The Amazing Story of the 1960 Edsel | Andrea 'Enthal and her 1 owner car | 400,000 miles 

Aw shucks, guys. There are bigger experts in the world of Edsels than me. I learned a lot of what I know from them. But I probably am the youngest a person can be to have any memory of them being sold as new cars. As for you, 8avexp, if the Edsel was discontinued on your third birthday, you were born on November 19, 1956. That is the day the Edsel dealership contracts were signed, which is WHY they were discontinued on November 19, 1959. So, you are truly an Edsel baby. You just never knew your actual birth date had a meaning in automotive history. --Andrea 'Enthal

I have seen hundreds of car stories on RU-vid, and this may be the best one of all. The 5 year-old girl promised dad that she would love this car because nobody else did. The rarity of it is the cherry on the icing of this cake. I got something in my eye...

Andrea was a bus driver for the school where I taught. One day we had an event that required teachers to park off campus. Andrea shuttled teachers from the residential areas where we parked back to campus that day. At that time, I drove a fire engine red '60 Buick. When I boarded, she said, "I see you like classic cars." I said that I did and that my dream car would someday be a '60 Edsel. I had no idea she owned one when I said this. I was floored when she told me that she owned one. What were the odds? Hers was the first '60 Edsel I'd ever actually seen. Before that day, I'd only seen them in photographs. BTW: It looks like Andrea's father got the deluxe interior upholstery vs. the standard. I can't wait to see the cosmetic restoration.

Amazing story. Andrea has been an excellent custodian look forward to seeing the exterior restoration.

Comment number two. Your dad is my kind of man. Stubborn, cheap and not going to let others telling him what he should drive and where he should park. Sounds like me. I will drive the wheels off my car and I will never pay sticker price for any car. Best of all you had a Pinto. I love Pintos and I've owned two 1972 Pintos. Was curious about the A/C. Saw the factory unit with a later model compressor. I prefer factory parts like you. Keeping the originality. Also the fact that you drive this car cross country makes you a very special person. This comment is meant to be in the most respectful way. You totally remind me of Kathy Bates. She seems like an amazing woman just like you.

That has to be the best 55 mins I have ever spent on RU-vid. Andrea is a wealth of Edsel history.

I just love the way that car looks,..those were the good years to own a car, cheap fuel and big engines, and very interesting story, she knows a lot...thank you lady, you kept the car in very good shape , just like you promise.

This proud owner is quite a historian! Her recall of the details for the 1960 model is impeccable. The '58 and '59 had the 'horse collar' grill. Excellent, and thoroughly enjoyable interview, thank you!

this gal knows her shit. very interesting vid, great history... LOVE the car.

What an amazing story. This lady and her car are an absolute American treasure. Please give her my best 😊

I loved the video and the 60 Edsel, plus its amazing history! I can relate, my dad had a 59 Chevy wagon..... as a kid I loved it and missed it when he traded it in. I ended up purchasing a 59 Chevy in 1978, and still driving it. It had 58,000 miles when I purchased it.... it turned 200,000 last summer. I can't imagine 400,000. Again amazing story, how could I not hit the like button.

The 1960 Mercury Comet was initially intended to be a Edsel model, but was assigned to Mercury when the Edsel was canceled.

I've seen 58s and 59s but never a 60 because of the low production. Great video and fascinating stories 🤗

That was one of the coolest car stories I have ever heard Love when these old cars are still on the road

