After recovering from its messy divorce with Fiat, Spain’s SEAT flourished during the late 1980s thanks in part to a sizable amount of cash injected by Volkswagen and a fresh lineup of cars. Its entry-level model was the Marbella, a three-door hatchback that was known as the SEAT Panda until 1986. The Marbella was identical … Continue reading
Renault introduced the 4 Carte Jeunes on the French market in early 1991 in order to draw a younger audience into showrooms. Launched simultaneously with the more expensive 5 Carte Jeunes, the car was based on the entry-level Savane (ex-TL) model but it packed a generous amount of standard equipment for just a few hundred … Continue reading
Citroën drew a parallel between yacht racing and the entry-level 2CV when it sponsored a boat called France 3 ahead of its participation in the 1983 Coupe de l’America. In retrospect, the association between the two was ironically well chosen: The Coupe de l’America is one of the oldest sporting events on the planet, and … Continue reading
Renault’s British division launched the limited-edition 14 Regency in 1981. Based on the range-topping TS model, the Regency was billed as an upmarket hatchback that came loaded with standard equipment and extra accessories. Visually, the Regency stood out from regular 14 models thanks to a dark red paint job (paint code 721) and two contrasting … Continue reading
Rover fielded a Mini Cooper in the 1994 edition of the Monte Carlo Rally to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the car’s first victory in the event. Finished in red with a white roof, the 1994 race car was a crowd favorite because it looked nearly identical to its 1964 counterpart – the two cars … Continue reading
Citroën designed the 2CV Cocorico in 1986 to celebrate France’s participation in the 13th FIFA World Cup that took place in Mexico. Based on the 2CV6 Spéciale and limited to just 1,000 examples, the Cocorico landed in showrooms throughout France in July of 1986 as a 1987 model, days after Argentina won the World Cup. Continue reading
British Leyland launched several special edition models based on the iconic Mini in the 1980s in order to keep buyers interested in the aging city car. Although most of the limited editions consisted exclusively of aesthetic modifications, they sold fairly well and are becoming increasingly sought after today. Continue reading
The Citroën 2CV was largely kept afloat by a wide array of limited-edition models during the last decade of its life. This enabled Citroën to make a strong business case for the car even though it was obsolete by most means of measurement. Continue reading
Renault inked a deal with American Motors Corporation (AMC) in 1978 and started selling the 5, the 18 and the Fuego in the United States a year later. By 1980 the French automaker owned 46.4 percent of AMC and it made ambitious plans to build U.S.-spec variants of the upcoming 9 and 11 in Kenosha, … Continue reading
Citroën introduced the limited-edition Visa GT Tonic in 1983 as a cheaper alternative to the race-bred Chrono. Launched in a number of European countries as a 1984 model, the Tonic was aimed at a young clientele that was willing to sacrifice performance in favor of a dynamic and sporty look. Continue reading
