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Volume L, Issue 3 Edsel Owners Club Inc. May 2017 T HE B IG E EDSEL’S OWN BERMUDA TRIANGLE Compiled by Phil Skinner INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Tropicana Photo 1 Shoot Car President’s 2 This left-rear view shows the prototype 1958 9-passenger Bermuda. Edsel must have known that Letter Charcoal Brown would be a popular color. There are several differences between this example and actual production models such as the painted trim around the windows and rocker panel moldings Tropicana Photo 3 which were not available on 1958 Edsel wagons. Shoot Car – continued Station wagons were a major part of the new-car market when the Edsel went on sale in late 1957. For the most part, Edsel’s wagon line-up closely reflected Ford’s offerings, which was Jim Popp’s passing 3 common sense considering the basic chassis and body shell were borrowed from the 1957 Ford wagons. Ford offered a 2-door Ranch Wagon in two trim levels, Edsel offered the 2-door Roundup in just Registration for 4 one. Ford offered the Country Sedan wagon in both 6 and 9-passenger capacities and Edsel National EOC followed that trend with the Villager series. Top of the line for Ford was the Country Squire, Meet in Dearborn only offered in 9-passenger form, while the Edsel Bermuda gave its buyers a choice of 9 or 6- Tentative Schedule 5 passenger capacities. of Events EOC During the 1958 model year Edsel produced 1,456 of the 6-passenger Bermudas and just 779 Meet in Dearborn of the 9-passenger models, making it by production the rarest of all 1958 Edsel models. No Edsel station wagons were produced at the Oakville, Ontario, Edsel plant. Mike Cowles’ 6 One of the styling features of the Bermuda was the fiberglass wood railings with a simulated recollection of 1957 Driftwood finish decal applied, which framed the simulated horizontal wood graining. Interiors were appointed on a par with the Pacer sedans, using the same stitching pattern, but Calendar of Events 7 unique materials such as the popular Jug-Print Brown Saran. Dashboards were two-toned with and welcome new white lower panels and color-keyed upper panels or dash pads. members Looking at the Edsel Database registry which we have maintained since 1988, we currently Green Line Edsel 8-9 have on file a total of 163 of the 6-passenger wagons (about 11.2% of total production) and 89 Action Ads of the 9-passenger models (about 11.4% of total production). As with all Ranger, Pacer, and station wagon models, the 361 cid/303 HP “E-400” engine was About The Edsel 10 the only unit available in the Bermuda. Continued on Page 6 Owners Club The Big E Page 2 Greetings Friends and Edsel Owners, It is already getting close to the time that we start making plans for the summer. This year, our members of the E.O.C. will be treated to a wonderful Diamond Anniversary Celebration in Dearborn, Michigan from August 2 through August 6, 2017. As the coordinators of this event have promised, there will be plenty to see and do. Every detail this year has been carefully planned and it is surely going to be one of the best conventions that we have seen. I certainly hope to greet many of our members at this momentous and fun filled occasion. The t-shirt and polo designs have been completed and they are at the printers right now getting them ready for our convention. As in the years before, the shirts are beautifully made using the finest cottons and quality materials. They have been created to reflect the good taste of our members and should be worn with great pride. I would like to suggest that you place your order early because in Ogden, Utah last year, many sizes were sold out even before the convention started. This year, we will be sure to make extras available of those sizes that were sold early last year so that we have plenty to go around. On another note, our recent trip to Laughlin, Nevada this early March for the Southlander's Edsel Club event, "Rolling on the River" was great fun. Robert and I arrived by plane in Las Vegas on March 16 and rented a car to complete the journey from Las Vegas to Laughlin in a beautiful 1.5 hour drive. It had been raining and the desert flowers were in bloom all across the desert. Larry Nopper and his team organized a wonderful event which included a car show of Edsel's, an evening river boat tour and dinner on the beautiful Colorado River, as well as a fantastic buffet style dinner for the evening of the banquet. The weather remained perfect for the entire four day event with temperatures averaging between 75 and 85 degrees. One of our most memorable tours that we took on this occasion, was to the little 'two and a half blocks long' mining town of Oatman, Arizona. Located about 60 miles