Edsel Citation

Infobox Automobile


boxcolor = darkgreen
name = Edsel Citation
manufacturer = Ford Motor Company
production = 1958
class = Full-size
body_style = 2-door convertible
2-door hardtop
4-door hardtop
engine = 410 in³ V8
transmission = 3-speed automatic
weight = Auto lb|4136|0-Auto lb|4311|0
wheelbase = Auto in|124|0

The Edsel Citation was an automobile produced by the former Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln Division of the Ford Motor Company of Dearborn, Michigan and sold through its Edsel marque in 1958. The Citation was built off the longer Edsel platform, shared with Mercury (automobile) brand automobiles, as was the Edsel Corsair.

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 "scallop") could be painted either the color of the body, the roof, or a third color (tri-tone paint option).

Riding on a 124 in wheelbase, the Citation was powered by a 410 in³ V8 producing Auto bhp|345|0. Edsel’s Teletouch automatic, which placed its drive-selection buttons in the steering wheel hub, was standard.

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. 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.

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 covertible remains one of the most sought after models amongst modern-day Edsel collectors.

References

* cite book | author = Heasley, Jerry | title = The Production Figure Book For U.S. Cars
publisher = Motorbooks International | year = 1977 | id = ISBN 0-87938-042-X

External links

* [http://www.edsel.com Edsel.com] History, specifications, resources for owners.
* [http://www.edsel.net Smith Motor Company] Virtual Edsel Dealer
* [http://www.internationaledsel.com/ The International Edsel Club]
* [http://www.failuremag.com/arch_history_edsel.html "Auto Biography"] — Failure Magazine examines the history of the Edsel (March, 2002)
* [http://www.edsel.us Edsel.US] Restorer's discussion group