1958 Edsel PACER CONVERTIBLE

Automatic Push Button

W8RR703639

Please note that experience shows us that the photobucket of over fifty large pixel pictures posted here are in most cases best viewed and downloaded using the very latest and most updated version of the 'Firefox' browser as some other browsers and especially older browser versions are not capable of accommodating the size of the download. Over the years our clients have overwhelmingly been appreciative of our many unaltered large pixel photos posted in our ads and our feedback has been that it is very rare that a seller will post all but the most flattering of photographs. We prefer to expose the complete roll of film taken of the car, in sometimes unflattering but natural sunlight, in order for our prospective buyers to be able to see true and reliable images of the car advertised and that is the reason for some seemingly duplicated shots. We trust you will agree. West Coast Classics are proud to present a beautifully restored and great daily driving and completely rust free example of this extremely rare original southern California 'Black License Plate' 1958 Edsel Pacer Convertible (1 of only 1,876 1958 Pacer Convertibles built!) with factory specifications and desirable options including power steering, power brakes, power soft top, power antenna, Automatic Push Button transmission, original AM radio and it's original and very rare 'E-400' 361/303HP V8 engine with 400lbs of torque! Purchased by most recent southern California owner from long time California owner in 10/2008 and seemingly always garaged and well maintained. The floor boards, trunk and all the typical rust-prone areas are amazingly completely original, solid and rust-free and the car has no signs of any accidents - obviously a garaged and cherished southern California driver since new! The car has a beautiful and professional 'Torch Red over White' repaint from it's original 'Jet Black' color with the car stripped and taken down to bare metal before painting and the original 'Black & White cloth' interior has also been restored in matching red and white. All the power options are working as they should including all four windows and the power top. The cars original E-400 361/303HP V8 engine is extremely strong and powerful and sounds absolutely magnificent and this particular car drives absolutely magnificently - must be driven to be believed - does not miss a beat and purrs like a kitten - drives straight as an arrow with no strange road wobbles, shakes or rattles - a truly remarkable daily driver that will give any modern day car a run for it's money! The push-button transmission shifts smoothly through the gears and the car has four good white-wall tires! Please note that the car also boasts a spare wheel and jack in the matching red carpet lined trunk along with a new matching red tonneau cover! In 1956, with Chevrolet owners trading up to Buicks, Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles and Dodge owners to Chryslers or Plymouths, Ford decided to create an entirely new car division of its own to compete. The result was an entirely new car, the Edsel, named after Henry Fords son. The design of the car was completely unique and distinguishable from any angle and the promotion of the car was unlike any other of its day. The Edsel came in two sizes - big and bigger! The senior series were the Citation and Corsair models and were built on the larger Mercury based frame. The junior series were Rangers, Pacers and station wagons the Bermuda, Villager and Roundup which were built on the smaller Ford based frames. The Pacer was the more expensive and better equipped of Edsel's two junior series for 1958. In 1959 Ford announced that due to the recession the Edsel would be lower priced and more conservative in design. One of the most distinctive features of the car was the 'Teletouch Shifter' which controlled the automatic transmission selection electronically from push buttons in the center of the steering wheel hub. A series of planetary gears in the column keeps the gears stationary as the wheel turns. Many other original Edsel features are still found on modern day cars! The Edsel innovations including floating speedometers that glow when a pre-set speed limit is reached; transmission locks in park until ignition key turned (an Edsel first and still used today!); top portion of seats slant forward to provide shoulder support; triple-thermostat cooling system; front mounted distributor coil, fuel pump, oil filter dipstick for easy access; hood hinged in the front for safety; hood release controlled electronically; front seats split 60/40 for better driver comfort and promoted self adjusting brakes, a mechanism that has been used in drum brake systems ever since and a huge array of factory options were also available! According to our sources some 2.5 million Americans visited Edsel dealers on 'E-Day', September 4th, 1957 although sales ultimately proved disappointing! Unfortunately for Ford the Edsel was launched just as the country entered into a recession and with DeSoto sales down 54%, Ddoege down 47%, Mercury down 48%, Buick down 33%, Pontiac down 28%, Oldsmobile down 18%, this was probably the worst year since WWII to launch a new car division! Also Edsel's styling was radical and its prices were expensive when compared to other comparable models of its day and as importantly, Fords president Robert McNamara offered little support to the new division. From the outset the Edsel was in a death spiral and with the more cars that failed to sell the more the dealers dropped their Edsel franchises and as more dealers folded obviously the less popular the car proved to be with the public. After only three years Ford closed the division and the marque was destined to become a future collectible almost from the start. Today, it is thought that only some 6,000 Edsel's survive and each one is a cherished classic car and remember only