Volume LII, Issue 4 Edsel Owners Club Inc. July/Aug 2019 .

V o l u m e L I I, Is s ue 4E d s e l O w n e r s C l u b In c .J u l y / A u g 2 01 9THE BIG ELooking Back 50 Years Ago in the Edsel Owners Club1969 was a GROOVYYear for the EOC!INSIDE THISISSUE:Looking Back 50years in the EOC1Vice-President’sLetter2EOC in 1969continued3National EOCMeet in Reedsburgregistration4National EOCMeet in ReedsburgSchedule of Events5EOC in 1969continued6Announcementsand New Members7ClassifiedsAbout The EdselOwners Club8-910There were a number of milestones that occurred for the EOC during 1969. In February 1969,The Edsel Owners Club was incorporated as a non-profit organization for the promotion andrestoration of the Edsel automobile.The prestigious Automotive Quarterly, a hard-bound classic car magazine, did an article aboutthe EOC during the winter of 1969. It covered a small meet that the EOC hosted in Indianapolisin 1968. The magazine described the EOC as a most friendly, likable bunch of car enthusiastsyou could possibly meet. They also reported that the club was strong and growing fast.Car Life Magazine, in the May 1969 issue, did an article titled “The Revenge of the Edsel.” Themagazine reported on what happened to the Edsel image, after the Wall Street Journal claimedthat Edsels were now selling at “genuinely fantastic prices.” There was a sudden interest inEdsels by investors who were buying them up, hoping to resell them quickly to make a quickand hefty profit.One such investor was a mining engineer named Richard who purchased five Edsels, in oneweekend, with the intention of holding an auction and selling each Edsel at a considerableprofit. He held the auction as planned and many Edsel owners came, but no one bought any ofRichard’s Edsels. In fact, one of the attendees at the auction managed to sell Richard a sixthEdsel! Richard was stuck with 6 Edsels and in an effort to dispose of them all, he offered all 6as a package deal for 3,000. He even went to a Ford dealer and tried to straight-trade the6 Edsels for one brand new 1969 Ford. At the time this edition of Car Life Continued on Page 3

Page 2T he B i g EHello Edsel Fans,While our illustrious President Michael Cowles is in Europe attending the Power Big Meet, among other fun things, Ihave the distinct honor to be able to address our membership this month. As I understand it, Michael Cowles, PhilSkinner, Dave Sinclair, Dave Gilbert, and their entourage have identified at least 12 Edsels that are attending thismassive meet of American Iron in Sweden! This event is on Nancy’s and my list of must-see events for sure!Here in the Northwest we are experiencing beautiful weather and are driving our Edsels proudly on tours and showing them at car shows. Nancy and I have had our Pacer at 3 car shows and a couple of tours, reminding others whata great and interesting car the Edsel is. We hope you all are doing the same!One of those opportunities is coming right up at our 51st Annual Convention in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, July 31 -From the Vice-President’s Desk!August 4, 2019. It looks like it will be a great show this year so make your plans to join in the festivities! This is agreat way to meet your fellow Edsel lovers and make lifelong Edsel friends while continuing to learn more about thecar we all love.I hope you enjoyed your spring and are all enjoying your summer and driving your Edsels proudly!Take Care and keep on Edseling!Mike HinschVice President of Regions

