By Peter Tanshanomi
Car manufacturers have produced a lot special/limited edition models with tie-ins to famous people. Oleg Cassini. Eddie Bauer. Frank Sinatra. What do they nearly all have in common? They’re male. It’s actually rather difficult to think of a special edition car badged with the moniker of a famous woman. I know of two, and only one of those officially bore the woman’s name. (And no, it wasn’t a ’75 Cutlass Supreme. I just made that up.) So, after several weeks of lobbing easy ones over the virtual wall of cyberspace, I’m tasking you with a Hoonatica entry where the low-hanging fruit is few and far between. Put on your thinking caps.
The caveats:
- Production cars only. It needs to be a version sold to the public. Lots of famous women have had a one-off vehicle crafted for them officially or semi-officially by manufacturers; those don’t count.
- Specifically Named. Being endorsed or promoted by a female spokesperson doesn’t count, it has to be named after her.
- Named specifically. It’s not enough for the model to be named for women in general (Dodge La Femme) or targeted towards women as a demographic (Suzuki Lapin Chocolat). It has to be named for an individual woman. [I suppose it could be the proper name of a specific group of women, although I have yet to learn of a Spice Girls Edition Protogé or Rylstone, North Yorkshire Women’s Institute Edition Austin Maestro.]
Difficulty: A bit fiendish. Only automotive history wonks need apply.
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Robert Crespo 
Jeff Glucker 
Kamil Kaluski
I’m thinking the Dale fits here.
http://www.3wheelers.com/dale.html
That was not a regular production car…or a regular production female.
‘Unsuccessful conversions’?
‘Least convincing manufacturer bodykit’?
…Mr./Mrs./Ms. Dale has to be the answer to an ‘Encyclopedia Hoonatica’ question somewhere?
I don’t the original manufacturer endorsed the later attempts at customization.
http://disinfo.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/AngryGod.jpg
Do the Mary Kay Cadillacs count?
I’m pretty sure they do have a GM option code, they come from the factory in pink with special emblems.
http://www.prewarcar.com/images/stories/editor_images/mercedes_jellinek_1906_480.jpg
Mercédès Adrienne Ramona Manuela Jellinek
Does the Tomb Raider Edition Jeep Wrangler count? Since it is promotes Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life.
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=39971&d=1248313390
Does Special Edition WITH Victoria Beckham count? It’s sort of named after her, but sort of not.
http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Range-Rover-Evoque-Special-Edition-with-Victoria-Beckham-10.jpg
Only if the Mini Designer counts, which was originally going to be named the Mini Quant after fashion designer Mary Quant, but was changed before launch.
http://bicestersportscars.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/12.jpg
No, I don’t think they’re quite equivalent. “Special Edition with Victoria Beckham” seems to be the actual complete name of the car, even if it sounds awkward. The Mini Designer, on the other hand, ended up having no official reference to Mary Quant.
I was pretty sure it just referenced Beckham in the marketing and not anywhere in the actual name, maybe I just assumed that “Special Edition with Victoria Beckham” would be too unwieldy for any marketing team.
Nope: Unwieldy, but being used…
http://www.harwoods.uk.com/landrover/new-car-offers/special_edition_range_rover_evoque/
Huh, I guess you can make yourself look dumb by overestimating the intelligence of a marketing department.
http://churchm.ag/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/dilbert-sales-3.gif
Just liquor and guessing? Where do I submit my resume?
I work in marketing. You’ll be disappointed. It’s simply all guessing.
That’s part of the test for the second qualification. Protip: Follow the smell of liquor.
No fair! Around here its coming from every direction.
According to Auto Guide, it’s a gray area: “Land Rover has decided not to tack on a bespoke ‘Special Edition with Victoria Beckham’ badge onto the Evoque either, as a long and clumsy moniker won’t do the car any favors anyway. Instead, the limited examples will be distinguished by Beckham’s signature found inside the leather folder for the Evoque owner’s manual.”
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2012/04/land-rover-evoque-victoria-beckham-special-edition-is-one-posh-ride-video.html
Victoria Beckham’s signature what?
…….Oh, you mean her ACTUAL signature.To me, she gives across the impression that she doesn’t know how to write.
So, as marketing guide, do you CONCUR … do you?
http://33.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lhn97ijlqJ1qd0v72o1_500.gif
…that, instead of displaying Beckhamorablia, they hide it as best as they could, inside the least read pieces of literature humanity knows to produce?
