In the late 1940s, Ford Motor Company identified a gap in the mid-priced automobile market, which was diverting customers to competitors. Thus, after a considerable investment and a decade of effort, the newly established Edsel division revealed its inaugural lineup in the late 1950s. Unfortunately, it turned out to be one of the biggest failures in automotive history, leading to Edsel’s demise by 1960.
Introduced on September 4, 1957, the Edsel brand was retired on November 19, 1959, a mere 807 days after its launch. Despite producing seven models across twenty body styles over three model years, the heavily marketed brand failed to meet expectations, dealing a significant blow to Ford’s finances akin to the Great Depression.
Despite its limited production, encountering an Edsel at car shows or automotive events isn’t out of the question. Among the roughly 6,000 survivors still in existence today, some remain in good or excellent condition.
Assembly line issues further compounded Edsel’s woes. Produced alongside Fords and Mercurys, Edsels sometimes suffered from missing or improperly fitted parts due to assembly line routines. Supply chain disruptions exacerbated production delays, leaving many early-build models incomplete upon arrival at dealerships.
Despite innovative features like the Teletouch push-button transmission, engineering flaws and public skepticism hindered Edsel’s success. While the brand aimed for the stars, sales figures ultimately fell short. By 1960, production dwindled, signaling the end of the Edsel era as Ford shifted focus to other market segments.
