Edsel Bermuda

Infobox Automobile


boxcolor = darkgreen
name = Edsel Bermuda
manufacturer = Ford Motor Company
production = 1958
class = Full-size
body_style = 4-door station wagon
related = Edsel Roundup
Edsel Villager
Ford Country Squire
Mercury Colony Park
engine = 361 in³ V8
transmission = 3-speed manual
3-speed automatic
weight = Auto lb|3853|0
wheelbase = Auto in|116|0

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 convert|116|in|mm|0|sing=on 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. 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 in³ 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 output for the model stood at 1456 six-passenger units and 779 nine-passenger units making the nine-passenger Bermuda the rarest 1958 Edsel model. The Bermuda was priced at US$3,155 and US$3,212 for six and nine passenger models respectively.

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.

Notes

References

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* cite book | author = Heasley, Jerry | title = The Production Figure Book For U.S. Cars
publisher = Motorbooks International | year = 1977 | id = ISBN 0-87938-042-X

External links

* [http://www.edsel.com/pages/spotters.htm Edsel Spotters Guide] Press| year = 1976 | id = ISBN 0-300-01950-5
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* [http://www.edsel.com Edsel.com] History, specifications, resources for owners.
* [http://www.edsel.net Smith Motor Company] Virtual Edsel Dealer
* [http://www.internationaledsel.com/ The International Edsel Club]
* [http://www.failuremag.com/arch_history_edsel.html "Auto Biography"] — Failure Magazine examines the history of the Edsel (March, 2002)
* [http://www.edsel.us Edsel.US] Restorer's discussion group