Jalopnik
What do Frank Sinatra, Levi's Jeans and Don Knotts have in common? Special edition cars. When a trend gets too popular and a car company gets too desperate, they find ways to merge the two into a steaming pile of car crap — otherwise known as a trendy special edition. We thought we knew them all, but when we asked you about your favorite trendy special edition car we got quite the mix. Below are the ten weirdest responses we received, complete with a poll so you can help us select the strangest special car of them all.
1982 Frank Sinatra Edition Chrysler Imperial
Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca had a friend in Frank Sinatra, and it was hoped that Old Blue Eyes could sing the company's way into the hearts of consumers. Not so much. But Iacocca did thank his friend by releasing the Frank Sinatra Edition Imperial Coupe, which featured a briefcase full of Sinatra tapes and a special silver-blue paint job. Despite the blessing of the former Rat Packer, people weren't biting and the FS edition was dropped, much to the dismay of MechiMike.
1996 Volkswagen Harlequin Golf
We have Maymar to thank for reminding us of about the Harlequin Golfs, which are certainly the most colorful special edition on the list. It was 1996 and it would be another four years before VW released a new Golf. To keep interest in the brand, Volkswagen swapped out the body panels on 264 red, green, blue and yellow Golfs. The result is one of the rarest VW editions ever and, without a doubt, one of the most noticeable. [Photo: Wiki]
1979 Bill Blass Edition Lincoln Mark V
Take clothing designer Bill Blass' wearable designs and combine them with the Lincoln land yachts of the 1970's and you get the Bill Blass Edition Lincoln Mark V. A classic example of the clothing design/car crossover product tie-in, this Lincoln features the classic two-tone Bill Blass paint scheme as well as a Cartier Quartz electronic clock and luxo-reclining seats. Classy. The price of all that class? An average of 7.0 mpg, making it one of the biggest guzzlers of all time. Still, Isetta would take one in a heartbeat. [Source: Significant Cars]
2000 Snoopy Edition Mitsubishi Pajero Mini
The Japanese are often in the lead when it comes to automobile trends, so don't be surprised to see a Peppermint Patty Dodge Durango as a follow up to the Mitsubishi Pajero Snoopy Edition that Tonyola located for us. The vehicle is festooned in and out with drawings of snoopy as the flying ace, including on the wheel hub covers, spare tire compartment, speedometer, tachometer, pillars and door trim. There's also an autograph by Charles Schultz on the outside of the little SUV. We're not sure how much Schultz made for this, but it's not enough.
1972 Levi's Edition AMC Gremlin
As if the AMC Gremlin wasn't already one of the coolest cars ever, the company offered a special Levi's edition in the early 1970's to take advantage of those "jeans things" everyone seemed to be wearing. The interior featured denim-covered seats front and back with copper rivets instead or buttons. Though the look was unique, we have to imagine those copper rivets probably left burn marks on unsuspecting passengers on hot days. The company tried to follow the success of this model with an acid-washed AMC Eagle in the 1970's with disastrous results. [Hemmings]
1995-1997 Orvis Edition Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee had a rough time trying to keep up with the more luxurious Ford Explorer and it's ubiquitous Eddie Bauer editions. To compete, Jeep tapped rugged outfitter and rod-maker Orvis. Though JSmith53 may argue that this Grand Cherokee offered better performance than the Explorer with similar luxury touches, the Orvis edition's color scheme was probably a deal-breaker for a lot of people. Though produced for three years, the gold, green and red of the Jeeps lost out to the easier-on-the-eye beige and green Fords. [Source: Jeep Orvis]
1979 Cadillac Seville by Gucci
Oh daddy, what Elhigh wouldn't do for a Gucci Caddy. Taking the automaker/designer to its ultimate extreme, Cadillac dealers teamed with Gucci to create the most luxurious 1979 Seville ever. The custom "double G" gold Gucci hood ornament makes this car easily recognizable as something special. And what's hinted at on the outside, is beaten to within an inch of its life on the inside. Gucci logos, Gucci cloth and a matching set of five Gucci bags let other Seville owners know that you are too chic to be trifled with. [Source: Boompa]
1970's Champagne Edition Beetles
When you think of the VW Beetle you don't necessarily think of bubbly, but Volkswagen clearly realized there was a group of affluent would-be owners waiting for a luxury edition Beetle. These "Champagne" editions came with a special metallic paint, Blaupunkt AM/FM speakers, a Quartz Clock (a must for the 1970's) and burled elm dash. Now the best StairCar can do is a little dinky plastic flowerpot. [Source: SeBeetles.com]
Oleg Cassini AMC Matador
If you're good enough to design over 300 outfits for Jackie O, you're good enough to design your own AMC Matador. Drawing from the same geometric shapes and rich fabrics that made up the first lady's ball gowns, Cassini models included thick carpeting everywhere as well as a number of Cassini medallions. The best touch is the ultraplush seating with copper buttons that would look more at home in Indi's 1970's-era living room than an AMC. With only a few thousand of these versions made, they're among some of the most collectible Matadors. [Concord.edu]
"The Dude" Edition Dodge Truck
As opposed to the relative opulence of the Cassini Matador or Champagne Beetle, the randomly named "The Dude" edition dodge sport trim package is basically a 1970's sweptline Dodge truck with a "paint and tape" package that utilizes mostly striking colors and a "The Dude" logo to move inventory. What makes this specific truck special is the inclusion of Don Knotts in the truck's advertising, for reasons that defy human comprehension. The Dude abides. Credit to both Squablow and Slantstick. [Source: Sweptline.com]
Comments
"The economy car that wears the pants."
See, if AMC took that tagline and ran with it like Mastercard with its dead-horse-beaten "Priceless" line, they would not only be still in business but would have conquered the entire planet.
