Top Gear's Top 9: Cars named after famous people
Here are nine unique cars that were named after famous people around the world
1) Mercedes SLR Stirling Moss
A token of the partnership between Mercedes and McLaren in F1, the McMerc SLR was built from 2003 to 2009.
This ’09 special edition remembered Sir Stirling’s 1955 Mille Miglia win – ditching the roof and other bits meant 200kg saved, and the 75 cars which costed a million USD each, were limited only to existing SLR owners.
2) Range Rover Evoque Victoria Beckham
In case the Evoque needed a bit of spicing up, chanteuse-turned-fashion designer Victoria Beckham was on hand at the Chinese launch of the car in 2012 to unveil her poshed up special edition. This mainly involved rose gold interior trim pieces and a matching luggage set.
3) Chrysler Imperial Frank Sinatra Edition
Lee Iacocca became Chrysler CEO in 1978 and resurrected the swanky Imperial, enlisting Frank Sinatra to help shift the thing – the 271 cars came in Glacier Blue, said to match Ol’ Blue Eyes’ peepers, and came with a set of 16 cassettes in a leather case so you could enjoy Frank’s tunes.
Looking at the design, we won't be surprised if it even came with free protection from the Mafia.
4) Mercedes-Benz A-Class A160 Häkkinen
You’re a distinguished double world champion F1 driver backed by an engine provider that hasn’t enjoyed F1 success since the 1950s and what do they honour you with?
Mika Häkkinen retired from racing within two years of this little treat. Coincidence? We think not.
5) Citroen Xsara Picasso
The crazy Spanish painter’s estate had to be creative to keep the cash coming. However, Citroen’s small MPV of 1999 was an odd choice because it caused a few family problems, with Pablo’s granddaughter suing her uncle.
At any rate, the Picasso name was ditched for Spacetourer in 2018.
6) Toyota Celica GT-Four Carlos Sainz Edition
This 1992 car was part of a 5,000-unit global run to comply with WRC homologation rules. It came with a number of cheeky tweaks, including a new intercooler, revised bodywork, a stubbier gearstick and triple cone synchromesh on gears two and three, whatever that did.
7) Opel Calibra V6 Keke Rosberg Edition
Keke’s mostly famous for his fortuitous 1982 F1 title with Williams and fathering 2016 champ Nico.
A stint in German touring cars came post-F1, and this 1994 Calibra celebrated... not a lot, because Rosberg didn’t do that well in his Opel. Buyers got Irmscher suspension and yellow striped seats.
8) Infiniti FX50 S Sebastian Vettel Edition
Four-time F1 champ Vettel personally helped spiff up the sponsor’s SUV with his name on. Europe only got 50, but that might have been ambitious considering sales, especially as it cost close to RM1 million.
Poor Seb also got a Ferrari California T named after him in 2016.
9) Lotus Evora Naomi for Haiti
Supermodel Naomi Campbell dolled up eight Evoras with stickers back in 2010 and auctioned them off for Haiti following a massive earthquake that left 1.6 million homeless.
The auction results were announced at the 2010 Geneva show, raising around about RM8 million for the struggling country.
Top 9: Cars named after famous people
