Edsel was a Ford Motor Company brand of mid priced cars sold for only three model years, 1958 to 1960, named for Edsel Ford, the son of the company's founder. Ford created it to gain a fourth brand to compete with General Motors and Chrysler in the price range of Mercury, and it was set up as part of what was renamed the Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln Division. After a heavily advertised launch into a recession year, the cars were seen as overhyped and unattractive, and a lasting symbol of commercial failure. Ford lost over 250 million dollars and quietly dropped the brand in November 1959. The brand is defunct, and its models, generations and model years stay on this site with a link back to this page.
Facts
Founded Year SignificanceThe short lived Ford brand of 1958 to 1960, remembered as a famous commercial failure. 1 Ownership HistoryFord Motor Company, for the whole life of the brand from 1958 to 1960 1 Dissolved Year Connections
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Source Wikipedia: EdselLead paragraph, production span, ownertier 2Quote, Lead paragraph, production span, owner
Edsel was a brand of automobiles that was produced by the Ford Motor Company from the 1958 to 1960 model years.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Edsel
WikipediaLead paragraph, production span, first year
Edsel was a brand of automobiles that was produced by the Ford Motor Company from the 1958 to 1960 model years.
Lead paragraph, production span, last year
Edsel was a brand of automobiles that was produced by the Ford Motor Company from the 1958 to 1960 model years.
Lead paragraph, loss
Following a loss of over $250 million (equivalent to $2.72 billion in 2025 dollars) on development, manufacturing, and marketing on the model line, Ford quietly discontinued the Edsel brand in November 1959, shortly after the 1960 model line was introduced.
Lead paragraph, owner
Edsel was a brand of automobiles that was produced by the Ford Motor Company from the 1958 to 1960 model years.
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