GET HER A GUCCI! Couture Cars and Designer Editions COUTURE CARS ¨ The automotive world wasn’t immune to Seventies excess. ¨ In the early Seventies, car companies started introducing trim packages inspired by – or actually designed by – famous fashion labels. ¤ These were often a way to create fresh appeal for cars that hadn’t received mechanical or style overhauls for several years. COUTURE CARS ¨ AMC was the first to introduce couture cars. ¨ Soon, other companies followed suit, introducing an array of designers and looks for fashion-obsessed buyers. ¤ Some were fully custom looks, created by the designer. ¤ Some were little more than color-keyed trim levels. COUTURE CARS ¨ By the end of the Eighties, few companies were still producing couture cars regularly. ¨ A few late-model designer editions may become collector cars in the future: ¤ Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer Edition ¤ Jeep Grand Cherokee Orvis Edition ¤ Subaru Forester L.L. Bean Edition AMC AMC ¨ AMC was the first company to introduce mass-market couture editions of its cars. ¤ This was a concerted corporate effort to differentiate the scrappy independent from larger Detroit companies. ¤ Directed by interior design department head Neil Brown. AMC: 1972-73 Gucci Hornet Sportabout ¨ Gucci Highlights ¤ 1921: Guccio Gucci begins producing leather riding boots and luggage in Florence, Italy. ¤ 1953: Son Aldo relocates the business to New York City. n Begins expanding the business into clothing, perfumes, and housewares. ¤ Style: Known for classic tailoring, exotic leathers, and high-fashion designs. AMC: 1972-73 Gucci Hornet Sportabout ¨ Gucci Highlights ¤ 1972: Dr. Aldo Gucci designs a trim package for the Hornet Sportabout. n He enjoyed the challenge enough to also create a custom, one-off Hornet Sportabout for his personal use. AMC: 1972-73 Gucci Hornet Sportabout ¨ Exterior ¤ Four paint choices: n Hunter Green n Grasshopper Green n Snow White n Yucca Tan ¤ Gucci fender emblems ¤ Wider rocker panel moldings AMC: 1972-73 Gucci Hornet Sportabout ¨ Interior ¤ Special Gucci green, red, and ivory vinyl seats ¤ Special sunvisors and striped door panels ¤ Gucci-logo headliner AMC: 1972-73 Gucci Hornet Sportabout ¨ Package Price ¤ $141.80 ¨ Production Figures ¤ 1972: 2,584 ¤ 1973: 2,251 AMC: 1972-73 Pierre Cardin Javelin ¨ Pierre Cardin Highlights ¤ 1950: Designer Pierre Cardin founds his eponymous design house in Paris. ¤ 1959: Expelled from a design syndicate for moving into ready-to-wear. ¤ 1979: Redesigns the national costume of the Philippines. ¤ Style: Known for avant garde styling, geometric patterning, and experimental shapes like the “bubble dress.” AMC: 1972-73 Pierre Cardin Javelin ¨ Exterior ¤ Five paint choices: n Trans Am Red n Snow White n Stardust Silver n Diamond Blue n Wild Plum ¤ 12 cars were special ordered in Midnight Black ¤ Cardin fender emblems AMC: 1972-73 Pierre Cardin Javelin ¨ Interior ¤ Special Cardin seats in a pleated stripe pattern of Chinese red, plum, white, and silver on black n Satin-like nylon with a stain-resistant silicone finish n Stripes run from the front seats, up the doors, onto the headliner, and down to the rear seats AMC: 1972-73 Pierre Cardin Javelin ¨ Package Price ¤ $84.95 ¨ Production Figures ¤ 1972-73: 4,152 AMC: 1973 Levi’s Gremlin ¨ Levi’s Highlights ¤ 1853: Levi Strauss moves from Bavaria to California to open a branch of the family dry goods business. ¤ 1873: Strauss receives a patent for riveted work pants – the first blue jeans. ¤ 1890: Levi’s 501 shrink-to-fit jeans are introduced, becoming the world’s best- selling item of clothing. ¤ Style: Known for rugged work pants, stylish denim cuts, and classic styling. AMC: 1973 Levi’s Gremlin ¨ Exterior ¤ Five paint choices: n Snow White n Diamond Blue n Olympic Blue n Maxi Blue n Pewter Metallic ¤ Accent striping ¤ Levi’s fender badge AMC: 1973 Levi’s Gremlin ¨ Interior ¤ Denim-look spun nylon seats with orange stitching, Levi’s tags, and copper rivets ¤ Blue dash and steering wheel ¤ Matching denim-look door panel inserts and snap-off map pockets ¤ Color-coordinated headliner, sunvisors, and carpeting AMC: 1973 Levi’s Gremlin ¨ Package Price ¤ $134.95 ¨ Production Figures ¤ 128,844 total Gremlins n Reports differ on the number of Levi’s models n Possibly as few as 6,000 or as many as 32,500 AMC: Levi’s Line ¨ The Levi’s Gremlin was so popular that AMC continued the line through 1978 and expanded it to other models 1974-78 1975-78 1977 Hornet Jeep Pacer n Hatchback version n CJ-5 and CJ-7 n No copper rivets n Limited-edition 1977 Hornet n Available in blue or tan AMX n Later Jeeps were available n 100 cars made, all white in “denim” trim AMC: 1974-75 Oleg Cassini Matador ¨ Oleg Cassini Highlights ¤ 1941: European nobleman Oleg Cassini begins to design costumes for