5) Plymouth Laser
There's a malt liquor called Laser. It's about as refreshing to a college thirst as a pint of warm vinegar, but it does the job. Pretty similar to the Plymouth Laser actually.

4) Merkur XR4Ti
Just because the Germans are doing it doesn't make it cool (or scatalogical). Naming cars with letters and numbers may seem like a good idea, but nobody is going to sing about how it was 'fun, fun, fun 'till her daddy takes the XR4Ti awaaaaay.'

3) Jeep Jeepster
If Jeep considers reusing the name "Jeepster," that means the lately questionably off-road brand is considering a car-like Jeep, and that's stupid. We actually think the original Jeepster is pretty cool; our only reason for nominating this one is because Jeeps should never have been so city-fied.

2) Ford Fairmont
As much as we love the Fairmont police cars of the past, and the name does conjure up images of fair mountains, it's one that needs to stay buried. This one makes the list if only to discourage Ford from it's ridiculous and annoying "F" naming penchant.

1) Pontiac Aztek
We know, GM, you're tempted to relive those halcyon days of 2001 when you besmirched an entire ancient civilization by unleashing the Pontiac Aztek upon the public. Quetzalcoatl will rain down destruction upon you should it ever make a return.

The American SUVs on the market in 1989 were quite a bit different than the generation that would take over in just two years' time. We tend to focus on their crudeness and lack of creature comforts, but more importantly, nearly all "mid-size" SUVs before the 1990s period were two-door models. The exception was the Jeep Cherokee XJ, which was developed with extra doors specifically because Chevy hadn't added them to their Blazer. The other players were either Japanese, like the Isuzu Trooper or, like the Suburban, based on a larger truck platform.

The Jeep Z5 concept will look very familiar to you.

Fortunately for Chrysler, Jeep had developed a more-refined version of the four-door SUV that we know as the Jeep Grand Cherokee all the way back in 1985, when the division was owned by AMC. Unfortunately for Chrysler, when they purchased AMC and Jeep, they put the development of the Grand Cherokee project on hold in favor of new minivans. Still, Jeep had the answer, and in 1989 they released the Jeep Z5 Concept 1, which was basically the final design for the Grand Cherokee that they would bring to market in 1992.

Contrast that with the General. For 1989, GM had two futuristic concept trucks that we assume they hoped would stir enough interest to guide them in their product-making decisions. One was the youth-oriented Pontiac Stinger compact SUV. Though it wasn't particularly powerful — its engine was only good for 170 HP — it had a high level of utility, including features such as a removable picnic table and portable radio. These types of features weren't put to use, as Pontiac wasn't going to build an SUV in the near future. Ironically, many of these ideas found a home — the ill-fated and poorly designed Pontiac Aztec.

The Stinger is certainly better looking than the Aztec, even if it isn't as practical.

The other concept truck was the Chevy XT-2 concept, which stood for the Chevy Experimental Truck #2. This futuristic-looking, performance-oriented vehicle featured a Corvette suspension, a front-engine/RWD layout built on a platform similar to the F-body Camaro, and a 4.5-liter V6 that was good for 360 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque. The V6 engine itself, which featured tuned port injection, was an important technological leap forward for GM. The TPI system not only provided more power than a carbureted engine, it was also relatively fuel-efficient. For an excellent discussion of the importance of this engine see this discussion of the XT-2 at PickupTrucks.com.

The XT-2 was designed as a pace car to be used in what was then the CART PPG Indy Car World Series, which is now a weird mix of words to see together. The truck itself went through two designs before engineers landed on the final one. The first version was fairly wild and had the engine mounted under the bed. The second version was a based on a passenger-car platform with a FWD/AWD layout and a smaller V6 engine, a concept not unlike the crossovers that would follow in the mid-2000s. So how did they end up with the final version? According to a press release provided by GM, "Given the consumer preference to small, sporty trucks, the evolution of the Chevrolet PPG XT-2 Pace Truck was natural."

