There have been special edition models released in Australia, but brand collaborations hit a high in the 1980s and 1990s, with manufacturers trying to attract a youthful market to the small hatchback market.
In the mid-1980s, Ford teamed up with famed Italian-born fashion designer Carla Zampatti to jazz up its Laser and Meteor range. It proved rather successful as the collaboration lasted two generations of the models, the first being the KB featuring two-tone paint, colour-coded grill and Zampatti’s name on the back.
The KC Zampatti was released in bright yellow alongside red pinstripes and it proved a successful partnership.
Both iterations came at the highest specification including a four-speaker sound system, special interior colours and a carpet shoe protector.
Zampatti also provided a special leather key case, a pair of sunglasses and a bottle of Bellezzo perfume.
Plenty of these special editions sold, with Zampatti herself continuing to be a successful fashion designer until her death in 2021 at age 78.
Then, the early-1990s spawned the Nissan Pulsar Reebok and the Holden Barina Sportsgirl.
Just 200 Pulsar Reebok’s were produced in just white and featured special decals representing the partnership with the British sportswear brand.
Ticked on the option list were sports seats, steering wheel, full instrumentation, a tape player, air conditioning, power steering, tinted windows and an immobiliser.
Not many are left, but the model has been a cult favourite if not a little infamous since.
Finally, the Barina Sportsgirl is a bit obscure due to it not being as decal heavy compared to the Pulsar Reebok and no free goodies like the Zampatti.
The Holden Barina at this time was a re-badged Suzuki Swift and to sell a few of these in 1992, Australian woman’s fashion label Sportsgirl got onboard to support this special model.
Apart from some special decals, a sunroof was also included alongside standard tape player, air conditioning, sports mirrors, Sportsgirl branded floor mats and fresh hubcaps.
It did come with a $50 Sportsgirl voucher and a branded bag among the extras.
Again, these are rare in existence.
To complete this story, there was the Daihatsu Charade Mizuno edition, but there is limited information surrounding this special range.