Eddie Bauer Ford Bronco II

Eddie Bauer (1899-1986)

Who Was Eddie Bauer?

If we’re going to talk about the Eddie Bauer Bronco II, it’s worth taking a moment to understand the man behind the name. Eddie Bauer wasn’t simply a clothing-company founder whose name eventually appeared on a Ford vehicle. He was a sportsman, inventor, and businessman whose experiences in the outdoors led him to develop some of the most influential outdoor clothing and equipment of the twentieth century.

“To give you such outstanding quality, value, service and guarantee that we may be worthy of your high esteem.”
— The Eddie Bauer Creed

An Outdoorsman Who Designed What He Needed

Eddie Bauer was born October 19, 1899, on Orcas Island in Washington’s San Juan Islands. He developed an interest in hunting and fishing at an early age and eventually moved to Seattle, where he went to work for a sporting-goods store.

In 1920, at the age of 20, Bauer opened his own business in Seattle. What began as a small tennis shop eventually became Eddie Bauer’s Sport Shop, selling sporting goods, fishing equipment, clothing, and other gear for people who enjoyed the outdoors.

Bauer was more than a merchant, however. He was an outdoorsman himself, and he believed that the best products were developed by people who actually used them. His own experiences hunting, fishing, and exploring the Pacific Northwest frequently gave him ideas for improving outdoor equipment.

One of those experiences would change the company forever.

The Birth of the Down Jacket

In the winter of 1935, Bauer went on a fishing trip in Washington. On the way home, he became dangerously cold and began experiencing the effects of hypothermia. The experience convinced him that the heavy wool clothing commonly used for winter outdoor activities wasn’t always the best solution.

Bauer began experimenting with goose down as a lightweight insulating material. Down had been used for warmth for centuries, but Bauer developed a way to incorporate it into a practical, lightweight jacket while keeping the insulation evenly distributed.

The result was the Skyliner, introduced in the 1930s and patented by Bauer in 1936. It was the first patented down-insulated jacket in the United States and became one of the products that established Eddie Bauer as an innovator in outdoor clothing.

The significance of the Skyliner went beyond simply making a warmer jacket. Bauer had found a way to provide substantial insulation without the weight and bulk associated with traditional winter clothing. It was exactly the sort of practical solution that would become associated with the Eddie Bauer name.

Eddie Bauer Goes to War

Eddie Bauer’s expertise with down insulation became particularly important during World War II. The U.S. military needed equipment capable of protecting servicemen operating in extremely cold conditions, including aircrews flying at high altitude in aircraft with unheated cockpits.

Eddie Bauer’s company produced specialized cold-weather equipment for the military, including down sleeping bags and flight clothing. Among the best known was the B-9 Flight Parka, designed to keep Army Air Forces personnel warm while operating in the extreme cold encountered at altitude.

The war dramatically expanded the reputation of the Eddie Bauer name. His products were no longer simply equipment for hunters, fishermen, and other outdoor enthusiasts. They had proven their usefulness in some of the harshest environments encountered by American servicemen.

From the Northwest to the World’s Great Mountains

After the war, Eddie Bauer continued developing outdoor clothing and equipment. The company expanded through mail-order catalogs and became increasingly associated with serious outdoor recreation.

Eddie Bauer equipment was used by explorers, mountaineers, hunters, fishermen, and other adventurers. The company’s gear was also used on major expeditions, including the 1963 American Mount Everest Expedition, which made the first American ascent of Mount Everest.

This was an important part of the Eddie Bauer image. The company wasn’t simply selling the idea of outdoor adventure—it was producing equipment that people were actually taking into some of the most demanding environments on Earth.

That history helped establish Eddie Bauer as a name associated with quality, practicality, durability, and outdoor adventure.

Why Ford Used the Eddie Bauer Name

By the time Ford began offering Eddie Bauer editions of its vehicles, the name already carried decades of history.

Eddie Bauer had built his reputation around products designed for people who hunted, fished, camped, explored, and traveled beyond the pavement. His company had supplied equipment for military personnel and mountaineering expeditions and had built a loyal following among outdoor enthusiasts.

That made the name a natural fit for the Ford Bronco II.

The Eddie Bauer Bronco II was intended to appeal to buyers who wanted the capability and image of a four-wheel-drive vehicle while also wanting something more upscale and distinctive than a basic Bronco II. The Eddie Bauer name brought with it an established association with the outdoors—a connection that Ford could incorporate into the vehicle’s styling and marketing.

So when you see “Eddie Bauer” on the side of a Bronco II, you’re seeing more than the name of a clothing company. You’re seeing the legacy of a man who spent his life trying to build better equipment for people who ventured beyond the pavement.

That connection between outdoor adventure and practical innovation is ultimately what made Eddie Bauer such a fitting name for a Bronco II.

Exclusive Eddie Bauer Merchandise

The Eddie Bauer connection went beyond the name stitched onto the seats or displayed on the exterior of the Bronco II. When customers purchased an Eddie Bauer Edition Bronco II, they could also receive genuine Eddie Bauer-branded luggage and outdoor gear as part of the package.

Rather than simply being accessories sitting inside the vehicle at the dealership, the merchandise was typically shipped directly to the buyer’s home after the vehicle was purchased. Period Ford literature describes the Eddie Bauer luggage as part of the special-edition package, giving the buyer a collection of Eddie Bauer gear to go along with the vehicle.

