About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherStanford University Press

ISBN-100804746540

ISBN-139780804746540

eBay Product ID (ePID)2255453

Product Key Features

Number of Pages240 Pages

LanguageEnglish

Publication NameDisaster in Dearborn : the Story of the Edsel

Publication Year2002

SubjectIndustries / Automobile Industry, Marketing / General, United States / 20th Century, Automotive / History

TypeTextbook

Subject AreaTransportation, Business & Economics, History

AuthorThomas E. Bonsall

FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Height0.6 in

Item Weight19.5 Oz

Item Length10 in

Item Width7 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceScholarly & Professional

LCCN2002-009080

Dewey Edition21

ReviewsFor those struggling to make sense of the product plan, the corporate culture, the automotive landscape, or how the modern Ford Motor Company came to be Disaster in Dearborn is a good place to start."— Automotive Design and Production, "For those struggling to make sense of the product plan, the corporate culture, the automotive landscape, or how the modern Ford Motor Company came to be Disaster in Dearborn is a good place to start."-- Automotive Design and Production, Bonsall's success is in an attention to details of development of the car and the book's rich illustrations. . . . These provide the best context for the Edsel story and serve to remind us that our largest companies can at times become hopelessly out of step with their customers."— Library Journal, "Bonsall's success is in an attention to details of development of the car and the book's rich illustrations. . . . These provide the best context for the Edsel story and serve to remind us that our largest companies can at times become hopelessly out of step with their customers."-- Library Journal, "Thomas E. Bonsall, a veteran author of automobile histories, revisits the scene of [the] wreck and supplies an interesting thesis . . . . Disaster in Dearborn . . . .is lavishly illustrated, with dozens of pictures of real Edsels and sketches of Edsels that might have been."— The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Bonsall's book is sure to appeal to the dedicated car fancier and the armchair historian in all of us."-- Road and Track, Thomas E. Bonsall, a veteran author of automobile histories, revisits the scene of [the] wreck and supplies an interesting thesis . . . . Disaster in Dearborn . . . .is lavishly illustrated, with dozens of pictures of real Edsels and sketches of Edsels that might have been."— The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Thomas E. Bonsall, a veteran author of automobile histories, revisits the scene of [the] wreck and supplies an interesting thesis . . . .Disaster in Dearborn . . . .is lavishly illustrated, with dozens of pictures of real Edsels and sketches of Edsels that might have been."-The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Bonsall's book is sure to appeal to the dedicated car fancier and the armchair historian in all of us."-- Road and Track "With a number of great black-and-white illustrations accompanying this interesting story, Bonsall has created a winning tribute to an unfortunate loser."-- Choice "Easy to read, and packed with many rare photos, Bonsall's book is a must-read for any automotive enthusiast."-- Artvoice, "Bonsall's success is in an attention to details of development of the car and the book's rich illustrations. . . . These provide the best context for the Edsel story and serve to remind us that our largest companies can at times become hopelessly out of step with their customers."-Library Journal, "Thomas E. Bonsall, a veteran author of automobile histories, revisits the scene of [the] wreck and supplies an interesting thesis . . . . Disaster in Dearborn . . . .is lavishly illustrated, with dozens of pictures of real Edsels and sketches of Edsels that might have been."- The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Bonsall's book is sure to appeal to the dedicated car fancier and the armchair historian in all of us."— Road and Track, "Bonsall has not only found new approaches to the subject, but sheds fresh light on the oft-rehashed reasons for the Edsel's death. The book is well written, flows nicely, and artfully mixes personalities and corporate policies. It adds a great deal to our understanding of one of the twentieth century's biggest corporate disasters."-James A. Ward, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, "For those struggling to make sense of the product plan, the corporate culture, the automotive landscape, or how the modern Ford Motor Company came to beDisaster in Dearbornis a good place to start."-Automotive Design and Production, "For those struggling to make sense of the product plan, the corporate culture, the automotive landscape, or how the modern Ford Motor Company came to be Disaster in Dearborn is a good place to start."- Automotive Design and Production, Bonsall's book is sure to appeal to the dedicated car fancier and the armchair historian in all of us."— Road and Track, "Bonsall's book is sure to appeal to the dedicated car fancier and the armchair historian in all of us."- Road and Track, "Thomas E. Bonsall, a veteran author of automobile histories, revisits the scene of [the] wreck and supplies an interesting thesis . . . . Disaster in Dearborn . . . .is lavishly illustrated, with dozens of pictures of real Edsels and sketches of Edsels that might have been."-- The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Bonsall's success is in an attention to details of development of the car and the book's rich illustrations. . . . These provide the best context for the Edsel story and serve to remind us that our largest companies can at times become hopelessly out of step with their customers."- Library Journal, "Bonsall's book is sure to appeal to the dedicated car fancier and the armchair historian in all of us."-Road and Track, Bonsall has not only found new approaches to the subject, but sheds fresh light on the oft-rehashed reasons for the Edsel's death. The book is well written, flows nicely, and artfully mixes personalities and corporate policies. It adds a great deal to our understanding of one of the twentieth century's biggest corporate disasters."—James A. Ward, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, "Bonsall has not only found new approaches to the subject, but sheds fresh light on the oft-rehashed reasons for the Edsel's death. The book is well written, flows nicely, and artfully mixes personalities and corporate policies. It adds a great deal to our understanding of one of the twentieth century's biggest corporate disasters."--James A. Ward, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, "Thomas E. Bonsall, a veteran author of automobile histories, revisits the scene of [the] wreck and supplies an interesting thesis . . . .Disaster in Dearborn. . . .is lavishly illustrated, with dozens of pictures of real Edsels and sketches of Edsels that might have been."-The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Bonsall has not only found new approaches to the subject, but sheds fresh light on the oft-rehashed reasons for the Edsel's death. The book is well written, flows nicely, and artfully mixes personalities and corporate policies. It adds a great deal to our understanding of one of the twentieth century's biggest corporate disasters."—James A. Ward, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, "For those struggling to make sense of the product plan, the corporate culture, the automotive landscape, or how the modern Ford Motor Company came to be Disaster in Dearborn is a good place to start."— Automotive Design and Production, "Bonsall's success is in an attention to details of development of the car and the book's rich illustrations. . . . These provide the best context for the Edsel story and serve to remind us that our largest companies can at times become hopelessly out of step with their customers."— Library Journal

IllustratedYes

Dewey Decimal629.222/2

SynopsisFew cars in history have grabbed the public's fancy as much as the ill-fated Edsel--the Titanic of automobiles, a marketing disaster whose magnitude has made it a household word. Remarkably, there has never before been a book that tells the whole story--how the Edsel was planned, created, produced, and marketed. This richly illustrated book is the result of years of research by an award-winning automotive historian with access to the dark reaches of the Ford Motor Company's archives. The author also interviewed most of the original key Edsel design team stylists, who have supplied additional archival material. The result is a unique history of the Edsel program from the initial discussions in the late 1940s, through the first sketches in the mid-1950s, to the last, unlamented 1960 models. The Edsel story, however, deals with much more than a new brand of car. It was a key component in a deadly serious corporate undertaking at Ford Motor Company following World War II. Ford wanted to remedy years of mismanagement and return the company to parity with General Motors by dramatically expanding Ford's presence in the burgeoning medium-priced field. The Edsel was the most spectacular failure in that effort, but was only one pawn in a complex, high-stakes chess game that was a thoroughgoing disaster from start to finish. In the case of the Edsel, the failure was the result of almost too many factors to count: poorly conceived marketing, contentious internal corporate politics, bad quality control, and, ultimately, lack of support at the higher reaches of the corporation. The greatest irony of all, though, is that the Edsel--as this book demonstrates in its surprising conclusion--was actually a modest success that deserved continued management support., Few cars in history have grabbed the public's fancy as much as the ill-fated Edsel, the Titanic of automobiles. The magnitude of the marketing disaster has made Edsel a household word. Remarkably, there has never before been a book that tells the whole story--how the Edsel was planned, created, produced, and marketed., Few cars in history have grabbed the public's fancy as much as the ill-fated Edsel, the Titanic of automobiles. The magnitude of the marketing disaster has made Edsel a household word. Remarkably, there has never before been a book that tells the whole story-how the Edsel was planned, created, produced, and marketed.

LC Classification NumberTL215.E37B66 2002