So, in 1989, you had the Pontiac Stinger and the Chevy XT-2 from GM as the radically futuristic vehicles. The designers and planners clearly understood that, after the previous gas crisis, crossovers and sportier car-based trucks were the way forward. But that wasn't what happened.

In 1990, GM came out with four-door versions of their S10-based SUV's and Ford came out with the Ford Explorer. The design wasn't exactly revolutionary — the Explorer and others were the same basic body-on-frame trucks as before with an extra set of doors. The Explorer caught the imagination and dollars of Suburban families by offering car-like amenities such as leather interiors and CD players. Jeep suddenly had to rush their dusty Grand Cherokee to market in 1992 to catch up with the market.

Gas prices remained low, especially relative to the sudden increase in the purchasing power of the average American. In 1991 there were less than a million SUVs sold in the United States. By 1998, Americans were buying nearly three million a year. In 1998, the three best-selling trucks (F-Series, Silverado and Explorer) outsold the Toyota Camry, which was the best-selling car. Unfortunately, in this orgy of truck sales, nothing quite like the XT-2 was ever produced. Why make a car-based SUV or truck when you're suddenly making money hand-over-fist by adding a CD player and an extra set of doors to a body-on-frame platform you've already developed?

Fast-forward almost twenty years, to March 2008. The Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Toyota Camry bested the Ford F-150 in monthly sales, and you have your answer. Not long after, GM postponed development of their GMT-900 full-sized truck platform. It then leaked out that GM was considering a more Honda Ridgeline-esque pickup — not unlike the second version of the XT-2 concept that was never produced.

Then the news we were all waiting for: GM announced the Pontiac G8 Sport Truck in 2008. The Pontiac G8 ST will be built on the Zeta platform that underpins the 2010 Chevy Camaro, giving it essentially the same setup as the Chevy XT-2.

The General could have created car-based CUVs and sporty trucks; obviously, they thought the idea had some merit in 1989. But development and focus instead shifted to the cheaper and easier body-on-frame alternative with two extra doors. Almost 20 years later, with another energy crisis underway, it's fascinating to see how two versions of the same forgotten concepts from the late 1980s are now looking like the new way forward for an automaker desperately trying to grapple with age-old problems.

[Photos and press releases courtesy of General Motors. Special thanks to GM for providing the information, Mike Levine of PickupTrucks.com for tracking much of it down and to SmalleyXb122 for starting this whole search with his comment in the Five Ugliest Concept Trucks post.]

The Pontiac G8 ST proves Peter's maxim about originality.

The figures were published by Clean Green Cars, which also pointed out that "Every manufacturer with average new car emissions significantly above 200 g/km of CO2 saw sales slump from January to June." Clearly, voluntary agreements are working. Why oh why then did the EU have to implement non-voluntary emissions targets for 2012? Press release below the jump.

Fiat tops the CO2 league; Porsche is rock bottom

Figures published exclusively by Clean Green Cars today reveal that Fiat and MINI are only mainstream manufacturers whose average tailpipe CO2 is now under 140 g/km. That figure was the target car makers' set themselves a decade ago in their voluntary agreement. Data for 2008 shows how far they have fallen short.

"Some manufacturers have delivered on their promise, but the vast majority have to raise their game significantly," said Jay Nagley of Clean Green Cars. "Porsche has the most work to do: bottom of the league, with CO2 emissions that actually went up slightly in the first half of 2008.

"What is interesting is that, as fuel prices rocket and the new car market falters, car makers with the highest emissions are being punished by the consumer. They have been complaining about pressure from the EU to meet what they say are 'unrealistic' targets. Now they are having to face much stiffer targets from the people that really matter: consumers."

Every manufacturer with average new car emissions significantly above 200 g/km of CO2 saw sales slump from January to June. Even bigger drops were reported last month by the five with the worst average CO2 output.

Porsche and Jeep sales were down by more than a half, Land Rover and Chrysler fell by nearly 30% while Subaru registrations plummeted 17.8%. As the total market only fell by 6.1%, there is clear evidence that high-CO2 cars are being heavily penalised.

