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Chrysler Facts & Vehicle History

63K views 175 replies 3 participants last post by  rickaren 
#1 · (Edited)
Keeping Track of the Facts, April 2009

Alliances:


* Chrysler currently is engaged in more than two-dozen alliances and partnerships, including our joint-venture with GM, Daimler and BMW to develop two-mode hybrid powertrain technology, and our GEMA alliance with Hyundai and Mitsubishi that produces the advanced technology, four-cylinder World Engine in Dundee, Mich.
* Chrysler manufacturers minivans for Volkswagen at its Windsor Assembly Plant
* Chrysler has a partnership with Nissan to bring a new fuel-efficient subcompact vehicle to the U.S. market by 2010 and to produce a pickup truck for Nissan.
* Our discussions with Fiat are consistent with the long-term viability plan required under the U.S. Treasury loan. An alliance would help us provide a return on investment for the American taxpayer by securing the long-term viability of Chrysler brands in the marketplace and expand the availability of fuel-efficient vehicles.
* No U.S. taxpayer funds would go to Fiat. The alliance would be based on an exchange of equity for assets. Fiat would acquire an equity stake in Chrysler by giving us access to substantially all of its vehicle platforms and technologies. This access is of great value to Chrysler, saving us significant costs and years of development time.
* Daimler AG signed a binding agreement on April 27, 2009, to give up its 19.9 percent remaining stake in Chrysler LLC and pay as much as $600 million into the auto maker's pension fund.

Restructuring since 2007:

* Chrysler has taken out 1.2 million units of our production capacity, stopped building four models to simplify our product line and reduced the total work force by more than 32,000 employees. We have reduced annual fixed costs by more than $3 billion.
* Chrysler has identified over $1 billion in assets to sell (includes the Viper vehicle business) to sell and has so far sold assets valued at more than $700 million.
Cost savings:

* Internal restructuring efforts with respect to salaried employees and executives have included aggressive cost actions, as well as compliance with the terms of the U.S. Treasury loan agreement.
* Key executives have signed waivers prohibiting incentive compensation, bonuses, “golden parachutes” and severance payments.
* Suspension of salary merit program for 2008 and 2009, 401(k) company savings match and tuition reimbursement.
* Elimination of retiree life insurance.
* Each salaried employee is being asked for increased productivity as a result of reducing approximately 12,000 white-collar employees over the past two years and the subsequent de-layering and restructuring of our organization.

Employment and manufacturing summary:

* Chrysler worldwide employment at the start of 2007: 86,994
* Announced reductions since February 2007:
o Total hourly: 22,700
o Total salary: 4,000
o Added mix of salary and supplemental: 5,000
o Total employment: 31,700
o Total assembly shift reductions: 12

Chrysler LLC employment—Dec. 31, 2006
Location Hour. Salary Supp. Total
U.S. 45,186 18,602 4,301 68,089
Canada.. 9,921 1,082 127 11,130
Mexico 5,040 1,351 60 6,451
R.O.W. 0 802 472 1,274
Total 60,949 21,507 4,488 86,944

Chrysler LLC employment—Dec. 31, 2008
Location Hour. Salary Supp. Total
U.S. 26,801 10,691 765 38,257
Canada 8,652 692 54 9,398
Mexico 3,862 1,038 26 4,926
R.O.W, 0 896 530 1,426
Total 40,211 12,951 845 54,007

Employment reductions since 2007:

* Announced in February 2007: Reduce employment by 13,000
o Hourly employees: 11,000 by end of 2009 (moved ahead to end of 2008 with October 2008 Newark Assembly announcement).
o Salaried employees: 2,000 by end of 2008 (1,000 in 2007, 1,000 in 2008)
* Announced in November 2007: Reduce employment by 9,500
o Hourly employees: 8,500 by end of 2008
o Salaried employees: 1,000 by end of 2008
* Announced June 30, 2008: Reduce employment by 2,400 hourly employees by November 2008
* Announced July 23, 2008: Reduce employment by 1,000 salaried employees by October 2008
* Announced Oct. 23, 2008: Reduce employment by 800 hourly employees by end of 2008
* Announced Oct. 24, 2008: Reduce salaried and supplemental work force by up to 5,000 employees (25 percent) by the end of 2008

