Monday 26th August 1957

A formal press conference introduced the Edsel, named after Henry Ford’s son, Edsel Bryant Ford, to an eager and curious public. Plenty of Edsels were on hand, demonstrations were made, and members of the media were given the opportunity to do test drives themselves. Just over 110,000 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 were poor. Due to the limited number produced, the Edsel has become a collector’s item.