1958 Edsel Pacer

To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys Arizona event, 23 January 2026.
Offered Without Reserve $60,000 - $70,000 USD

• First year of Fords fabled Edsel line, produced for only three years
• One of 1,876 Pacer Convertibles built for 1958, the models rarest variant that year
• Striking color scheme of black over two-tone white and red
• Signature avant-garde design and novel features, including Teletouch Drive
• Powered by a 361-cid V-8 rated at 303 hp
• A rare offering from a fascinating chapter in Fords history

Named after Henry Fords son and advertised as the Newest thing on wheels, the Edsel brand was a highly anticipated expansion of Fords Lincoln-Mercury lineup with the goal of gaining market share from Chrysler and General Motors. Ford really hyped the launch, declaring 4 September 1957 as E-Day, with celebrations and promotions across a network of Edsel-exclusive dealerships touting the all-new models as something never seen before in motoring. In reality, the cars were a pastiche of existing ideas and novel features.

In its first model year, 1958, Edsel offered the entry-level Ranger, the Pacer, the Citation, and the top-of-the-line Corsair, each in multiple body styles. While Edsel did generate buzz, it was for better or worse mostly surrounding the lines radical styling. Fords Edsel experiment never translated to the impressive sales the automaker hoped for. Subtle changes for the 1959 model year gained little traction with buyers. Completely restyled 1960 Edsels debuted on 15 October 1959, but by November Ford pulled the plug after just 2,846 cars were produced for the third and final model year. Despite their offbeat looks, Edsels were good automobiles, well-engineered and solidly built. Today they are widely considered one of the most famous American cars of the 1950s, supported by a very active club of enthusiasts worldwide.

This Edsel Pacer Convertible is one of just 1,876 produced for 1958, making it by far the rarest Pacer variant that model year. Finished in black with a matching convertible top, it typifies the maverick brands unconventional design ethos, with its mashup of a classical upright grille and then-trendy tailfins. The potent 361-cubic-inch V-8 engine was factory-rated to produce an impressive 303 horsepower, giving it plenty of potency.

The red and white two-tone interior features buzzworthy Edsel novelties, including a rolling dome speedometer and Teletouch Drive with selector buttons in the steering wheel hub to operate the automatic transmission. A signal-seeking AM radio, optional tachometer, clock, compass, fender-mounted sideview mirrors, and wide whitewall tires mounted on steel wheels with covers all illustrate just how well-equipped Pacers left the factory.

Certain Edsel models have steadily appreciated over the years, thanks to their offbeat appeal among collectors. Carrying the name of Henry Fords own son, these bold, if ill-fated cars have a persistent allure that keeps their loyal fan base interested and will continue to do so, especially for rarer body styles like the Pacer Convertible offered here.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/az26/.