We’ve all heard the topes involving Edsel. They were ugly, they were a failure, they had a grill that people laughed out of town and were embarrassed to be seen sitting behind. There are so many people have written books about the brand. But here’s the thing. Looking at this 1958 Edsel Bermuda station wagon defies all the stuff in our modern time. The audacity of this car is just fantastic. The bold red paint, white roof and quarters, and the woodgrain sides are just the most 1950s things ever. If given the option on styling and uniqueness alone, how do you pick a 1958 Chevy over THIS?!
The car is powered by a 303hp 361ci engine that made torque for days and surely shoves this thing down the road with no trouble. It has the pushbutton transmission with the controls mounted in the steering wheel, a red and white interior that looks all but brand new and even the wire wheels, which we’re normally not fans of, look right at home here.
The Edsel brand was doomed by a few major things. Yeah, the styling was one but the late 1950s economic recession, a rollout that was just not executed properly, and market pressure from the likes of GM and others made the brand an albatross around the neck of Ford. Oh, and this thing is rare. Only 892 1958 Bermuda wagons were built. They sold for $3,155 bucks which is about $30,000 in today’s money.
And yes, we know the brand as a failure but it needs to be noted that overall, in 1958 Edsel had the larges introductory year of sales of any mid-priced brand ever in history. By 1960, it was doomed.
eBay: This 1958 Edsel Bermuda wagon is peak 1950s awesome –
Seems a little strange they choose the 361 Y block for such a vehicle. Great HP, but there were better & bigger, & more refined engines. 332 Inceptor, 352, & even the 430. What is the meaning of the Big “E” looking letter & 400, on the valve cover?
E is for Edsel. 400 was the torque rating.
I remember a black one of these in San Rafael CA. The person that owned it lived in Peacock Gap.