As the Edsel Ranger was derived from the Ford Fairlane, the Villager shared much of its body stampings with the Country Sedan wagon.

Alongside the Ranger, the Villager was the only nameplate to survive Edsel's entire three-year lifespan as a Ford automobile brand.

For its introduction, the Villager represented the intermediate Edsel station wagon offering; for much of its development, Ford originally had planned on using the Caravan nameplate.

[1] Slotted between the two-door Roundup and the premium Bermuda, the Villager was marketed only with a four-door body; six-passenger and nine-passenger versions were offered.

The shape of the taillamps posed a problem when used as turn indicators – the left-hand taillight appeared as an arrow pointing right and vice versa from a distance.

For 1959, the Roundup and Bermuda were dropped, leaving the Villager as the sole Edsel station wagon line.

Along with the Ranger, the Villager adopted a toned-down front fascia; though the grille retained its "horsecollar" design, it was better integrated into the body (along with the headlamps).

Though visibly sharing nearly its entire rear bodywork with Ford, the confusing boomerang taillamps gave way to four round units and two reverse lamps, along with vestigial fins.

As the flagship Colony Park wagon was always sold with a woodgrain exterior, it never was marketed with a Villager trim.