A lot of people think they know the Edsel story, but you NAILED IT with all the facts. I hope every car guy who comes up to my '60 and tells me their version of its history watches this video.
Really enjoy how much detail you put into these automotive history nuggets! The Edsel was just an odd duck. Had the front been designed more in that jet age front end treatment similar to the 1962 Thunderbird instead of the mule yoke grill treatment it could've been a contender.
First off I’d like to say great job on discussing the good and bad things about the Edsel.I’ve read another problem why Edsel didn’t survive is because the men behind the other divisions of ford didn’t care about the Edsel so therefore they put 0 effort into it as they saw it as a threat to there models. I think that if that didn’t happen then Edsel may have survived despite its problems and the recession of 1958. My fathers owned many fords over the years and currently owns a 55 fairlane crown Victoria and of course my love of fords was because of that and I currently own 1 1959 ford galaxie 3 1959 meteors which is a Canadian only brand and 1 1958 ford so I’m having fun with these cars and know how closely related they are to the Edsel.nice To see you’ve done this and I look forward to more like it!
I was born in 1958 so I can only guess that it might have survived. Like many other quirky cars it became collectible, a guy who ran a Jaguar service shop here in Vancouver had several Edsels In his collection. Keep these videos coming and have a good new week. 😎👍🇨🇦
Those cars are cool though, very different. Funny that the Corsair is now Lincoln’s small SUV. In some markets the car was successful; it could’ve survived had it been given a little more time.
Firstly, I enjoyed this presentation. This is the first video I’ve viewed by this creator. Second, back in the day, I thought that Ford was chasing its own tail trying to compete with GM’s model lineup. GM’s model lines in the 50’s were relatively unique, with their own engines/powertrains for the most part. You had a Chevy engine in your Chevy, and a Pontiac engine in your Pontiac. With Ford, not so much. They used the same engine designs across their lines. So to me, an Edsel was just a gussied-up Ford or Mercury, with a bunch of gee-whiz bling that I really didn’t care for. So for that reason, I don’t think the Edsel really had a place in the Ford model hierarchy. But as for its styling, for 1958, I thought it looked pretty good. The ‘58 GM and Ford cars were generally very unattractive to my. They were all bulbous and bloated, even the base models from Ford and Chevrolet. Both had very successful and attractive ‘57 models, and then their 58’s looked like hell. The ‘58 Fairlane was the ugliest car Ford produced during all of the 50’s. Compared to the rest of the 58’s, the Edsels, to me, were distinctive and clean. And as time passed, I even appreciated the much-maligned grille design more and more. And the fact that people often liken that center vertical grille element to sweet lady-parts (there is indeed an uncanny resemblance!) simply makes the car more desirable.
I think it may have done ok if they had continued production a few more years but it wouldn't be a favorite amongst enthusiasts at car shows, as it is today
They didn’t receive enough prerelease hype. The lack of advertising hoopla dollars led to a general malaise in Edsel showrooms. Sales suffered and eventually the Whiz Kids lost interest in their new toy when the new wore off. They began to bandy about ideas of redressing the Falcon with some new sheet metal and the Mustang was born.
Styling was way off. Different to be different doesn’t always translate to better. Gear shift in the horn position was stupid and Edsel was not a cheap car.
Ford killed the Edsel by selling the 1958 Ford while they were trying to sell the Edsel. People who would have bought an Edsel would have also looked at a "58 ford and compared the 2. An Edsel was a "58 ford made to look like something more expensive. An edsel had 4 things , 1) an ugly "horse collar grille", 3) a speedometer that had the needle stay in the same place while the numbers moved, 3) A push button shifter placed where the horn button was supposed to be. 4) a higher price. car buyers didn't want these. What the buyers DID want in 1958 was TAIL FINS ! the '58 Ford had them, the edsel did not!
