Why the Ford Edsel Failed

Ford Motor Company's Biggest Failure Ever - The Ford Edsel. Dive into the fascinating history and downfall of the Ford Edsel, a classic example of a hyped product failing to meet consumer expectations.

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[richardrice]

1:06 that's what makes the Edsel story so sad, they had such high hopes for this car including a 1 hour TV special.

[RickTBL]

I love the '58 Edsel. I think the problem was the name. Edsel sounds old-fashioned for 1958. In '59, Buick had Electra and Invicta, much more space-age sounding.

[nykolehodges]

These cars do have style... I believe the Edsel would make it in today's world. As a compact car. Yes. I like the Edsel .. unique styling. America missed this one ...

[jerry]

I've always thought that the biggest problem with the Edsel was it's position in the lineup. Mercury was introduced for the 1938 model year to compete with the Pontiac, GM's lower mid range car. The Edsel needed to be an upper mid range car to compete with Buick and Oldsmobile. People thought of Mercury as a Pontiac equivalent, so was Edsel a Ford plus or Mercury minus. There was no room between Ford and Mercury, but a huge gap between Mercury and Lincoln.

[wilburross]

Dad told me that the cars didn't live up to the hype. Maybe he and his friends were expecting too much, but with all of the ads about the 'car of tomorrow' etc., they remembered the Lincoln Futura show/concept car from a few years before that and were hoping for something that looked more like it. So when the Edsel was unveiled and it looked like this, they were disappointed to say the least!

[chuckinnc]

Great, informative video! Many of these reasons for failure are sounding very familiar to Ford's current failures with EVs.

[Loki-hcjs]

You just earned yourself a new subscriber, sir!

[kevinguitar]

Not a FORD EDSEL, just Edsel! It was it's own make, same as Mercury.

[MaiBenteHansson]

Great video with lots of interesting facts 🤔

[limited]

The Ford Edsel failed because most people didn't buy the right car. The Pacer and Ranger were available with conventional shift mechanisms and even stick shift. Had more of those ben turned out the troublesome Tele-Touch drive wouldn't have been so prolific. In the area of the Citation and Corsair, Tele-Touch was standard. It should have been optional. Might have saved a lot of headaches. I'd love to have a red Pacer convertible, stick with OD. I wonder if one was ever built?

[theprinceofsnj]

Very good, well put together. One point you failed on was Robert McNamara's involvement with it's disconsolation. He didn't want it from the get go. Many years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Roy Brown. Yes it was at a Edsel convention. And yes I own an Edsel. And did you know the Falcon and Comet were originally designed to be Edsel's.

[djimiwreybigsby]

It was a victim of a gullible society in bad press

[johntracy]

Edsel:

Every
Day
Something
Else
Leaks

[kurtnilsson]

There´s no car named Ford Edsel! It´s Edsel Ranger, Pacer, Corsair, Citation, Bermuda e.t.c. Ford is one car make and Edsel is another.There´s no Ford emblem on an Edsel!

[englishrob]

I wonder what have happened if Roy Abbott Brown Jr bought instead failed Ford Edsel, the other one he designed the sub-compact Ford Cortina. would it have beaten VW Beetle in the States?

[ChuckNorris-yohu]

The Edsel Ranger was produced 1958 1959 and 1960 not just 58-59

[limited]

What Ford Motor Company lost on the Edsel as a drop in the bucket compared to the bath they've taken on EVs. I guess they haven't learned anything.

[zxdeopl]

My mom's uncle had a 1958 station wagon

[gmck]

The best book on the subject is “Disaster in Dearborn: The Story of the Edsel” by Thomas Bonsall.

[DMBall]

All you have to do is look at the ugliest grille in U.S. auto history to understand why the Edsel failed.