some 1,876 Pacer Convertibles were built in 1958 and therefore only very few of these still remain on the roads today. The 1958 Edsel advertising campaign said it best "Once you've seen it, you'll never forget it. Once you've owned it, you'll never want to change it!" This is a rare opportunity to own a beautifully restored and great daily driving example of an original southern California 'Black Plate' 1958 Edsel Pacer Convertible in very fine original condition throughout with it's highly desirable original 361/303HP V8 engine with the 400 torque rating still stenciled displayed in embossed letters on the engine and loaded with factory options of power windows, power steering, power brakes, power top, side mirror, electric clock and its original radio! The car also now has dual exhausts, seat belts available and ready to install and a rebuilt engine and transmission. A perfect daily driver for the Edsel enthusiast or classic American car enthusiast or simply a great daily driving and turn-key ready example of one of the late fifties most desirable and unusual classics for any classic American car collector! For further information contact West Coast Classics through EBay WEST COAST CLASSICS, LLC Please note: TERMS OF SALE: YOU BID TO OWN: This vehicle is being sold by West Coast Classics, LLC; we are licensed and bonded vehicle dealers in the state of California. Please note that all vehicles sold to be registered in the state of California will be charged California sales tax on the final EBay sales price and any required DMV licensing, smog, documentation and registration fees. If leaving the state or country, the vehicle must be picked up by a professional licensed auto transportation company that can provide a bill of lading, otherwise California sales tax will be charged. (All licensed auto transport companies provide these). Any out of the state and international buyers will upon completion of the sale be sent by FEDEX the title and bill of sale for the vehicle and will be personally responsible for any sales tax and licensing and registration fees in their home state or province. All bids are legal and binding contracts to purchase the vehicle and by bidding you are hereby entering into a legal and binding contract to purchase the vehicle and agreeing to accept and abide by these terms of sale: Mechanical inspections welcomed; if you wish to inspect the vehicle you must do so before bidding; upon request seller will be happy to deliver the vehicle to a local Santa Monica mechanic of your choice for your prepaid inspection before the reserve price is met. Once the reserve price is met this vehicle is to be considered sold in ‘as is, where is’ condition to the highest bidder with no guaranties or warranties implied or given. Please have all funds available before bidding as a $1,000 non-refundable deposit is required from the winning bidder within 48 hours (2 business days) of auction end; an immediate $500 non-refundable deposit is required through Ebay’s Paypal service to end the auction early if the "Buy it now" option is exercised and the balance in full is due within ten days of auction end in any case. In the case these terms of sale are not met seller reserves the right to either re-list the vehicle or offer the vehicle to the next highest bidder. Seller reserves the right to end the auction at any time before the reserve price is met. Payment by bank wire transfer, cash in person or cashiers check only. All inspections must be done prior to bidding. The non-refundable deposit in the amount of $1,000 is due within 48 hours of the auction end via bank wire transfer or cashier's check via overnight mail. The full payment must be completed within 10 days regardless of a pick up date. In the event the deposit is not posted within the required period of time, the vehicle will be offered for sale to the next subsequent high bidder or relisted for sale. This is to be considered an absolute sale and the buyer is required to comply with all of my conditions in these terms of sale. By placing a bid and winning the auction you hereby agree to abide completely with these terms of sale and the terms of sale are to be considered a legal and binding purchase agreement. Once again, please note that there are no inspections to be made after the auction ends - please be sure to complete any inspection before bidding. The Seller reserves the right to cancel any bid at any time and to end the auction early for any reason. The seller makes every effort to describe in detail any known flaws in the vehicle and includes many detailed and recent photos of the vehicle. The mileage on the vehicle is correct at the time of listing but obviously subject to minor changes necessary to complete delivery of the vehicle to the buyer and test drives etc. Please note that all used vehicles, especially classic and older vehicles, are by definition unique and complex and their condition, for better or worse, must always be considered a subjective opinion to each individual. Therefore the seller shall not be responsible for the absolute correct description, authenticity, genuineness, or defects herein, and makes no guaranties or warranty in connection therewith. Vehicles are sold with one master key unless otherwise stated. Vehicles are sold with handbooks and manuals only if stated in the advertisement. No allowance will be made on account of any incorrectness, imperfection, defect or damage. Any descriptions or representations are for identification purposes only and are not to be construed as a warranty of any type. It is the responsibility of the buyer to have thoroughly inspected the vehicle, and to have satisfied himself or herself as to the condition and value of the vehicle before bidding and to bid based upon that judgment solely. Seller assumes no responsibility for any repairs whatsoever regardless of any oral or written statements about the vehicle. Good luck and thanks for your interest!