Edsel Pacer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Edsel Pacer
1958 Edsel Pacer
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Production: 1958
Successor: Edsel Corsair
Class: Full-size
Body style: 2-door convertible
2-door hardtop
4-door hardtop
4-door sedan
Engine: 410 in³ V8
Transmission: 3-speed manual
3-speed automatic
Wheelbase: 118 in
Curb weight: 3,773-4,311 lb

The Edsel Pacer was an automobile produced by the former Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln Division (M-E-L) of the Ford Motor Company of Dearborn, Michigan and sold through its Edsel marque in 1958. The Pacer was built off the shorter Edsel wheelbase, shared with Ford brand automobiles, and shared its body with the Edsel Ranger.

The Pacer represented a step up from the basic Ranger model. In addition to the Ranger's base trim appoints, the Pacer received countoured seat backs, nylon upholstery cloth, color-keyed rubber floor mats, and extra stainless steel exterior and interior trim pieces and window moldings. A basic heater was available and air conditioning was optional as well.

All Pacers rode on Ford's 118 in wheelbase and shared the Ranger’s engine choices, with a 361 in³ V8 as standard. A three-speed manual transmission was also standard. Buyers also could upgrade to 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 and for Ford's corporate strategy for meeting General Motors product line for product line. Total Pacer output in U.S. and Canada for the model stood at 20,988 units, of which 1,876 were convertibles, 7,141 four-door sedans, 6,717 hardtop coupes, and 5,754 four-door hardtops. Prices for the Pacer ranged from US$2,700 to $2,993. Despite being the best selling Edsel model, the Pacer was discontinued at the end of the 1958 model year. The premium Citation model was also dropped, as was the trouble prone Teletouch system.

[edit] References

Bonsall, Thomas E. (2002). Disaster in Dearborn: The Story of the Edsel. Stamford University Press. ISBN 0-8047-4654-0.

Duetsch, Jan (1976). The Edsel and Corporate Responsibility. Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-01950-5.

  • {{cite book | author = Heasley, Jerry | title = The Production Figure Book For U.S. Cars|

publisher = Motorbooks International | year = 1977 | id = ISBN 0-87938-042-X

[edit] External links

Edsel (edit )
Edsel "pickle" Models: Bermuda | Citation | Corsair | Pacer | Ranger | Roundup | Villager

See also: Ernest Breech | Ford Motor Company | Comet | Robert McNamara | Marianne Moore | The Edsel Show | Teletouch 
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../e/d/s/Edsel_Pacer_256e.html"