Background on manufacturing reductions:

* Announced February 2007:
o Drop second-shift operations at Newark (Del.) Truck Assembly Plant in February 2007
o Drop third-shift operations at Warren (Mich.) Truck Assembly Plant in June2007
o Drop second-shift operations at St. Louis Assembly Plant South (Fenton, Mo.) in January 2008
o Idle Newark Assembly Plant in fourth quarter of 2009
* Announced in November 2007:
o Drop third-shift operations at Belvidere (Ill.) Assembly Plant February in 2008
o Drop third-shift operations at the Toledo (Ohio) North Assembly Plant Feb. 2008
o Drop second-shift operations at its Jefferson North Assembly Plant (Detroit) in February 2008
o Drop third-shift operations at Brampton (Ontario) Assembly Plant in March 2008
o Drop second-shift operations at Sterling Heights (Mich.) Assembly Plant in March 2008
o Drop third-shift operations at Mack Avenue (Detroit) Engine Plant II in March 2008
* Announced in June 2008:
o Drop second-shift operations at St. Louis Assembly Plant North (Fenton, Mo.) in September 2008
o Idle St. Louis Assembly Plant South in October 2008
* Announced in October 2008:
o Drop second-shift operations at Toledo North Assembly Plant in December 2008
o Pull ahead idling of Newark Assembly Plant to December 2008

Suppliers:

* Chrysler LLC announced in April the launch of the Company’s Supplier Support Program, as a result of the Obama Administration’s announcement of a $5 billion program to provide suppliers with the confidence they need to continue shipping parts; and the support they need to help access loans to pay their employees and continue their operations.
* As part of the Administration’s Supplier Support Program, U.S. Treasury agreed to contribute a $1.5 billion line of credit, with the requirement that Chrysler make a 5% capital infusion. Chrysler’s loan agreement requires authorization of the first lien bank group prior to the Company contributing capital into a new company.

Global sales and dealers:

* March U.S. total sales were 101,001 units, the first time since Sept. 2008 that the Company has surpassed 100,000 units, representing a 39 percent decrease versus 2008. Chrysler’s retail market share increased to an estimated 10.0 percent versus 9.9 percent in March 2008. Total March sales included a fleet reduction of 44 percent year-over-year for the same period, as the Company continues to emphasize retail over fleet. For Q1 of 2009, Chrysler’s total sales were down 46 percent as compared to the same period in 2008.
* Sales of the Dodge Ram were up 34 percent (19,328 units) in March compared to February
* Jeep Wrangler sales were up 16 percent (10,000 units) year-over-year compared to March 2008 (8,589 units)
* Posting a year-over-year increase, Dodge Journey sales in March (5,987 units) were up 127 percent compared to March 2008 (2,640 units), and up 30 percent compared to February 2009
* Chrysler Canada sales for March were 15,937 units, an increase of 33 per cent compared to the February 2009 total of 12,015
* Chrysler LLC sold 14,148 units outside of North America in March 2009, a decrease of 41 percent compared to March 2008 sales (24,032). The decline in sales was the result of challenging economic conditions worldwide.
* In the United States, Chrysler continues to offer the Employee Pricing Plus Plus program through April, which offers the employee price to all customers purchasing or leasing a new 2008 or 2009 Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge vehicle. Chrysler Financial also is offering zero-percent financing on select products to qualified customers for up to 48 months. In addition, customers are eligible for cash discounts of up to $3,500 for 2009 model year vehicles and can find great deals on 2008 models in stock. Additionally, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Company’s minivans, customers can add at no change a DVD player on Chrysler Town & Country or Dodge Grand Caravan.
* Project Genesis has slowed slightly due to the economy, but the company is still making progress in transforming its U.S. dealer network. Through March 2009, 61 percent (1,992) of Chrysler LLC dealers are tri-branded (Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge), compared to 55 percent one year ago. Additionally, metro markets have increased tri-branded dealers by 24 percent. In the United States we now have 3,215 dealers, down from 3,528 dealers one year ago in March 2008.
* As of March, the Chrysler dealer network outside of the U.S. includes roughly 450 dealers in Canada, 117 dealers in Mexico plus 57 branches and 9 showrooms; and 1550 dealers outside of North America.

