King Rose Archives | Incredible! Edsel 1950s Classic Car Commercials - rare vintage entertainment @KingRoseArchives | Uploaded August 2024 | Updated October 2024, 13 hours ago.
The Ford company might want us to forget the Edsel, but these amazing car commercials give us an entertaining reason to remember it. Which of these is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
The Edsel story is one for the history books — produced by Ford Motor Company from 1957 to 1959, it is one of the most famous failures in automotive history. Named after Edsel Ford, the son of Henry Ford, it was intended to be a mid-priced car that would fill the gap between Ford's regular line and its luxury Lincoln and Mercury divisions.
Ford envisioned the Edsel as a competitor to brands like Buick, Oldsmobile, and Chrysler, aiming to attract middle-class buyers who wanted something more upscale than a standard Ford, but not as expensive as a Lincoln. The car's design was unique, with its most distinctive feature being a vertical, horseshoe-shaped grille that set it apart from the conventional horizontal grilles of the time. However, this design choice was polarizing, with many critics mocking the grille as resembling a "toilet seat" or "horse collar." The Edsel was offered in various models including the Ranger, Pacer, Corsair, and Citation, with a range of body styles like sedans, convertibles, station wagons, and hardtops.
One of the Edsel's selling points was its advanced features, which included the Teletouch transmission — push-button controls for shifting gears located in the center of the steering wheel — a rolling dome speedometer, self-adjusting brakes, and an electric trunk release. Despite these innovations, the car struggled to find its place in the market. Priced between $2,500 and $4,000, it was meant to compete with mid-range brands, but it ended up positioned too close to other Ford products like Mercury, causing confusion among consumers and internal competition within Ford.
The marketing campaign for the Edsel was one of the most extensive of its time. Ford generated enormous anticipation by keeping the car under wraps until its official unveiling on September 4, 1957, which was dubbed "E-Day." The commercials and advertisements leading up to this day were filled with mystery and excitement, designed to create a sense of wonder and curiosity among potential buyers.
These ads featured slogans like "The car you’ve been waiting for," and they promised a revolutionary new vehicle that would change the automotive landscape. However, this massive build-up led to unrealistic expectations. When the Edsel was finally revealed, it failed to live up to the hype. The car’s design was not as innovative as advertised, and the public reaction was lukewarm.
Several factors contributed to the Edsel's failure. The over-hyped marketing campaign set expectations that the car could not meet. Additionally, the Edsel was launched during a 1957–1958 economic downturn in the United States, a time when consumers were more cautious with their spending particularly on mid-priced cars.
The car's styling, particularly the controversial grille, did not resonate with the majority of car buyers, further dampening its appeal. Moreover, the Edsel faced stiff competition from within Ford’s own lineup, as it was positioned too close to the Mercury brand. Production issues also plagued the Edsel; many early models had quality control problems due to hurried production, leading to issues like parts not fitting correctly. This further tarnished the car’s reputation.
Despite Ford’s extensive market research, the interpretation of the data was flawed, and the car ended up being a product designed by committee, which resulted in a disjointed and unfocused final product.
The Edsel sold poorly from the outset. In its first year, Ford had hoped to sell 200,000 units but managed only around 64,000. Over the three years of production, only about 118,000 Edsels were sold. Due to the poor sales and the damage to the brand’s reputation, Ford decided to discontinue the Edsel in 1959, with the last models being sold as 1960 models.
The project cost Ford an estimated $250 million, a staggering sum that makes the Edsel one of the most expensive failures in automotive history.
Despite its commercial failure, the Edsel has become a collector’s item, and is now a significant piece of automotive history. Its unique design and the story of its spectacular failure have given it a cult following among car enthusiasts. The name "Edsel" has since become synonymous with failure, often cited as a prime example of how even a powerful and well-established company can misread the market and fail to deliver a product that resonates with consumers.
Today, the Edsel is remembered more for its impact on the automotive industry and its marketing missteps than for its brief presence on the road.
