Clarence E. Young--Editors

Robert M. Woolley is attending to personal business and will return next issue. Clarence has some extra material and will present it here on "Robert's Page."

Promo Quirks:  58 Edsel

Nothing is ever easy. This was going to be a quickie article on the two 58 Edsel mold variations. The research started and then there were three variations. Eventually, the possible variations numbered eighteen. At this point in time, eight mold variations are known to exist. 

If you collect 58 Edsels and thought that you had them all, this article is likely going to put you in the hunt once again. 

A chart has been made to sort all this out, but first it would be good to understand the molding variables here. Early production 58 Edsel promos failed to show the cowl vent details  just forward of the windshields. This occurred with both hardtops and convertibles.

Next, comes a convertible characteristic. Most 58 Edsel convertibles do not have sun visors, but a very few of them do exist. A plausible theory is that AMT added sun visors to  the convertible promo mold for kit production in early 1958. After the kits were run, a short production run of promos with the sun visors were made. This theory should hold true even though some kits were run with and without the cowl vents. 

Jay Szaras Photo

Next comes the headlight problem. Early cars featured a simplistic headlamp housing as seen below. For classification purposes this headlight pod will be called Type A. Type A is seen with small headlamps or large headlamps installed at the factory. The size of the headlamps is not a mold variation (It's a parts variation!) and that will not be reflected in the chart below as a mold variation. No large headlamps are likely to be found on Type B or C.

The second type will be dubbed Type B. Notice below that there is more space between the headlamps and there seems to be no deeply set recession for the lights as seen in Type A.

Don Krueger Photo

Later production 58 Edsel promos featured a much-more-detailed headlamp housing. Advanced collectors refer to the Type C version as the "compass points" version as seen below.

Oddly, none of the headlight pod variations were precisely accurate. Here is the real thing.

Don Krueger Photo

Interior mold variations, color combinations and other possible variables are good subjects for another article at a later date. If one considers all mold variables, as well as all other variables, there is the real possibility that a collector could have a hundred or more 58 Edsel promos with no two being alike! This discussion and article is concerned only with body mold variations. The chart below outlines the eighteen possibilities and highlights the eight known to exist.  It will be neat to see if any new mold variables show up.--CEY  

This article brings forward the best information available at this time. There is always the possibility of more facts becoming available in the future.

Thanks to Joe Constantino, Rick Hanmore, Don Krueger and Jay Szaras for research assistance and photos as credited for this article.

Promo Quirks: Follow-up

In the last issue of MCJO a question was posed regarding the 52 Ford: "While we are talking 52 Fords, does anyone know what small midyear option Ford offered to improve sales and why?"  By the way, no one either knew the answer or cared enough to venture a response. Oh, well. 

Answer: Towards the rear of Crestline and Customline 52 Fords there is a broad vertically slanting band of chrome on the rear quarter. This is all the chrome that existed on the rear quarter of Crestline and  Customline models when the 52 cars were introduced. In 52, in spite of the Korean War, chrome was being applied more liberally than years before to all automotive lines. Ford had expected a great response to its all-new-car line, particularly since Chevrolets and Plymouths were just warmed over cars. The reception of the new Fords was tepid at best. Ford realized that their new car just did not have enough chrome.  A narrow strip of chrome leading off the upper portion of the slanting chrome piece followed the horizontal sculpture line to the rear of the car.  This fix was small and really did little to improve sales, but it really did spruce up the plain 52 quite a bit. Next time you are at a car show, check out the 52 Fords to see if they have this rare accessory.

See the extra piece of accessory chrome on the lower car?

Promo Quirks: Question

Since Edsels were the subject of this month's feature, let's try another question for next issue. Answer this riddle. How is the 58 Edsel wheel cover both incorrect and correct at the same time?--CEY

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