If you'll remember, the J8 gets manufacturer-supplied upgrades us civilians could only wish to find order form check boxes for: a beefed-up frame, heavy duty axles, brakes and suspension, and a hood mounted snorkel/filter system capable of fording 30 inches of water while in a five hour long sandstorm — though in our experience those needs are usually mutually exclusive. The latest Jeep you can't buy but have always wanted will be fitted with a five-speed auto hooked up to a 2.8-liter turbodiesel good for 158 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque. Awesome, but that's not the big news here. No, the big news is the truck version.

Most important is the J8 will be offered in a variety of body styles including a two door with a long cargo box in the back. Yes, they've finally made a new Scrambler, and you can't buy it. If you're wondering about that high-pitched wailing in your ears — it's the sound of thousands of off-road and trail-rated geeks crying into their breakfast burritos.

Mostly what's coming to our mind is the Jeep curse — you know, the one where every corporate owner of the Jeep brand starts from scratch at making cool stuff, and just as it starts to arrive, their owner goes bankrupt, leaving Jeep alive, profitable and ready to start the cycle again.

Yes, sweet military contracts, a production partner in Egypt, close to conflict zones, and a relatively cheap mil-spec product, sounds like a plan for success — for Jeep. [MotorAuthority]

There were just a pair of Prowlers hanging out around the shop, but the total order is for six of the Chrysler hot rods. Why? The Russians love the Prowler and an unnamed Russian supermarket magnate needs a fleet of them, which the Hennessey crew began looking for on eBay. Three of the six are getting supercharged and all of them will be fitted with chrome. Lots of chrome. The front ends, grilles, accent pieces, belly pans, wheels and exhaust are all getting the chrome treatment.

The shop was actually quite stacked with cars wearing foreign plates. The reason? With the weaker dollar it's like their foreign customers suddenly got a 50% discount.

(also see our tour of Hennessey HQ, Future Hennessey Plans and Hennessey Challegner SRT600 Exclusive First Look)

[via PickupTrucks.com]

Apparently less than seven bucks. But, searching for it helped me to come up with today's question of the day. What's your favorite dealer brochure? Better than just answering the question — give us a link to a scan or an eBay auction for it. We may take the best responses and create one of our Jalopnik patent-pending top ten lists out of them.

"Chrysler's product pipeline severely lags the industry on a number of key metrics, which is an ominous sign for its market share. We believe that this is an active decision by new owners to rationalize the product portfolio in advance of a breakup/sale."

The argument that Chrysler is entering a product drought in advance of a sale also doesn't sit well with some industry watchers. Although the company doesn't have any major product reveals scheduled for the next year, they have one of the youngest vehicle lineups currently on the market. Others claim that Chrysler is reducing product in a long-term effort to become more competitive with a smaller fleet, and at the same time force weaker dealers out of business by depriving them of products during the current industry downturn. Such a move would allow Chrysler to pare down its dealer body without expensive — and potentially litigious — buyouts and consolidations.

Whatever happens, we do tend to agree with at least one Cerberus statement: "You can't judge an investment like this after just one year." Only question — does Cerberus believe that? [Freep, Photo Credit: blog.vehiclevoice.com]

The bankruptcy rumors seem to have sprung from reports this week that Chrysler drew down on a line of credit from Daimler. However, under Cerberus' purchase terms, Chrysler had to exercise the credit line before Aug. 3, so there's a "use it or lose it" component to the whole financial story too. Chrysler spokespeople state that the borrowing of $1.5 billion from Daimler and $500 million from Cerberus is not an indication that the company is having cash flow problems, and that Chrysler has $9 billion in cash. Sure sounds good, but all the "categorical denials" and "without merits" pouring out of Auburn Hills don't do much to soothe the nerves.
[BusinessWeek]

