“Any customer can have any colour as long as it’s black,” was Henry Ford’s famous comment on the Model T in in 1909. And there is something to be said about such a minimalist approach, because the proliferation of car colours since those early days of motoring has seen some thoroughly questionable hues introduced. None, though, agitates the taste police quite so markedly as pink. Putting aside the blatant gender stereotyping from car makers that has often accompanied the introduction of pink models, there’s a lot to be wary of if it is your preferred finish, not least probable derision from other road users and potentially limited resale appeal. (On the plus side, there is the bonus that you’ll never struggle to find your motor in a packed car park). Here, then, are eight cars that went pink with mixed results…
Mansory Vitesse Rosé
Always wanted a Bentley? Bet you don’t want this one. German customiser Mansory, never noted for its subtlety, got its hands on a Contintental GT Speed in 2009 and performed what some might consider an act of automotive vandalism, endowing it with a frighteningly lurid pink paintjob. But it didn’t stop at the exterior, creating a cabin that dispensed with Bentley’s usual understated luxury and instead screamed ‘Nevada brothel’. “If you like to amaze others, you will be fond of the extravagant atmosphere in the car,” said Mansory. That’s one way of putting it.
Ford StreetKa
The much-loved original Ford Ka spawned a short-lived but interesting convertible version in 2003 that added another element of fun to the popular city car. Perhaps less well conceived, though, was a tie-in with the Thunderbirds movie of 2004, which saw a limited StreetKa Pink released as part of Ford’s efforts to promote the film. This, of course, adopted the colour scheme of Lady Penelope’s FAB1. Even now, 17 years on, the occasional Pink version pops up in the small ads. Bear in mind that this is a topless model, though, so if you’re brave enough to take the plunge, the abuse will be much more audible.
Fiat 500
If there is one car that has demonstrated the value of personalization over the past decade or so, then it’s the 500. An endless procession of special versions and unique paintjobs have retained interest in a car that is now pretty long in the tooth, having first gone on sale in 2007. Given that the 500 has long traded on its fashionable appeal rather than its driving dynamics, it was inevitable that a pink version would be added to the mix and so it proved in 2010 when this limited-run model was introduced. To be fair to Fiat it had tested how the market might react with a 500 ‘Barbie’ show car in 2009. And yes, that was as polarising as it sounds…
Citroen DS3
Credit to Citroen. Here’s a pink version of a mainstream favourite that didn’t turn the stomach because its maker understood the value of the idea that less is more. Rather than a full body pink paintjob, the DS3 stuck with Polar White or Perla Nera Black, limiting the garishness to the roof, mirrors and wheel centre caps. Inside, there was a fuschia dashboard and a complementary gearknob. And in a display of ingenious marketing, the DS3 Pink was introduced on the first Monday in January in 2014 in an apparent attempt to lighten people’s mood amid the misery of returning to work after the Christmas break. Yes, really.
Toyota Crown
We may not be too familiar with the Crown here in the UK, but over in Japan it has carved a reputation for itself as trusted executive transported for suited, corporate types. So when a pink version arrived in 2013, it felt like the salarymen were being encouraged to channel their inner Elton John and show the world they weren’t as staid as their sober appearance suggested. Even better, the Toyota – apparently designed by ‘extrovert’ TV presenter Terry Ito – came with a clunky anglicised name, the Reborn Pink Crown Athlete. Could it be any more Japanese if it tried?
Rolls-Royce Ghost
Even Rolls-Royce, the world’s foremost maker of luxury cars, hasn’t been immune to the ‘charms’ of a pink car. In 2013, it created this baby pink Ghost inspired by FAB1, Lady Penelope’s car from the TV series Thunderbirds. We’ll let you make your own mind up as to how successful this execution is, but the motivation behind the Ghost was extremely noble as the extended wheelbase model was made available for hire to raise money for the Breast Cancer Care charity. Among the design highlights were pink accented umbrellas and hand-embroidered headrests featuring the charity’s pink ribbon logo.
Volkswagen Beetle
The second iteration of the reborn Bug was a car that split opinion, with many not keen on its cartoonish aping of the classic lines of the original. But in 2017 VW managed to make it even less appealing by releasing a limited edition called the #PinkBeetle. The company had provided a hint at its plans by revealing a concept at the 2015 New York Motor Show before taking the plunge with a deep pink production model – officially Fresh Fuchsia Metallic – a couple of years later. Available with a hard-top or as a convertible, it certainly did nothing to convince the doubters that the new Beetle was a good idea.
Nissan Micra C+C
This tiny convertible was another charity-inspired effort that made it into production in limited numbers, apparently because of public demand. In late 2005 and early 2006, a one-off model had toured a number of cities in support of the Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity. Encouraged by the public response, Nissan released this limited edition for “fun-loving motorists wanting to add a bit of colour to their drives”. Just 100 were made, and given the official press release pointed out this made the car “rarer than a Chloe Paddington handbag” it was abundantly clear exactly what market Nissan was targeting.
Keyword: The cars that dared to go to pink