Hi from Sydney, Australia. This has been one of the best youtube videos I have ever seen. So GOOD that after just watching it once, I immediately re watched the entire video a second time Andrea is a true marvel, an expert on her beloved car. Good on you Andrea for loving it and keeping it all these years it takes dedication and passion like your 18 year hunt for the side light lens, made more impressive because you are a girl in what is mostly a male hobby. It would/will be really kool to see it all repainted and factory fresh on a later video. I loved the family story too !! I'm of the same age as Andrea & I would have loved to have kept my mum's beloved Jaguar mk10 from the same time zone, however a drunk and drugged driver in a truck wrecked it when it was almost 30 years old. However in September 1982 I bought off its 83-year-old stroke victim owner a rare right-hand drive 1974 Cadillac Fleetwood Talisman. I have used it also as my daily drive for 3 months off 41 years, it still looks like it's new, sable black paint & mustard color interior. It has also been well loved and serviced, we have kilometres here in Australia, we switched over in '74 the year my car was built, when I bought it as an 8yr old car it had 102,700k's on it today in 2023 it's showing 705,000kilometres, so that's around 445,000miles. Specification for the CKD car Kits to shipped here to build an export spec car feature a full power engine with zero anti pollution power sapping devices giving the cars better gas mileage and way more torque, so no need to down shift to second gear and waste fuel, also a two metre wide of 80 inch car. Re the cancellation of the Edsel brand. The new corporate boss of Ford Robert McNamara took one look & wanted it canned immediately. He just hated big cars and was really behind the push to create a new market segment a new middle size between the compact Falcon and full-size Fairlane/Galaxie body. Hence the downsizing of the Fairlane in 1962. Re the wide body. For 1962 the Fairlane/Galaxie body was very cleverly re skinned, giving it a whole new look, so it has a striking family resemblance to its sibling the Falcon. During the extensive re-skin there was some width removed making it just a shade more narrow. Re the unusual taillight lens. There was of course to be an Edsel Comet, Falcon like product, which quickly became the Mercury Comet and the red plastic lens is a shared item on that early Comet with the odd side canted fins on the rear panel/mudguards. Here in Australia our right-hand drive 1964 Ford Galaxies used the 1959 Edsel gauges and instrument pod, same exactly just on the opposite side of the car dashboard, same knobs, switches, layout, steering wheel & horn ring, only difference is the plastic centre of wheel finish piece. A year later for 1965 Aussie Galaxies in right hand drive guise used the beautiful and elaborate 1961 to 63 Lincoln Continental drivers dash pod in complete entirety gauges, radio, HVAC switch unit, knobs etc , even down to the window cranks if you were miserly & wanted manual cranks in your Lincoln.

A few things to note here: 1…In 1975, the movie “Crazy Mama“ came out. It showed not one, but TWO 1960 Edsels being damaged in car chases. Though they were only 15 years old at the time, and therefore were hardly vintage classics, at 2846 units produced, they were rare when they were new! 2…Keep this RU-vid video online forever! As Andrea’s 1960 Edsel probably has had its life story more well publicized than any other Edsel! 3… I have yet to lay eyes on a 1960 Edsel. And I have seen a lot of vintage cars over the years. I’m about the same age as Andrea.

I was not a fan of the 1960 Edsel until watching this video. Thanks so much!

What a great story!!!!! I was hoping it would never end.

I was going to give this 5 minutes just to get a good look at this rare automobile. An hour later, I'm smiling ear to ear, wishing it hadn't ended. What a great car story from a great storyteller.

What a great story about a wonderful car, I can relate because I also own a 1960 Edsel, it's a Villager. I'm currently doing a mechanical restoration so it can be driven again. It hasn't been on the road since the late sixties when it was parked in a garage and left to deteriorate slowly and be inhabited by dozens (or more) of mice. Anyway, it's really cool that you still own and drive your car, a car being in one family for so long is exceedingly rare, thanks for sharing it with us.

A very bright lady with amazing commitment to a rare old car - I was mesmerized from start to finish

Andrea is indeed Princess Edsel! I once owned a 1960 DeSoto Adventurer, another marque that was not long for this world.

Andrea you are a very unique, knowledgeable and one of a kind woman!! Your knowledge about your car and cars in general is just so cool and amazing!! Im sure your father is very proud of you continuing his legacy!! Wish more women were as passionate about cars like yourself and as I am being a male lol 😃. Can't wait for an update!!

Wow Andrea really knows her history and seems to me she is a real Gear head! LOL. An Edsel head at very least! Great stories and unknown history as well I have never seen this car at all either! Thank you!

I love Andrea, my sister’s name, her story and her Edsel are National Treasures! I can’t wait for it’s restoration.

