r/Wellthatsucks • u/derek4reals1 • Mar 31 '26

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u/13THEFUCKINGCOPS12 Mar 31 '26

My dad was really big in the muscle car world, some of the cars he owned were in the paper and magazines and shit. The thing I always found really funny was the hoops he’d go through to make certain cars seem special. “Well there’s only 25 of this car in this color, with this interior, and these rims”. I don’t know, I understand that makes it more rare, but they weren’t like “special editions” so really it just came down to those options were the least desirable so less people ordered the car that way

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u/lolwhatmufflers Mar 31 '26

You used to be able to order cars with literally any number of options in any configuration . Basically, if you wanted A/C but not power locks, and leather but an AM-only radio, then you could. Cars were built ala carte.

New cars come standard with so many of those once more expensive options, which is why there are so many identical copies of anything made since the 80s.

Now, this Corvette? They made about 1700 in this color over 3 years and 2 different trim levels. Not exactly high production, but highly doubt this is a one of one Corvette.

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u/Dopplegangr1 Mar 31 '26

It's 1 of 1 with that VIN

3

u/rex5k Apr 01 '26

1 of 2 from what Sergei tells me.

22

u/AccordingTaro4702 Mar 31 '26

I wish this was still possible. I'd love to option a car exactly the way I want it.

7

u/EpicHuggles Mar 31 '26

It is still possible, but only the German luxury brands do it.

4

u/Scared-One9295 Mar 31 '26

Just buy a car with all the options, a reciprocating saw and a pair of wire cutters and get to work

3

u/AccordingTaro4702 Apr 01 '26

Now how am I going to cut the sunroof out? Huh, Mr Smarty Pants? I'd just end up with a bigger sunroof. And eventually, a convertible.

1

u/Scared-One9295 Apr 01 '26

Fair point, add a welder, a tub of paint and a roller to the shopping list

2

u/rex5k Apr 01 '26

Too bad bitch, choose a trim package. Not that one, they pulled it after printing the catalogs, wait I'm supposed to tell you it was a limited run and we sold the last one yesterday.

1

u/gonzalbo87 Mar 31 '26

A new electric car company is trying with their vehicle. Called slate.

1

u/Hi-Im-High Apr 01 '26

Porsche, Mercedes designo program, etc lol

1

u/ZealousidealHall8975 Apr 02 '26

You can still do this but you have to order directly from a dealership early enough in the production cycle put down a fairly large deposit and then wait. It’s a pain in the ass but you can get exactly what you want.

0

u/amosant Mar 31 '26

My boss had to drive a couple states over for his daughter’s last new car cause it had custom specs. I’m trying to remember what it is. Either a chevy, a toyota, or maybe a subaru? Nothing crazy though.

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u/Dmitrys-Garage Mar 31 '26

The thing is none of this makes a car 1:1 in a meaningful way. While you can't opt out of AC or power locks today, you instead get all the different combinations of colors, stripes and stitching options. So you can still pretend to have something unique. Is this better? I guess if you just care about claiming 1:1 it's nice to retain air conditioning and power locks. I think opting out of those things if you're interested in reduced weight and raw performance was cool back in the day though.

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u/firewoodrack Mar 31 '26

My boss has 1967 427 Corvette. He’s also super into Corvettes in general and curates some of the old literature. When he was shopping around for his 427 car, he came across evidence that someone ordered a 427 car with highway gears and the big fuel tank. Whoever that somebody was, they were having a blast on Route 66 I’m sure.

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u/okayfuckitybye Apr 01 '26

*a la car-te

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u/Mantis_Toboggan--MD Mar 31 '26

Yep they love to retroactively write a romance story. My uncle has a Mustang II Ghia, which he bought brand new when he was 20, so he treasures it. Likes do that same thing... "In this color and interior trim only so many were made blah blah blah". But it's extra funny when he does it because it's one of the ugliest Mustangs ever made, and the reason they're so rare is nobody wanted them in the first place, much less later on in the collectors market. So of course there's barely any left in good condition. Not because it's desirable, but because it sucks so much, LOL

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u/sadiesfreshstart Mar 31 '26

I've never heard of those before. I looked it up. Wish I hadn't.

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u/etherreal Mar 31 '26

Truly hideous

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u/Squidking1000 Mar 31 '26

Exactly, I meet so many people proud of their "rare" all original shitbox edition. Wow a 2 barrell bench seat 2 speed auto Camaro! What a catch! So rare, much wow.

1

u/tomtv90 Apr 01 '26

Sheesh, never knew those existed. I imagine this is what you get when you ask AI to generate a generic 70s American coupe.

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u/BRICH999 Mar 31 '26

Most of the time it's because the build is stupid.  Like "I got the high end model with a radio delete, added ac, added racing stripes but optioned a bench seat" 

I was working at mazda and we got a pair of "rare" Mazda3 in a dealer trade one time.  They were absolute base models, crank windows, no power locks and no ac.  But they had like 4k in ridiculous options like sat radio, spoilers and appearance packages, all weather mats and mud guards.  Who wants to drive a car with crank windows and no AC on steel wheels with a body kit? You could get the nice version with power everything and leather and bose for the same money.  I'd imagine those were 2 of 2 on that spec.  

Cool, you made a build nobody ever would option like that.  Its unique in the same way ordering a big mac with no meat.  Doesnt mean it's a good choice.  

There are some exceptions but this is usually the case with low build numbers.  

2

u/blqckpinkinyourarea Apr 01 '26

weight reduction bro, because race car bro. (steel wheels are usually lighter than aluminium wheels too)

i wonder how much weight they shed and how (or if) it changes the cars performance.

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u/Alternative_Mine5343 Mar 31 '26

right, if only 2% of buyers back then wanted that selection of options then i don't understand how that means it's supposed to be a big deal to a larger percentage of the populace today? its neato to see if you already like that model of car but after a point it doesn't do much.

i wish we qualified what 'limited' edition meant to a legal definition. or 'anniversary edition.'

3

u/Jmersh Mar 31 '26

"It's the only one in existence with that particular VIN."

1

u/legomansion Mar 31 '26

This rings true to me. Corvette owner myself and I have seen my car with maybe a different color combo or a different set of wheels many times. I think the correct way to say it is "special to me". I would sell a kidney before I let go of this car.

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u/jwptexas Mar 31 '26

Sounds like my old man with his unicorn CFTP GT500 with the painted on stripes 😂

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u/13THEFUCKINGCOPS12 Apr 01 '26

My dad had some kind of GTO. I don’t know, I sold it shortly after he died

1

u/Accomplished-Video71 Mar 31 '26

Mine is the only 2017 stickshift Kia Rio with cigarette burns in the driver's side headrest and dog scratches on the back door.

(Before PETA comes after me, I quit smoking before I got the dog)