By Robert Emslie
Whether aligned with a fashonista such as Gucci or Ralph Lauren, or beer belly biker brand Harley Davidson, automotive tie-in editions have a long and storied history. Denim jeans typically play havoc with car upholstery, the securing rivets on pockets and general rough texture abrading over time the sturdiest of leather or cloth. AMC, in an attempt to spruce up their lineup figured to fight fire with fire, offering seating surfaces made out of denim and taking the unusual – but revenue generating – tact of allowing another brand’s logo on their cars, that being LEVI’S.
Not all non-auto tie-ins have been so pedestrian. Ford, though both its Lincoln and Mercury divisions, have merged the fashion world with that of the auto with Nautica editions of Mercury vans and cars, as well as Givenchy, Bill Blass and their ilk on certain fancy pants Lincolns. Those brands seem to be more the kind that people want to attach to themselves, but what about other, less famous names?
What do you think is the coolest non-automotive tie in to ever be appended to a car or truck model? Have you ever owned one, or do you aspire to do so?
Image source: Flipacars
Jeff Glucker
Self filling drinks cabinet ftw
Overfinch Land Rover
<img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/rr_hh_of_lo_06.jpg">
Maybe cutting it close but Bullitt wasn't a car movie.
I had the 2001 Bullitt.
<img src="http://img2.netcarshow.com/Ford-Mustang_Bullitt_GT_2001_800x600_wallpaper_02.jpg" width="600">
I looked for a used S197 Bullitt but those things were running $4k over a standard GT.
Ended up with the Lime Green GT. It's a better looking car anyway.
I have one of the 2008 Bullitts. Suprises me how it holds its value.
Sell me your grille and I'll be your pal.
I've pretty much made a Bullitt out of my standard GT. I found the exhaust from a guy in San Diego, cheap suspension from CL and Ebay. Modded the grille like a Boss. Some dude sold me the 18" wheels and F1 Supercars for $500…
I just lack the steering wheel and the grille you owe me.
Likely the only car which also included a beach towel, head band, and wrist bands.
<img src="http://hooniverse.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/85tbd007.jpg" width="725/">
Cabela Ford pickup.
<img src="http://image.automotive.com/f/reviews/editors_notebook/18228937%2Bpheader/0905_01_z%2B2009_ford_f-250_cabelas_edition%2Bside_view.jpg"width="500"/>
That actually seems logical, given the fact that many of the guys who drive trucks also hunt & fish.
Now where's the Bass Pro Shops Silverado?
Coolest Interior: the AMC Levi's Gremlin
Coolest other product: How about the VW Jetta Trek that came with a bike or the VW Golf K2 that cam with either a pair of skis or a snowboard?
For vehicle tie ins I'd like to see:
The Ford Focus "F-Stop" edition: comes with a free camera
The Nissan NV (van) "Snap-on edition" comes with a rolling tool box & is color matched to your truck.
VW giving away free transportation with their cars, because you know it's going to leave you stranded at some point.
Focus Kona:
<img src="http://www.focusfanatics.com/gallery/data/506/medium/21610RF-00-with-bike-websize.jpg" width="450">
The side trim looked like a bike tire.
Never saw that one.
Always wanted one of these. I love that color.
The color is probably the only desirable thing there. I had a Focus once, and after 10 years, I still wonder what made me to buy it.
What don't you like about them?Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
First and foremost, the total lack of quality. Focus is extremely common over here and practically every car has had the same problems. A 3 years old, 80,000 km driven car almost for sure has had problems with ignition coil (at least the 1.6 l engine, I'm not sure of the others), emissions, idle regulation, transmission, wheel bearings, central locking (locking and unlocking intermittently all by itself), seat heaters,… Mine had all of these well-known faults within one year, except the wheel bearings – unless they had already been replaced before I bought the car. Then there was the famous rust problem. Mine got two doors, hood and trunk lid replaced completely and the two remaing doors repaired when the car was 4 years old – the local dealership had two mechanics dedicated for this job as it happened to every Focus around. No wonder Ford only gave it a 1-year warranty, which was unheard of. All other brands I know offered at least 3 years warranty at the time.
On top of that, at least the wagon version felt really unstable. The directional stability was poor and the roll stability too. It felt like driving a small van with no load. I test drove 3 almost new, identical cars so I think it was not a tyre problem or failed suspension in this example.
Why did I buy it? Well, the 1st gen. Focus got excellent reviews in magazines, there were plenty of them available at a reasonable price (oh, maybe there was a reason for that?!), and it felt all right when I first tried it. Yes, there were lots of discussion going on about the problems, but I somehow thought these issues would have been fixed after the car had been in production for two years. No, they weren't.
Your story is fairly common among first-generation Focus owners. That's unfortunate.
We bought an 04 ZX5 in 2006 with the remainder of the extended warranty on it, which we used to fix a faulty window regulator a few months later. As of this morning it has about 150,000 miles on it. I will say that 2012 was a bad year for repairs – new water pump, spark plugs, wheel bearings, and brakes. However, it has been surprisingly trouble-free for the last seven years, and I fully intend to drive it another 150,000. Even after nine years, it feels taut and responsive. It's not a sports car, but it handles great.
