1958 Edsel Bermuda

My dream, Edsel Bermuda...

http://boise.craigslist.org/cto/4232255231.html

 

Well, it looks pretty complete anyway. And panels don't look to be totally rusted through. Is that some sort of floor shifter for the trans in the steering wheel pic? That one had the teletouch trans selector on the steering wheel hub right? :confused:

 

I think so. I've seen this before on a Bermuda. Apparently the Teletouch is a little difficult to work on.

$6k seems like a lot for this condition, but the lowest price I've seen in the past few years in good (but not great) shape was almost four times that.

The Bermuda is near the top of my lottery list.

 

This one may have a factory floor shift, as the wheel hub does not seem to have been equipped with the push button shift. A manual transmission was standard.

 

I saw a decent '58 Pacer 2 dr hardtop that the saleswoman said had a manual Thunderbird transmission in it. It had the Teletouch buttons in the middle of the wheel, looks like this one does too, unless it's a bezel with outlines instead. The Tbird tranny had a floor shift too. I was told it wouldn't be too complicated to reinstall an automatic, etc. It was a nice but non factory blue with whitewalls and stock wheels. I don't see a clutch pedal in this Bermuda, maybe the floor shifter is in lieu of non functioning buttons.
I think too, you could actually order automatic without the Teletouch, with the column shift for people who didn't like the latest gadgets.

I worked with a woman who had been a hostess in the executive dining room of Ford Motor Company. She had a roll of Bermuda wood grain which I have a feeling went to the dumpster when they sold her house. I don't know how she said she got it.

 

I would agree, but the Old Cars Price Guide lists the value of one of these in parts-car condition (complete and restorable but doesn't run) at about $5,500. If this one runs like the seller suggests it might ("was started 3yrs ago motor intact"), then it's better than parts-car condition, and his $6,000 price is quite reasonable.

In good running and driving condition but needing complete restoration, the OCPG values these at about $9,000. Get it to "car show" condition, and the value gets close to $20K. This looks like a car where you might actually get back when you sell it what you paid or more to buy it and fix it up. In other words, it might actually be a worthwhile investment, especially if you could get him to come down at all on the price. He might take $5K. Who knows.

 

From what I've seen, OCPG is just about on target. The last near-show condition Bermuda I saw in person that was up for sale was priced at $23K, and it still needed some work.

But I wouldn't suggest buying any car as an investment, or with the idea that you'd every get your money out of it. The market's pretty fickle and is too dependent on fads and people's changeable tastes.

Buy it and restore it because you like it. Enjoy it. Then, if you sell it someday and break even or make a profit, consider it a bonus. If you don't, consider your "loss" to be what you paid for the enjoyment you got while you owned it.