If you haven’t done the math yet, this year marks our nation’s 250th anniversary, which calls for a big celebration. Amongst the cookouts and fireworks on July 4th, it would be nice to see some star-spangled vehicles roaming around town, but alas, we may be disappointed.
In fact, only two automakers have come out with 250th anniversary-themed special editions, which begs the question, why? I can think of a definitive handful of automakers who could have come up with US-themed packages to commemorate this momentous occasion. Let’s talk about some of the 250th US anniversary packages that car manufacturers should have made.
What 250th US Anniversary Packages Are Available?
First things first—which automakers have already welcomed these special packages into their lineups? Chevrolet, for one, has unveiled the Stars & Steel special edition trucks, which show off American-flag-inspired stripes and Summit White exterior paint. The Stars & Steel edition is also available on the Corvette, which shows off American-flag-inspired exterior detailing.
Ram has also debuted a commemorative special edition, called the America 250th Anniversary Edition. Certain Ram 1500 models can be enjoyed with commemorative badging, as well as red, white, and blue color palettes. An American flag graphic can also adorn the hood of many of these models, and red and blue stitching can be found inside as well.
What We Should Be Seeing
Although it’s great to see automakers taking the initiative and coming up with America-themed special editions, they’re a bit lackluster. It would be nice to have a truck that radiates with patriotism or a sports car that’s undeniably American.
It would also be nice to see other automakers tossing their hats in the ring. Here are two automakers that I think should have jumped on this bandwagon.
Jeep: Life & Liberty Edition
Jeep has the timeless Wrangler, the tough-as-nails Gladiator, and many other American favorites. Why not offer these models with the Life & Liberty Edition, adding in unmistakable American flag graphics to their sides and hood, plus commemorative 250th Anniversary badging?
Inside, their cabins would be adorned with a sleek black color scheme with embossed flag detailing on their seats. Red, white, and blue accent stitching would accentuate their patriotic presence. Jeep may even want to add some more off-road goodies to certain models to really capture the American spirit of exploration.
Ford: American Icon Edition
There’s nothing more American than seeing an F-150 dutifully handling tough tasks on the jobsite or working diligently on the farm. This calls for a special package that shows off Ford’s iconic presence in the automotive industry—and on the American streets.
Think a specialized patriotic exterior color palette to choose from, with the option of a two-tone color scheme to really make a statement on the jobsite. Stars and stripes graphics could tastefully accentuate the exterior, while inside, Jet Blue leather upholstery with your choice of white or red accent stitching would intensify its look.
You could even enjoy this package on the legendary Bronco, with the option to have an American flag graphic on its removable top. This would work best on the Heritage models, which are already patriotic and pay homage to the Bronco’s roots. Like Jeep, Ford could add some off-road-ready features to it, like meatier tires, specialized wheel designs, or red, white, and blue tow hooks.
Celebrating America: What Should Have Been
In the end, these packages never came to fruition. Of course, there are other automakers that could have joined in on the fun, not just Jeep and Ford. It’s sad, however, that such a huge occasion failed to warrant a response from these quintessential all-American automakers.
Perhaps it’s the state of the world right now, but we won’t get this moment back. We’ll only have one 250th anniversary, and it deserves to be celebrated and honored. Thankfully, some automakers chose to honor it. This makes them legends.