Andrea is a great storyteller and she has a beautiful speaking voice. Thank you for your story, very endearing.

I met Andrea in 1979 and engineered a radio Rock documentary with her at that time. I met the '60 Edsel then too! I once saw her driving it on Highway 101 in Central Ca. in the 1980's. She didn't see me , I just saw her. How could I miss this car! Cool video! Thanks for doing it. I hadn't thought of Andrea in many, many years. Nice to know she and the Edsel are still going strong.

What a stunning car

KILLER video! One of THEE best car vids ever. Good job with the presentation. Simple, effective, the guest does all the real work. (With her, it was easy!) This is a sedan, however. Sedans have the B post in the center, hardtops, (2drs. AND 4drs.) do not. If you could find more subjects like her, you'd be ROLLIN'!!!!!!!! She's right, of course. That grill more resembles a Pontiac. :-) Wish I could give you 1000 likes!

That’s a great story! Wishing you many more safe travels.

Wow! That was a helluva ride!

Oh, my gosh! THIS was by far one of my top 10 favorite car videos on RU-vid! I'm just enamored with Ms. Andrea's knowledge and passion for this beautiful old Edsel. PLEASE PLEASE let us know when she makes her re-debut after being cosmetically restored - I'll fly out to WHEREVER to see her! Much love & motoring happiness!

Great story . Thank you

Hi Andrea! Always enjoyed your writing in the _L.A. Weekly_ back in the '80s. Good to see you and your Edsel are both still alive and well.

I have a 25 year old Jeep that has 464,000 miles and I still drive it everyday.Also I had 3 Edsels back in the 1970's.

Provenance is king in these collectible matters, and you don’t get any more than this. I can’t wait to see it all done up!

Such a cool story and this lady has great knowledge.

Totaly fastenating. I LEARNED THAT EDSEL WAS AN INDIVIDUAL BRAND APART FROM FORD. AND THAT EDSEL WAS ONLY MADE 3 YEARS. AND THAT LAWYERS FORCED THE 1960 EDSEL TO BE MADE. I BELIEVE SHE IS THE FOREMOST AUTHORITY ON THE EDSEL AUTOMOBILE. THANK YOU FOR PRESERVING YOUR EDSEL SO THAT PEOPLE SUCH AS MYSELF BORN IN THE 1960S, COULD ENJOY THE RELIC OF THE EDSEL AUTOMOBILE. I HOPE AND PRAY FOR YOUR CONTINUED EFFORTS TO COMPLETLY RESTORE YOUR EDSEL! SHOULD THAT BE YOUR WISH. WONDERFUL CHARMING VIDIO, THANK YOU. I THINK I SAW A DRAWING OF AN 1960 EDSEL IN TAD BURNESSES AUTO ALBUM WHICH I ORDERED WHILE IN GRAMMER SCHOOL. THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH. I AM HONOURED TO MAKE YOUR AQUAINTANCE.

What a great story hope you do a video on it once it has had its cosmetic restoration would love to see it

In about 1969 , I was helping an old guy clean out dust and junk from his garage in Plainfield N.J.. I was 16 and asked him about the car in his garage and if he would sell it to me. I was getting my driver's license in 1970. He said no. I asked him why not ? He told me it was a very rare car , he said only about 400 were made, thus it will be worth lot's of money someday., So thanks for the treat or post , 1969 was the last time I saw a 1960 Edsel.

What a great car with a great storyteller! Glad Andrea owns this car and has cared for it.

Thank you, Andrea, for sharing your beautiful Edsel, your knowledge, expertise, wit and wisdom with us today! It was a most pleasant hour spent with you and our host. I look forward to seeing more of you and your car!

Andrea is right. Faded paint won’t earn you a ride on AAA truck! I’m fascinated by her explanation of the dysfunctional relationship in the Ford company in those days. It sheds a lot of light on the Comet oddity. AND I just learned that my brother was born 6 days after the Edsel dealer contract expired! I owned my baby “Edsel” Comet for 15 years before I learned that it wasn’t a Mercury. At that point (2006) I figured that they were trying to distance it from the Edsel in those first two years. Mine is also faded, mechanically/cosmetically restored under the hood in the factory Green Mint. The roofline, fender ornaments side profile and tailfins are very similar to the Edsel. Even the early keys had a stylized “C” just like the “E” logo on the Edsel keys. Thanks for posting her wonderful stories!

