Edsel Bermuda

Edsel Bermuda
Overview
ManufacturerEdsel (Ford)
Model years1958
AssemblyMahwah, New Jersey
Louisville, Kentucky
San Jose, California
Body and chassis
ClassFull-size
Body style4-door station wagon
RelatedEdsel Pacer
Edsel Ranger
Edsel Villager
Edsel Roundup
Ford Fairlane
Ford Custom
Ford Country Squire
Powertrain
Engine361 cu in (5.9 L) FE V8
Transmission3-speed manual
3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase116 in (2,946 mm)
Curb weight4,100 lb (1,860 kg)

The Edsel Bermuda is a station wagon that was produced and sold by Edsel 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

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1958 Edsel Bermuda

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.

Edsel Bermuda rear view

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 a stationary steering wheel hub that the steering wheel rotated around.

While their roll-out was highly publicized in the fall of 1957, Edsels were 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 ($34,227 in 2023 dollars [2]) and 779 were nine-passenger versions priced at $3,212 ($34,845 in 2023 dollars [2]). 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.

Production numbers

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Body Style 1958
6-Passenger Station Wagon 1,456[citation needed]
9-Passenger Station Wagon 779[citation needed]
Total 2,235[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "Directory Index: Edsel/1958_Edsel/1958_Edsel_Foldout". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
  2. ^ a b 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  • 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.
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