Bermuda Day, held on May 24 (or, as is the case this year, the nearest weekday when the 24th falls on a weekend) is a big holiday in that island nation, with athletic events, parades and the beginning of the Bermuda Fitted Dinghy Racing season. (Don’t ask me.) We decided to do our part for the celebrations by putting the Edsel Bermuda in the spotlight, but then we thought — why not salute all cars named for islands? And so, here they are, in no particular order. (If I’ve missed one, I’m sure someone out there will let me know.)
Edsel Bermuda
The Bermuda was the ritziest of the three Edsel station wagon lines for 1958, offered in 6- and 9-passenger versions. The woodgrain trim was standard equipment.
Pontiac Catalina
The name had been used to designate hardtop versions of the Chieftain and DeLuxe before the Catalina became a line all of its own in 1959. It was the lowest-priced of the full-size Pontiacs for most of its existence. My first car was a Pontiac Catalina, a 1968 convertible. Art Fitzpatrick’s illustration shows a pair of 1962s.
Mercury/Ford/Ford/Mercury Capri
This is sort of a generational litmus test: When you hear Capri, do you think of Lincoln’s hardtop coupe of the Fifties….
or Ford of Britain’s 1961-1964 Consul Capri….
the later British car sold here simply as the Capri and Capri II, though often erroneously referred to as a Mercury….
the Fox-body Mercury Capri, the Mustang’s 1979-1986 stablemate….
or the made-in-Australia Capri roadster, sold in the U.S. in the early 1990s?
Colt/Mitsubishi/Plymouth Sapporo
Staying in the Pacific Rim, we have the Mitsubishi Galant Lambda, sold in England as the Colt Sapporo, and in the rest of Europe as the Mitsubishi Sapporo. In the U.S., during the heyday of the captive import, Chrysler rebadged it as the Plymouth Sapporo.
Kaiser/Frazer Manhattan
Kaiser-Frazer actually had two cars called the Manhattan. It was originally the top-of-the-line Frazer, but when that marque was discontinued in 1951, the nameplate was transplanted onto the poshest Kaiser. In 1953 it lost its position to a new top dog, the Dragon. (Sorry to mix my animal references like that.)
Chevrolet Corsica
Besides Napoleon, who was born there, who did more for the fame of the French island of Corsica than Chevrolet? The four-door version of the Beretta, the Corsica was the darling of rental car fleets everywhere from 1987-1996.
Willys Bermuda
Before Edsel picked up the Bermuda name, Willys applied it to the premium version of its Aero, which it advertised as “America’s lowest-priced hardtop.” Just over 2,100 were sold.
Packard Caribbean
True, it’s a region, rather than an island per se, but I can’t leave this one out. Influenced by the Pan American show car of the previous year, the sumptuous Caribbean was a hit for Packard in 1953. It remained in the lineup through 1956.
Meyers Manx
Another car not named for an island, strictly speaking, but it’s close enough: the Meyers Manx. Bruce Meyers named his dune buggy after the cat that’s native to the Isle of Man.
Alfa Romeo Montreal
It’s a fact: the city of Montreal, Canada, is located on the Island of Montreal. You could look it up. Alfa’s lovely V-8-powered coupe was inspired by a styling exercise unveiled at Expo 67 in Montreal. Less than 4,000 were built, and none were exported to the U.S., though plenty have found their way here.
Ford Escape
For some odd reason, no carmaker seems to have used the name Alcatraz. And so, we give you the Escape.
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