Think of gold, and you think of… what exactly? While one of the earth’s most precious metals, it doesn’t always have the greatest reputation for aesthetic appeal. It’s all a bit Donald Trump or eighties rapper or Gerard Ratner for some tastes. This occasionally tacky image means any car endowed with a gold paintjob by its manufacturer needs to have a fair amount of swagger to carry it off.
That doesn’t stop car makers from trying, though. There’s been a swath of cars bedecked in gold over the years, and this month alone has seen another couple of examples join the fray. Here we’ve assembled a collection of the most garish examples for you to cast your eyes over. As you’ll see, some of them are as divisive as The Donald himself. Golden wonders or golden blunders? Get your shades on, wallow in the excess and make your own mind up…
Dodge Challenger
Recently returned to the Challenger palette – by popular demand, apparently – this striking Gold Rush hue was first introduced to celebrate the model’s 50th (golden, natch) anniversary, because nothing says US muscle car more than a Liberace-inspired paintjob. Exhilarating to drive, assuredly, but whether you’d want to take the gaudy Gold Rush out for a spin in rough and tough redneck country is another matter.
Nissan Leaf
In 2016, Nissan had the, er, ‘bright’ idea of providing an extra incentive for its brand ambassadors competing at the Rio Olympics by offering a gold-wrapped Leaf for those who came back home with a gold medal. Among those who collected were rower George Nash and gymnast Max Whitlock. The subtle messaging was reinforced with the words ‘gold medallist’ scripted on the doors.
Mercedes-AMG SLS Desert Gold
There was no mistaking who Merc was targeting when it unveiled this Desert Gold version of its 6.3-litre V8 supercar at the 2009 Dubai Motor Show. Although it didn’t go into production, the car was clearly aimed at Emirati playboys with more money than taste, as Merc suggested the gold finish could be made available “given sufficient customer demand.” Not one for the purists.
Bugatti Veyron
The undeniable achievement of producing a 1,001bhp, 200mph-plus W16-engined hypercar fit for the road became rather diluted during the Veyron’s lifespan due to the seemingly endless stream of special editions and some ghastly customisations. Gold inevitably featured on the crimesheet; check out this version from 2009.
Aston Martin Vantage V12 Zagato Heritage TWINS
Recently revealed as the first pair of cars created to celebrate the centenary of legendary Italian coachbuilder Zagato, the TWINS have been hand-assembled in the UK by Warwick based R-Reforged and comprise Aston’s 2011 Vantage V12 Zagato Coupe and a newly imagined speedster version of it. Just 19 customer sets will be made, and they’re only available as a pair. And don’t worry – if you’re interested in the TWINS and have the hundreds of thousands of pounds inevitably required for purchase, you don’t have to have gold and silver. Phew.
Lamborghini Diablo
With its mesmerising looks, V12 power and uncompromising attitude, it’s no surprise Lamborghini’s Diablo rewrote the rule book for supercars when it arrived 30 years ago. It was a rock star’s wet dream – Rod Stewart and Jay Kaye were among the owners – and perhaps the former’s hit “You Wear It Well” best sums up its dalliance with gold. Few cars are so obviously suited to such blatant bling; Lambo even marketed a special edition with gold Oro Elios paint limited to 20 examples.
DeLorean DMC-12
One of Britain’s most controversial cars ever was famed for its distinctive stainless-steel body, which created a matt silver effect. What’s less well known is that there were also a couple of gold-plated versions produced for an aborted American Express marketing campaign. These were followed by two more reproduced by enthusiasts, and a further one put together from leftovers from the AMEX project. In this car, however, exclusivity does not necessarily equate to aesthetic appeal. The stainless steel version looks much better.
Nissan GT-R 45th Anniversary
To celebrate the 45th anniversary of its GT-R nameplate, Nissan eschewed the opportunity to give it a sapphire paintjob – sapphire being the stone commonly associated with 45th wedding anniversaries – and curiously bestowed it with this golden hue, a decision that would have made more sense 50 years in. And it wasn’t just any gold, but specifically ‘Champagne Gold’ – although this colour lacked a little fizz. The GT-R, thankfully, was as intoxicating to drive as ever, though.
Keyword: Golden wonders... or blunders?