On July 15, 1957, Edsel entered production across the United States, becoming available for sale on September 4, 1957, or E-Day, as enthusiasts coined the date. An immense undertaking by Ford Motor Company, the Edsel was offered in both Senior and Junior models. The Senior line was made up of the Citation and Corsair, which used the larger Mercury frame, while the Junior series was comprised of the Ranger, Pacer and the Bermuda, Villager and Roundup station wagons that used Ford frames. Only 930 Edsel Citation convertibles were built for 1958, and it’s said fewer than 15 restored examples exist today. This 1958 Edsel Citation Convertible is the only known fully restored Citation convertible originally ordered in single-tone gold metallic paint, which lends to its name, the Soild Gold Edsel. It’s purported it was once owned by Robert Horton of the hit television show “Wagon Train,” which was sponsored by Edsel in 1958. It later spent decades in collection of a Chicago real estate mogul who fancied “Cars of the Stars,” and was stored in a Chicago warehouse from 1978 until it was acquired by the current owner from the collector’s estate with its original equipment intact but in need of a refurbishment in 2019. Having covered just 28,000 miles prior to the restoration, the car underwent a meticulous, two-year, frame-off, nut-and-bolt restoration to exacting factory standards using the original factory assembly manuals and dozens of NOS parts. As it stands today, it’s seen fewer than 30 miles since the completion of the restoration and has achieved a flurry of awards including: First Place at the AACA Eastern Spring Nationals in Saratoga Springs, New York; First Place at the AACA Eastern Fall Nationals in Hershey, Pennsylvania; First Place and Best in Class at the Des Moines Concours d’Elegance; First Place and the Pavilion Award at the Cincinnati Concours d’Elegance; the Carl F. Benz Award for Best Chrome at the Geneva Concours d’Elegance; First Place and Best in Class at the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival Concours; the AACA Discontinued of the Year National Award in February 2025; and the First Place Award at the 2025 Eyes on Design Concours at the Edsel Ford Estate. While an impressive lineup of winnings, please note the physical awards will not be included with the car. Well appointed, the rare Citation is powered by a 410/345 HP V-8 engine that delivers 470 lb-ft of torque. The automatic transmission features Teletouch shift buttons located in the center of the steering wheel, and the signal-seeking radio has been equipped with a discrete FM chip. Three rare options include the illumination group, the rare power chassis lubrication system operated by a button on the dashboard, and the windshield washer system. While Citations featured additional dress-up accessories to set them apart from Junior Edsels, this one is also fitted with the original spotlight and the optional exterior dress-up package.
