Oh the dreaded “special edition” car. In many ways it represents the worst part of the car-making business. These are packages born completely from the heads of people who count beans, sell ads, or do both. Glomming onto a famous brand name or person in the hope that the name alone will sell more cars is by and large hopeless, but it provides plenty of fodder for us!
The Top 11 Worst Special-Edition Cars
11) Eddie Bauer Edition anything: Can something really be considered a “special edition” or “special package” after it has been offered for 20 years? That’s how long Ford has been gluing the Eddie Bauer name on its SUVs. Fake wood, leather seats, and ummm, yep, that’s it. Well, that plus a few G on the sticker price.
10) Warner Brothers Chevy Venture Van: We wonder how GM got to the point of imminent bankruptcy, but when you look back, even into its recent history, and see some of the lame-brained ideas that it acted on, it’s not so shocking. The Warner Bros. minivan package was highlighted by an integrated DVD player and wireless headphones. Looking out the window is cheaper and won’t rot your brain.
9) Pierre Cardin Javelin: Introduced in 1972, the Cardin Javelin featured some gaudy interior touches from the famed designer. We’d prefer the risk of tetanus than sitting in one of these beauties, in fact with the condition of our own current Javelin we have a good shot at that. Ugly then, barf inducing now.
8.) Orvis Grand Cherokee: What’s worse than Eddie Bauer? A late to the game, desperate attempt to copy it. Hence was born the Orivs Jeep Grand Cherokee. It followed the standard line of “special packages” consisting of tape stripes, horrible interior, and completely standard everything else. Lame. The name disappeared after the ’95-’97 run but resurfaced a few years ago to grace those Jeeps again. And who ever heard of Orvis luggage before this, anyway?
7) Bill Elliott Edition Thunderbird: There were like 500 of these produced, nothing more than a stock T-Bird with Elliott’s name on the outside and, well, that’s it. There is currently one rotting in a yard less than a mile from where this is being written.
6) 1972 Gucci AMC Hornet: Blame this one for starting this whole mess of “special editions” as AMC tried it first and had some success. With another interior treatment similar to the Cardin Javelin, it was the tip of the special edition iceberg.
5) Ski Country Special Mustang: With all the zillions of special package Mustangs, imagine specing out this one in 1967. Special motor? Nope. Tuned suspension? Nope. What you got was a luggage rack, a couple medallions on the car, a limited-slip rearend and a pair of snow tires. The colors we re-named after towns in Colorado. Sounds like a blast!
4) Shelby Dodge Dakota: Things must have been some kind of bleak back in 1989. People were fawning all over a 175hp Dodge Dakota truck that ran 16-second quarter- mile times and got to 60 mph from a standing start in a shade under 10 seconds. We at least give it credit for replacing V6 power with V8 (318ci) grunt, but man, there are stock minivans capable of mopping the floor with this thing.
3) Hang Ten Dart: Introduced in 1974, this “special” version of the Dart had (surprise, surprise!) no real modifications to the driveline, however, it was equipped with one of the worst automotive interiors of all time. We’re talking orange shag carpet, red gauges, and a host of other unmentionables.
2) ‘91 Olds 442: Here’s the lowdown on this pile: It’s front-wheel drive and the “4-4-2” stood for, 4 cylinders, 4-valves per, and two camshafts. We’re off to vomit.
1) Don Prudhomme Edition Mustang: Yes it has 800 hp, yes it has a seemingly good suspension system, and yes, it is without a rival in the ugliest Mustang ever contest. Just about every inch of the car is just wrong on some level. From the cheap looking mesh type grille to the totally bizarre hood scoop it is a hot mess.
I’d still take the Elliott Thunderbird, and the Shelby Dakota
I’d file the Shelby Dakota under “making the best of a bad situation”, although I have to wonder how it might have gone over with a 2.2 Turbo II instead. (I’d say the 318 may have been a better choice for actually using it as a truck.)
And I’d be willing to defend the Eddie Bauer Editions, too. The name doesn’t promise anything more than an upholstery and trim package, and the upholstery and color combinations are fairly tasteful.
And how did the Toyota Tercel Blackhawk not make this list? It definitely has one of the worst awesome performance to awesome package name ratios since the dealer tape packages on the Chevy Monza.
The Shelby Dakota was part of the learning curve for all the V8 Dakotas starting in 1991.
Orvis is a rather high end fly fishing gear company. The luggage thing is a sideline to their main products. Not defending the Jeep Orvis edition, just stating that if you want to market your Jeep as suitable for an outdoor lifestyle, then Orvis is not the worst company to pick as a partner.
Those Olds quad 442’s were fun to drive with a stick shift. They ran pretty darn good, I always thought they were cool cars
I have a Ron Fellows edition Z06. It runs fantastic, looks fantastic and is only 1 of 399. But it’s really just a few stickers and white paint. Pretty lame special edition (and $5K upcharge) but I love that thing!
No love/hate for the Fila Thunderbirds?
Wow, no love for a 1996 Eddie Bauer f150…those were nice looking trucks. Oh well…
As the owner and operator of an ’02 EB Explorer currently sitting at 223k, I can attest that the faux wood trim and EB badges have held up much better than the leather seat covers….or rear differential.