'From the Maine Classic Car Museum Collection'
1959 Edsel Villager Station Wagon

The Scottsdale Auction|25 January 2024, 10:00 MST|Scottsdale, The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa

1959 Edsel Villager Station Wagon
Chassis no. B9UT739844

361ci "Super Express" OHV V8 Engine (see text)
Single 2-bbl Downdraft Carburetor
303bhp at 4,400rpm
3-Speed Manual Transmission with Column Shift
Independent A-Arm Front Suspension, Live Rear Axle with Semi-Elliptic Rear Springs
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes

* Formerly part of Jim Popp's "Shrine of the Holy Grille" collection
*One of fewer than 50 survivors from 5,687 built
*Rare and desirable 3-speed manual transmission
* A wonderful slice of late-50s Americana

THE EDSEL VILLAGER

Edsel arrived in 1958 to much fanfare as the core of Ford's new Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln division. Aiming to align itself with General Motors, FoMoCo slotted Edsel between Mercury and Lincoln to fill the widening gap and better compete with Oldsmobile and Buick. Combining mechanical elements from Ford and Mercury, the Edsel lineup offered a wide array of equipment and configuration options. The Villager wagon was the workhorse of the lineup, featuring Edsel's requisite "horse collar" grille treatment in front and unique sheet metal along the flanks. Wagons are traditionally scarcer than their sedan and coupe brethren, typically selling in smaller numbers and often serving hard lives. The Edsel Villager is no exception, of which just 5,687 were produced and fewer than 50 are known to exist.

THE CAR OFFERED

Jim Popp is a name known to many Edsel enthusiasts as one of the premier collectors and champions of FoMoCo's infamous orphan brand. His collection, playfully named "The Shrine of the Holy Grille," housed many of the best and rarest Edsels in the world, and this 1959 Villager Wagon counted among them. It is believed to be one of fewer than 50 known survivors and is wonderfully presented with a well-maintained restoration. Finished in a mid-century appropriate color scheme of President Red with Talisman Red (pink) accents, it is distinctly detailed and full of character. Steel wheels wear chrome hubcaps and black wall tires complete the unique, purposeful appearance. At the time of restoration, the original 332ci engine was replaced with a period-correct 361ci Super Express V8, the most powerful engine in the Edsel range. The best part, however, is that the V8 is backed by a 3-speed manual transmission, sure to ignite the imaginations of any wagon enthusiast. This eminently stylish and potent wagon earned an AACA National First Prize in 2009, and it remains as impressive as ever.

Additional information

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