When Ford introduced the Edsel -- on Sept. 4, 1957 -- it was hailed as a car of the future. Named for Henry Ford‘s son Edsel, it had a powerful engine (including a 345-horsepower V8) and advanced technology. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
‘When you take an Edsel convertible out on the road, believe me, people notice,’ says Kris Trexler of Los Angeles, who owns two Edsels. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
One expert estimated that from 5,000 to 6,000 Edsels remained in circulation. That’s considered a high survival rate for a car that had a total production run of less than 111,000. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
Kris Trexler with one of his two Edsels. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
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‘A lot of people like the Edsel because of the underdog thing,’ said Trexler, who lived across the street from an Edsel dealer growing up in Wichita, Kan. ‘But I didn’t come at it from that angle at all. It was just something that reminded me of my youth.’ (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
Perhaps fatally, the Edsel came out as America was sliding into a recession. The public was suddenly looking for smaller, more affordable cars. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
The Edsel came with a push-button transmission mounted in the center of the steering wheel. It reportedly caused some drivers to shift gears when all they wanted to do was honk the horn. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
Early critics of the Edsel made fun of the car’s unusual oval grille. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