Strangest- definitely the harequin
One I would want to own- The Dude... awesome
The Harlequin Golf looks like someone tried to repair their car by replacing it with all sorts of used parts. The Dude edition Dodge just has Don Knotts as a spokesman.
So the only true option is the Frank Sinatra Edition Chrysler Imperial. It has Frank Sinatra's name on it and he is from Hoboken, so it must be good!
The Golf is the strangest. The reason its so rare is that no-one in their right mind would buy something like that new. I looks as if it was already parked on the streets of Detroit fo 20 years.
What about the Ford Explorer Jack Bauer Edition?
i LIKE the Orvis Jeep!
then again, i'm an Orvis fiend...
I would take the Bill Blass in a heartbeat, just shut my hood first. But being that this is the "Strangest...", the Golf gets my vote.
You have missed this one.. The Pierre Cardin Javelin.....
there is NOTHING wrong with ANYTHING Frank Sinatra, GOT IT?!?!?!
I completely forgot about this one yesterday: The "Beau James" GMC truck
[home.netcom.com]
I think there is actually a Harlequin Golf driving around my neighborhood in Chicago. I never realized that was a special edition.
What about the Superman Edition of the Toyota Yaris?
[carscoop.blogspot.com]
There was also a Polo Harlequin.
@Triborough: I was just thinking that I see a lot of econobox cars here in Indiana that look like that. Sometimes it's just easier to go buy a panel out of a scrapyard than it is to do the bodywork.
What about the Nautica Mercury Villager?
Only 264 Harlequins? I've seen two or three, so either that's a little off, or Southern Ontario loves factory issued beaters.
I'd also go with the Pajero as the strangest special edition. Every other one makes sense in some way, however delusional (except for Don Knotts). The Orvis seems relatively normal, although I'm hard-pressed to remember what it offers over a Limited (I've got the brochure for the '95 tucked away somewhere, but haven't looked at it in a while).
A related discussion is at GMInsideNews
[www.gminsidenews.com]
@Unregular: I would love to be an Orvis fiend...if I could afford to be.
i worked t a vw dealership when the golf came out. it was originally a display model meant to show different available colors and people just started asking for that one, so vw decided to make them for real. that is what i was told at least.
the dude pickup is so homoerotic by today's standards for some odd reason.
why ANY sane person would stick their name on a matador is far beyond me. oh yeah, the sack of cash, gotcha. nothing against amc but that particular model will NEVER look good.
The Dude pickups are pretty rare from what I know. I'd take one and I wouldn't mind a Levi edition Gremlin parked next to my Levi edition Jeep CJ7.
Sure, the Harlequin Golf is weird-looking. I saw one on the road and thought it was a semi-crappy art project. But surely the invocation of Don Knotts puts into play a factor of surrealism so powerful as to render all other contestants moot.
Though I am still laughing at "The economy car that wears the pants..."
I so wanted a Harlequin Golf when I first saw it at the local VW dealer. But I couldn't afford any new car then. Unlike now, when I could easily afford an Aveo.
I don't care what anyone says, that 1979 Bill Blass Edition Lincoln Mark V is pure awesomeness. It looks like a cartoon car.
That Sinatra Chrysler is the baddest car I have ever seen.
Mod Top.
I had to go Harlequin. It was spotting the MK V Harlequin that earned my my commenter invitation. You know, for old times sake.
Now I know how I'm going to redo my truck seats... in Levi, or jeans sort fabric.
I had to go Dude as the VW has a usefulness in its random body panel coloring.
When pieces need to be replaced on the cheap, as you see with many a vehicle in the questionable parts of town, it won't change the overall look.
What, no Canyonero F-Series?
@Triborough:
I always thought it was some sort of ARTISTE car when ever I saw one. Very strange.
How can you say no to the Dude? Funny thing, Dude was never a word I would have associated with Don Knotts.
@makfu:
My friends and I call them 'coke dealer cars'.
First of all, let me say that i find it amazing NOT to find the Hello Kitty Mitsubishi i in the end list. A Flying ace Snoopy is nothing compared with the power of Princess Kitty. Shame on you, sir.
I voted for the Arlequin. When people see one ( a Polo, over here ) they just think the owner did that himself, is insane, colorblind and has no taste. I don't think the possibility that VW actually did that themselves ever crosses anyone's minds.
What about the Buick Regal Olympic Edition?!
Harlequin Golf looks like an assembly robot screwup like the rumored Estonian Volvo 243's (244 on the passenger side, 242 on the driver side).
or the Chevrolet Venture Warner Brothers Edition?!
or the Ford F-150 Harley Davidson Edition?!
@Neener: Tent Sale!!! [www.orvis.com]
i do side-work (hooking) just to make trips to the Boston Orvis store... much less the Manchester, VT hq.
on sale fishing gear: [www.orvis.com]
I know someone with a Harlequin Golf. I have been trying to get it from them for ages. One day, one day.
@bzr: Needs modernization:
"The economy car that wears the pantsuit."
I've seen quite a few Harlequin Golfs around here. Odd.
But The Dude is so random, so silly I had to vote for it. Who the hell got paid to think that up?
I wonder if the trunk of the Sinatra Imperial came with fitted body bags?
@eltonito: How about the Saab 900 "Slint-Tweez" edition?
Wow that Golf is just all kinds of ugly.
Woah, there is one of those Harlequin Golfs in my neighborhood for sale for what I thought was a seemingly ridiculous price. I though some kid just did some stupid paint job, but now that I know its super rare....I still don't want it
Can't believe 1970s Datsun Trucks didn't make the list. They had both the "Li'l Hustler" [mclellansautomotive.com] and "California Sunshine" [i106.photobucket.com]