I’ve done a Google search for any video documentary on the Ford Edsel. I haven’t found one so far. Considering it’s supposed to be a classic disaster of a car I’m curious to see a documentary on why this was so.

Early commercial…

“What a Vacation - Part one” a film produced by Ford about a road trip in an Edsel.

Company History film for Management 1957 - put out to inform upper managers of the design and development of the Edsel.

That ought to get you started.  (I don’t use Google.  Ugh.  I use Search dot com.  I always seem to get better results with it. I entered the search terms “Ford Edsel” and clicked the ‘video’ search tab and it came up with 82 videos!)

Peter, I can’t imagine why a filmed documentary of the decline of this particular model/make would even have been made.  Many ‘lemons’ have come and gone in cars so perhaps there is a filmed documentary on all of them somewhere but it would most likely be a small, independent film buried along with the failed vehicles, or possibly news clips at theaters between movies. 

Usually the reasons why they fail have much to do with the economy at the time, marketing etc. 

Edsel failure timeline (man to car failure)

Thanks for the links.

hulitoons - 20 September 2010 04:35 AM

Peter, I can’t imagine why a filmed documentary of the decline of this particular model/make would even have been made.

I just thought since it’s been such a well known disaster there might have been a documentary on it. I remember there’s at least one book about it on Amazon so I’ll have a look for any DVDs there.

I’m sure that any films about the life of the man/family would surely include all the fiascoes including the Edsel.  So look for biographies.

hulitoons - 20 September 2010 09:34 AM

I’m sure that any films about the life of the man/family would surely include all the fiascoes including the Edsel.  So look for biographies.

I found this DVD as well as this book.

I can always buy one of them after I get a job. Although I’ll have to wait to see if the DVD comes back in stock.

Well, Peter, these three are the three links i put up:

THE EDSEL STORY-This is (in my opinion) the highlight of the DVD! It is a seminar given to the dealers before the introduction to the general public (see clip below) It includes the introduction of the Edsel (See Clip above) It also shows Ford business strategy, the Dealership network the are planning on setting up,the large capitol being invested and how it hopes to compete with GM + Chrysler. It shows some of the features, such as push button transmission.This Great 30 minute film may leave you wanting to buy an Edsel! WHAT A VACATION-A Film produced by Ford aimed at the general public.This starts with a great scene from the factory showing the Edsel being assembled This shows a boy, his family, and their Edsel going cross-country on vacation Run-time 22 Minutes..COMMERCIAL A 2-

daveprime - 20 September 2010 11:22 AM

Well, Peter, these three are the three links i put up:

THE EDSEL STORY-This is (in my opinion) the highlight of the DVD! It is a seminar given to the dealers before the introduction to the general public (see clip below) It includes the introduction of the Edsel (See Clip above) It also shows Ford business strategy, the Dealership network the are planning on setting up,the large capitol being invested and how it hopes to compete with GM + Chrysler. It shows some of the features, such as push button transmission.This Great 30 minute film may leave you wanting to buy an Edsel! WHAT A VACATION-A Film produced by Ford aimed at the general public.This starts with a great scene from the factory showing the Edsel being assembled This shows a boy, his family, and their Edsel going cross-country on vacation Run-time 22 Minutes..COMMERCIAL A 2-

I watched a documentary on that car back in the mid-90’s.  It was on television, but I can’t recall anything about who produced it or whatnot.

And actually, the Edsel wasn’t a bad car.  It was, apparently, an extremely good car.  It just didn’t sell as well as was hoped.

Finally, after all these years, I find a documentary about the Ford Edsel. It’s an episode in a British TV series about the history of cars.

Link here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLK_k84EBlk