Edsel Bermuda

Edsel Bermuda
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company
Model years	1958
Assembly	Edison, New Jersey Wayne, Michigan Atlanta, Georgia San Jose, California
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size
Body style	4-door station wagon
Related	Edsel Pacer Edsel Ranger Edsel Villager Edsel Roundup Ford Fairlane Ford Custom Ford Country Squire
Powertrain
Engine	361 cu in (5.9 L) FE V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	116 in (2,946 mm)
Curb weight	4,100 lb (1,860 kg)

The Edsel Bermuda was a station wagon produced by the Edsel Division, and later Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln (M-E-L) Division of the Ford Motor Company of Dearborn, Michigan, and sold through its Edsel marque in 1958. Like the Edsel Villager and Edsel Roundup station wagons, the Bermuda was built on a 116-inch (2,946 mm) wheelbase shared with Ford's station wagons, as well as core body stampings.

Overview

The Bermuda represented the highest trim level available within the Edsel brand for a station wagon, and was only available during Edsel's introductory year of 1958. In addition to deluxe interior appointments, the Bermuda also was outfitted with simulated wood panels and frames, a hallmark of premium station wagon models produced by Ford and Mercury. The Bermuda came in six and nine-passenger configurations.^[1] To separate the Bermuda from Ford models, the Bermuda received Edsel's front fascia and vertical grille assembly as well as unique boomerang-shaped taillights. The shape of the taillights posed a problem when used as turn indicators – the left hand taillight appeared as an arrow pointing right and vice versa from a distance.

All station wagons shared the Edsel Ranger's engine availability with a 361 cu in (5.9 L) V8 as standard, as was a three-speed manual transmission. Buyers also had the option of a three-speed automatic transmission with a standard column-mounted gear selector, or could choose Edsel's highly promoted but trouble-prone Teletouch automatic, which placed its drive-selection buttons in the steering wheel hub.

While its roll-out was highly publicized in the fall of 1957, the 1958 Edsel was a marketing disaster for Ford. Total Bermuda station wagon was 2,235 units, of which 1,456 were six-passenger models with a base price of $3,155 and 779 were nine-passenger versions priced at $3,212. This made the nine-passenger Bermuda the rarest 1958 Edsel model.

For the 1959 model year, the Bermuda and Roundup station wagons were dropped (as was the trouble prone Teletouch system), leaving only the Villager as Edsel's sole station wagon model.

References

• Bonsall, Thomas E. (2002). Disaster in Dearborn: The Story of the Edsel. Stamford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-4654-0. 
• Duetsch, Jan G. (1976). Selling the People's Cadillac: The Edsel and Corporate Responsibility. Yale University. ISBN 978-0-300-01950-6. 
• Gunnell, John, ed. (1987). The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975. Krause Publications. ISBN 978-0-87341-096-0. 
• Heasley, Jerry (1977). The Production Figure Book For U.S. Cars. Motorbooks International. ISBN 978-0-87938-042-7. 

External links

• Edsel Spotters Guide
• Edsel.com History, specifications, resources for owners.
• Smith Motor Company Virtual Edsel Dealer
• The International Edsel Club
• Edsel.US Restorer's discussion group

Edsel Models Bermuda Citation Corsair Pacer Ranger Roundup Villager See also Ernest Breech Ford Motor Company Edsel Ford Comet Robert McNamara Marianne Moore The Edsel Show Teletouch