The best cars inspired by rock music

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

August 23, 2024

Now That’s What I Call Motoring
© Citroen
Music and car double-acts aren’t always a success. For every Simon & Garfunkel, Sonny & Cher or Ashford & Simpson, there’s a Robson & Jerome, Jedward or The Cheeky Girls. We’ve selected 20 of our ‘favourite’ automusical double acts – you can decide if they’re a hit or a miss. And, yes, we have just invented the word ‘automusical’.
Volkswagen Polo Coupe Genesis and Golf Cabriolet Genesis
© VW
The Polo Coupe Genesis was a special order-only model built to mark Volkswagen’s sponsorship of the prog rock band’s 1992 world tour. The cars featured an ‘Invisible Touch’ interior, bespoke ‘violet-touch’ metallic paint and a Sony CD/radio worth £1,000. Although not officially available in the UK, one right-hand-drive model was built as a competition prize. The Germans were also offered a Golf Cabriolet Genesis.
Volkswagen Golf Pink Floyd
© Wikimedia – ProhibitOnions
Two years after the Genesis special edition, Volkswagen, ahem… turned it on again by launching the Golf Pink Floyd. The car maker sponsored the European leg of the band’s Division Bell tour, with Nick Mason and Storm Thorgerson adding their creative flair to the hatchback, cabriolet and estate models. It has been suggested the band regretted the sponsorship deal and donated the profits to charity.
Volkswagen Golf Rolling Stones Collection
© VW
A year later, Volkswagen was back on the, er… roadie again by sponsoring the European leg of the Rolling Stones’ Voodoo Lounge tour. Again, the special edition was available on hatchback, cabriolet and estate versions of the Mk3 Golf, and Germans could choose any colour as long as it was red. Sadly, VW failed to stick a ‘Start Me Up’ decal around the ignition barrel.
Volkswagen Golf Bon Jovi
© Wikimedia – detectandpreserve
The Golf Bon Jovi was the final European tour special edition, built to coincide with Volkswagen’s sponsorship of the rock band’s These Days tour. Should VW launch some new rock and pop special editions? The Taigo Taylor Swift? The Passat Peso Pluma? Or the Tiguan Allspace Travis Scott, maybe?
Volkswagen Beetle Fender
© VW
Although not related to a singer or band, the Beetle Fender was built in conjunction with the legendary guitar maker. Highlights included a 400-watt Fender stereo, boot-mounted subwoofer and illuminated front speaker mountings. Other extras included a dash inlay designed to mimic a Fender guitar. It’s a shame Volkswagen didn’t call it the Beetle feat. Fender.
Opel Speedster Scorpions
© Opel
Arguably most famous in the UK for the whistle-tastic 1990s power ballad Wind of Change, the Scorpions are a big deal in mainland Europe. Armed with this information, it’s a little less surprising that Opel turned to the German rockers to create a Speedster special edition. Highlights included silver paint, anthracite alloy wheels, black leather, a Gibson guitar and a signed photo of the band.
Duncan James and Seat Leon Cupra
© Seat
Here’s Duncan James of Blue and Hollyoaks fame going full ‘man at C&A’ alongside his Seat Leon Cupra. If you haven’t lent on your motor like this at a cars and coffee event, you haven’t been trying hard enough. Mr James said: “I’m going to be spending a lot of time in Covent Garden over the next few months, so I’m sure lots of people will see me driving to work in my Cupra”.
Chrysler Imperial Frank Sinatra Edition
© Wikimedia – Greg Gjerdingen
Frank Sinatra was good friends with Chrysler boss Lee Iaccoca, but even that doesn’t explain how we ended up with a Chrysler Imperial special dedicated to ‘Ol Blue Eyes’. Naturally, it was finished in Glacier Blue Crystal, but other highlights included a digital instrument cluster, an interior by leather goods designer Mark Cross, a stereo system and a selection of Sinatra’s favourite cassettes presented in a leather bag. Just 279 cars were built.
Cliff Richard and Rover 75
© MG Rover
Here’s the MG Rover fleet loans manager giving Sir Cliff Richard the keys to a Rover 75 Tourer. If his first utterance wasn’t ‘congratulations’ he needs to have a word with himself.
