14 Cars Which Disappointed Public Expectations

14. Ford Edsel

The Ford Edsel continues to rank as one of the largest auto disappointments in the United States despite being released almost 50 years ago. The Edsel model range had a number of factors against it from the start. These started with the marketing campaign that was supposed to target middle market buyers that they felt lay between the consumers who owned Ford and Mercury branded vehicles at the time. Most shoppers were confused with the marketing strategy; however, as it created confusion on whether the buyer should just buy a vehicle from one of the other, better-known brands. Combined with a big recession that hit in 1957 coincident with the launch of the model, and Ford was just not destined to have success with the brand.