This car, sort of, doesn’t celebrate a female, then.
Seat Ibiza Gabriela Sabatini (Tennis star of the 80s)
Opel Corsa Steffi (Tennis star of the 80s)
Citroen Dyane
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Citroen_Dyane6_front_20071115.jpg
Lotus Elise…though, it’s not really a special edition. I should learn to read.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Lotus_elise_green.jpg
It appears there may have been a Michelle Mouton Edition Audi 4000CS
I saw that as I googled around, but can’t work out if it is just the interior trim (red leather upholstery) or the model itself that is meant to have the Mouton connection.
I’m still confused.
Yeah, and some other stuff I’m seeing makes it appear the special edition may have had to do with motorsports or something and it just became colloquially known as the Michele Mouton edition.
I’m recollecting a ‘Michele Mouton’ special edition Audi from the ’80s; but I cannot — for the love of google — find it anywhere online. Anyone know more than me?
(If any woman deserves a car named after her then Michele does…)
Jinx. You owe me a scotch.
(Happy to buy you a scotch next time you are in Central London).
You, sir, have a deal.
Every Mercedes ever.
Oops — Mr. Harrell beat me to this one further up the page.
(Please divert any or all up-clicks to him)
(He is going to need all the points he can get now that he has found out that there is a Rylestone Women’s Institute special edition Maestro — he doesn’t own one of those yet).
YET !
Talbot Solara Minx
http://auta5p.eu/srazy/chrustenice_2006/sraz_121.jpg
Minx
http://murileemartin.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/tormentinccover.jpg
The problem with Disqus is that unless you click the “see more” tab, you don’t get the joke.
Oh yes we do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2mmugkrLOk Does the kenmeri skyline count? Probably not, this is a hard one.
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2012/08/29/skyline-mary-to-appear-at-jccs/
If you have enough money, you commission a special edition of the Veyron for your girlfriend. Behold, the Bugatti Veyorn Gran Sport Vitesse Cristal Edition
http://www.topspeed.com/cars/bugatti/2015-bugatti-veyron-grand-sport-vitesse-cristal-edition-ar168287.html
http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/201503/bugatti-veyron-grand-10_800x0w.jpg
Back in the day, special commissioned supercars for your girlfriend were just… classier:
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/images/large/4954/Ferrari-375-MM-Pinin-Farina-Coupe-Speciale_4.jpg
Though that said the Ferrari Ingrid Bergman is a one-off so doesn’t technically count.
Then I guess the “Passion Edition” Sportster that Forbes had built for Elizabeth Taylor doesn’t count, either.
http://www.spitzies.com/elizabeth.jpg
Cheers, I’ll get her down off the pole at the next break so that she can accept it.
http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/201311/chevrolet-camaro-con-2_800x0w.jpg
I think the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Linda Vaughn LV-1 Editions definitely might maybe sort of qualify. It’s ‘Editions’, plural, because there were at least two, and as far as production, they are mechanically just production cars, with a Hurst paint job.
The Pontiac Parisienne spent most of its life as a separate ( and possibly Canadian ) model but it also represented a trim package that almost qualifies.
Here’s a 65 that doesn’t qualify.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/%2765_Pontiac_Parisienne_Convertible_%28Auto_classique_St-Lambert_VAQ_%2712%29.jpg/1024px-%2765_Pontiac_Parisienne_Convertible_%28Auto_classique_St-Lambert_VAQ_%2712%29.jpg
I seriously submit the original Glasstop Vicky. Her majesty didn’t live long enough to endorse it but I’m sure she would have if she had.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/1955_Ford_Crown_Victoria_Skyliner.JPG
Here is one I drew a few years ago … damn fine car sir… R
You figure the glass roof is not necessarily the car’s main…eh…advantage? Do you have your collection online?
Fiat Panda Bianca
Well I’ll be… There was also this SEAT version, good one, thanks. http://www.histoquariat.de/WebRoot/Store/Shops/44350281416/4FFC/5BD8/E27D/5EF7/6D8C/596E/87E2/3B60/10602.jpg
A rusty Panda with the panoramic fabric roof was my mother’s first car after reunification of the two Germany’s. Highly appreciated POS! The roof and its ability to get from A to B in 95 of 100 attempts were enough to earn it a special place in our family’s automotive history.
Who is Bianca?
