How do u get it out of second gear ... srsly

These I don't remember. I don't recall any Nash cars, personally, before the early '60s, when they were small boxlike affairs with a strong Italian look.

They say 'only the good die young'. (So where does that leave me? lol)
Long ago, the U.S. made some amazing stuff, Studebaker, Rambler, Packard, Hudson, Kaiser/Fraizer, and Willys to name a few.
It may be true that modern cars are better and safer than ever before, but in my case today's 'leftovers' leave much to be desired. I'll have the 'ol Brand-X stuff any day!

The old cars had panache, even if they were tin and rusted if you sweated on the bodywork. Some of the most innovative brands died early, but one wonders if we might see the day when there are *no* American cars on the roads? Just Mercedes and Honda and Toyota, with the occasional "exotic" from India or China.

Wow. That's just too depressing to think about. We may live to see that happen.
I'll still be clicking along in my beater Edsel.

Is it the early Edsel or the later one that they downplayed the odd styling somewhat? As I understand it, the Edsel wasn't all that bad a car -- it had some new ideas that didn't work out, like the push-button trans and the placement of some things under the hood that made repair difficult. I've also read that it was an ill-matchig in the market, not meeting the needs of any particular niche of buyers, at a time when the market was in decline. But ultimately it was the odd looks of the car that sealed its doom.

It's a '59 Ranger with 4 doors. The most common of all Edsels. It's right here; http://www.furaffinity.net/view/3965394/
Every word you just said is about how it went, The most perfect analogy i've heard. There just wasn't a need for an Edsel in a recession year.
The success of the Falcon + Mustang gave Ford a fast recovery.

The metal diecast model is the no-holds-barred '58 Edsel Citation. I have it in two-tone gold and white - a convertible.

I remember that song. For a Rambler to pass a Caddy may have been a big disgrace, but it sure turned out to be funny! 🤣😂