Named after Henry Ford’s son and advertised as the “Newest thing on wheels,” the Edsel brand was a highly anticipated expansion of Ford’s 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 line’s radical styling. Ford’s 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 brand’s 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 Ford’s 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.