Chrysler says the in-car WiFi will be available wherever cellular service is offered (pretty much anywhere you can take a car these days) and have a a range of about 100 feet. The system's range capability means you won't actually have to be in your car to use the system — no doubt a huge relief to Caliber owners.
[Freep]

I found these Jeeps while out for a walk recently and figured they're likely old enough for DOTS. They were parked about a block away from where I shot that Mercedes 250c a couple of months ago so I expect Danio will recognize the neighbourhood. At first I thought they were both CJ7s as the green one is clearly labelled, but on closer inspection the shape of the door frame seems to indicate that the Levi's edition Wrangler is a CJ5. Your guess is probably better than mine as far as model year goes, I had enough trouble figuring out that they were two different models.

As an added bonus there are two extra shots of an NSX I ran into with my film camera. No need to run them if you don't want to, but after a look around on Autotrader I was surprised to find that the NSX is finally old enough to be (almost) affordable, if still a couple of years away from being good LeMons fodder.

No, it's the GM crate 383 cub. in. V8 engine mated to a specially re-worked 4L80E overdrive transmission, Atlas II transfer cases and Dynatrac 60 axles. Original suspension and tubular space frame chassis designed by Cohen support the observation mast, hydraulic leveling jacks and a crew of 4 soldiers. Although we'd more likely have three of our buddies and a case of beer, but whatever works for you.

Although Israel doesn't have an automotive industrial infrastructure to speak of; actually it has no automotive industry to speak of except a small Jeep assembly plant, this bad boy will be restricted to military sales only. But we'd love to get one off the aftermarket, wouldn't you? [via Jeepolog]

They made some wonderful cars in Czechoslovakia back in the day, but that darned ol' Iron Curtain kept all but a tiny handful of them from making their way to North America. Still, Skoda took an ill-advised shot at importing Felicias back in the early 60s, which means that you might be able to find an affordable one over here. As a matter of fact, you can get this convertible (go here if the ad disappears) for 500 bucks or best offer. How can you resist? The seller sums up the car quite aptly with this no-punctuation-needed statement: "basket case little rust mostly there what you see is what you get." See, it's mostly there! Just make a few calls to Prague and you'll have the missing stuff faster than a man can turn into a giant cockroach! And don't worry about the running condition of the Skoda engine, because it's already been proven that you can put an Audi V8 in the back! Yeah, there's rust... but how bad can it be?

You see quite a few garden-variety WW2 Jeeps just driving around these days, but what if you want one of the super-rare Ford GTB 1-1/2-ton trucks, popularly known as the Burma Jeep? Normally you'd have to pay boo-koo bucks for such a veteran, but we've got a line on this genuine Burma Jeep (go here if the ad disappears) for only $500. We'll readily admit that this truck has something of an oxidation problem, but we know you'll be as relentless as George S. Patton himself when it comes time to replace and/or fabricate the components that are too far gone to fix. Hey, there must be something on this vehicle that won't disintegrate into a cloud of red dust when you stare hard at it! The seller doesn't offer any description (other than "RARE!"), but it looks like an engine is visible behind the grille and you even get the axles. No sweat!

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What if this had become the standard-issue military vehicle during the war? Would the entire SUV market as we know it today have ceased to exist? Or would all Hummers have been pyramid-shaped? Would we have parking lots that looked like pie charts? Okay, we need to go lay down for a while and think this over.

Images copyright: Mark Arnold / Jalopnik.com

As you can see below, 11 of the automaker’s most popular models declined while nine improved month to month. We excluded outgoing models and niche vehicles like the Dodge Viper and Sprinter.

