Editing Edsel (section)

==Epilogue==

===Edsels as Mercurys===
====Comet====
[[File:60 Mercury Comet (9127334593).jpg|thumb|A 1960–1961 (Mercury) Comet, showing similarity to a 1960 Edsel Ranger]]
While Edsel cost Ford over $250 million in 1958 dollars, the project saw longer-term benefits for the company, as Ford invested over $100 million to build compact cars over the 1960s.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=61 Thrift Power - Edsel Comet - Auto Parts And History|url=http://www.61thriftpower.com/edsel.shtml|access-date=2020-12-27|website=www.61thriftpower.com}}</ref>

Prior to the closure of the Edsel division, the brand was intending to release the Edsel Comet compact for the 1960 model year, sharing a body with the [[Ford Falcon (North America)|Ford Falcon]].<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Halter|first=Tom|title=CC Forgotten Future: 1960 Edsel Comet|date=6 April 2017 |url=https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/forgotten-future/forgotten-future-1960-edsel-comet/|access-date=2020-12-27|language=en-US}}</ref>  Running prototypes of sedans and station wagons were developed into November 1959, only days before the closure of Edsel.<ref name=":3" />  The design was approved for production, with the Comet sold by Lincoln–Mercury under no divisional branding.<ref name=":3" />  Though sharing chassis underpinnings and many body stampings with the Falcon, the Comet was stretched to a {{convert|114|in|cm|adj=on}} wheelbase, longer than the GM Y-body "senior compacts".  The Comet adopted multiple design features from the full-size Edsel line, including its oblong taillamp lenses, though canted diagonally, creating its rear tailfins, along with the instrument cluster.  Comet keys were styled like Edsel keys, restyling the "E" emblem as a "C".<ref name=":3" />

While sold without divisional branding, the Comet proved successful; Lincoln–Mercury sold more 1960 Comets than the entire Edsel model line sold through its 1958–1960 existence.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2007-11-12|title=1950s and 1960s Edsel Concept Cars|url=https://auto.howstuffworks.com/1950s-and-1960s-edsel-concept-cars.htm|access-date=2020-12-27|website=HowStuffWorks|language=en}}</ref>  For 1962, the Comet was branded as a Mercury; the model line was produced through 1977.

====Meteor====
For 1961, Lincoln–Mercury introduced the [[Mercury Meteor]] as its entry-level full-size sedan, slotted below the [[Mercury Monterey]].  Beginning life as a design for the 1961 Edsel Ranger, the base trim of the Meteor was designed with oblong taillamps, switching to a horizontal layout, derived from the 1960 Ranger and Comet, designed as an Edsel.  For 1962, the full-size Meteor was discontinued, with Mercury shifting the nameplate to its newly introduced intermediate car line, becoming a counterpart of the [[Ford Fairlane (Americas)|Ford Fairlane]] to 1963.

===Design influence===
While the Edsel trademark vertical grille saw a nearly universal negative response by contemporary buyers and critics, multiple subsequent automobile manufacturers have employed narrow vertically oriented grilles with greater success in the marketplace, including Pontiac, Jaguar, Subaru, Lancia, Alfa Romeo, and Saab. The [[BMW 4 Series (G22)]] is a contemporary model line with a vertical grille, generating a negative critical response similar to the Edsel.

Through technological advances, multiple features introduced by Edsel cars, including self-adjusting brakes, automatic climate control, steering wheel-mounted transmission controls, and childproof rear door locks are no longer impractical ideas, but included in many current production features as options or standard equipment.