February 26, 2021
Posted By : Barrett-Jackson
Written By : Eric Becker

EDSEL’S EDSEL: Edsel B. Ford II’s 1958 Bermuda Joins His ’47 Ford Woody at the Scottsdale Auction

EDSEL’S EDSEL: Edsel B. Ford II’s 1958 Bermuda Joins His ’47 Ford Woody at the Scottsdale Auction

February 26, 2021
Posted by Barrett-Jackson

Written by Eric Becker

Edsel B. Ford II's 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Woody Wagon (Lot #1341, top) and 1958 Edsel Bermuda Wagon (Lot #1341.1) will be selling with No Reserve at the 2021 Scottsdale Auction.

Edsel B. Ford II’s 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Woody Wagon (Lot #1341, top) and 1958 Edsel Bermuda Wagon (Lot #1341.1) will each be selling with No Reserve at the 2021 Scottsdale Auction.

Lot #1341 - 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Custom Woody Wagon

Lot #1341 – 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Custom Woody Wagon

In the late 1950s Ford Motor Company would often advertise its portfolio of brands and various vehicles with the tagline “From the Ford family of fine cars.” Never has that time-honored tagline rung truer than today.

Barrett-Jackson is excited to present a singular opportunity: A chance to bid on two fine vehicles that hail from the garage of the Ford family. Available at the 2021 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction, and offered with No Reserve, are two classic automobiles from the personal collection of Edsel B. Ford II, great-grandson of Henry Ford. “Rarely do family members of an original manufacturer part with vehicles from their personal collection at auction,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson.

The Woody's original Flathead V8 was replaced with a 302ci Ford Racing V8.

The Woody’s original Flathead V8 was replaced with a 302ci Ford Racing V8.

The vehicles coming to the block are two exquisite classic wagons: a 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Custom Woody Wagon (Lot #1341) and a 1958 Edsel Bermuda Wagon (Lot #1341.1). The latter is one of just 892 examples of the Bermuda ever produced and was named after Mr. Ford’s grandfather, Edsel B. Ford. “This pair of handsome cars carries the gravitas of being owned by an icon of the American automotive industry,” noted Jackson. Icon indeed.

Well-known in the world of performance and competition, Edsel B. Ford II has been recognized as the “godfather of Ford Racing.” He was named to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2020, and was a recipient of the Hall of Fame’s Landmark Award for his outstanding contributions to motorsport. As a young man, Edsel Ford cut his teeth at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, which he attended with his father, Henry Ford II. He watched as Ken Miles, Bruce McLaren and Ronnie Bucknum crossed the finish line in their GT40s in a sweeping 1-2-3 victory, cementing Ford’s role and legacy in motorsport.

Interior of Edsel Ford's Woody Wagon.

Interior of Edsel Ford’s Woody Wagon.

Edsel would later intern for none other than Carroll Shelby at his high-performance shop in California. Edsel Ford’s passion and enthusiasm for motorsports has remained a constant through his remarkable career and continues to this day.

When the opportunity arose to revitalize two family heirlooms, he turned to friend and Ford racing maven Jack Roush, and the talented team of engineers and restoration specialists at Roush Performance. Edsel and Roush in the same sentence, you ask? Indeed. Maintaining its original style and grace, this fine, top-of-the-line 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Woody Wagon represents the historic postwar years in Ford history and was imbued with modern performance technology. From 2014 through 2015, this Woody went under the knife at Roush Performance.

Lot #1341.1 - 1958 Edsel Bermuda Wagon

Lot #1341.1 – 1958 Edsel Bermuda Wagon

The original Flathead V8 was replaced with a 302ci Ford Racing V8, and the standard 3-speed transmission was swapped for a 4-speed Ford Automatic Overdrive (AOD) transmission. Additionally, the rear axle was replaced with a Currie-supplied Ford 9-inch rear axle assembly and a 3.75:1 gear ratio. Built for driving, the team at Roush installed power steering, 4-wheel power disc brakes with dual system master cylinders and an updated 12-volt electrical system. All of this makes for a refined and enjoyable driving experience with just enough bark, courtesy of a custom-fabricated 2-1/4-inch exhaust system.

The Bermuda Wagon's power is delivered by the Edsel-exclusive 361ci “E-400” V8 engine, named for its impressive output of 400 ft/lbs of torque.

The Bermuda Wagon’s power is delivered by the Edsel-exclusive 361ci “E-400” V8 engine, named for its impressive output of 400 ft/lbs of torque.

And then there is the beautiful Bermuda, a rare gem and part of American motoring history. There’s never been a car like this ’58 Edsel. Modified and restored by Roush in 2016, the single-production-year Edsel Bermuda represents the top-of-the line station wagon offered by Ford Motor Company’s bold mid-tier Edsel marque. Power is delivered by the Edsel-exclusive 361ci “E-400” V8 engine, named for its impressive output of 400 ft/lbs of torque. Fed by a four-barrel carburetor and with a 10.5:1 compression ratio, the V8 makes an equally impressive 303 horsepower.

Originally a manual column-shifted example, the team at Roush went to painstaking detail to swap in a 3-speed automatic transmission. This required several other items to be changed, including the three pedals inside the car being converted to the period-correct two-pedal system appropriate for the automatic transmission. A new transmission control linkage was fabricated, and the original steering column was modified to accept the automatic’s PRNDL indicator. Modifications to the driveline and exhaust were also needed to accommodate the conversion.

A look inside the cockpit of the Edsel Bermuda Wagon.

A look inside the cockpit of the Edsel Bermuda Wagon.

The Bermuda’s wonderfully restored and very nicely detailed interior is a fascinating study in 1950s avant-garde design language, featuring unique upholstery patterns and colors throughout – another example of what made Edsel different from the other mid-price competitors of the time.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my ownership experience with these two cars,” said Edsel B. Ford II. “I loved the process of giving them new life with modern technology that made the classic cars more fun to drive. Over the past few years, I motored along, relishing in the history they represent. I hope the next owners of these two beautiful Ford cars will also enjoy great adventures in them.”

Speak it now: Edsel and Roush in the same sentence – classic design, modernized performance and provenance. These two automobiles are unique and truly special, and are only at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale this March.

For up-to-date information on these and other vehicles on the docket for the 2021 Scottsdale Auction, click HERE.

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