V ol u m e L II , Is s u e 4Page 3 continued from Page 1went to print, Richard was still stuck with the 6 Edsels.Car Life also interviewed John Boyd, a 22-year-old collegestudent, who said, “Before the WSJ article, having one Edselwas not good, everyone made fun of you, but it’s now (in 1969)okay to own six Edsels.” The photo in the Car Life article showsJohn Boyd with some of his Edsels. Fifty years later, John Boydis still involved with Edsels, and he is currently restoring aCitation convertible.The Car Life article mentions that Dial Soap had a WhiteElephant Contest in which the 4th prize was either a “ClassicEdsel Motorcar” or 2,000 cash. (First prize was a live elephantcovered in whitewash or 25,000 cash.) Car Life contacted thepublic-relations department of Dial Soap to find out if therereally was an Edsel offered as a prize. The spokesperson atDial Soap said, yes, indeed there is a real Edsel and they stillhad it. No one, as of May 1969, had come forward to claimeither the Edsel or the 2,000, as it was a match-your-numbercontest. The spokesperson admitted that if someone ever doescome forward, he or she would probably want the 2,000, notthe Edsel.The Edsel Owners Club was also mentioned inthe Car Life article. It quoted EOC founder EdselHenry Ford, saying the purpose of the club isto bring together those who enjoy the Edsel andthat the members of the club are not investorsout to sell their cars for large amounts ofmoney. Edsel Henry Ford expressed disdain forthose who only own an Edsel as an investment.In August of 1969, the EOC hosted the firstannual National Edsel meet, in Indianapolisat the Speedway Motel. There were more than110 Edsels at this meet and many more Edselenthusiasts in attendance. Many new life-longfriendships were forged between EOC membersat this meet. Continued on Page 6Cover photo: John Boyd and some of his Edsels aspictured in Car Life Magazine May 1969.Top right: the Dial Soap White Elephant contestthat offered an Edsel as a prize, which remainedunclaimed in 1969.Center left: a few of the more than 100 Edsels inattendance the 1969 National EOC Meet inIndianapolis:Bottom left: a young Hugh Lesley of the famous“Lemon Grove” on the left, Perry Piper with his backtowards the camera, and Edsel Henry Ford at rightduring the 1969 EOC Indy Meet. Perry Piper andEdsel Henry Ford were the founding fathers of theEdsel Owners Club.

T he B i g EPage 4Edsel Owners Club51st Annual Convention in Reedsburg, WisconsinJuly 31st – August 4th, 2019OFFICIAL REGISTRATION FORMName: Spouse/Guest(s)Address: Phone: ( )City: State/Province Zip/Postal CodeAre you bringing an Edsel? Yes No Year of Car ModelRegistration: By July 1stAfter July 1st 35.00 US Funds 40.00 US Funds Wednesday, July 31st - Registration Begins – Hospitality Room OpenThursday, August 1st - Upper Dells Boat Cruise 70.00 x Adults 60.00 x Children 4-11 years(includes bus, dinner and open bar cocktail hour prior to dinner)Friday, August 2nd - Edsel Car Show & E.O.C. Judging of Edsels.All Edsels are welcome in the show!Saturday, August 3rd - Circus World 17.00 x Adults 8.50 x Children 4-11 years(includes bus)Buffet Banquet 37.00 x AdultsChild’s Menu 10.00 x Children 4-11 years Official Meet Shirts (Specify size) & numberMens T- ShirtsS M L XL XXL XXXL Shirts x 22.00 Mens Polo Shirts S M L XL XXL XXXL Shirts x 25.00 Ladies T-ShirtsS M L XL XXL XXXL Shirts x 22.00 Add 2.00 extra for XXL and XXXLShirt orders must be in by June 15th.TOTAL ENCLOSED I accept and assume full liability for any injury or loss to my guests, my family, my property, and myself. I agree to release“The Edsel Owners Club”, or any official or club members from any and all liabilities while attending this convention.Signed Date (must be signed to be processed)Make checks/money orders payable to “Edsel Owners Club”.Mail registration and payments to:Lois Roth(Phone: 503-492-0878)Treasurer1740 NW 3rd St., Gresham, OR 97030Make Hotel Reservations direct with the Voyageur Inn, 200 Viking Dr., Reedsburg, Wisconsin 53959608-524-6431 Mention: You’re with the Edsel Owners Club.Room Rate: 79.00 US per night (plus applicable taxes).Note: Room Block and Special Rates available only until July 9, 2019.

