European Automobile Color Edition Playstation 2 (1 of 666)- $500 OBO

Idiotekque · #1 03-04-2012, 02:57 AM

SOLD to jazzmartini

I don't know if everyone is familiar with this limited edition PS2, but if you want some more info, check this out: http://ps2.ign.com/articles/098/098945p1.html

I picked up one in the color "Snow White" and it's in excellent condition. From what I can tell, this edition wasn't sold to the general public, instead being given to or away by Sony employees (upon further investigation I've found that these were sold on Sony's site at one point). It's extremely glossy, in the fashion of an automotive paint job. I've also heard that the construction is heavier duty than your average PS2 as far as the thickness of the plastic goes.

The system plays fine and the disc tray slides like butter. I was told it sat in a box for the majority of its life while the old beat-em-up black PS2 got all the mileage.

There are very few on the market today, and when they do pop up on eBay, they're going for £500-600, and are all found in the UK. The model I have is NTSC.

Anyways, I'll have the rest of the accessories that came with it soon (matching gloss controller, original box, etc). In the meantime...

Asking price is $500 OBO.

Here are some pics (it has a network adapter on it; the model number is SPCH-30001 R and the serial number is W0001081; I can photograph that if anyone is interested):

PetePS3 · #2 03-04-2012, 03:58 AM

So sweet bro......I can't think of a reason why you would give something like this away...............just too sweet.

Idiotekque · #3 03-04-2012, 04:01 AM

Thanks; I knew nothing about it when I found it. I didn't pay much for it considering the rarity, but it was kind of a leap of faith since I knew almost nothing about it. The model and serial number authenticate this though, and that finish is a dead giveaway of what it is.

I'm certainly not giving it away though!

Make an offer; the worst I can say is no.

Gemini-Phoenix · #4 03-04-2012, 09:05 AM

I'm familiar with these. I personally own a brand new unplayed "Super Red" NTSC U machine, which has a very low number (under 20!). One of the centrepieces of my collection!

There are in fact 2,000 units of each of the five colours - 666 per region (PAL, NTSC U, JAP), with two of each kept back for promotional reasons, or so it is believed.

Each model has a very unique serial number, which ends in the production number of the unit. However, it is unknown whether they are numbered 001-666 for each region, or whether they are numbered 001-2000. I know several PlayStation collectors who own these models, and they don't seem to know how they numbered them. All I know is that mine is one of the first 20, and it's American

Idiotekque · #5 03-05-2012, 02:32 AM

I've actually heard of a few people with low numbers like that! It's odd, because the original owner of this console won it through a Playstation Underground contest. They awarded US participants a total of 50 of these limited edition consoles; 10 in each color. As far as the contest said, they were the only 50 ever made, but clearly that's not the case. Since the consoles weren't sold on the open market as far as I know, this is the only case I've heard where average joes got ahold of these. Interesting.

And I'm thinking they numbered 0000001-0002000, since in all of these that I've seen, I've never seen a number above 0002000. I can't confirm that, but it seems like the most likely scenario. It looks like the US (NTSC-U) series was the second to be produced in this case.

Interesting history though! I wish I had a PAL or NTSC-J PS2 game to test on it.

vhal_x · #6 03-05-2012, 09:21 AM

That is stunning! Shame I don't have the money

xx

Gemini-Phoenix · #7 03-05-2012, 10:14 AM

I actually bought mine quite late. Must have been 2004 or even 2005, so I'm guessing it was one of the last ones left in stock on the Sony website, because a few weeks later they had all been sold. I paid full price as well, when a standard fat PS2 cost half as much. These were essentially the same price as a launch model PS2! I think the PStwo had either just been released or was about to be...

There's a bit of a story behind this actually - I initially fell in love with these special PS2's when they were first featured in an early Official PlayStation Magazine UK, and thought I would never ever get the chance to own one. Years later, I had myself a decent job which paid well, and accidentally discovered that the American PlayStation store had some still in stock, albeit at a stupidly high price. That didn't bother me, as the exchange rate was good back then.

However, Sony America wouldn't sell me one on the grounds that these were intended for sale only within America. But I managed to get around this by getting an American friend to buy one on my behalf and ship it to me. I probably own one of the only American red PS2's in the UK!

At the time, I was really into collecting American PS1 and PS2 RPG's, which was how I stumbled upon these for sale as I was looking for an NTSC U console to play the games. As it happens, I never actually got around to getting a step-down power converter, so it remains unplayed, along with my Japanese pink Hello Kitty Dreamcast! I've only ever had it out of the box once to take pictures, and it's been stashed away ever since!

Like I say, I think the low numbers may have been amongst the last units to have been sold. First in, last out as it were

Oh, and just to correct something in your initial post - These were on general sale, but only via the official Sony PlayStation sites. Several were given away as competition prizes back in 2001 for the PS2's 1st anniversary (which is what I believe these special edition console commemorate)

Idiotekque · #8 03-05-2012, 10:13 PM

Ah I see, thanks for the info. It's incredibly hard to find out much about there!

Vhal: Just offer.

vhal_x · #9 03-06-2012, 08:51 AM

Haha I would but by "not having the money" I really mean it

Unless you wanna sell it for 50p

All my money is going elsewhere at the moment, sorry! xx

Idiotekque · #10 03-06-2012, 08:55 AM

At least you offered, right?

You buy so much on this forum; just hold off for two weeks and you'd probably have the money!

Since I know the console has been played a little bit, I'd probably take $500 and not think twice about it. That's not a set price, and that's me telling everyone a more reasonable number. That's at least $200 less than the next guy, so I think that's a pretty good price.