You’d definitely remember if you’ve seen one of these before, as today’s Rare Ride vehicle is anything but subdued. We’ve already featured a different special edition F-150-based vehicle here before, when the Neiman Marcus Edition Lincoln Blackwood strolled across these pages. Many of you found the black color scheme, trunk carpeting, and wood trim a bit plain though, even if you didn’t admit it.
So today we turn up the volume bass to an uncomfortable level, with the Ford Expedition Funkmaster Flex Edition.
Back in 2008, Ford felt it was missing out on the lucrative custom automobiles market, and that there was a consumer niche not being served by the eight different trim levels of the Expedition that were already available. So what’s cool in the late 2000s era? What could Ford do (cheaply) to get some feet into showrooms and bums into some special, embroidered leather seats?
A tie-in with a rap star was obviously necessary. The Expedition Funkmaster Flex Edition was born.
For just 650 examples, Ford sent a Limited trim 4×2 Expedition to a customization warehouse (or maybe behind an abandoned Pizza Hut, or something) where Funkmaster Flex had left a list of changes to be made.
There was only one color scheme for the exterior: the body was painted bright red, the roof painted black, and an orange pinstripe applied.
There are various Funkmaster Flex “FMF” badges on the exterior and interior, smoothed bumpers, a body kit, and chromed six-spoke wheels.
The exterior theme carried over to the interior (yay!) with red and black seats …
… home to an awful red center console that appears to be made of Frisbee plastic.
Every example got a number and a signature by the car’s namesake for that special feeling of individuality, for which Ford asked buyers to pay more than a regular Limited 4×4, and less than a King Ranch 4×4 — $40,910.
This one’s currently for sale on eBay, and the seller is asking $20,900. If you have a 40-percent off coupon handy, it might be a buy. You could pop that center console out and switch it for a regular one without too much trouble, change the badges, and tell people it’s a secret Harley-Davidson Edition.
[Images via eBay]
Why would someone swap out the signed center stack? This is obviously a collector’s vehicle that will appreciate wildly in value in future years. I’ll bet Warren Buffett already has one in storage, waiting for that steep appreciation curve to kick in. If you don’t believe me, I used to tell people the investment to get into is just two words: Orange Julius. Then I found out Warren Buffett bought it!
It would be a collectors item if I knew who Funk Master Flex is. More importantly will anyone know who he is 10 years from now.
I used to see one of those (going the opposite direction) on my daily commute. It’s one of those vehicles you pretty much can’t miss noticing due to the size and bright paint. Never saw the interior before, which is probably a good thing….
I lived in Las Vegas until 2015, and one day took a friend to the Ford Dealer out in Henderson to pickup his Ford Focus from the service department.
They had one of these on the lot, all shiny and red and black and chrome. It was pretty cool looking but since I didn’t know who Funkmaster Flex was, and still don’t, I passed on it.
That same fall, I saw one at the car show not far from there, and wondered if it was the same one. Can’t imagine they sold many, even in Las Vegas.
I’ve sold one. To a retired white guy in his 70s. He liked the colors. He didn’t know/care who Funkmaster Flex was, nor did he particularly like Harley-Davidsons.
I have asked that question many times and never gotten an answer!
Wow – something with almost as much appeal as those Florida- edition sedans with vinyl roofs and gold wheels.
It may not be worth much now, but wait until Mr. Funkmaster passes away. Then these will be worth their weight in gold.
The best was the Funkmaster Flex (Ford) Flex
http://www dot carscoops dot com/2007/10/sema-2009-ford-flex-by-funkmaster-flex.html
Those gator textured seat covers…
The FMFFF!
So much Flexin’
Never seen one of those, I definitely have seen the FMF Expedition.
Heated and Cooled Seats? In 2008? That’s kind of impressive for a non-luxury brand.
Not my cuppa tea but I’m glad ford took a chance like this.
It makes you think. What would Sir-Mix-A-Lot drive? A Panamera? Or something like this.
Wow. I REALLY like this. But I may be the only one.
The exterior I like. The interior reminds me of some of the cars friends drove in highschool. The had mix and (not) match hoods or quarter panels that had clearly come from a junkyard donor vehicle.
I have one. It’s number 000 of 650.
So I wonder, is it a pre-production car?