This woman should be a curator! I thought I knew a few things about Ford lines of cars! She schooled me for real! Great content.

How cool! I remember seeing a 60 Edsel in La Jolla, CA in the late 60s. I was familiar enough with Edsels to know it wasn't a 58 or a 59, so I reasoned that it had to be a 60. I have since seen a couple more but that's it. I'm so happy that this bare bones Ranger has had someone who loves it to care for it.

I first saw one of these 1960 Edsels in a car museum in Van Horn, TX years ago. I walked up from the rear of the car and saw the stampings for the 1960 Ford taillamps. I knew what it was immediately. Their cover up job was so incomplete on this year.

I believe I saw one as a child in the early 60s. From the side, it reminds me of some GM cars of the era..... wow what an incredible origin story!!!❤

That 1960 Edsel is a good running car for 64 years. The marketing failure that discontinued the brand was sad. Today's throw away expensive cars don't reach the 100,000 miles mark before breaking down. Thanks.

Wonderful story , car in the family since new so she knows its history. It’s so good that she also knows so much about the history of the brand itself. Auto styling in those days was pretty much determined about 3 years before production. The 60 Edsel was going to look different from its predecessors, following along with corporate brothers, the 60 Ford and 60 Mercury which changed substantially. Thanks for putting this program together.

Such a beautiful car, is gorgeous and I don't understand how they could pull the plug on this one, probably a case of being in the wrong place in the wrong time. Thank for the great story.

Andrew's car is a 2 door sedan, not a hardtop. The 60 Edsel 2 door hardtop used the Ford Starliner roofline. I had a 58 Edsel in England for 14 years and followed Andrea and her car back in the 90s.

How cool! I had a '59 Edsel Ranger when I was a teen in the mid 80's that my Uncle gave me for my birthday that he had bought at an estate sale a few years before and had it parked in our field behind our house. It had 72k original miles on it as the previous owner hadn't driven it for years at that point. We checked the engine out, a 312cid V8 and it still had +or- 1/4 lb of having 120 lbs of compression on each cylinder. It had been undercoated when it was new and it had had vinyl seat covers put on it new as well so the interior was still in like new condition and the undercarriage was still basically new as well. The paint of the exterior was faded and needed replacing. Uncle bought it in Louisville, KY in 1982 so it had never been more than a few miles from where it was built. I lived just south of Louisville when I was a kid, but we lived on a farm in Southern Indiana by the time I was 12 in 1980 and it became my car when I turned 18 in 1986. I wish to God I had kept it but I sold it to another Uncle in 1992 who lived in Detroit. He restored it a 2nd time and ended up donating it to a charity for auction.

Fascinating info on the width of the 1960 Ford Galaxie and the cloned Edsel. Always thought the 60 Ford was one of the best looking Fords before or since until 1972, wondered why the style didnt stick around a few years. Never saw the rear end of the 60 Edsel before, have seen the front, looks like a pair of flashlights welded to the sides for the turn signals. Back looks like something from the Jetsons.

I remember when Lily Munster would wonder where Herman was and hope he was not at the used car lot getting "suckered" into buying a second hand Edsel.

This car will be so wonderful fully restored. Want to hear about that story.

This is one of the best and detailed interview that I have seen on RU-vid. Please keep them coming.

Wonderful video! My dad had a lunch truck in the Medford Massachusetts area back in the 1950's. He would stop at the entrance of the Ford plant in Somerville early in the morning to sell coffee to the incoming workers. I remember walking by the painted windows of the factory to see what was inside. They had just started making the Edsel, and l don't think they had been shown to the public yet. At one small spot the paint had been scratched away. There l saw a brand new '58 Edsel roll over to a chassis dyno; the driver spun the rear wheels, controlling the shifts by the push buttons in the center of the steering column. A big "speedometer" dial hanging on the side of the dyno indicated the speed. He got it up to 80 mph. I hadn't realized at the time that it would become a very unique memory for me.....

