Edsel designer Roy Brown, Jr., dead at 96. A look at the history of the infamous Edsel

I read an article this week that Roy Brown, Jr., the designer of the Edsel, died on February 24 at the age of 96. Of course, that got me thinking about the infamous car, which was produced with much fanfare between 1958 and 1960. Now, I wasn’t even alive when this car was new, so I have a hard time imagining what all the hubbub was about. Today, the Edsel doesn’t really look that much better or worse that many other offerings from the late 1950s. Still, the car had a rough history. Let’s take a look.

History of the Model T Ford. The car that really did change everything

When many people think of the Ford Model T, two things come to mind—they came in “any color, as long as it’s black,” and Henry Ford invented the assembly line to build them on.

Neither one of those things is true, of course, but why would anyone be expected to know or care about a rickety old car that went out of production 84-years ago? Well, we do lots of stories here about the history of certain makes and models of cars. But an overview of the Model T is more than just the history of another car. It is American history. It is world history. The Model T impacted us in ways that are still felt today.

Heart of America Model A Club celebrates the history of one of America's great cars at Kansas City's City Market

This is a story of what may very well be the best mass-produced car ever made. Bulletproof, stylish, and timeless, the iconic Ford Model A continues to be an American favorite, and that claim was never more obvious than at Kansas City’s City Market over the weekend.

When the Model A was introduced in 1927, it had unbelievably large shoes to fill. This was the car destined to replace the Model T, the car that almost singlehandedly put America on wheels. In order to follow an act like that, the Model A had to be exceptional.

And it was. For an average of $500, customers could choose from more than 15 body styles and a multitude of colors throughout the A’s five-year run.

Ford kills off the Model T bloodline for 2011

1955 Ford Crown Victoria

Tonight, CNBC is airing a special called Ford: Rebuilding an American Icon. They’re going to talk about Ford’s business, how they’ve been able to move ahead without taking bankruptcy, and some of the changes they’re making for the future.

At the same time, I have been thinking about the end of an American icon. Of course, Ford builds all kinds of cars and trucks. Mustangs have a great history, F-150s are big sellers, and the Fiesta is getting a lot of buzz. But only one vehicle in the Ford lineup is a direct descendant of the Model T (and technically, even earlier than that)—the Ford Crown Victoria. And after the 2011 model year, that branch of the family tree will finally end once the Crown Vic is discontinued.

The Henry Ford Museum claims to be America's Greatest History Attraction, and they certainly make a good case for that

One of the greatest displays of historic cars and memorabilia in the world is the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich., just adjacent to Ford’s Greenfield Village.

You could easily spend a day in the museum alone, because most of the displays are either so historically relevant, or simply so interesting, that it is hard to take your eyes off of them.

The museum’s biggest claim to fame is the infamous ’61 Lincoln presidential limousine in which John F. Kennedy was assassinated. But if you’re looking for a big pool of dried blood and the missing piece of evidence that can once-and-for-all clarify what happened for the conspiracy theorists, you’ll have to limit your search to the grassy knoll. As far as the limo is concerned, soon after Kennedy’s death it was sent back to coachbuilder Hess & Eisenhardt and up-fitted with an armor-plated top, more power, and a fancy new paintjob. The parade car continued to be used by presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford, and Carter until it was finally retired in 1977. Nevertheless, it is interesting to look at that car and think about what it went through.