Hooniverse Asks – What's Your Favorite Non-Automotive Tie in?

By Robert Emslie Feb 17, 2011

Everybody loves cars. And because of that, a whole lot of non-car companies have over the years tried to jump in the bandwagon. Levi’s AMCs, Warner Brothers Chevy Ventures and Nautica Mercurys, they all added their own indomitable brand identification to the mobile milieu.
Whether it’s a stereo system maker, or a company that makes clothes, there’s been the product tie-in in the car market for decades now. Brand equity is a valuable commodity, and being able to leverage it in the marketing of another, disparate, product only adds to its value.  Sure, there have been a number that really didn’t seem to make sense – like Harley Davidson Ford pickups? But, like yesterday’s JPS-homage cars, some tie ins just plain work.
So, what’s your favorite non-automotive tie-in? Which one gives you the warm fuzzies both on the car, and off?
Image source: [Cartype.com]

80 thoughts on “Hooniverse Asks – What's Your Favorite Non-Automotive Tie in?”
    1. < img src="your URL here", width="500" >
      remove the spaces by the brackets. Include the width so it doesn't over run the screen/show up with scroll bars

  1. The "designer" LIncolns in the 1970s. I know they had a Bill Blass, and a couple of others. All those guys had to do TV spots as well…some came off better than others.

      1. You know, if I think my way back to the mid-malaise years, I can pretty easily convince myself that the Cartier edition is pretty sweet. Male pattern baldness vinyl top and all.

  2. The Eddie Bauer Ford SUVs became more than just a special edition and evolved into a trim level. I always thought that was the right way to do it.
    As far as special editions, how can you deny the Nieman Marcus Christmas Catalog offerings. From T-Birds to Aston Martin DB7s, Airplanes to Seaplanes, Tanks to…
    Yes, tanks. In the 1970s they offered a Fortress of the Freeway Total Security Transportation Package, which was an $845,000 tank.

    1. These were EVERYWHERE in California in the mid 80s. Besides the fundraising program, they were the courtesy cars that were resold after the games and all over the state.

  3. Piaggio has always been very quick to whore out Vespa for corporate "Special Editions".
    …to Fred Perry
    <img src="http://www.finestandcool.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/vespa-fred-perry-100th-1.jpg&quot; width="400">
    …to The Gap
    <img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Cpc0NCe4uw0/SJhuf15L_II/AAAAAAAAAPM/U6ciS7cJTYc/s400/Vespa-LX-50-Edition-limitee.jpg&quot; width="400">
    …to Sony
    <img src="http://www.scooteringusa.com/vespapsp.jpg&quot; width="400">
    …and my favorite, Adidas, which actually got cross-branded in both directions!
    <img src="https://size.co.uk/wcsstore/SizeStorefrontAssetStore/images/lib/comps/adidas-vespa-banner.jpg&quot; width="400">
    <img src="http://www.schuh-you.com/bilder/blog/Adidas-Vespa-S-White-Red-Blue/Adidas-Vespa-S-05.jpg&quot; width="400">

  4. As you would correctly assume from my user name, I hold all things Land rover in special esteem. I am also known for my enjoyment of the fruits of the fermenter's art (and the distiller's as well). Guns are just a hobby.
    I therefore respectfully submit to you the Holland & Holland Limited Edition Range Rover, a true trifecta of awesome.
    <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/rr_hh_of_lo_06.jpg"&gt;
    <img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/rr_hh_of_hi_11.jpg&quot; WIDTH="640" HEIGHT="425">

    1. I. Want. This.
      What Land Rover do you have? Year? I have LR on my radar for a replacement to the Mustang, which may be happening sooner than anticipated.

        1. Several reasons. Mostly, the wife's car is over miles with 9 months left on the lease. It's the most practical vehicle when we have to take the dog with us anywhere. So, if I can get something bigger then we don't have to take her car everywhere. Plus she could drive it to.work and I can take her car. My commute is half of hers.
          Plus, if I can dump my payment I will have more cash to pay off her credit cards.

      1. My favorite Rover is my 1997 Defender 90 ST. I also have a 1993 Range Rover with a 2" spring lift and Defender sized tires. We call him "Nigel."
        There have been a few others over the years, but all have been solid-axle trucks from before Ford and TATA. Most were built during BMW's ownership of Rover, I believe.

          1. The three Range Rovers all had niggling problems, but the youngest was 13 years and 100k miles old when i bought it. The Defender has been flawless. Two "fresh off the showroom floor" Discoveries (Discoverys?) were likewise fine.

    2. Came here to post the same. Although I don't typically like Rangies newer than 1994, this one gets a special exception. I would have that interior covered in mud and bird dog footprints before the day was out.

          1. Dang, I was looking for that, but I thought it was the General Sherman so I came up empty-handed.

  5. Ford Explorer "North Face"
    <img src="http://www.salvagesparefinder.co.uk/incoming/11169-1005.jpg&quot; width=450>
    I'm a big fan of North Face clothing, I tend to use a lot of it when I'm out hiking or flying our kites. North Face clothing is probably overpriced though, compared to other technical clothing brands.
    So North Face teaming up with Ford to brand an upscale model of the Unsuitable For British Roads / Tastes '99 Explorer seemeds like an odd choice.
    Incidentally, I hope you're impressed by the sheer appropriateness of the photo.

      1. Really? I had no idea. Also; Has the Avalanche recieved anywhere near the stylistic derision the Aztec did yet? In daft plastic cladding terms it must be a close run thing.

        1. No it really hasn't. I forgot, these things probably don't prowl the suburbs and strip malls over there like it does here. In its defense its styling isn't horrendous, just kinda ugly, but "badass" enough for any run of the mill d-bag that tends to drive them. And the nifty fold down wall feature is, well, nifty.
          Now in defense of those run of the mill d-bags, I thought this truck was badass when it first came out and swore I would pick one up someday… tastes have changed.

  6. I click on Hooniverse this morning, and am greeted with a #$%& Gremlin fender.
    It's going to be a good day.
    (Somewhere I still have the orange side-marker light from my first car (Gremlin). Keeps popping up at random for the last 25 years.)

  7. <img src=http://www.globalsupercars.co.uk/gallery/Castle%20Combe/Rally%20Day%202007/slides/Subaru%20Impreza%20555%200001.jpg,width="500">

  8. What about the 007 edition Citroen 2CV from "For Your Eyes Only"? It was a yellow 2CV just like in the movie, plus it had a 007 pistol logo and bullet hole decals. On a side note, this may be the earliest sighting for bullet hole decals on a car, 1982.

  9. The K2 Edition VW Golf / Jetta. They offered versions with bikes and skis or a snow board back in the late 90's.

  10. Yeah, the Oleg Cassini Matador always got me. A neighbor had one. The wonderful thing about the upholstery is you could never tell when the springs in the seats were worn out, so I'll assume they came pre-worn. It was like an on-road pillow top mattress that you could drive on. Killed his back from the day he got it. It was a pretty shade of purple, though.

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