Edsel, the brand, will always be eponymous with failure in the American auto industry. But history has been kinder to the actual cars produced by FoMoCo’s doomed division. Today, Edsels are embraced by collectors for some of the attributes that 1950s new car buyers shunned: the unconventional front end styling, the quirky, spinning speedometer, or funky Teletouch drive. Rank-and-file Edsel sedans still show up on “affordable collector car” lists, and four-door hardtops are available at approachable prices, but, by no surprise, two-door hardtops, station wagons and convertibles command the highest sums. One of the scarcest of all Edsels is the 1960 Ranger convertible, of which 76 were produced. It’s prized today, but interestingly, it’s also the most conventional of the breed. Facing a backlash against the Edselness of its Edsels, Ford instituted a hasty redesign for the 1960 model year, which would be the ill-fated marque’s last.