The exact contents could vary by model year, but the luggage package included items such as:

Eddie Bauer Garment Bag – The Eddie Bauer garment bag was designed for carrying clothing while traveling. It featured rugged canvas construction with leather trim and the Eddie Bauer name prominently incorporated into the design.

Eddie Bauer Gear/Duffel Bag – A matching Eddie Bauer gear bag was designed for carrying equipment and clothing on outdoor trips. Like the garment bag, it combined heavy-duty canvas with leather trim and carried the Eddie Bauer branding.

Travel Blanket – Some model years included additional Eddie Bauer accessories. For example, the 1985 Eddie Bauer package included an Eddie Bauer travel blanket and visor organizer in addition to the luggage.

(Ford Bronco II Eddie Bauer Luggage)

These accessories are an interesting—and often overlooked—part of the Eddie Bauer Bronco II story. They demonstrate that Ford’s relationship with Eddie Bauer was intended to create an entire outdoor lifestyle package, rather than simply adding the name of a clothing company to a vehicle.

Today, original Eddie Bauer canvas-and-leather luggage is considerably harder to find than the Bronco II itself. Complete examples of the original merchandise are sought after by collectors and restorers, particularly when the bags can be documented as having been supplied with an Eddie Bauer Edition Ford vehicle.

For someone restoring an Eddie Bauer Bronco II today, finding the original luggage can therefore be the finishing touch that completes the package—not just an interesting accessory, but a surviving piece of the original Eddie Bauer experience.

 

Eddie Bauer & The 1984-1988 Ford Bronco II

In 1983 the Eddie Bauer company signed a partnership with Ford to start producing Eddie Bauer packaged vehicles starting the 1984 model year. The 1984 Ford Bronco II was the first Ford vehicle to feature the Eddie Bauer edition premium trim package. Eddie Bauer Edition Ford vehicles are known for sporty contemporary styling and rugged good looks. These vehicles feature unique Eddie Bauer amenities, making the Ford Eddie Bauer Editions attractive to those seeking unpretentious style with rugged capability.

The first thing you’ll notice about an Eddie Bauer Bronco II is the two-tone paint with the bottom color being Light Desert Tan. As you look closer, you’ll see the Eddie Bauer badge on the fender. There’s also an Eddie Bauer logo on the passenger side dash.

The Eddie Bauer Bronco II was outfitted with a high-quality tan cloth interior with Eddie Bauer stitching, premium stereo and accessories, and special Eddie Bauer badging / stitching. The Eddied Bauer Bronco II is no doubt the most luxurious of all the Bronco II’s.

The 1984-1985 Eddie Bauer’s had optional reclining bucket seats in the back. I have yet to actually see a Bronco II that had these. If you have them, please send me some photos.

(Reclining rear bucket seats)

Bronco II Eddie Bauer Package

• Air Conditioning
• Speed Control / Tilt Steering Wheel
• Tachometer
• Reclining Front Captain’s Chairs
• Power Windows & Locks (934A)
• Electronic AM/FM Stereo with Digital Clock
• Flip Open Rear Window
• Rear Window Defroster / Wiper-Washer (934A)
• Bright Low-Mount Swingaway Mirrors
• Privacy Glass Quarter Windows
• Super Engine Cooling
• Cast Aluminum Wheels
• P205/75R/15 RWL All-Season Radial Tires
• Unique Eddie Bauer two-tone paint treatment plus dual bodyside accent paint stripes
• Outside swingaway spare tire carrier/cargo cover (926A)

Color Options

• Dark Canyon Red / Light Desert Tan
• Dark Shadow Blue Metallic / Light Desert Tan
• Dark Walnut Metallic / Light Desert Tan
• Dark Spruce Metallic / Light Desert Tan

Photos

 

1989-1990 Ford Bronco II Eddie Bauer

In 1989 the Bronco II got a design update to its front end, dash and door panels, but the styling and options mostly stayed the same.

Bronco II Eddie Bauer Package

• Air Conditioning
• Speed Control / Tilt Steering Wheel
• Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel
• Tachometer
• Reclining Front Captain’s Chairs with Power Lumbar Support
• Power Windows & Locks
• Electronic AM/FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Digital Clock
• Flip Open Rear Window (Now Optional)
• Rear Window Defroster / Wiper-Washer
• Bright Low-Mount Swingaway Mirrors
• Tinted Liftgate and Quarter Windows
• Super Engine Cooling
• 5-Spoke Cast Aluminum Wheels
• P205/75R/15 OWL All-Season Radial Tires
• Unique Eddie Bauer two-tone paint treatment plus dual bodyside accent paint stripes
• Outside swingaway spare tire carrier/cargo cover

Exterior Color Options

• Raven Black / Light Sandalwood
• Scarlet Red / Light Sandalwood
• Cabernet Red / Light Sandalwood
• Hunter Green Clearcoat Metallic / Light Sandalwood
• Twilight Blue Clearcoat Metallic / Light Sandalwood
• Sandalwood Clearcoat Metallic / Light Sandalwood

In the photos below you can see the design changes to the interior for 1989-1990. Instead of the halo style headrest and had a unique ‘tree’ design print, the new interior received striped seats with Eddie Bauer logo and ducks in the headrests.

‘Eddie Bauer’ badges were not used in 1989-1990. Instead, there was an Eddie Bauer signature sticker just above the pin striping between the door and the rear wheelwell.

Photos

Ford Bronco II Eddie Bauer Advertisement

Related Articles

Bronco II Trim Levels & Packages

Ford Bronco II History