When it comes to car colors, beauty is undeniably in the eye of the beholder. A recent report proclaimed green as the new black, and I couldn’t agree more—I’ve always had a soft spot for green cars. My own Jaguar XJ8 and Range Rover proudly wear this vibrant hue, proving I’m still in touch with the trends, even if my age aligns me with one of the Beatles’ less celebrated songs (and yes, my hairline is telling its own story).
Green is poised to take the crown from white and black as the fashionable choice among car enthusiasts. It’s about time we bid farewell to the relentless parade of “Black Editions” that have dulled the creativity of automotive marketing departments. Whenever I bring in a vehicle newer than a decade, chances are it’s yet another black edition, boasting interiors as dreary as Darth Vader’s helmet and wheels that seem perpetually in need of a shine—even when they’re spotless.
This trend starkly contrasts with what I call the golden age of special editions, where marketing geniuses concocted utterly outlandish concepts—likely over a cocktail or two. Take, for instance, the Nissan Juke Dark Knight. Inspired by the Batmobile, it boasted impressive design details but lacked any of the associated prestige. Then there’s the Fiat 500 DIESEL—not to be mistaken for the Fiat 500 diesel. Despite its intriguing name, the former sports a petrol engine, leaving many dealers scratching their heads at auction.
Ironically, DIESEL’s tagline, “Only the brave,” could apply equally to any dealer attempting to sell a well-worn Fiat 500 TwinAir. Is it clever marketing? Perhaps.
Let’s not forget the 2005 Citroen Pluriel Charleston, which took one of the most infamous cars and dressed it in a retro 2CV color scheme. Unfortunately, its quirky black-and-maroon paint job couldn’t salvage its design flaw—removing the roof meant leaving it behind, rendering it the most pointless convertible imaginable.
The late 1990s were also rife with Mazda’s obsession with special edition MX-5s. Names like Monaco and Monza had some racing pedigree, but then we had the Merlot, named after a bottle of wine—hardly a match made in automotive heaven. Not to mention the ‘Smoker’s Special’ in Japan, which practically issued a public health warning straight from your driveway.
Some of the funniest names came from the more affordable models, such as the Talbot Samba Roller, finished in silver with yellow wheels, resembling an early ’80s roller boot. Unsurprisingly, this led to a lawsuit from Rolls-Royce to prevent anyone from mistaking the tinny Talbot for a Silver Wraith.
The Citroen AX Spot, possibly named after a teenager’s complexion, was another highlight. But my favorite remains the metallic grey AX Chicago—a name that suggested sophistication far beyond what its successor, the Citroen Saxo Bic, could offer, which was rather reminiscent of something cheap and disposable.
During my time selling Citroens, I recall that we moved more AXs in quirky special editions than any other model. The competition was fierce too. Rover rolled out the Metro Rio and, for five-door lovers, the Rio Grande. Clever marketing, indeed! They even had the Metro Caribbean and Metro Tahiti, allowing you to gaze out the window in Sparkbrook, daydreaming of warmer climes—like Coventry.
Vauxhall was another keen player in the special edition game, producing memorable models like the Corsa Vegas and the “Casa Nova.” Metallic paint, pop-up sunroofs, and flashy graphics drew suburbanites in droves. But my all-time favorite has to be the Nova Cricket, whimsically marketed as “Cricket, Lovely Cricket.” One can only wonder what inspired the marketers to concoct that gem, complete with white bumpers and wheel covers.
Reflecting on all this, I can’t help but smile. The automotive landscape is dotted with these amusing and sometimes bizarre names, many of which have cemented their places in car history. One such standout from the ’90s is the Nissan Micra, which boasted a slew of special editions, from the whimsical Collette to the slightly misleading Temptation. But the pièce de résistance? The 1995 Micra Wave—now that’s a name that resonates.
So, who is Big Mike? That’s a well-guarded secret. What we can reveal is that after over 40 years in the automotive trade, he’s probably forgotten more about cars than most of us will ever know.
Source: Car Dealer
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