Thank you for an amazing interview Miss Andrea. Your car is gorgeous, and we both know they are living things to some of us. Thank you for sharing it with us. One question does it have a name???

As a “car guy” I’m very surprised you did not know Edsel was its own division/marque. As your guest eventually came around to it- it was meant to compete with Buick’s level.

I have a picture of that very Edsel at the 2018 Concourse de Lemons car show at Seaside California with Andrea behind the wheel! When I first saw this video, I knew I had seen that car! 😅 Fantastic video! Keep up the great work! Just subbed! 🎉

What a great history of a fabled failure! Even as a little baby boomer, I remember these cars being a real trip. A neighbor family had a "58 station wagon that I can still "see" sitting in their driveway or riding in the back. The luster faded quickly as the whole neighborhood watched, in perhaps self-satisfied astonishment, as the wagon sadly deteriorated....quickly. Thanks for the corporate story too, fascinating.

Captivating story. She’s fantastic. I was born a couple months after this car and I have never seen one. It looks like a 1960 Ford Starliner with a Pontiac grill and cartoon tail lights. 400k miles is amazing.

Interesting. 👍

I had a few 1960 Fords and that blood line shines through onto this Edsel. Pretty cool story

This car has the right owner! Must be the leading expert on Edsels! AND such STORIES as well!

I love the way the interviewer doesn't talk over her and just lets her go.

This is one of the best most fascinating videos I have seen. Major props to Andrea for her depth of knowledge of her car and Edsel history, and great story telling talent.

Great storyteller and great caretaker.

So cool that you interviewed Andrea! I listened to her 12 O’clock Rock show on KPFK for years when I worked graveyard for Ralphs. She mentioned her Edsel many times and probably has, I would assume, one of the coolest "underground" rock record collections.

restaurant owner in Sarasota, Fla by south road to Siesta Key, Stickney Point RD, on US 41, had a pink 58 Edsel on the side of his bldg. to draw in tourists in the early to mid 1960's. gas was 32 cents a gallon and cigs were $1.00 a pack.

Thankyou Andrea for the classroom on this car

In the middle 1970s I encountered not just one, but two 1960 Edsels in the same parking lot. it was just by total chance. Both were in poor, very rusty condition. I was quite impressed by this rare occasion.

The Edsel was discontinued on my third birthday!

In the mid 70's in s fla at a junk yard found a 1960 convertible edsel looked like new. Couldn't find anyone to talk to and never went back but I knew it was something very special

She had the best radio show in Los Angeles. I never missed 12 o'clock rock

You sure have a great memory on the life of the Edsel. Thank You for sharing your storie!

They also made a fastback model of that car. It looks very similar to the Starliner 1960. Cool story.🇺🇸

Chevrolet - Ford - Plymouth Pontiac - - Dodge Buick - Mercury - DeSoto Oldsmobile - Edsel - Chrysler Cadillac - Lincoln - Imperial Edsel should have tried to fill the void around the Pontiac/Dodge price range. What's curious is that, had Edsel continued; they were going to give it a Falcon body and Edsel would have had the most expensive, small car on the market. They had styling bucks and possibly even test mules built, but everything came to a halt in November when the entire line was cancelled.

There's a white Edsel I see driving around every so often in South Miami, that has the factory dual rear radio antennas. They slant backwards, and really give the car a cool look. The 60 Fairlane trunk lid was interchangable with the 60 Edsel trunk lid. The 60 Edsel Villager wagon is a great looking wagon as well. Sad that the assembly plants didn't want to assemble the car because of competition. Despite all the negativity around Edsels, they still are an impressive car today. Seeing a 58 Edsel at any car show, if the car has been well kept or restored, they are beautiful cars.

