He worked closely with his father, as sole heir to the business, but was keen to develop cars more exciting than the Model T ("Tin Lizzie"), in line with his personal tastes.

Ford was a major art benefactor in Detroit and also financed Admiral Richard Byrd's polar explorations.

He became secretary of Ford in 1915, and married Eleanor Lowthian Clay (1896–1976), the niece of department store owner J. L. Hudson, on November 1, 1916.

His affinity for sports cars was demonstrated in his personal vehicles: Edsel bought the first MG motorcar imported to the US.

[10] After becoming the president of Ford, he advocated for the introduction of a more modern automobile to replace the Model T, but was repeatedly overruled by his father.

Edsel also prevailed upon his father to allow the inclusion of four-wheel mechanical brakes and a sliding-gear transmission on this model.

As president, Edsel often disagreed with his father on major decisions and was occasionally humiliated in public by the older man.

He significantly strengthened Ford Motors' overseas production, and modernized the company's cars, such as by introducing hydraulic brakes.

As an early and enthusiastic advocate for aviation, Edsel insisted that the Ford company should develop airplanes, over the initial objections of his father, who could not envision commercial applications for planes.

Edsel was also present at a celebratory dinner at the Manhattan Waldorf Astoria organized by Gerhard Alois Westrick after the Fall of France.

Other attendees included Sosthenes Behn of ITT, Torkild Rieber of Texaco, James D. Mooney of General Motors, and Philip Dakin Wagoner of the Underwood Typewriter Company.

He helped finance exploratory expeditions, including the historic flight of Admiral Richard Byrd over the North Pole in 1926.

[24] He also designed the gardens for Edsel and Eleanor's summer estate Skylands in Seal Harbor on Mount Desert Island in Maine.

Jensen's landscape elements, with the diversity of tree, plant, and animal life, combine aesthetics, history, and nature.

[28] Located on 87 acres (35.2 ha), the house has an excellent collection of the Fords' original antiques and art, and the historical landscape grounds on the lakefront.