Product:

* For the 2009 model year (MY), more than 88 percent of Chrysler’s vehicles achieved five stars for frontal-crash tests; 86 percent achieved the highest rating for side-impact protection.
* For the 2009 MY, 73 percent of our product lineup offers improved fuel economy compared with last year’s models.
o Chrysler has six vehicles that achieve 28 mpg on the highway: Dodge Caliber, Dodge Avenger, Chrysler Sebring, Chrysler Sebring Convertible, Jeep Patriot and Jeep Compass.
o The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram pickup is an outstanding example of our focus on greater fuel economy. Chrysler designers and engineers spent more than 200 hours in our wind tunnel optimizing the design of the vehicle for lower wind resistance and better fuel mileage. These efforts improved the vehicle’s coefficient of drag (COD) to .419 (most pickups have a COD of .50 or higher).
* Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the new 2009 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan models are equipped with a newly optimized 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine, a minivan-first six-speed automatic transmission and best-in-class aerodynamics (COD of 0.33), that now deliver EPA fuel efficiency of 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway … no other minivan offers better fuel economy.
* We continue to invest in new products, with 24 vehicle launches planned for the next 48 months. More than 60 percent of our total sales volume will be renewed, including the next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Charger, Dodge Durango, Chrysler 300 and several exciting new small cars. We will continue to improve overall fuel economy with these new small-car entries and our all-new Pentastar V-6 engine.
* Chrysler’s internal warranty data show that the company is building vehicles with the highest quality in the company’s 84-year history. Chrysler has the lowest warranty claim rate in its history, with a 30 percent improvement in the last 12 months and a cost savings of $240 million.
* Through our internal ENVI organization, we are focused on electric as our primary clean-vehicle technology. Our product plan includes the introduction of a full-function electric-drive model in 2010. Approximately 100 electric-drive vehicles will be placed on the road in government, business, utility and Chrysler development fleets in 2009.

Product Awards:

* The all-new Ram already has earned 15 industry awards, including the 2009 International Truck of the Year, Truckin’ magazine’s Truck of the Year, Texas Auto Writer's Association (TAWA) 2009 Full-Size Pickup Truck of Texas, Edmunds.com Inside Line Editors Most Wanted for 2009 and the “Best New Pickup Truck” by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada.
* The all-new Ram earned a place on Ward’s distinguished list of winners, taking home the “2009 Interior of the Year” award in the popular-priced truck category.
* Chrysler earned two Polk Automotive Loyalty Awards. The 2009 Chrysler Town & Country earned the “Automotive Loyalty Award – Minivan” for the eighth year in a row, and Jeep Grand Cherokee took “Automotive Loyalty Award – Mid-size SUV.”
* The all-new Dodge Ram 1500 was named “Best Pickup Truck” and the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan were named “Best Minivans” in “MotorWeek” television’s annual Drivers’ Choice Awards.
* The new Ram also was chosen by Car and Driver magazine as the best full-size pickup truck in head-to-head competition with its competitors, including the new Ford F-150.
* The Detroit Free Press gave the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 its highest rating — four stars or best in its class — in a product review by auto writer Mark Phelan.
* The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 received “Truck of the Year” and the Dodge Challenger was awarded “Car of the Year by the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP).
* Chrysler products received four of Four Wheeler magazine’s top 10 picks. For the second year, the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon took “Editor’s Pick” honors for “Best Overall” four-wheel-drive vehicle.
* The Dodge Power Wagon took home honors from Four Wheeler for the best full-size pickup and was called “pure pickup perfection.” The Power Wagon also was honored with the Best 4×4 System.
* Popular Mechanics named the Dodge Challenger to its list of Automotive Excellence Awards for 2009.
* Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com) honored the 2009 Jeep Wrangler in its Best Resale Value Awards as the leader in the sport-utility vehicle segment.