Declining Sales

Model: April sales number; May sales number

Chrysler

• 300: 5,771; 4,763
• PT Cruiser: 5,807; 5,203
• Aspen*: 2,135; 2,037
• Town & Country: 10,723; 12,869

Jeep

• Liberty: 6,642; 6,228
• Commander: 2,643; 2,061

Dodge

• Charger*: 13,021; 10,134
• Ram: 24,206; 19,727
• Caravan: 14,665; 13,655
• Durango: 2,568; 1,360
• Nitro: 3,299; 2667

Improving Sales

Model: April sales number; May sales number

Chrysler

• Sebring: 5,376; 7,124

Jeep

• Compass: 2,804; 3,114
• Grand Cherokee: 6,597; 6,979
• Patriot*: 6,348; 8,199
• Wrangler: 8,699; 9,260

Dodge

• Caliber: 8,825; 12,856
• Avenger: 5,666; 6,354
• Dakota: 2,564; 3,605
• Journey: 6,667; 7,520

Chrysler's Toledo Supplier Park was named North America's most productive assembly plant, slapping Jeep Wranglers together using just 13.57 labor-hours. But who's actually doing the work? The Toledo Supplier Park uses Kuka Group (Augsburg, Germany) to manage the body shop, Magna Steyr (Graz, Austria) to manage the paint shop and Hyundai Mobis (Seoul, South Korea) for chassis assemblies. Somewhere, Lee Greenwood is weeping softly.
[Automotive News (sub. req.)]

These questions and more will probably not be answered for some time, but in the meantime someone over at Releaselog managed to capture some photos of vehicles, including this one of the Hummer HX as some sort of military vehicle.

[ReleaseLog via TFW2005]

In Russia, gas prices are apparently not as big of a deal. At least not to this person, who may or may not be the nephew of an oil oligarch. [Russian Fun via CarScoop]

First lesson in Jalopnik readership — always have a camera at the ready. Like star tipster and reader Adam, who was quick to take a picture of a manufacturer-plated Jeep near Rochester Road and Big Beaver in Troy, MI earlier this week as he made his way home from a long day of widget-making or sprocket-mending. Adam saw this oddly-badged Jeep and immediately though "Patriot." However, due to the boxy exterior, he really could have thought "Commander" or "Liberty." If he'd thought the last one, he'd have been right — sort of. You see, this diesel-powered Jeep is a Liberty for the overseas market and it looks like it's doing a short jaunt stateside (to take advantage of the currency conversion rates wethinks with some shopping over at Somerset) wearing it's more familiar and much-more-loved overseas name — Jeep Cherokee. Remember, if you spot a camo-clad car — like this diesel Jeep Cherokee — send us a tip to tips@jalopnik.com and you, like Adam, might see your name in the fancy lights of the webosphere!

So I was cruising around Oakland (Temescal neighborhood) with my girl, searching high and low for an apartment, when on a side street I caught a glimpse of this beauty out of the corner of my eye. It's a Jeep FC170, and I couldn't narrow down the year anymore than '57-64 because none of the registries I could find had a year-by-year breakdown. This guy looks kind of tired, and I can't tell if it runs or not. But man oh man, is that forward control setup cool. I thought you'd all get a kick out of it. Let me know if you want more pictures of specific info about this one, because I can always swing by and take a look again.

BTW, I have a few other DOTS Oakland submissions if you'd like - a Chevy-powered FJ40, a Peugeot 504 diesel wagon, a 50's Chrysler 300, and a B-body Plymouth that has been painted flat-black and equipped with flamethrowers for Burning Man. Let me know if you'd like those. Thanks dudes, keep up the good work.

Yes indeed, one of the two ever built is going against the block and at the moment of writing, fetching a positively reasonable $8,100. Sure there are over six days left before the winner is declared, and it is out in LA so all those red meat loving, SUV driving wackos will be all over it, but still — Ferrari SUV. Cool. [eBay Listing] (Thanks for the tip mtdrv)

Let's start with an extreme example by choosing the Chrysler Aspen SUV with the large 5.7-Liter V8, which isn't exactly a teetotaler when it comes to gas. We'll assume 12,000 miles a year with an average gas price of $3.61, which is what AAA considers the average gas price for this week. The Aspen gets 13 mpg city and 18 mpg highway. In all city driving you'd use 923 gallons of gas a year with a savings of $0.62 per gallon for a total savings of $572 a year or $1,716 over the three years. In all highway driving you use 667 gallons of gas for a total yearly savings of $413 and a three-year savings of $1,240.