My gripes with the Focus have everything to do with ergonomics, and nothing to do with mechanics. Like, why would you put a parking brake release halfway under the armrest?
Wasn't 2004 Focus of the second generation? It might have been way better.
After so many years, I don't remember much about ergonomics. Well, all the warning lights were arranged in an arc that was positioned right behind the steering wheel. On the positive side, the interior was tall enough and the visibility was good. This was one reason for considering the Focus at the first place.
It was the last year of the first-generation models, at least here in the US.
Yes, visibility is good, and it fits my 6'1" frame just fine. The front seats are starting to show signs of wear in the last 6 months; it might be time to recover them.
I had a standard Focus are a rent car for a few days. It sucked hard! I hated it.
Later when shopping for something that was less easy to wreck, I came across several reviews for the SVT. Totally different car and likes it so much that I bought a 5 door.
Awesome. What year?Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
2004. I got the last SVTs for sale in Tx. It really was a fun car to drive.
<img src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/5296_146613107852_7966602_n.jpg" width = "450">
Good for you. Always wanted one, but the mrs. won't drive a manual. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
I love those wheels.
Those are the Euro package. I didn't care for the 6 spokes.
The wheels were also used on the last gen Focus 'sport'.
<img src="http://media.caranddriver.com/images/08q2/267453/2010-ford-fiesta-and-refreshed-2009-focus-to-satisfy-us-craving-for-small-cars-photo-201339-s-429×262.jpg" >
Yeah, even though I didn't really like the design of the last gen Focus, the Sport package certainly made it a lot better looking.
What part of that came with the car- the bike or the cat?
I've seen a few of those running around (used to see one on the way to work in the mornings), in Texas, believe it or not. If that cat was on my car, he'd become an ex-cat.
But the cat goes so well with the color scheme.
Jetta Trek, or “How to how to overpay for a mountain bike, but roll it into your car payment.”
Perhaps the most natural non-automotive venture was the WB Venture. I mean, if you’re buying a minivan, you probably have kids, and kids love the Looney Tunes, right?
<img src="http://y3.yzimg.com/s3/media/get/key.0008q8q9rc07092u/size.112×84">
Something to keep them entertained when it breaks down.
Don't forget the WB Viper.
<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fDcG7sPEI7U/SvMJAd-KK0I/AAAAAAAAGGw/4Zc5j6Ev5GU/s400/Daffy_viper.jpg">
The one that I would like to own is the 1999-2004 F-150 Harely-Davidson edition. Not because I'm a Harely fan, but because it was the only way to get the 5.4L supercharged engine in a configuration other than the short step side bed, regular cab of the Lightning.
The 5.4 SC almost made it into the Lincoln Navigator.
That would have been AWESOME.
Givenchy Lincoln Mark V:
<img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j129/hoopd87/1977-Lincoln-Mark-V-Givenchy-Edition-c_zpsb66761d7.jpg" width =600>
Pish posh! The Oleg Cassini AMC Matador was where it was at!
<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_SdMlBzeRPao/TE4eQ5a2DrI/AAAAAAAAAMY/mReRvSZWtwI/s1600/cccassinimatador.jpg">
I'm not sure these designer editions count as they weren't tied to a non-automotive product. However, if they do my vote goes to the Pierre Cardin Javelin:
<img src="http://media.caranddriver.com/images/09q4/301696/amc-javelin-amx-pierre-cardin-edition-interior-photo-305361-s-1280×782.jpg" width=600>
The completely white Peugeot 205 Lacoste wich was loaded with equipement, back in 1984-1986.
Sunroof, electric windows, central locking, leather steering wheel, striping and several green crocodiles!
<img src="http://205.chez.com/images/205LACOSTE.jpg" width="625/"> <img src="http://www.forum-peugeot.com/Forum/static/mesimages/41653/2934539_3.jpg" width="625/">
<img src="http://www.autointell.com/News-2001/April-2001/2001-Toyota-Roxy-ECHO.jpg">
The Toyota Roxy Echo. Vinyl side decals gives it that "I like to look like a surfer" look that all teenagers are going for. And don't think that the enhancement package was solely on the outside, this seat had unique seat covers that put thousands of tiny Roxy logos under you. So chic!
In fact this car was so nice, even at its $14,500 MSRP, our dealer held on to it for over a year. I guess he just couldn't see himself selling it.
Until very recently there was one three houses away from me, they have a subaru wagon and jetta now and give decent candy at halloween. I had no idea it was roxy theme. I had no idea what roxy was until I just googled it either.
That's the coolest looking Echo I've ever seen, which is to say not cool at all.
LBJ instituted the Chicken Tax in the 60's, and some American automakers used poultry tie-ins on some versions of cars tweaked for performance.
Ford "farmed out" their highest performance models to a chicken farmer for a while before ultimately handling that production in house.
<img src="http://stwot.motortrend.com/files/2010/01/26628290.jpeg" width="500">
Plymouth hitched its
wagonperformance taxi to a cartoon bird.<img src="http://www.lhmopars.com/MOPAR_Ads/1970_Plymouth_Road_Runner_ad1.jpg" width="500">
<img src="http://www.jorymon.com/images/2011/january/jj1.jpg">
Because Jackie Chan.