Insert relevance and wit here.
http://www.volvotips.com/brochures/240-260/1980/Volvo-240-260-USA-1980-advertisement.jpg
The hotlinking police undermined my effort:
http://s26.postimg.org/wixsiptnt/Volvo_240_260_USA_1980_advertisement.jpg
According to Wikipedia “Some say the car was named after Caprice Chapman, daughter of auto executive and influential Indy-car official James P. Chapman.”
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Chevrolet-Caprice-Classic-coupe.jpg
http://www.anorak.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/PA-5335739.jpg
Peel P50 (or any other Peel for that matter, the image here, which seems quite appropriate, is a P50 prototype, which has the inverse wheel layout of the production car. But you get the idea).
Why you ask, does this fit? Because history. Peel Engineering, creators of this wondermobile, are named of course after their then home, the hamlet of Peel on the Isle of Man. Now just where did Peel the town get its name? Well I am glad you asked!
Peel is named after Peel Castle, a castle built in the 11th century by the Vikings, under the rule of King Magnus Barefoot. If you are unfamiliar with King Magnus, let me just tell you, he was quite the badass. Also, you will want to know that he married Margaret Fredkulla, daughter of Swedish king Inge Stenkilsson, in 1101.
As time trundled on, the castle gained its name–the name Peel was given to the castle by the English rulers and the settlement then became Peeltown until about 1860. Why is it important what the English thought? Peel Castle is in fact thought to be the location of the Arthurian Avalon!*
Avalon being, of course, the place where King Arthur is taken after fighting Mordred at the Battle of Camlann to recover from his wounds. And just who ruled Avalon at this time? Morgan le Fay, as the chief of nine sisters (Moronoe, Mazoe, Gliten, Glitonea, Gliton, Tyronoe, Thiten and Thiton); “[the] nine sisters rule by a pleasing set of laws those who come to them.”
*Technically there are minor disagreements as to where Avalon actually was.
That would have been simpler if they’d just named the car after Emma Peel.
Despite its diminutive size, the Peel 50 was a capable steed.
…I’ll show myself out.
It appears as though we aren’t letting specifics like “special edition” limit our submissions. Behold, the Monica!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Monica_1973_seitlich.JPG/640px-Monica_1973_seitlich.JPG
If this incurs someone’s wrath, I’ll blame you.
The Iso Lele… http://mycarquest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/lele.jpg
They made more than just a few prototypes (20 in all), and the car was cancelled just before production began. And Monique was the name of Jean Tastevin’s wife- and the car was named for her, http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monica_%28entreprise%29 ,There was a lot of politics involved as you’d expect given a French manufacturer, CFPM (Compagnie française de produits métallurgiques) run by Mr Tastevin and the employment of a brilliant but mercurial English engineer Chris Lawrence. The full story from his side is covered in his autobiography which is IMHO a very good read.
He was much missed by his final employer, Morgan Cars who valued highly his expertise in their racing efforts.
http://www.morgan-motor.co.uk/mmc/newspages/chris.html
http://www.britishv8.org/Articles/Images-V21-2/MorganFactoryTour-CB.jpg
Morgan+4 SLR (Sports Lawrencetune Racing) faster and better handling than the factory Triumphs fitted with nominally the same Triumph engines.A clue to his brilliance.
http://www.morgan-motor.co.uk/dealersites/dealer71/rcd_emberson_slr.jpg
Barbie got her own Bug in Mexico.
http://www.sebeetles.com/images/barbie_nb_side_large.jpg
http://www.sebeetles.com/n_beetle_barbie.htm
Ben and Jerry’s is in the same boat, with many male special editions (Schweddy Balls, Phish Food, Wavy Gravy, Americone Dream, Scotchy Scotch Scotch, The Tonight Dough starring Jimmy Fallon…) but only one for a female character, Liz Lemon out of 30 Rock. Sadly it was only Lemon Frozen Greek Yogurt, and not the fantasy “Deal Breaker” Lemon Sherbet with a hamburger steak and a side of fries.
I suppose this will require a ruling, but I submit the Alfa Romeo Guilietta Spider.
Here is a clear winner in the ‘most obscure’ category: Ferdinand Porsche was the chief designer for Austro-Daimler and in 1910 he created a created a 30 horsepower model called the Maja, named after Mercedes Jellinek’s younger sister, Andrée Maja (or Maia) Jellinek.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Porsche