from Laughlin, NV, this quaint town boasted of being a secret hide away where Clark Gable and Carol Lombard would escape the paparazzi just after they were married on March 29, 1939. Originally - and especially around the turn of the 20th Century - Oatman was once a thriving gold mining town, where it boasted to be one of the richest gold mining producers of the American West. When the second World War came along, the miners were asked to stop gold mining and work for the War Department. At the time, the little donkeys who were being used in the mining operations, were set free to wander the hills on their own. Much to the surprise of the locals, the resourceful donkeys found a perfect spot to multiply and became familiar with the resi- dents in town and later the tourists. I was quite happy to get to know them as they now wander the town of Oat- man, greeting the tourists all around the area. About 15 beautiful Edsels were present and it was an exciting and eventful weekend for all of those in attendance. On another subject - I have noticed recently the sharp incline in prices once again for the Edsel. Certain models including the 1960 convertible, the 1958 Bermuda station wagon as well as many others, including the four door and two door hard tops have become quite collectible. At one time the market was dominated by the mid-50s Cadillacs, Mopars and many GM products. It seemed as if some of these models were off and running and there was no stopping the enormous amounts of money that people would pay for a good example. The current prices on many of these popular cars have now started to fall - to some extent - but now many models of the Edsel are jumping ahead. Take for instance, the 1958 Bermuda station wagon. It wasn't too long ago that a good example of this model would sell for perhaps $7,000.00 to $10,000.00. Today, there seems to be a hot pur- suit of this model which are now ranging regularly over $40,000.00 to $60,000.00! Of course the 1960 Edsel convertible has always been considered the top of the list for many collectors. But, who would have ever considered the ‘60 Ranger convertible to exceed the prices of the Chrysler 300s, the Imperials, the Cadillac Eldorados and other top of the line premium cars from the same period? The current market for the Edsel seems to be climbing at a surprising rate. Drive your Edsel proudly - we are a rare group of car collectors who have finally found our niche in the antique car hobby - forever changing and appreciating our beloved cars for their beautiful design and good taste! From the President’s Desk! Wishing you all safe travels, and good health... Michael Cowles Mike Cowles and Robert Ecton in Oatman, AZ with the descendants of the original donkeys used for gold mining in the area before World War II Volume L, Issue 3 Page 3 The Big E Page 4 Edsel Owners Club Annual Convention in Dearborn, Michigan August 2 – August 6, 2017 OFFICIAL REGISTRATION FORM Name: __________________________________________________ Spouse/Guest(s) _____________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________Phone: (_______) ___________________________________ City: _____________________________ Province/State ______________________Postal/Zip Code__________________________ Are you bringing an Edsel? Yes______ No______ Year of Car_________ Model____________ TOTAL Registration: By July 1st $35.00 US Funds = $____________ After July 1st $40.00 US Funds Wednesday, August 2nd - Early Arrivals - Registration Begins - Hospitality Room Open Thursday, August 3rd - Ford Museum & Greenfield Village Tour $56.00 US x ___= $_______ (includes bus & coupon towards lunch) Friday, August 4th - Edsel Show & E.O.C. Judging of Edsels. All Edsels are welcome in the show! Saturday, August 5th - Bus tour to Ford Rouge Factory $25.00 US x___ = $_______ Saturday, August 5th - Buffet Banquet $37.00 US x ____ Adults = $____________ Official Meet Shirts (Specify size) & number Mens T- Shirts S_____M_____L _____ XL ______ XXL _______ XXXL ________Shirts x $22.00 = $___________ Mens Polo Shirts S_____M_____L______XL_______XXL________XXXL ________Shirts x $25.00 = $___________ Ladies T-Shirts S_____M_____L______XL_______XXL________XXXL ________Shirts x $22.00 = $___________ Add $2.00 extra for XXL and XXXL Shirt orders must be in by June 15th. TOTAL ENCLOSED $___________ I accept and assume full liability for any injury or loss to my guests, my family, my property, and myself. I agree to release “The Edsel Owners Club”, or any official or club members from any and all liabilities while attending this convention. Signed ________________________________________________ Date _________________ (must be signed to be processed) Make checks/money orders payable to “Edsel Owners Club”.