Because asymmetrical air intakes.
Because "editon."
Name three things that aren't Jackie Chan:
Evo 8
Evo 9
Jackie Chan
BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ…
Also, I like how they print *JackieChan* as one word. Evo is JC fast!
<img src="http://hooniverse.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/6018714474_44c4a6c6c3_b-340×262.jpg">
Yes, I'm serious on this one. Hear me out. I always thought the Nautica treatment nudged the Villager from the "invisible" category into the middle range of "unobjectionably dapper." Considering that neither overpriced preppie clothes or mediocre minivans are my bag, I'd have to say there was some admirable synergy going on there.
[IMAGE CREDIT: Hooniverse]
The noises they make after the exhaust manifold studs break ( a common problem with the 3.0l Nissan V6 used in these) would get you kicked out of the yacht club.
I didn't mean to imply it wasn't sucky. I just meant to say it didn't look sucky.
A little self-promotion. Plus, Levi's.
http://hooniverse.info/2013/03/08/found-on-craigsl…
I like when auto stuff shows up on other items.
Like DC's Shoebarus!
<img src="http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/wm.php/images/dcvolcano2.jpg" width="600">
…or shoevrolet!
<img src="http://www.clublexus.com/forums/attachments/car-chat/138027d1233638587-when-your-shoes-have-to-match-your-gt3-chevy-shoe2.jpg" width="600">
or Eddie Bauer Aerostar! Oh, it just looks like a shoe.
<img src="http://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/1995FordAerostarAd05.jpg" width="600">
this made me smile!
i had a pair of pininfarina-designed fila shoes that i asked my mom for, just because they were pininfarina-branded. they were actually pretty ugly. (they were also cheap, which probably didn't hurt.)
<img src="http://stroganovka.ru/images/pininfarina/fila.jpg">
Nice cross-bowlers if your an Italian Mod!
How about LaShoe?
<img src="http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/01/28/driveliferedshoes_gallery__600x400.jpg">
<img src="http://theawesomer.com/photos/2010/11/112510_nike_delorean_dunk_5.jpg">
I wish I could run 88mph!
Though technically marketed as its own make and model, the Cadillac Eldorado-based Pierre Cardin Evolution is pretty rad. It had a color TV, VCR, bar, fridge, and a $63,000 price tag (and that was in 1980 dollars).
<img src="http://blog.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads//2010/10/1981CadillacEldorado_01_700.jpg" width="500" />
Holy overpriced front overhang, Batman!
CHUCK NORRIS CORVETTE! Hui-YAA!
<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_wPwvH9WCJbo/S3LG5E_Q6cI/AAAAAAAAB7Q/J29yJhfvpUE/s400/ChuckNorris_Corvette.jpg" width="600">
<img src="http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTAyNFg5OTQ=/$T2eC16J,!zEE9s3!%28ImuBRKCOFJWiw~~48_20.JPG" width="600">
Wayne Gretzky F-150.
<img src="http://image.trucktrend.com/f/auto-shows/suzukis-first-pickup-truck-for-the-us-market/8058797/suzuki-equator-rmz-4.jpg" Width="500">
Does a non-car tie-in count if it's still within the same corporation?
For the man who wants his car to come with matching cufflinks: The Bill Blass Edition Lincoln Mark V!
<img src="http://www.lincolnversailles.com/LCM3/79%20Bill%20Blass%20Mark%20V.jpg" width="600">
I'm not much of a VW fan, but I really like the Magpul VW bus.
<img src="http://ttag.zippykidcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Magpul2.jpg"width=500>
A couple of examples from Down Under – I'm not sure I'd call either of them cool.
Nissan Pulsar Reebok – I don't remember if it came with a pair of shoes for when it breaks down.
<img src="http://i34.tinypic.com/211p43m.png">
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E_4jTdvHcw
Holden Barina Sportsgirl (a local womens fashion retailer) – I'm sure the graphics on the side were cunningly designed to prevent any man from ever borrowing the car, even for a short run to the local shops. I could only find a Youtube link to the TV commercial for this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXzTG6Mjg7A
<img src="http://blogs.cars.com/.a/6a00d83451b3c669e2017d3cba1105970c-800wi" width="600"> <img src="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fiat_Panda_II_Alessi_001.jpg" width="600"> <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Fiat_Panda_Tanker_concept_car.jpg" width="600"> Last is my favorite, from wikipedia…unveiled at the Bologna Motor Show in Italy, the Panda Tanker features only three doors. And although the overall shape has remained unchanged, the two rear doors have been replaced by solid panels to free up some extra load space in the practical cabin. Rugged extras and underbody protection also help to set the Tanker apart from the standard Panda 4×4 model. Designed in conjunction with Italian extreme sport clothing manufacturer Dainese, the show star is equipped with sports seats incorporating a rigid titanium fibre shell.
Reflecting the matt paint finish of the exterior, the cabin has a back-to-basics feel. With no rear seats, the load floor offers flexible attachments for fixing sports kit, while an aluminium structure is designed to carry mountain bikes.