Investments:

* Chrysler will invest approximately $1.8 billion in vehicle programs, including a significant expansion and upgrade at the Jefferson North (Detroit) Assembly Plant to ready it for future production, starting in 2010.
* Jefferson North is undergoing a 285,000 square-foot building expansion to replace the existing body shop, which will give the facility an all-new level of manufacturing flexibility for multiple products. In addition, changes throughout paint and assembly operations will accommodate vehicles of various sizes and dimensions. Material handling and other plant functions also will be improved.

Productivity:

* Since 2001 Chrysler has reduced the man hours needed to assemble a vehicle 31.4 percent from 44.28 hours to 30.37 hours.
* Last year, Chrysler tied Toyota for No. 1 in manufacturing productivity, and has the No. 1 assembly plant (Toledo Supplier Park) and No. 1 engine plant (GEMA joint venture with Hyundai and Mitsubishi).

Summary of Chrysler LLC manufacturing operations:

* 12 Assembly plants (8 U.S.)
* 5 Engine plants (4 U.S.)
* 6 Stamping plants (4 U.S.)
* 7 Transmission/casting/machining/axle plants (6 U.S.)

U.S. assembly plants:

* Belvidere (Ill.) Assembly Plant (Dodge Caliber, Jeep Patriot, Jeep Compass)
* Conner Avenue Assembly Plant (Detroit)
* Jefferson North Assembly Plant (Detroit) (Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Commander)
* St. Louis Assembly Plant North (Fenton, Mo.) (Dodge Ram)
* Sterling Heights (Mich.) Assembly Plant (Dodge Avenger, Chrysler Sebring, Chrysler Sebring Convertible)
* Toledo (Ohio) North Assembly Plant (Jeep Liberty, Dodge Nitro)
* Toledo (Ohio) Supplier Park (Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Wrangler Unlimited)
* Warren (Mich.) Truck Assembly Plant (Dodge Ram, Dodge Dakota)

U.S. engine plants:

* Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA) (Dundee, Mich.)
* Kenosha (Wis.) Engine Plant
* Mack Avenue Engine Plant I and II (Detroit)
* Trenton (Mich.) Engine Plant
U.S. stamping plants:

* Mt. Elliott Tool and Die (Detroit)
* Sterling (Sterling Heights, Mich.) Stamping Plant
* Twinsburg (Ohio) Stamping Plant
* Warren (Mich.) Stamping Plant

U.S. transmission/casting/machining/axle plants:

* Detroit Axle Plant
* Indiana Transmission I Plant (Kokomo)
* Indiana Transmission II Plant (Kokomo)
* Kokomo (Ind.) Casting Plant
* Kokomo (Ind.) Transmission Plant
* Toledo (Perrysburg, Ohio) Machining Plant

Canada assembly plants:

* Windsor (Ontario) Assembly Plant (Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan)
* Brampton (Ontario) Assembly Plant (Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger)

Canada casting:

* Etobicoke Casting (Toronto, Ontario)
Mexico assembly plants:

* Saltillo Assembly Plant (Dodge Ram heavy duty)
* Toluca Assembly Plant (Chrysler PT Cruiser, Dodge Journey)

Mexico engine plant:

* Saltillo Engine Plant

Mexico stamping plants:


* Saltillo Stamping Plant
* Toluca Stamping Plant
 
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#2 ·
UPDate Old Chrysler 08/13/2009

Thursday, August 13, 2009
Firm details old Chrysler debt

Chrysler LLC owed $26.9 billion in liabilities and had $21 billion in assets when it filed for bankruptcy on April 30.

Court documents filed late Wednesday by Old Carco LLC -- which is liquidating old Chrysler assets in bankruptcy -- include more than 3,500 pages of financial information about the carmaker leading up to its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.


Assets yet to be liquidated include seven plants, property, equipment and inventory. Old Carco's liabilities include lawsuits and terminated dealer, supplier and other contracts.

At the time of its filing, the company estimated it had $39.3 billion in assets, of which $2.6 billion could be liquidated, and $55.2 billion in debt.

The parts of the company deemed necessary to continue to make and sell vehicles were sold to a new company, Chrysler Group LLC, formed June 10 in an alliance with Fiat SpA. Funding for the deal came from the U.S. and Canadian governments, and $2 billion in cash was given to creditors in return for forgiving $6.9 billion in debt.

