New Project Car EDSEL 1960 Station Wagon

Went to Northern California a few weeks ago (just before the Fun Run)to pick up the new project car... a 1960 Edsel Villager Station Wagon. There were only 216 made and less than 75 survivors.


My friend Fred had started to restore the car 4 years ago, and never got back to it. The front floor pans have been replaced and a little rust on the bottom of the doors, the rest of the body looks solid. We were able to find about 80% of the parts so I will bring home a 60 Edsel for parts and a model of how the car should be put together.


I will also pick up the original frame so all the numbers match, then put the donor engine and transmission in it as the original engine had water in it and was not rebuildable.


The Edsel is third in line behind the 51 Ford and the 53 Kaiser.


I had time to work of the Kaiser putting all the major body parts back on checking for fit and clearance with the modified parts. The only problem I found is that one of the hood hinges is badly worn and will have to be rebuilt or replaced. Also, the power steering pump hits the battery shelf.


I finished the shifter installation by cutting an opening in the transmission hump and bolting the B&M Mustang shifter base to it, then cut a small hole in the console to locate the handle making the hole larger as necessary.



The console is not as high, from the top of the transmission hump to the console as a stock Mustang so I had to fabricate a spacer to mount the top shifter plate and boot to.


a stock Ford Mustang shifter cable was purchased from Rock Auto that bolted to the rear of the AOD transmission. The transmission I have is out of a column shift car with the selector arm pointing up and the Mustang shift cable is for a console shift that requires the selector arm to point down.


I taped a piece of cardboard to the side of the transmission and marked each shift point location of the cable on it.



Then fabricated a bracket that bolts to the existing arm and extended about 3" below the pivot point with several holes drilled in it about 1/2" a part. By shifting the transmission by hand from under the car I marked the arch of the new shift bracket and selected the hole that came closest to the shift points of the cable. Then I welded closed the unused holes, trimmed down the bracket and made a shoulder pin to bolt the cable to the bracket. It shifts very good.



The radiator will be checked out and designed next as it looks like it will have to be moved forward to clear the engine.