The Edsel Citation is an automobile that was produced by the

Edsel Edsel is a discontinued division and brand of automobiles that was marketed by the Ford Motor Company from the 1958 to the 1960 model years. Deriving its name from Edsel Ford, son of company founder Henry Ford, Edsels were developed in an effort ...

division of

Ford Ford commonly refers to: * Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford * Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river Ford may also refer to: Ford Motor Company * Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company * Ford F ...

for the 1958 model year. The flagship Edsel model line, the Citation was offered as a two-door convertible; all Citation sedans were produced as hardtops. Slotted above the

Corsair A corsair is a privateer or pirate, especially: * Barbary corsair, Ottoman and Berber pirates and privateers operating from North Africa * French corsairs, privateers operating on behalf of the French crown Corsair may also refer to: Arts and ...

, the exterior of the Citation was distinguished by additional

stainless steel Stainless steel is an alloy of iron that is resistant to rusting and corrosion. It contains at least 11% chromium and may contain elements such as carbon, other nonmetals and metals to obtain other desired properties. Stainless steel's corros ...

trim and a gold-anodized aluminum cove panel (emulating the

Mercury Turnpike Cruiser The Mercury Turnpike Cruiser is a series of automobiles that were produced by the Mercury division of Ford for the 1957 and 1958 model years. Named to commemorate the creation of the Interstate Highway System, the Turnpike Cruiser was marketed as ...

). In total, 9,299 Citations were produced by Edsel; 930 convertibles were produced, making it the second-rarest 1958 Edsel (following the nine-passenger

Edsel Bermuda The Edsel Bermuda is a station wagon that was produced and sold by Edsel in 1958. Like the Edsel Villager and Edsel Roundup station wagons, the Bermuda was built on a wheelbase shared with Ford's station wagons, as well as core body stampings. ...

station wagon; 779 produced). Citation is one of several Edsel nameplates that would see reuse, as Chevrolet would adopt the name for its 1980–1985 compact model line.

Model overview

When Edsel debuted for the 1958 model year, in place of a brand-specific body and chassis, its lower-cost model lines (the Ranger and Pacer, and all Edsel station wagons) shared their chassis with the Ford Fairlane, while its premium lines (Corsair and Citation) shared their underpinnings with the Mercury Monterey and Montclair. The Citation was produced solely for 1958. For 1959, Edsel consolidated its model offerings to Ford-based vehicles, including the Ranger, Villager wagon, and Corsair (shifting to a Ford chassis).

Chassis

Alongside the Edsel Corsair, the Edsel Citation shared its chassis with Mercury, extended to a 124-inch wheelbase. Using a body-on-frame layout, the Citation shared design commonality with Mercury and Ford, using a leaf-sprung rear axle and independent ball-joint front suspension with coil springs. The Citation was powered by a

MEL Mel, Mels or MEL may refer to: Biology * Mouse erythroleukemia cell line (MEL) * National Herbarium of Victoria, a herbarium with the Index Herbariorum code MEL People * Mel (given name), the abbreviated version of several given names (including ...

V8. Introduced for 1958 for Mercury, Edsel, and Lincoln, the 410 was exclusive to the Corsair and Citation (and no Lincoln-Mercury models), producing 345 hp.Flory, p.890. A 3-speed automatic was standard, paired with

Teletouch Teletouch is the trade name for the transmission controls found on many Edsel brand automobiles manufactured by the Edsel and Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln (M-E-L) Divisions of the Ford Motor Company. The significance of the Teletouch systems lies in its ...

steering wheel transmission controls.

Body

The Citation was offered as a two-door and four-door hardtop and as a two-door convertible. Among 1958 Edsels, the Citation was the sole Mercury-based model line offered as a convertible. In contrast to other Edsels, the Citation was fitted with the most exterior stainless steel trim and a gold-anodized aluminum cove panel. Multiple paint combinations were available, with two-tone paint (roof and cove panel contrast) or three-tone paint (cove panel painted to contrast the body and the roof). File:1958 Edsel Citation (18402937073).jpg, 1958 Edsel Citation 4-door hardtop File:1958 Edsel Citation (18837355569).jpg, 1958 Edsel Citation 4-door hardtop (rear view) File:1958 Edsel Citation (21559594236).jpg, Dashboard image, 1958 Edsel Citation 4-door hardtop File:1958 Edsel Citation (19026692051).jpg, 1958 dashboard File:1958 Edsel Citation (18401000394).jpg, 1958 Edsel Citation, front and rear seats File:Edsel Convertible 2.jpg, 1958 Edsel Citation convertible File:1958 Edsel Citation (4137874854).jpg, 1958 Edsel Citation convertible File:Edsel Citation 1958 (4303055870).jpg, 1958 Edsel Citation, close up of fender badging

Features

For the time of its 1958 launch, the Citation offered a number of innovative safety and design features. Intended to keep driver hands on the steering wheel, the Teletouch system (relocating transmission controls to the steering wheel hub) was standard on the Citation (optional on the Ranger and Pacer). The instrument panel centered its gauges in front of the steering wheel, including a thermostat-style control for the heating system (air conditioning was an option) and a compass; a tachometer was an option. Along with being one of the first vehicles to feature warning lights to monitor multiple vehicle functions, the speedometer of the Citation indicated a warning if a preset speed was exceeded. A unique option was "Edsel Lubricator", allowing the car to lubricate itself by the touch of a dashboard button (presuming the owner kept the reservoir filled). Along with power brakes, power steering, and power windows, the Citation offered internal releases for the trunk and hood. The Citation adopted several elements of the Ford Lifeguard safety system, standardizing a padded dashboard, deep-dish steering wheel and double-latched doors; options included seat belts and an early form of childproof door locks.

Production

References

* * * * *Flory, J. "Kelly", Jr. ''American Cars 1946-1959''. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Coy, 2008.

Notes

External links

Edsel.com
History, specifications, resources for owners.
The International Edsel ClubEdsel.US
Restorer's discussion group {{Edsel Timeline

Citation A citation is a reference to a source. More precisely, a citation is an abbreviated alphanumeric expression embedded in the body of an intellectual work that denotes an entry in the bibliographic references section of the work for the purpose of ...

Coupés Sedans Rear-wheel-drive vehicles Motor vehicles manufactured in the United States Cars introduced in 1958