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10 Vehicle Front Ends That Have Stirred Controversy

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Daniel Rufiange
Beauty might be in the eye of the beholder, but sometimes when a designer wants to do too much...

2 — 1958 Edsel

Edsel Corsair, 1958
Edsel Corsair, 1958 | Photo: Ford

With the launch of the Edsel brand, Ford believed it could revolutionize the automobile. A host of factors infamously prevented this from coming to pass, most notably an economic crisis that hit in 1958.

Right behind that Strike One, however, came Strike Two: the model’s styling was not to everyone’s taste. The grid, massive and vertically arranged, was in particular the object of much criticism, derision even. Today, as often happens, the first edition of the Edsel is highly sought-after.

1958 Edsel Corsair, three-quarters front
1958 Edsel Corsair, three-quarters front | Photo: Ford
Daniel Rufiange
Daniel Rufiange
Automotive expert
  • Over 17 years' experience as an automotive journalist
  • More than 75 test drives in the past year
  • Participation in over 250 new vehicle launches in the presence of the brand's technical specialists