For availability and licensing inquiries, please contact:
globalimageworks.com/contact
Ref: S052
#edsel #classiccars #carhistory #carsandautos #automobiles #carcommercials
The Ford company might want us to forget the Edsel, but these amazing car commercials give us an entertaining reason to remember it. Which of these is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
The Edsel story is one for the history books — produced by Ford Motor Company from 1957 to 1959, it is one of the most famous failures in automotive history. Named after Edsel Ford, the son of Henry Ford, it was intended to be a mid-priced car that would fill the gap between Ford's regular line and its luxury Lincoln and Mercury divisions.
Ford envisioned the Edsel as a competitor to brands like Buick, Oldsmobile, and Chrysler, aiming to attract middle-class buyers who wanted something more upscale than a standard Ford, but not as expensive as a Lincoln. The car's design was unique, with its most distinctive feature being a vertical, horseshoe-shaped grille that set it apart from the conventional horizontal grilles of the time. However, this design choice was polarizing, with many critics mocking the grille as resembling a "toilet seat" or "horse collar." The Edsel was offered in various models including the Ranger, Pacer, Corsair, and Citation, with a range of body styles like sedans, convertibles, station wagons, and hardtops.
One of the Edsel's selling points was its advanced features, which included the Teletouch transmission — push-button controls for shifting gears located in the center of the steering wheel — a rolling dome speedometer, self-adjusting brakes, and an electric trunk release. Despite these innovations, the car struggled to find its place in the market. Priced between $2,500 and $4,000, it was meant to compete with mid-range brands, but it ended up positioned too close to other Ford products like Mercury, causing confusion among consumers and internal competition within Ford.
The marketing campaign for the Edsel was one of the most extensive of its time. Ford generated enormous anticipation by keeping the car under wraps until its official unveiling on September 4, 1957, which was dubbed "E-Day." The commercials and advertisements leading up to this day were filled with mystery and excitement, designed to create a sense of wonder and curiosity among potential buyers.
These ads featured slogans like "The car you’ve been waiting for," and they promised a revolutionary new vehicle that would change the automotive landscape. However, this massive build-up led to unrealistic expectations. When the Edsel was finally revealed, it failed to live up to the hype. The car’s design was not as innovative as advertised, and the public reaction was lukewarm.
Several factors contributed to the Edsel's failure. The over-hyped marketing campaign set expectations that the car could not meet. Additionally, the Edsel was launched during a 1957–1958 economic downturn in the United States, a time when consumers were more cautious with their spending particularly on mid-priced cars.
The car's styling, particularly the controversial grille, did not resonate with the majority of car buyers, further dampening its appeal. Moreover, the Edsel faced stiff competition from within Ford’s own lineup, as it was positioned too close to the Mercury brand. Production issues also plagued the Edsel; many early models had quality control problems due to hurried production, leading to issues like parts not fitting correctly. This further tarnished the car’s reputation.
Despite Ford’s extensive market research, the interpretation of the data was flawed, and the car ended up being a product designed by committee, which resulted in a disjointed and unfocused final product.
The Edsel sold poorly from the outset. In its first year, Ford had hoped to sell 200,000 units but managed only around 64,000. Over the three years of production, only about 118,000 Edsels were sold. Due to the poor sales and the damage to the brand’s reputation, Ford decided to discontinue the Edsel in 1959, with the last models being sold as 1960 models.
The project cost Ford an estimated $250 million, a staggering sum that makes the Edsel one of the most expensive failures in automotive history.
Despite its commercial failure, the Edsel has become a collector’s item, and is now a significant piece of automotive history. Its unique design and the story of its spectacular failure have given it a cult following among car enthusiasts. The name "Edsel" has since become synonymous with failure, often cited as a prime example of how even a powerful and well-established company can misread the market and fail to deliver a product that resonates with consumers.
Today, the Edsel is remembered more for its impact on the automotive industry and its marketing missteps than for its brief presence on the road.
For availability and licensing inquiries, please contact:
globalimageworks.com/contact
Ref: S052
#edsel #classiccars #carhistory #carsandautos #automobiles #carcommercials
