Title: Why the Ford Edsel Failed | HowStuffWorks
Headings: Why the Ford Edsel Failed
Why the Ford Edsel Failed
Content: It started at $2,500 and topped out at $3,800, which was much more expensive than other Ford models at the time [source: Carlson ]. Adding to the Edsel's woes was the fact that it debuted at the beginning of a recession. An expensive Ford didn't look like a good option for most consumers. Actually, most people didn't think the Edsel looked good, period. Ford designers wanted to make it stand out, so they hit on the idea of a vertical grille. The thing is, a car's grille has a specific purpose: It allows air into the engine bay to keep the engine cool. In order to keep the Edsel running, that vertical grille had to be enormous, which made the entire car look silly in the eyes of critics and consumers. Ugly, overpriced, overhyped, poorly made and poorly timed, the Edsel was made for only two years.