2023 is set to be a year of major anniversaries in the car world, with three iconic models celebrating milestones. The Chevrolet Corvette will turn 70, the Caterham Seven will reach its half century, and it will be two decades since Bentley’s renaissance, thanks to the Continental GT launched in 2003. To mark these occasions, all three cars have been released in commemorative limited edition models. While some special editions are just cynical attempts to cash-in by overcharging customers for a car that’s barely different to the stock model, others are distinct enough to be worth the effort to track down. In this article, we take a look at some of the best and worst anniversary special editions.
Mazda MX-5 30th Anniversary
Mazda has produced many forgettable ‘special’ MX-5s over the years, so expectations were low for the 30th Anniversary Miata. While there was no serious tuning job, the birthday versions did receive an eye-catching orange paint job, orange interior details, a set of Rays wheels and Brembo brakes. However, it would have been nice if Mazda had teamed up with an aftermarket output to deliver a post-registration power upgrade for the 181 hp (184 PS) 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G engine.
Mini 1100 Special
Austin Rover churned out countless special edition Minis throughout the 1980s, and most of them weren’t very special at all. However, the Mini built to celebrate the car’s 20th birthday in 1979 was an exception. Available in either silver or a dusky metallic paint, it featured a vinyl top, tinted glass, and arch extensions covering the first alloy wheels fitted as standard to a Mini. It also got a rev counter and a center console with a clock and space for the radio, and an engine upgrade to the torquey 1,100 cc A-series that was only available in the square-fronted Clubman, making the Special feel much punchier than a stock round-nose Mini 1000.
Chevrolet Corvette 70th Anniversary Edition
Not many cars make it to their 70th season, so you’d think Chevy would pull out all the stops to celebrate the Corvette’s big birthday. However, the Anniversary Edition package brought only some special wheels, new badges, red trim and two different paint options – White Pearl Metallic Tri-Coat and Carbon Flash Metallic. It wasn’t radically more desirable than an ordinary production Stingray or Z06, both of which could be ordered with the kit.
Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary
This 1988 special was built to celebrate Lamborghini’s 25 years in the automotive game and brought some major visual upgrades to the Countach. The basic body structure was retained but composites expert Horacio Pagani came up with new front and rear bumpers, plus an aggressive set of straked side skirts and redesigned air intakes on the top of the rear fenders. The 25th Countach was highly desirable when new, but seems less popular now. According to Hagerty’s valuation guide, a 1988 Anniversary Countach in good condition is worth $417,000, whereas a regular 1988 Countach LP5000 QV without the heavy-handed Pagani mods commands $569,000.
Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4
From one polarizing Countach anniversary car to another. Lambo considered making a retro version of the Miura back in the mid-2000s but decided it was a bad idea and shelved the plan. It didn’t show the same restraint when the Countach’s 50th birthday rolled around and produced 112 Aventador-based lookalikes at $2.6 million a pop. Not everyone liked the result, but no one can accuse Lamborghini of not making an effort to mark its most famous car’s half century.
In conclusion, while some anniversary special editions are worth the effort to track down, others are just cynical attempts to cash-in. The Mazda MX-5 30th Anniversary and Mini 1100 Special are examples of the former, while the Chevrolet Corvette 70th Anniversary Edition is an example of the latter. The Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary and LPI 800-4 are both polarizing models, with the former being highly desirable when new but less popular now, and the latter dividing opinion.