Featured Car for August 14, 2025
Owned by Melvin “Mel” Rolth, Ingersoll, Ontario
Mel bought this 1959 Edsel Ranger in 2002 as a running car from a Tecumseh, Ontario museum that was closing. The car’s owner wasn’t able to take on a restoration so he sold it to Mel. While it took a while to restore, the car is now completed.
For the restoration, Mel completely disassembled the car, taking the body off the frame, which was then sandblasted and painted. The engine was also disassembled but was found to only need a cylinder re-honing and new rings. The front end was completely rebuilt as was the transmission.
This Edsel came standard with a 303 hp (226 kW) 361 cu in (5.9 L) FE V8 with a four-barrel carburetor, connected to a two-speed Fordomatic transmission with a standard column-mounted gear selector.
The interior, including the seats and headliner, is all original except for the carpet which was replaced during the restoration.
Currently, the car has just over 82,000 original miles on the odometer
Mel is also involved in the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association (CHAA) whose mission is to preserve the North American Harvard aircraft associated with the RCAF and the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. He wants everyone to know that there is a Wings & Wheels Family Fun Day at the Tillsonburg Regional Airport (244411 Airport Rd., Tillsonburg, Ontario) on Saturday, September 13, 2025.