Willys Motors is remembered most for its success in producing the Jeep for both military and commercial consumption. But they were in the automobile business for a time, too, including the compact Bermuda, which was the end of the line for Willys autos in 1955. The seller has what appears to be a very nice survivor, though no mention is made as to whether the car runs. Located in a garage in Cleveland, Ohio, this interesting relic is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $5,500. Thanks for the cool tip, Barn Finder “Ted”!
The Bermuda began as the Aero in 1952 and continued through 1954, after which it was rebranded as the Bermuda as a 2-door hardtop. Speculation is that the 1955 edition got its name from Henry J. Kaiser (Kaiser Motors founder), who had a thing for tropical places. The car was largely still an Aero, but with two changes: Kaiser-like trim was added, and a Kaiser 226 cubic-inch L-head I-6 replaced a Willys powerplant that produced 25 fewer horsepower (115 vs. 90). The Kaiser engine carried the name of “Super Hurricane.”
Willys car sales were already on the downhill slide, from 12,000 units in 1954 to half that many the following year. Just 2,215 Bermudas were produced before Willys pulled the plug to focus on building and selling more Jeeps. The seller doesn’t tell us much about this 70-year-old compact, but it has the appearance of having been loved for many moons.
What we do know is that the mileage is supposed to be 103,000 miles. It has a “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission and sports red and white paint (with red upholstery). Its only reported mechanical shortcoming is that a new master brake cylinder is needed. The Bermuda was listed for sale four weeks ago, and it may sit a little longer until a Willys fan runs across it.
Always thought these looked pretty neat for 1955. Kaiser spent a fair amount of money updating what turned out to be a one-year offering, adding the “hardtop,” new tail lights, fancy upholstery, two-tone paint schemes (also just for ’55, if I remember correctly) and casting new cylinder heads to remove the “Kaiser Supersonic” lettering.
With 115bhp and low curb weight (~2400lbs) the Bermuda was fairly quick, too, though probably glacial compared to the new Chevys with the 265 V8.
When Aero Willys production was resumed in Brazil — Kaisers went to Argentina at the same time — the Bermuda wasn’t included.
Nonetheless, this looks like a good specimen, and some enthusiast is going to have fun resuscitating it.
The hardtop was not new for 1955. 1952-1954 was the Aero Eagle hardtop, and in 1955 the nomenclature was simply Bermuda for the 2dr hardtop, and Custom for the 4dr sedan (I had a Custom 4dr rust-bucket once upon a time). While I’m not sure you could call the 1955 upholstery fancy, what’s currently in this car is not the original interior by any stretch of the imagination. Since adding chrome was “de rigeur” in 1955, they also added that big new pot metal grille, along with the new pot metal tail light assemblies.
A good choice for someone who likes oddball cars, you rarely see one of these. The seller says it needs TLC as well as a master cylinder; “TLC” can mean a lot of things, it’s a way of saying it needs work without going into any detail. It looks nice in the photos, though – I hope it finds a good home.
That seat looks like it came out of something from the 80s, K-car maybe?
You could be right.
I’ve never seen an original Aero Willys that didn’t have a bench seat in front. Or an armest in the center.
I thought the same thing. I mean there are resto mods and then there’s just cheap and tasteless.
Yes, I’m not sure I’d classify the seats here as being resto mod. Most resto mods are somewhat carefully planned out. This just looks like something that fit was plunked in.
I like this. Looks to be in decent shape and wouldn’t take much to get it up and running. The $5k doesn’t break the bank and I bet you could hook up with a Willys club who could help with restoration questions. I have a soft spot for Willys as I grew up in Toledo, Ohio watching Jeeps come out of the old Willys, Overland, Knight plant.
I’m surprised I never saw this at one of the many Cleveland area car shows I’ve gone to, before the master cylinder needed work anyway. Pretty cool just for the name. Like the Packard Caribbean.
Todd J.,
TLC in the real-estate business means TENDER LOVING CATAPILLAR. In other words, demolish it and start over. (lol)
This looks like a cool car. I never saw one in person. Car is up on “car dollies”, wheels don’t turn/roll? I’m betting major brake repairs needed, not just a master cylinder. In my opinion it is still a cool project car. And the price sounds reasonable.
TLC= Takes Lotta Cash. Also- What’s with those wood strips screwed into the door panel? And, also- how much trouble would it be to drag it out into the sun and clean out the interior and trunk?
Never heard of these! Needs more pictures!!!
It is sitting over a lift, why aren’t there pictures of the undercarriage, hmm?
I always liked the styling of this model. Around 1991 when I came down with a bad case of the collector car virus and just had to jump into the hobby, a dealer sent me pictures of the Willys he had on his lot. I wanted it for the styling, but I was afraid that parts might be hard to come by. So I looked elsewhere since I couldn’t get rid of the fever.
Bet you’d be the talk of the town at cars and coffee. Love these uber rare American cars!