This is my next to last post of pictures from the Facebook group “Missouri’s Historic Highways”.
The Standard station touting the Big Bonus is true, but not in the way they were thinking. Seeing an auto carrier full of new 1958 Edsels is the big bonus here. This picture was taken in the St. Louis area; the bridge no longer exists.
Going back six or so years, it appears a November snow stopped the progress of these two auto carriers. Waynesville, referred to on the photograph, is a sister city to St. Robert (think Minneapolis-St. Paul or Dallas-Ft. Worth but on a much smaller scale) which is adjacent to the United States Army’s Fort Leonard Wood. Former trainees at the fort have called it “Fort Lost In The Woods”. If one looks at Pulaski County on a Missouri map, they will see the Army owns a sizable portion of the county.
This last picture ties the other two together. It has an Edsel, albeit a 1959 model, on Route 66 just east of St. Robert. This alignment is still there and I’ve driven it many times; it is currently marked as Route Z.
It’s Edselmania! The Big Bonus indeed! It is interesting that of the 4 Edsels on the truck, 3 are wagons. I can imagine some poor dealer smacking his head and saying “Oh no, here come more of them we have to try to sell.”
The first truck with snow-covered new cars seems to be carrying a load of Packards, while the second one has what look to me like Plymouths or Dodges.
I love these old shots. Thanks for dredging them up.
This pic looks like it was from early 1958. It was not until late 1958 that Ford and its dealers fully realized that these cars were turds
So perhaps the dealers were actually looking forward to these shipments?
I wonder if the cars would have sold better had Ford styled the 1958’s like they did the 1960 model? The 1960 Edsels looked attractive and had a mild Pontiac vibe going on with the grill.
The market had already tanked by the end of 1957, losing 40% in one year. Nope, those salesmen weren’t looking forward to those Edsels. The economy didn’t rebound until early 1959. Democrats and their buddies in the media, called it the Eisenhower Recession, a name that is still used today.
That two-door Edsel hardtop on the carrier in the first picture is among the few I have seen in a single color and looks so much better for it. From the photographer’s perspective 50 feet or so away, the basic profile of the car is clean and simple and few of the awkward stylistic flourishes are visible. This might be the first Edsel I find attractive!
Also, that intersection looks like it might be an accident waiting to happen, with an unlit traffic signal, narrow travel lanes, and signs and buildings right up to the curb line. Really illustrates how much safer road design is 60+ years later.
I had the same reaction looking at that picture, I didn’t know Edsels could look that good. The lack of wheel covers with the white(appearing) wheels and whitewall tires and hunkered down suspension due to the carrier’s straps help a lot too
1st pic. Yes That is the western end of St. Charles Rock Road. the first connection of StLouis to St, Charles. Was an indian Portage trail. The bridge was built in 1903 to replace the ferry, and carry the streetcar line from St. Louis across the Missouri into St. Charles. and was done to help visitors to the St, Louis Worlds Fair (Louisiana Exposition) Was too for gone structurally to repair. even as a pedestrian and bicycle crossing and was imploded. I remember crossing that as a kid with my father at the wheel of his 69 Bonneville. before I-70, it was the only crossing between Alton Illinois and Hermann. until the route 40 bridge was built in Chesterfield. Also remember it was a rite of passage for high school Driver’s Ed students as well. Ah, memories of a west county kid.
“Ah, memories of a west county kid.” What high school did you go to? (inside joke for those of you not from there)
The Route 66 pic brings back a great memory from summer camp in 1980. We took a school bus from Creve Coeur, maybe to Six Flags? Anyway, we were probably on 100 (also part of Rte.66) a big part of the time. Memory is a bit fuzzy so I could also be thinking of an overnight trip up north to Hannibal. Point is, I distinctly remember those orange colored concrete highways that existed for a long time before getting re-paved in asphalt or new concrete. The orange seemed to be the resulting color after decades of wear and decay on the concrete pavement and was very cool, at least to these eyes.
Jason, I find these “vintage” photos endlessly fascinating. Bonus to find the Edsel on the postcard!
I’ll guess the hauler was coming from the Louisville factory. It’s a long shot, but maybe one of the two-tone models went to this guy in Iowa (fall 1957):
Thanks. Tomorrow is the last day for these and it will definitely have the widest variety of motorized transport yet.
I’d love to know how long that feed company kept their Edsel.
In the first picture is that a cop watching the stop sign for runners in the lower right corner?
Back when car carriers could transport a whopping four cars!
There seems to be a lot of Edsel love in this post. Last summer at a yard sale I paid $1 for an ashtray advertising Hinder Mercury Edsel Lincoln in Aberdeen MD. The phone number on it is 777-776. I haven’t had a cigarette since 1998 but for a buck I couldn’t pass it by.
Oh, my goodness, where did you find this picture? It is of a delivery car for Juergens Produce and Feeds of Carroll, Iowa. Juergens was for many years a Carroll landmark, with their checkerboard-patterned feed mill and auger delivery trucks (advertising the Purina brand. Purina Calf Chow, Purina Pig Chow, Purina Poultry chow, Purina Dog Chow, Purina Cat Chow-they also sponsored the morning farm report on the local AM radio.) It was located just south of the viaduct between US 30 and 71. We lived north of Carroll a couple miles off 71, and were a “Co-Op” family, but these vehicles were up and down our road all the time. That Edsel would have gotten hard use on the gravel roads in the spring and fall and would likely not have lasted much beyond the turn of the decade.
What is mounted across the top of that bridge? It is odd looking.