Modern Era · North America · Technology

1957

Ford Edsel fails

September 4, 1957

After two years of hype, Ford unveiled the Edsel, a new mid-priced car named after Henry Ford's son. Consumers mocked its horse-collar grille and stayed away. Ford killed it after two and a half years and two hundred and fifty million dollars in losses. Edsel became a permanent American synonym for a product failure.

More from 1957 Modern Era

In context

Also in 1957 (5 other events on record)

Sputnik orbits Earth · Central Asia · Science
Ghana gains independence · Africa · Politics
Treaty of Rome creates Common Market · Europe · Politics
Little Rock Nine · North America · Politics
On the Road published · North America · Culture

Before and after in North America

Before: 1956: Elvis meets Sullivan
After: 1958: Integrated circuit demonstrated

Before and after in Technology

Before: September 25, 1956: First transatlantic phone cable
After: 1958: Integrated circuit demonstrated

Era

Modern Era (1901–2000), one of 590 events from that era on Saeculum.

Sources

Wikipedia: Edsel