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The craziest special editions in automotive history

We review some of the limited and special editions of cars that were the result of collaboration between brands and characters that in many cases were outside the automotive world.

From time to time car manufacturers release special editions of their models to generate new interest from the public. This practice was especially common in the 80s and resulted in the most diverse collaborations. 

A GREMLIN WITH JEANS

No, we are not talking about the famous little monsters from the famous eighties movie. We are referring to the oldest car on our list, the AMC Gremlin, presented in 1970, was the first attempt by the Americans to try to make a hatchback, and for which they had a peculiar special edition Levi's, with seats that imitated the fabric of jeans, including the seams and buttons typical of this item of clothing.  

AMC continued its collaborations with major brands in the world of fashion, with the Gucci edition AMC Hornet and the AMC Matador edition Oleg Cassini. 

Apparently the Gremlin created a school because, in the 80s, the Renault 5 had an edition Blue jeans, as well as the SEAT Marbella had the edition Jeans, both with seats that imitated denim fabric.

ROCK AND GOLF

Other masters of special editions, especially during the eighties and nineties, were the Germans at Volkswagen. Starting in 1992 with the Golf Cabrio, the brand launches a Genesis series of the car, a collaboration with the legendary rock group of Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel. 

With the third generation of the Golf, three other special editions would come out that featured big names from the world of rock. These were The Golf Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones and Bon Jovi. 

CITROËN 2CV, A STARRING ROLE ON THE BIG SCREEN

Since the sixties the premiere of a new film of the best-known secret agent in cinema, James Bond, it was quite an event, and the film "For your Eyes Only”From 1981 was not the exception. For this reason Citroën decided to launch a special edition of the 2CV with the number 007 of only 500 units, to commemorate the legendary chase of Roger Moore in what was probably the slowest car the spy has ever driven. 

As a curiosity in the film, the car has the license plate M-1026-A, and the scene is supposed to be set in Spain, but the reality is that the frenetic chase was filmed in Greece, in short, the magic of cinema. 

CADILLAC SEVILLE GUCCI

El cadillac seville It was launched in 1975 to compete in the market with luxury sedans from Europe such as the Mercedes W116. Although this car was the smallest in the brand's catalog, it was also the most expensive, with a price of over $12.000, second only to limousines. 

This meant that the Seville was only available to a very select clientele, for this reason the collaboration with the luxury brand Gucci It was more than logical. Only a few were made 300 units of this car that had the brand's print on the headliner and the C-pillar. In addition to having the Gucci logos everywhere and having a careful leather interior. 

A 205 “PIJILLO”

El Peugeot 205 It is a car that surprises with its variety in the range, from the most basic models to authentic sports compacts. This bestseller also joined the trend of teaming up with a clothing brand for a special edition. 

The result was the Peugeot 205 Lacoste, one of the most popular editions, since it is estimated that more than 20.000 units. The car had the green crocodile logo on both the body and the interior, with all units painted white, and although it was not a Ford Fiesta in Spain it always had the stigma of being a “pijo child". 

FORWARD MAN OF THE SEICENTS

We are now talking about the youngest car on the list, and the only one that takes us to the 2001st century, specifically to XNUMX. At the beginning of the new millennium the name of the F1 Michael Schumacher It was synonymous with speed. 

Although he was a Ferrari driver, the car that received a special edition with his name was the modest Fiat Seicento. Only 5.000 units of the Fiat Seicento Michael Schumacher, some economical and fun 54 HP compacts that were sold only in red and yellow. 

A CAR YOUR WAY

We went from sportsmanship to everything opposite. We go back twenty years with respect to the previous car until 1981. Between 1955 and 1975 Chrysler Corporation launched the brand Imperial as a luxury brand of the group. 

En 1981, they relaunched the brand and to awaken the interest of older consumers they had a Frank Sinatra edition of the luxurious coupeIn addition, the singer was in charge of driving the first unit manufactured by the factory. The car was not a success and the Imperial brand disappeared forever in 1983. 

PACO RABANNE'S SEATS

After the separation between Fiat and SEAT, the Spanish brand ventured to launch its own special editions with a prestigious designer, which were beginning to be so fashionable. For this they counted on the Spanish couturier, Paco Rabanne, who was really called Paco Rabaneda. 

Initially he gave his personal touch to SEAT Ritmo in 1981, with a redesigned interior and matte black accents on the exterior. This collaboration was repeated with the newcomer Seat Ibiza, which had a series limited to fifty units with the designer's personal touches. 

LINCOLN CONTINENTAL AND A CATALOG OF SPECIAL EDITIONS

Between the end of the seventies and the beginning of the eighties, the gigantic coupés Lincoln Continental They had a catalog of special editions designed by prestigious luxury brands, which gave an air of exclusivity to these cars. 

Firms like Cartier, Pucci, Bill Blass or Givenchy were those that made up the so-called “Designer series” by Lincoln. Some of the most popular collaborations, such as those with Cartier or Bill Blass, lasted longer over time. 

A CORSA WITH A SPANISH COLLABORATION

El Opel Corsa began manufacturing in Spain in 1982, being the first model of the German subsidiary of General Motors to be manufactured in our country. At the same time, a fashion brand focused on a young audience began its history in Madrid, Don Algodón. 

At the end of the eighties, both the Corsa and Don Algodón were very popular, for this reason a special series of the model was launched with an interior with special upholstery called Opel Corsa Don Algodón. 

DONALD TRUMP'S LIMOUSINES

Long before he was the president of the United States, Donald Trump was a real estate magnate who did not hesitate to turn his last name into a brand and stamp those five letters on all kinds of products. 

In the eighties Trump reached an agreement with Cadillac to produce some limousines with all kinds of luxury. The agreement was not fruitful, and only two units of the fifty initially discussed were produced. 

PEUGEOT AND THE TENNIS

El Peugeot 205 appears again in this list with the Roland Garros special edition, the result of the lion brand's sponsorship of the tennis event during the XNUMXs. 

They were only made 2.000 units and it was offered in three-door bodies and also as a convertible. Aesthetically, it was easily recognizable by a metallic dark green paint, exclusive to this finish, and a light-colored leather interior, in addition to having a good level of equipment for the time. 

PARTY, PACHÁ

Another of the most iconic collaborations was that of Ford Fiesta, and the legendary Ibizan nightclub turned into a brand, Pacha. In the third generation of the popular compact, a special edition was released that perfectly combines the Fiesta and Pachá names.

THE CLIO AND THE END OF MECANO

During the 80s, the group Mecano became one of the most popular among the youth who experienced the Madrid scene. They were active mainly between 1981 and 1992, the year in which the group launched a collaboration with Renault to create the special edition Renault Clio Mecano, thus helping to give popularity to a car that had recently arrived on the market. 

What do you think?

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Written by Javillac

This thing about cars comes to one since childhood. When other kids preferred the bicycle or the ball, I kept the toy cars.
I still remember as if it were yesterday a day when a black 1500 overtook us on the A2, or the first time I saw a Citroën DS parked on the street, I have always liked chrome bumpers.

In general, I like things from before the time I was born (some say I'm reincarnated), and at the top of that list are cars, which, together with music, make the ideal combination for a perfect time: driving and a soundtrack according to the corresponding car.

As for cars, I like classics of any nationality and era, but my weakness is American cars from the 50s, with their exaggerated shapes and dimensions, which is why many people know me as "Javillac".

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