The new Chrysler Group has resumed business under new Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne, who is CEO of Fiat.

Old Carco's deadline to file the documents was today. "This is a requirement of bankruptcy law," Chrysler spokeswoman Shawn Morgan said Wednesday.

The Auburn Hills automaker reported income of $7.5 billion this year up to the date of its filing for Chapter 11 protection. That compares with full-year income in 2008 of $44.2 billion and $60.5 billion in 2007.

Among the payouts cited was about $20 million to Chrysler's main bankruptcy law firm, Jones Day LLC, and almost $13 million to financial adviser Capstone Advisory Group LLC.

Article Continued: Firm details old Chrysler debt | detnews.com | The Detroit News
 
#3 ·
Chrysler Group LLC Manufacturing Operations

July 28, 2010


UNITED STATES, CANADA and MEXICO
ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS
Manufacturing Facility


Location

Products
Belvidere Assembly

Belvidere, Ill.


Dodge Caliber, Jeep® Patriot, Jeep Compass

Brampton Assembly

Brampton, Ont. (Canada)


Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger,
Dodge Charger


Jefferson North Assembly

Detroit, Mich.

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Saltillo Truck Assembly

Saltillo (Mexico)


Dodge Ram 1500, Dodge Ram Mega Cab,
Dodge Ram 2500/3500, DX Chassis Cab
(Mexico Market), Dodge Ram 4500/5500


Sterling Heights Assembly

Sterling Heights, Mich.


Chrysler Sebring sedan and convertible,
Dodge Avenger


Toledo North

Toledo, Ohio


Jeep Liberty, Dodge Nitro

Toledo Supplier Park

Toledo, Ohio


Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Wrangler Unlimited

Toluca Assembly

Toluca (Mexico)


Dodge Journey

Warren Truck Assembly

Warren, Mich.


Dodge Ram 1500, Dodge Dakota,
Mitsubishi Raider


Windsor Assembly

Windsor, Ont. (Canada)

Chrysler Town & Country,
Dodge Grand Caravan, Volkswagen Routan


POWERTRAIN OPERATIONS
Manufacturing Facility


Location

Products
Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA)

Dundee, Mich.


2.0-liter (I-4), 2.4-liter (I-4)

World Engines
Kenosha Engine

Kenosha, Wis.


2.7-liter (V-6), 3.5-liter (V-6) engines

Mack Avenue Engine I

Detroit, Mich.


4.7-liter (V-8) engine

Mack Avenue Engine II

Detroit, Mich.


3.7-liter (V-6) engine

Saltillo Engine

Saltillo (Mexico)


2.4-liter (I-4), 5.7-liter (V-8) HEMI®,
6.1-liter (V-8) HEMI


Trenton North

Trenton, Mich.


3.3-liter (V-6), 3.8-liter (V-6),
4.0-liter (V-6) engines


Trenton South

Trenton, Mich.


3.6-liter (V-6) Pentastar engine

TRANSMISSION/CASTING/MACHINING/AXLE OPERATIONS
Manufacturing Facility


Location

Products
Detroit Axle

Detroit, Mich.


Axles, differentials, independent front suspensions
Indiana Transmission I


Kokomo, Ind.

Rear-wheel drive transmissions for trucks and Jeep vehicles
Indiana Transmission II


Kokomo, Ind.

Transmissions for large cars and
Jeep vehicles


Kokomo Casting

Kokomo, Ind.


Transmission/transaxle cases and
aluminum transmission components


Kokomo Transmission

Kokomo, Ind.


Front-wheel drive transmissions

Etobicoke Casting

Etobicoke, Ont. (Canada)


Aluminum die castings, pistons, engine, transmission parts
Toledo Machining


Toledo, Ohio

Steering columns, torque converters

STAMPING OPERATIONS
Manufacturing Facility


Location

Products
Saltillo Stamping

Saltillo (Mexico)


Automotive stampings and assemblies
Sterling Stamping


Sterling Heights, Mich.