That isn't bad, if they let you keep the other rebates. Last month, the suggested incentive on a Chrysler Aspen was a $3,000 instant cash rebate. Assuming a three-year savings of $1,500 in combined driving at $0.62 savings you'd need gas to go to approximately $4.85 per gallon to even it out.

To use a more regular example, the Chrysler 300 with the 2.7-Liter V6 gets 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. Under the same circumstances you get $1,240 at one extreme with all city driving and $859 with all highway driving. Given that they offer up to $3,000 cash incentives on the Chrysler 300 as well, you're talking about a bad deal for consumers if they pass on the cash for the gas savings.

And what if your car takes more than regular gas? Here's what Chrysler's own press release has to say:

"If mid-grade or premium unleaded fuel is purchased, the customer will be billed for the $2.99 plus $.15 per gallon for mid-grade (88-89 octane) or plus $.30 for premium (90-94 octane)."

And what happens if gas drops to closer to $3.00 a gallon? Your rebate is suddenly a big, fat zero. The one thing that is clear is that Chrysler is desperate to move inventory and, if you play your cards right, a deal is to be had. Just make sure you consider all the facts and don't pass on an instant cash rebate if you think it could outweigh the cost of gas savings over three years. Obviously, the best deal is a rebate and gas savings, so make sure to ask as Chrysler is saying that this is available on some vehicles. [Source: Chrysler , Houston Chronicle[

SPECIFICATIONS
1.Dimension (L x W x H) 4.830x1.900x2.150(m) (With the handle frame) Or 4.830x1.900x1.950(m) (Without the handle frame)
2. Complete Vehicle Kerb Mass 2100 kg
3. Wheel Space 2700 (mm)
4. Track 1520 (mm)
5. Maximum Speed (km/h)
- On Land 110
- On Water 10.5
6. Maximum Gradient 60%
7. Maximum Angles of Approach / Departure (Degree) 35/30, Maximum Angles of Ingress / egress (Degree) 45/30
8. Minimum Ground Clearance 0.25 (m)
9. Minimum Diameter of Turning Circle
- On Land < 12 (m)
- On Water < 13 (m)
10. Maximum Laden Mass
- On Land 425kg (or 5 persons)
- On Water 800kg (or 15 persons)
11. Maximum Towed Mass
- On Land 800kg
- On Water 4000kg
12. Displacement of Normal Laden Mass 2425kg
13. Draft (under the normal laden mass)
- 0.75m from bottom of the wheels
- 0.35m from low side of the hull
14. Maximum Cruise Time on Water 10 hours (with 70 liter fuel tank)
15. Fuel Consumption (liter/100km)
- On Land 7
- On Water 70
16. Capacity of Fuel Tank
- Standard version 70 (litters)
- Option 100 (litters)
17. Cockpit Volume 5000 (litters)
18. Maximum Wave-Height Allowed (m)
- Offshore 1.3
- In-land water 1.5
19. Average Water In-let Leaks < 10 (litters / hour)
20. Normal Service Time of Main Water Proof Components 3 years
THE CHASSIS AND ITS SPECIFICATION
21. Type of Engine JMC 493QZ Diesel Turbo Charged
22. Maximum Output 68kw (87hp)/4000 RPM
23. Maximum Torque 215 N.m / 2000 RPM
24. Fuel 0# light diesel
25. Main Gearbox MT-75 (5-speed Fully synchronized)
26. Tire 215/80 R16
MAIN PROPULSION COMPONENTS OF WATER DRIVING
27. Self Designed Transfer Case for On-water Propulsion
28. Propeller Diameter 0.45 (m)
[Boatcar.net]

...here, the civilian version takes into consideration the fact they've no longer got an agreement with Chrysler — by dropping a different grille on the front and a somewhat more slab-sided approach to sheet metal — atop what's obviously a derivative of a Jeep Wrangler. It's like looking at the misbegotten offspring resulting from the sexual congress of an LJ Jeep and a midget-sized H1. Oh lord, the horror, the horror. [The Tycho]

