While I agree that '59 Caddy Eldorado had issues with suspension and other items, IMO this iconic car shouldn't be considered one of the worst American cars. You have to remember a lot of this technology was also equipped on other cars of the similar era. The manufacturers were still in the learning process of developing this equipment. Even today air suspension is still problematic in many cases. For instance the '84-'92 Lincoln Mk 7 was plagued with air suspension and anti lock brake issues. Failed systems on these cars made them dangerous to drive. I've converted a number of these cars to conventional suspension and brake systems to make the car reliable and safe to drive. The same pretty much goes for the Edsel. Yes Ford invested a lot in the development of this car, but again technology and design weren't as advanced as they are today. So in conclusion i feel you should cut these cars a bit of slack. The '50's was a time of rapid growth and development of society in general not just cars. Yeah the Edsels horse collar grill and overall design was ambivalent at best. Sometimes it can be difficult for a manufacturer to gauge public perception. It can be and often is a delicate balance.
While I agree that '59 Caddy Eldorado had issues with suspension and other items, IMO this iconic car shouldn't be considered one of the worst American cars. You have to remember a lot of this technology was also equipped on other cars of the similar era. The manufacturers were still in the learning process of developing this equipment. Even today air suspension is still problematic in many cases. For instance the '84-'92 Lincoln Mk 7 was plagued with air suspension and anti lock brake issues. Failed systems on these cars made them dangerous to drive. I've converted a number of these cars to conventional suspension and brake systems to make the car reliable and safe to drive. The same pretty much goes for the Edsel. Yes Ford invested a lot in the development of this car, but again technology and design weren't as advanced as they are today. So in conclusion i feel you should cut these cars a bit of slack. The '50's was a time of rapid growth and development of society in general not just cars. Yeah the Edsels horse collar grill and overall design was ambivalent at best. Sometimes it can be difficult for a manufacturer to gauge public perception. It can be and often is a delicate balance.