Thank you for a great video! Another Edsel tidbit. The Mercury Comet was originally an Edsel. The 1960 Edsel Comets were rolling off the assembly line in 1959 when they made the decision to end the Edsel line. So, anywhere on the line that said Edsel had to be changed. The Comets that were already made, and were in in the factory inventory lot, had to have the name Edsel removed. I had a 1961 Comet, and you could see, in the "C" on my keys had a faint hash mark in the middle, which would have made it an "E". Yet another tidbit is, the 1960, and 1961 Comets were titled "Ford", not Mercury. The P.A. title to my Comet read Ford where it said "make". Comets weren't even badged anything but Comet, until the 1962 model year, when they decided to designate them a Mercury. It was an easy decision, because the Comets were already sent to the Mercury dealers to be sold. And yet one more tidbit. The Ford Falcon was built off the Edsel Comet body. Yes, the Comet came first. And yes, the Ford Mustang was also built off that body. It's amazing that the Edsel brought us the most popular car ever. And it never even gets credit for it! Can you imagine, an "Edsel" Mustang!

Great video. Thanks both for sharing Andrea's story. I already knew a lot about Edsel, but learned new things about it watching this video, particularly the significance of November 19th. discontinuation date being the end of the 3 year dealer contract.

Looks like a 60 ford galaxie that is customized, wow that's precious!

It’s a incredible and amazing story and a wonderful experience that is rarely seen even over looked😅

According to the Edsel owners club, of the 2,846 total Edsels produced in 1960, Ranger four door sedans numbered 1,288, followed by two door sedans produced which numbered 777, two door hardtops numbered 295, Villager 4 door six passenger wagons numbered 216, Ranger four door hardtops numbered 135, convertibles numbered 76, and the rarest of models the Villager 9 passenger wagon numbered 59. So pick your favorite, as they are all quite rare. Andrea's car looks to be a 2 door sedan.

Great story, thanks for posting. Would love to see it when restored, good luck.

It was clear the Edsel was not a success so Ford Motor made very little attempt to differentiate the 1960 Edsel from the Ford and Mercury models on which it was based. They had to drop the vertical grill which turned off most potential buyers.

What an amazing & awsome story!! She has taken great care of her fathers car!!

Love old car stories like this, keep thme coming!!

She's a great historian with a genuine lifetime connection. Oakville assembly was opened by Ford in 1957 to build the new Edsel in Canada. Canadian Cars were usually blessed with a white steering wheel. I would love to see a video that details all the subtle differences between the three model years, all of the different models of Edsel including the Canadian cars and by extension the various models that shared the Edsel platform in 1960. Great video, thank you.

fantastic story my buddy has a 60 ford Sunliner convertible in white ... and i own a 60 plymouth Belvedere in white

Wow, I'm 64 years old, and always thought the Edsel was a model of Ford. So great to keep learning new things.

Amazing story!

So glad i stumbled on this channel, this is awesome! I didn't want it to end. Andrea is a very interesting person, and such a good sport handing you the keys to that beast. Great story!!!

The 60 Edsel actually has a nice looking front end.

GREAT VIDEO. I expected this video to be another dud. So glad I was wrong!!! The owner of this car has knowledge that’s far beyond the average car guy.

I have a 60 Galaxy 4 door. Not as special but I saved it and used as daily driver. Hoping to bring back out soon.

What a damned shame!!! Leave it to Ford to discontinue the Edsel right after they FINALLY GOT THE CAR RIGHT. This is the Edsel that Ford should have offered on the very first day of its introduction. This is a great looking car. I hope that the owner of this car follows through with the car’s full restoration, as it certainly deserves to be completely restored. This will be a beautiful looking time capsule. I hate to call it that, especially since it’s only one year older than myself. I love the fact that this Edsel is STILL within the same family that it was originally purchased by. Don’t ever get rid of it. BUT….if you do, I’ll take it off your hands.

A neighbor in I believe 57, bought a pretzel, the first one in town, he was a rather odd fellow, people would tease him about the horse collar grill to the point where he refused to drive the car. He parked it on the street with the key in the ignition hoping it would be stolen, it never was.

What a great story...and knowledgeable lady!

Much better looking than the first years with that vertical grill. I like this car.