Hollywood. ¤ 1952: Retires from the US Army to open a fashion house on Seventh Avenue. ¤ 1961: Becomes personal designer to Jackie Kennedy. ¤ Style: Known for timeless designs, clean lines, and opulent fabrics. AMC: 1974-75 Oleg Cassini Matador ¨ Exterior ¤ Three paint choices: n White n Black n Copper ¤ White and Black Cars: n Copper hood striping, body side molding, and license plate depression ¤ Copper Cars: n Black accents ¤ Vinyl top in white, black, or copper ¤ Copper finned wheelcovers ¤ Copper grille and headlamp bezels ¤ Cassini fender emblems AMC: 1974-75 Oleg Cassini Matador ¨ Interior ¤ Black knit nylon upholstery n Tufted biscuit-trim seats with copper buttons n Individual reclining front seats ¤ Black dash and wheel with copper accents ¤ Copper-accented instrument panel ¤ Signed glovebox door ¤ Door panels with black fabric inserts, copper accents, and pull straps with copper inserts ¤ Special headliner and sunvisor fabric ¤ Heavy copper serge carpet ¤ Deluxe trunkliner and tire cover AMC: 1974-75 Oleg Cassini Matador ¨ Package Price ¤ 1974: $299 ¤ 1975: n Cassini trim: $236 n Brougham package (required): $173 n Total: $409 ¨ Production Figures ¤ 1974: 6,165 ¤ 1975: 1,817 LINCOLN LINCOLN ¨ After witnessing the success of AMC’s designer edition efforts, Lincoln launched its Designer Series in 1976. ¤ Four upscale design houses were enlisted to put their signatures on the Lincoln Mark IV. n Bill Blass, Cartier, Givenchy, and Pucci. LINCOLN ¤ None of the designers created new fabrics or patterns as at AMC. n Lincoln designers created a trim package template and designers suggested a color palette. LINCOLN ¤ Designer Edition cars included a signed opera window, 22- karat gold engravable dash plaque, cast aluminum wheels, landau top, and “Majestic” velour interiors as standard. n Leather was a delete option. LINCOLN ¤ Package Price: n $2,100 with “Majestic” velour n $1,500 with leather LINCOLN ¤ The line proved incredibly popular. n Designer Edition cars accounted for 27% of Mark IV sales in 1976. ¤ Sales were so strong that the line was continued on Lincoln Continental Mark series cars in some form through 1983. n Annual updates made to color scheme and accents. ¤ Town Cars were later given the Designer treatment as well. LINCOLN: Bill Blass Edition ¨ Bill Blass Highlights ¤ 1937: Bill Blass starts selling evening gowns to New York shops at age 15. ¤ 1940: At age 18, Blass becomes the first male to win Mademoiselle magazine’s Design for Living award. ¤ 1942: Serves with the 603rd Camouflage Division, fooling the German army into believing the Allies were in false locations. ¤ 1945: Began his New York fashion career, eventually expanding into swimwear, furs, perfumes, and chocolates. ¤ Style: Known for clean lines, excellent tailoring, nautical themes, and an all-American look. LINCOLN: Bill Blass Edition 1976 1977 1978 1979 • Dark Blue Metallic paint • Midnight Blue Metallic • Midnight Cordovan paint • Midnight Blue and White • Cream “Normande • Chamois landau roof • Light Champagne • Gold pinstriping • Blue velour or leather Graine” landau roof “Valino grain” landau • Choice of roof seats • Cream & gold pinstripe • Cream accent straps and roof or full vinyl roof - Carriage: $2,775 buttons • Champagne accents - Landau: $1,809 • Navy velour or leather • Chamois leather • Maroon ultravelour or • Choice of leather interior • Cream accent straps • Tan accents in “special leather with vinyl - White with navy and buttons pigskin texture” • Champagne accents piping and logo - Navy with white accents and gold buttons LINCOLN: Bill Blass Edition 1980 1981 1982 1983 • Available only on the • Dark Blue Metallic over • Three color choices: • Light French Vanilla and Continental Mark VI Fawn Metallic - White Diamond Midnight Black • Blue velour or leather coupe • Dark Blue vinyl carriage Grain over Red and White - Vanilla-black-vanilla seats • Dark Blue Metallic roof • Cream accent straps and - White over white - Black-vanilla-black buttons • White carriage roof - Black over black • Contrasting stripes • Choice of white leather • Fawn interior with navy • With white: Opal leather • Light French Vanilla with Midnight Blue bolster sections and seats with red straps and leather interior accents or Luxury Group accents in either fabric buttons Midnight Blue leather or leather • With black: Black cloth • Seat-back crests • Tu-Tone leather- or optional leather with wrapped steering wheel red accents LINCOLN: Cartier Edition ¨ Cartier Highlights ¤ 1847: Louis-Francois Cartier begins designing and selling jewelry and watches in Paris. ¤ 1902: King Edward VII refers to Cartier as “the jeweller of kings and the king of jewellers.” ¤ 1904: Cartier designs one of the first practical wristwatches for aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont.