| Edsels Demonstrate the Irony of Bad is Sometimes | | | | One outstanding and characterizing feature of the |
| Good | | | | Edself is its front grille, termed a horsecollar grille. At the |
| The word Edsel has become synonymous with failure | | | | time of manufacture, this vertical grille was considered |
| in the American culture. However, sometimes bad is | | | | a bold change and even a possible forerunner of |
| good. This is the case regarding the newly popular | | | | upcoming popular style features. |
| practice of collecting Edsel cars. Many people consider | | | | Some specific models within the Edsel category are |
| Edsel cars the most ridiculous model ever made, | | | | worth even more and are hot items in the collector car |
| having plenty of style but absolutely no quality other | | | | market. For instance, Mahwah Edsels are especially |
| than that. However, these days Edsels have become | | | | prized because of their rarity; they were sold on the |
| quite the attraction by prized show cars, at least in | | | | eastern side of the country, and not many survived the |
| some circles. | | | | climate's harsh winters. |
| The History of the Edsel | | | | One thing that might be difficult in owning an Edsel is |
| Edsels were debuted by Ford Motor Company in 1956 | | | | finding parts to restore it. Since the cars were not |
| in an attempt to fix the dearth of medium-sized cars | | | | produced to the extent of many others, they are rare |
| the company was experiencing. Named after Henry | | | | in the first place. Obtaining high-end OEM speedparts is |
| Ford's son, the line became famous as one of Ford's | | | | reported as being particularly challenging. |
| infamous flops. In fact, the line almost sunk the | | | | Why Now Could be the Best Time to Buy an Edsel |
| company. Edsel as a line failed when it first came out | | | | Now seems like quite the opportune time to buy an |
| because of bad marketing, and the incident has in fact | | | | Edsel for those who are interested. They are |
| become known as exemplary of a marketing disaster | | | | considered to be well-priced at the moment for those |
| and specifically as an example of America's difficulty | | | | who are interested in collectible cars. Some people |
| with marketing in the 1950s. The Edsel has actually | | | | consider the Edsel to be a poor man's collectible car |
| become the butt of many jokes, undeservedly, some | | | | because even with their relatively few numbers, there |
| think. Featured in Pee Wee's Big Adventure and | | | | still seem to be more out there than people who have |
| Airplane II, in which the car's engine was used to get a | | | | to have them. |
| spaceship up and running, some may recognize the | | | | The car's fiftieth birthday is near, with many attendant |
| Edsel from these movies. | | | | anniversary gatherings of proud Edsel owners. Some |
| The Edsel as a Collector Car | | | | owners today were original owners back in the 1950s. |
| There were never that many Edsels made, so they | | | | Today, many consider Edsels to be nice and |
| are pretty rare to begin with. This may be one reason | | | | well-assembled cars. Young people who have never |
| that they have become popular collector cars, which | | | | seen one are consistently enthralled by this remnant of |
| their owners collect with loyalty. 5,000 Edsels are | | | | the past. |
| believed to be in existence these days. | | | | |