1959 ford edsel for sale by owner - Bristow, VA - craigslist (2024)

The Good:
The motor was rebuilt sometime around a decade ago and has less than 50k miles on it since the rebuild. It’s a 223 six cylinder with a column shift 3 speed manual transmission, which shifts well. The previous owner used it as a backup daily driver for his truck, and it was PA state inspected through 2018 when I bought it. Since I’ve purchased it, it’s always been stored in a garage. No odd noises or issues from the engine, trans, or rear end. Since I've owned it, the only change of note was the installation of a new champion aluminum radiator, thermostat, and thermostat housing, as well as 4 new tires (replaced 2024). Otherwise, I've only had do the normal maintenance (oil changes, spark plugs, battery change, etc.) and it's run just fine! Even though I don't find myself driving it as much recently as I'd like, I still go out twice a month to start it up and let it run for a bit. As mentioned above, almost everything works. Turn signals, brake lights, headlights, interior lights. The radio is the original radio and it turns on and seems to work but mostly just picks up static because I don’t have an antenna for it and it’s an AM only radio (so can’t confirm it works perfectly). It will also need a new fuel sending unit as the gas gauge recently stopped working. Also included with the car are a bunch of additional parts including multiple chrome bumpers, extra door, rear windows and door glass, extra hood and dash, rocker panels, door interior trim, rear seat, rare repro seat fabric that they don't make anymore, etc. What's also nice is that it's a rather rare car (when was the last time you saw one of these?) so it definitely gets noticed and youll stand out at any meet or show. But since it's mechanically the same as ford's full size offerings from those years, sourcing parts is a breeze, I'm able to get most of my parts from local auto stores.

What it needs:
As mentioned above, it’s definitely a project. There’s a modest amount of rust (as it’s spent most of its life uncovered in PA). But it’s mostly lower rockers, quarters, trunk pan, hood edge, and small pieces here and there. Floor patch pans were installed by the previous owner, so the floors are in ok shape but would definitely need work if a full restoration is desired as there are smaller areas of rust. The interior needs a full reupholstering. And of course, a new paint job. Mechanically, It will also need a new fuel sending unit as the gas gauge recently stopped working. Otherwise, it's mechanically sound.

I really love this car and hate to see it go. Finding an Edsel on CL within 200 miles of DC is incredibly rare, let alone a villager wagon. They only made 5,678 of these, and I’d hazard a guess there is less than 1,500 around today. In the last couple of years I’ve seen two fully restored examples go for $35k - $45k for better optioned villager wagons, so it seems there might be more interest in Edsels? Anyways, I’m not in any hurry or rush to sell. I’ve seen some non running Edsel villager projects advertised recently at $10k (rust free western examples), so I think $7,500 seems like a fair starting point, especially with all the hard to find parts that come with it. But that being said, let me know your best offer. I need to take some better pics, so apologies for the lack of detailed pics, but I have videos of it running and driving that I can send.