Remember the ill-fated Edsel brand named after the son of Henry Ford? Founded in 1956 and phased out in 1959 over bad reception and millions of dollars in losses, Edsel continues to fascinate to this very day.
Even the great-grandson of Henry Ford owns one, a custom-built Bermuda station wagon that bears the VIN plate W8RT704379. Modified by Roush, the old-school family car is a highlight of the upcoming Scottsdale auction.
Offered by Barrett-Jackson with Edsel Bryant Ford II’s autograph, the long-roofed build features a column-mounted automatic transmission instead of the original stick shift. As part of the restomodding process, the 361 FE V8 was yanked out of the engine bay to repair several cracks in the frame rails.
New exhaust manifolds, ignition system, distributor vacuum advance, and a rebuilt carburetor went back in, along with the bright yellow-painted block. The air cleaner and valve covers, on the other hand, are butter yellow.
Roush worked its magic out back too, where you’ll find a rebuilt axle with new seals, bushings, and brakes. The interior and exterior beggar belief, which is understandable considering the name of the current owner.
Barrett-Jackson also auctions a 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Custom Woody Wagon from Edsel’s personal collection, and this fellow is a true sleeper. The unassuming appearance will fool you into thinking that it’s a nut-and-bolt restoration, but it’s actually a restomod with 302 muscle. Swapped between 2014 and 2015, the modern V8 rocks Ford Racing valve covers, ceramic-coated exhaust pipes and mufflers, and an AOD overdrive transmission connected to a 9.0-inch rear axle with 3.75 gearing.
Autographed for greater authenticity, chassis number 799A1975418 has been converted from 6 to 12 volts for a few reasons. In addition to the engine and the high-capacity radiator’s cooling fan, the original windshield wipers now run on electricity instead of good ol' vacuum power.
It’s very hard to estimate how much these babies are worth nowadays, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Barrett-Jackson hammered them for record figures. Both the Super Deluxe and Bermuda are investment-grade collectibles, and these fellows are even more so thanks to Edsel B. Ford II.
“This is an amazing opportunity to buy Edsel’s Edsel and his Woody Wagon,” said Craig Jackson, chairman and chief exec of Barrett-Jackson. “Edsel B. Ford II, who was at Le Mans in 1966 when Ford beat Ferrari, is a serious enthusiast. As a young man, he even interned for Carroll Shelby in his high-performance shop. This pair of handsome cars carries the gravitas of being owned by an icon of the American automotive industry.”
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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