For the last months before the introduction of the Edsel this September, there was a feeling of optimism in the general offices of the division. The first pilot production models of the car had tested out well, as well as the expensive prototypes. No one could find any "bugs" in either body or chassis, engines were rolling up thousands of trouble-free test miles. As far as security was concerned, nothing more of importance had been broken prematurely to the general public.

Now it was up to the sales department, dealers, and the advertising agency. It was remembered that the addresses of the new Edsel dealers would be unknown to the communities, so an additional campaign was planned to make very sure the buyers didn't get lost on their way to see the new cars. Regional offices, some of which had been set up as long as a year before introduction date, hired the few remaining office girls and secretaries necessary to bring them up to full working strength. The last mechanics were put through their factory training courses, the last sales managers were indoctrinated.