Yesterday’s misfires, today’s collector cars

Many new cars – like the Ford Mustang, for instance – enjoy instant critical and commercial acclaim. But not every vehicle enjoys the same immediate success.

The Edsel, whose last model was introduced 50 years ago, is a name that has now become synonymous with failure. However, despite the legacy of its remarkable flop back in 1958-1960, surviving Edsels enjoy a cult following among collectors. On the anniversary of the ultimate “misfire,” Hagerty’s has compiled a list of “Yesterday’s Misfires, Today’s Collector Cars.” Nine other vehicles join the Edsel to show that some things indeed get better with age.

“Many factors go into a new car’s success, but it comes down to a mix of marketing, timing and consumer appeal,” said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty Insurance. “For the 10 vehicles on our list, hindsight is 20/20. But even though they were big misfires in their time, today there is a healthy population out there that collects these models and is proud to enjoy them on the road.”