Page 5V ol u m e L II , Is s u e 4Edsel Owners Club51st Annual Convention in Reedsburg, WisconsinJuly 31st – August 4th, 2019SCHEDULE OF EVENTSWednesday, July 31, 20199:00 AMRegistration Desk and Hospitality Room Open – Alpine ABCraft Sale – Raffle Tickets – Model Car Contest Display(Bring Craft Items to sell)Thursday, August 1, 20198:30 AMRegistration Desk and Hospitality Room OpenCraft Sale – Raffle Tickets – Model Car Contest Display4:00 PMUpper Dells Boat Cruise & DinnerFriday, August 2, 20198:30 AMRegistration & Hospitality Room Open9:00 AMJudging of Cars9:30 AMEOC Board Meeting – Ball Room11:30 AMLunch Provided—Black Forest Room2:00 PMEOC General Membership Meeting – Ball RoomDinner on your own6:00 PMParts and Edsel-Related Items Auction – Ball Room(Bring Items for sale by 5:30 PM)Saturday, August 3, 20198:00 AMCars on Display8:30 AMHospitality Room Open9:30 AMCircus World6:00 PMAwards Banquet – Ball RoomSunday, August 4, 2019Breakfast on your own and Goodbyes

T he B i g EPage 6 Continued from Page 3Left: the 1969 EOC Meet was covered by both national andlocal news, thus increasing the public awareness that it wasnow “cool” to own and drive an Edsel. Glenn Shearer wasone of the early EOC members being interviewed by NBC.Right: Frank Nesbit (left) and Dave Jenkins (right) at the 1969EOC Meet. Dave Jenkins was an advertising executive ofFoote, Cone, and Belding, the marketing company hired topromote the new Edsel. He became an Edsel enthusiast evenbefore the Edsels went into production and remained anEdsel owner for decades after the Edsel was discontinued.Left: Edsels at the 1969 EOC Meet taking a few lapsaround the famed Indy 500 Speedway.Right: a young and enthusiastic Dave Sinclair and his brother Paul drovetheir ‘59 Corsair convertible all the way from California to Indiana to attendthe 1969 EOC Meet. Dave Sinclair remains a very active member of the EOCand has attended all 50 EOC National Meets, driving an Edsel to most ofthem.

Page 7V ol u m e L II , Is s u e 4Edsel Calendar of EventsWe need your Edsel photos for the 2020 Calendar! Please submit a picture with a nice backgroundsetting and the picture needs to be 6” x 8” at high resolution (1800 Pixels x 2400 Pixels) at DPI (dotsper inch) or it will be blurry. Send either to Jeannine Phipps 2500 NE 187th Ave, Vancouver, WA98684 e-mail address: jeanninephipps@comcast.net Or to Lois Roth 1740 NW 3rd St., Gresham,OR 97030 e-mail address: Lois Roth97030@msn.comWe need to know what the local chapters are doing. Let us know if there is anything in your area thatdeserves to be noted in this calendar. Email your event info to edselmaniac@msn.comThe new password to access edselclub.org is: Ranger-60 CALL TO THE ANNUAL MEETThe annual business meeting of the Edsel Owners Club, Inc. will be held on Friday, August 2 nd, 2019 at 2:00 PM in the Ball Room atthe Voyageur Inn, in Reedsburg, Wisconsin. The purpose of this meeting will be to act upon business matters of the club. Edsel Owners Club51st Annual National MeetJuly 31st to August 4th, 2019in Reedsburg, WisconsinEOC MEMBERSHIP DRIVE 2019:WATCH THE SPEEDOMETER CLIMB!WELCOME NEWMEMBERS!Bruce & Barb Nunnikhoven – Leighton, IALarry Martin – Lowell, MIDavid LeFevre – Lafayette, INSteve Custer – Norwood, MABruce & Melissa Barnes – New York, NYJohn Tideman – SwedenGary Cope – Pataskala, OH