Today in Automotive History
1957 Ford's Ugly Duckling
The Ford Motor Company rolled out the first Edsel automobile on this day. The car was named after Henry Ford's son, Edsel Bryant Ford. 110,847 Edsels were built before the company pulled the plug after three years due to lack of sales and negative press. Ironically, market research conducted just a few years earlier had pointed to the Edsel's success; consumers had said they wanted more horsepower, tailfins, three-tone paint jobs, and wraparound windshields. However, by 1957, fickle consumers had changed their minds, and despite a relatively low price, Edsel sales lagged. Today, due to the limited number produced, the Edsel has become a collector's item.
Posted by Quality Weenie at August 26, 2004 08:10 AM