Range Rover Evoque Special Edition with Victoria Beckham
© JLR
One of the worst things about this Posh Spice special edition was the name. What’s wrong with ‘by’ Victoria Beckham? Speaking at the car’s launch in 2012, Victoria said: “I’ve designed a car that I want to drive, a car I think David wants to drive”. Five years later, Land Rover’s design director Gerry McGovern slammed her comments, saying: “She didn’t design the car. I’ve forgotten more than that woman will ever know about designing”.
Lexus NX by Will.i.am
© Lexus
You see, that’s how you do it. ‘By’ Will.i.am, not ‘with’ Will.i.am. It’s now nearly a decade since William James Adams Jr. unveiled his take on the Lexus NX crossover in Paris. The car featured four 180° cameras which could capture panoramic photographs and videos while driving. Just the thing for looking at that ultra-wide body kit and pearl white paintwork.
Citroen ZX Memphis
© Citroen
If you thought Elvis Presley only had eyes for the BMW 507, think again, because here ‘he’ is standing alongside the Citroen ZX Memphis. He loved the driver’s airbag, power steering, remote central locking, electric sunroof, electric front windows, metallic paint and radio/cassette. Rumour has it he called it the king of Citroen special editions.
MG ZR Atomix and ZS Atomix
© MG Rover
Launched at the Birmingham Motor Show in 2002, the MG ZR Atomix and ZS Atomix celebrated the unlikely alliance between MG and pop band Atomic Kitten. Sadly, Team Atomic Kitten lasted just one season, scoring just 34 points in the 2002 BTCC. Jenny Frost said: “We’re so pleased to be associated with MG. It’s a great British brand.” She went on to host another great British brand called Snog Marry Avoid?.
Seat Alhambra and Atomic Kitten
© Seat
Seemingly bored with hot hatches and racing teams, Jenny Frost, Liz McLarnon and Natasha Hamilton opted for something sensible and practical, switching allegiances to Seat and its Alhambra MPV. One member of the band said something about the car making her feel whole again…
Toyota and Atomic Kitten
© Toyota
One thing’s for certain: Atomic Kitten must have had a very good agent. As well as the MG Rover and Seat partnerships, the all-girl pop band also secured the loan of five Toyota vehicles for use in 2004. Toyota said the Previa would be “perfect for ferrying the girls and all their gear on a ‘Ladies Night’ out”.
Jenny Frost and Nissan Micra C+C
© Nissan
On a mission to complete her book of I-Spy Cars, Jenny Frost teamed up with Nissan to customise a Micra C+C. Modifications include gold paint, purple leather with gold stitching, a picnic hamper, fridge, umbrella and floor mats featuring the singer’s signature. The one-off Micra was built to raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
Kylie Minogue and Ford Streetka
© Ford
We’re a little surprised that the Kittens weren’t asked to unveil the Ford Streetka at the 2002 Paris Motor Show. Instead, that honour fell to Kylie Minogue, who was making her first visit to a car show. A Streetka signed by the pop princess was donated to BBC Children in Need and subsequently won by Emma and Lewis Shipp of Portishead.
David Bowie’s Mini
© Mini
To celebrate 40 years of the classic Mini, Paul Smith, Kate Moss and David Bowie were tasked with creating their own Minis. Bowie created a mirrored concept because he “wanted to make something that could not be distinguished from its surroundings”. Asked what the Mini meant to him, Bowie said “parking”. When asked why the Mini design had lasted so long, he said “parking”.
The Beatles and the Mini
© Mini
All members of the Beatles owned a Mini. John Lennon ordered one in 1964, even though he didn’t have a driving licence, while George Harrison was the proud owner of a Mini de Ville crafted by Radford. Michael Nesmith of The Monkees was another Radford customer, asking them to create a bespoke Cooper S.
Hyundai Lantra Visage
© Hyundai
We’d love to tell you that the Visage was a special edition of the Hyundai Lantra (pictured) that paid homage to the New Romantic Steve Strange. Sadly, it wasn’t, so we’ll allow this slideshow to fade to grey…