The 1963 Ford Cardinal-too radical for America at the time
Briefly

In 1957, while American automakers dominated the market, they faced a growing issue with foreign competitors like Volkswagen, who captured consumer interest with smaller, more appealing cars.
Ford's spurning of Volkswagen's offer in 1948 highlighted the short-sightedness of American automakers, as the brand went on to gain substantial popularity in the U.S. market.
The emergence of foreign small cars like the Volkswagen Beetle posed an unexpected threat to the Big Three, demonstrating a disconnect between consumer preferences and what American automakers provided.
Although independent American automakers attempted to sell smaller cars, the lack of appeal compared to successful imports revealed a significant misjudgment of consumer desires.
Read at Ars Technica
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