Edsel Citation

Edsel Citation
Overview
Manufacturer	Edsel (Ford)
Model years	1958
Assembly	Louisville Assembly Plant, Louisville, Kentucky Somerville Assembly, Somerville, Massachusetts Los Angeles Assembly, Pico Rivera, California Ford River Rouge Complex, Dearborn, Michigan Oakville Assembly, Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size
Body style	2-door convertible 2-door hardtop 4-door hardtop
Related	Mercury Turnpike Cruiser Mercury Park Lane Mercury Montclair Mercury Monterey Mercury Colony Park Mercury Voyager Mercury Commuter Edsel Corsair
Powertrain
Engine	410 cu in (6.7 L) MEL V8
Transmission	3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	124 in (3,150 mm)[1]
Length	218.9 in (5,560 mm)[2]
Width	79.8 in (2,027 mm)[1][2]
Curb weight	4,300–4,500 lb (1,950–2,041 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor	Mercury Monterey
Successor	Mercury Meteor

The Edsel Citation is a top-of-the-line automobile^[3] that was produced by Edsel in 1958. The Citation was built on the longer, wider Edsel platform, shared with Mercury, and with the Corsair.^[4]

Citation was one of two Edsel model names later used by another auto manufacturer, Pacer being the other.

The Citation represented the highest trim level available within the Edsel brand. In addition to deluxe interior appointments, the Citation also received extra stainless steel details and a gold-anodized aluminum cove panel. The cove (or rear quarter-panel "scallop") could be painted either the color of the body, the color of the roof, or a third color (tri-tone paint option). It used a ladder type frame with welded box side rails^[5] and independent ball-joint front suspension.^[1]

Riding on a 124 in (2997 mm) wheelbase with a 22° approach angle,^[1] the Citation was powered by the 345 bhp (257 kW) 410 cu in (6.7 L) MEL V8 with four-barrel carburetor.^[6] Edsel’s Teletouch automatic transmission, which placed its drive-selection buttons in the steering wheel hub, was standard. (This was a US$231 option on Ranger and Pacer models.)^[6] A basic heater (as a US$92 option) and radio (at US$95) were available, and air conditioning was optional as well (at US$460),^[6] plus an automatic truck opener,^[7] seat belts, and rear door safety lock^[3] that could only be opened with the key, preventing children from opening the door while the car is moving.^[7]

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. The Citation is known as one of the ugliest cars ever made, it bore the notorious "horse-collar" grille that critics said resembled "an Oldsmobile sucking on a lemon." Total Citation output in the U.S. and Canada for the model stood at 9,299 units, of which 930 were U.S.-built convertibles, 5,588 were four-door hardtops (5,112 in U.S. and 476 in Canada), and 2,781 were hardtop coupes (2,535 in U.S. and 246 in Canada). Prices ranged from US$3,500 to $3,766.

Production Figures

Body Style	Units
2-Door Convertible	930
2-Door Hardtop Coupe	2,781
4-Door Hardtop Sedan	5,588
Total	9,299

For the 1959 model year, the Citation and the Pacer models were dropped (as was the trouble-prone Teletouch system) from Edsel’s model range for 1959, which was introduced in the fall of 1958.

The Citation convertible remains one of the most sought after models amongst modern-day Edsel collectors.

Different Platforms

The model year of the Edsel's introduction was a post WW II high point of sorts for the Ford Motor Company. Three full-size platforms of distinctly different interior widths were in use each by Lincoln, Mercury and Ford, a situation that lasted until Ford received a much wider platform in 1960. Edsel shared both Mercury's and Ford's platform in 1958 and so offers an insight into their differing interior dimensions.

1958 Comparison[8]	Edsel Citation/Corsair	Edsel Pacer/Ranger
Wheelbase	124.0 in (3,150 mm)	118.0 in (2,997 mm)
Overall Length	218.9 in (5,560 mm)	213.2 in (5,415 mm)
Width	79.8 in (2,027 mm)	78.8 in (2,002 mm)
Height	56.8 in (1,443 mm)	56.2 in (1,427 mm)
Front Headroom	33.9 in (861 mm)	33.2 in (843 mm)
Front Legroom	44.2 in (1,123 mm)	43.1 in (1,095 mm)
Front Hip Room	63.5 in (1,613 mm)	60.0 in (1,524 mm)
Front Shoulder Room	59.7 in (1,516 mm)	57.3 in (1,455 mm)
Rear Headroom	32.8 in (833 mm)	33.6 in (853 mm)
Rear Legroom–ins.	43.4 in (1,102 mm)	40.7 in (1,034 mm)
Rear Hip Room	63.5 in (1,613 mm)	60.1 in (1,527 mm)
Rear Shoulder Room	59.7 in (1,516 mm)	57.0 in (1,448 mm)

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.
• Heasley, Jerry (1977). The Production Figure Book For U.S. Cars. Motorbooks International. ISBN 0-87938-042-X.
• Triplett, Ty (1990). The Edsel Owner's Handbook, Second Revision. International Edsel Club. n/a.
• Flory, J. "Kelly", Jr. American Cars 1946-1959. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Coy, 2008.

Notes

1. Warnock, C Gayle (1980). The Edsel Affair. Pro West.
2. "Directory Index: Edsel/1958_Edsel/1958_Edsel_Sell-O-Graph". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
3. Gunnell, John A. (ed.). Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975. krause publications. ISBN 0-87341-027-0.
4. Flory, J. "Kelly", Jr. American Cars 1946-1959 (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Coy, 2008), p.888.
5. "Directory Index: Edsel/1958_Edsel/1958_Edsel_Foldout". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
6. Flory, p.890.
7. "Directory Index: Edsel/1958_Edsel/1958_Edsel_Accessories". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
8. Popular Mechanics - Feb 1958. Retrieved 2012-01-22.

External links

• Edsel.com History, specifications, resources for owners.
• The International Edsel Club
• Edsel.US Restorer's discussion group