We're also not surprised given that Cerberus has already envisioned the death of the Dodge Viper and the PT Cruiser and Pacifica. It's a new day! Less products more... something. [Bloomberg]

Many of us took a look at the DOTS '56 Willys Station Wagon and imagined ourselves tearing through the woods or desert in such a fine specimen of vintage off-road machinery. Thing is, parts are getting tricky to find for these proto-SUVs, trickier even than fitting a Super-Fructo Distendo-Abdomen™ five-gallon soft-drink bucket into an undersized European cup holder. What you need is a parts car! That's why you'll be overjoyed to find this pair of Willys Station Wagons, a '51 and a '58, for the survivalist-friendly price tag of one thousand dollars (or a bit more than an ounce of gold, for those of you who fear the Trilateral Commission/Federal Reserve cabal and their so-called "currency"). One of them has a complete-looking Tornado 6-banger (and is "Tornado" one of the best engine names ever or what?), and both have at least half their components; you might even find enough unrusted parts to assemble one good body! Oh yeah, and with a Willys Station Wagon, you don't use a goddamn cup holder for your drink of kiddie sugar-water- you use a canteen full of manly swamp water!

But let's say the SUV/cup holer stigma is so powerful that it manages to taint even such an excellent motor vehicle as the Willys Station Wagon (impossible, but just for the sake of argument). You want cars for your Two-For-One Hell Project, do you? Step right up for this Mercedes/Pontiac deal, folks! For a very optimistic- yet subject to relentless downward negotiating pressure- price tag of $4,000, you could have a 1958 Pontiac "Fire Chief" (we're assuming it's actually a Star Chief or Super Chief) and a 1962 Mercedes-Benz 220. The Benz "has not run in a few years," but we're talking about a car that's just getting broken in at 500,000 miles! How hard could it be to get this Heckflosse rolling again? It's in Reno, so maybe rust isn't a problem... in fact, think of all the things that might not be problems here! Then, once you've finished getting your Mercedes-Benz into perfect condition, you can look forward to many happy decades weeks working on your '58 Pontiac. It "needs engine and rearend," which doesn't make it clear whether you get any rebuildable components. That won't matter, however, because you'll be building up a monster Tri-Power 421 with the biggest, shiniest blower your food money can buy sticking through the hood, and the factory differential might as well be carved from Velveeta when it comes to dealing with all that power. OK, so this project might cost a few bucks, but your Mercedes will give you the requisite feeling of wealth to keep the stress down.

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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]

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It was a Jeep Grand Cherokee outfitted with the goods to put up a smoke screen and deploy spikes in the event of a chase. Part of us thinks this is really cool, and wonders if there were also missile launchers behind the headlights, an ejector seat, and hidden machine gun turrets. But on the other hand, such weaponry would be directed at Federales, and that's not cool. It's worth noting that AMC Jeeps were originally equipped with a smoke screen/oil slick machine, but that was mounted under the hood, called "the engine." [BBC Online]

Lexus:
Lexus brought a video game setup that made me do a double-take. It wasn't big, gaudy or flashy, but it was a great partnership. Lexus had three driving simulators set up running the highly anticipated Gran Turismo 5 Prologue that's due out in mid-April. Since it was obviously a Lexus partnership, the only vehicle available to try was the Lexus IS-F. You'll get my first impressions on the game later, but it was unique how much Polyphony, the developer of the Gran Turismo series, put into this event. The first day of the show, the simulator was running a custom-build platform (meaning the developers sent out a special copy of the game just for the show), but Polyphony managed to overnight Japanese retail builds of the full game to be used on the simulators. A groggy representative told me he was up until 3 a.m. waiting for the retail build and setting up the simulators to properly work with a PlayStation 3 and the Japanese game. That a lot of midnight oil for a cross-marketing opportunity.

Saleen:
Saleen didn't have the biggest or most prominent booth at the