Edsel Corsair (1959)Greg Gjerdingen, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Edsel Corsair Convertible

1959 — USA

Post-War (1946-1959)AmericanConvertibleV8 EngineOpen-Top Driving1950s Americana
Engine5,441 cc V8 OHV
Power225 hp
Torque330 lb-ft
Transmission3-speed automatic (Teletouch)
DrivetrainRWD
Body StyleConvertible
Weight4,000 lbs
0–60 mph11.5 sec
Top Speed105 mph
Production1,343 units
Original MSRP$3,072
BrakesDrum / Drum
SuspensionIndependent, coil springs / Live axle, leaf springs

Edsel Corsair Convertible

The 1959 Edsel received completely restyled front and rear ends, abandoning the controversial vertical grille for horizontal styling that mimicked Pontiac. The Corsair was the top-trim model, and the convertible was the rarest and most desirable. Despite improvements, the Edsel brand was fatally damaged by the 1958 recession and reputation for quality issues. Today, 1959 Edsels are highly collectible precisely because they failed so spectacularly.

$32,000 – $75,000

Verify authenticity as some Fords have been rebadged as Edsels. Check Teletouch transmission operation carefully - repairs are expensive. Corsair-specific trim parts are nearly impossible to find. Convertible top mechanisms require inspection.

Only 1,343 Corsair convertibles were built for 1959, making it one of the rarest postwar American cars. The 1959 models shared bodies with Ford and Mercury to cut costs. Production ceased in November 1959 after just 2,846 total 1960 models were built.