Automotive body stampings and assemblies

Toluca Stamping Facility

Toluca (Mexico)


Automotive body stampings and assemblies
Warren Stamping


Warren, Mich.

Automotive body stampings and assemblies

INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS
AFRICA

Arab American Vehicles (Joint venture with Arab Organization for Industrialization)

Cairo, Egypt

Jeep Cherokee (Liberty), Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and Jeep J8 (for military purposes)

SOUTH AMERICA
Carabobo Assembly Plant Chrysler de Venezuela, S.A.


Valencia, Venezuela

Jeep Cherokee (Liberty),
Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Caliber
 
#4 ·


Jun 6, 2012 by PentastarVideo

Chrysler Group's Manager of Historical Services Brandt Rosenbusch gives us a look back over the history of Chrysler, including highlighting just some of our "segment busters" and what Mr. Chrysler would think of today's company. Video conducted at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum, Auburn Hills, Mich.
 
#5 ·


Jun 6, 2012 by PentastarVideo

In 1996, a Chrysler historical series was put together for the Chrysler Employee Network, with a review of the company's history through the 1970s. The Chrysler Chronicles has not been updated since but it's still a valuable look-back at our wealth of automotive heritage and innovation.
 
#6 ·


Jun 6, 2012 by PentastarVideo

In 1996, a Chrysler historical series was put together for the Chrysler Employee Network, with a review of the years leading up to the company's incorporation by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925. The Chrysler Chronicles has not been updated since but it's still a valuable look-back at our wealth of automotive heritage and innovation.
 
#7 ·


Jun 6, 2012 by PentastarVideo

In 1996, a Chrysler historical series was put together for the Chrysler Employee Network, with a review of the company's history through the 1920s. The Chrysler Chronicles has not been updated since but it's still a valuable look-back at our wealth of automotive heritage and innovation.
 
#8 ·


Jun 6, 2012 by PentastarVideo

In 1996, a Chrysler historical series was put together for the Chrysler Employee Network, with a review of the company's history through the 1930s. The Chrysler Chronicles has not been updated since but it's still a valuable look-back at our wealth of automotive heritage and innovation.
 
#9 ·


Jun 6, 2012 by PentastarVideo

In 1996, a Chrysler historical series was put together for the Chrysler Employee Network, with a review of the company's history through the 1940s. The Chrysler Chronicles has not been updated since but it's still a valuable look-back at our wealth of automotive heritage and innovation.
 
#10 ·


Jun 6, 2012 by PentastarVideo

In 1996, a Chrysler historical series was put together for the Chrysler Employee Network, with a review of the company's history through the 1960s. The Chrysler Chronicles has not been updated since but it's still a valuable look-back at our wealth of automotive heritage and innovation.
 
#11 ·


Jun 6, 2012 by PentastarVideo

In 1996, a Chrysler historical series was put together for the Chrysler Employee Network, with a review of the company's history through the 1950s. The Chrysler Chronicles has not been updated since but it's still a valuable look-back at our wealth of automotive heritage and innovation.
 
#12 ·


Jun 6, 2012 by PentastarVideo

In 1996, a Chrysler historical series was put together for the Chrysler Employee Network, with a review of the company's history through the 1980s. The Chrysler Chronicles has not been updated since but it's still a valuable look-back at our wealth of automotive heritage and innovation.
 
#13 ·


Jun 5, 2012 by PentastarVideo

Brandt Rosenbusch, manager of Historical Services for Chrysler Group, gives us a look at the only existing prototype of the 1924 Chrysler B-70 Phaeton, commonly known as the Chrysler Six. The car is on display at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum, Auburn Hills, Mich.
 
#15 ·
Jeep® Cherokee: 1974 – 2001

Jeep® Cherokee first introduced in 1974 based on original Jeep Wagoneer (SJ platform)

Major redesign in 1984 saw the Jeep Cherokee reintroduced as a smaller, more advanced sport-utility vehicle (SUV), effectively inventing the modern SUV

More than 2.5 million Cherokee models sold worldwide between 1974 and 2001

Top sales year was 1999 with more than 200,000 units sold worldwide



September 9, 2013 , Auburn Hills, Mich. -

2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited


The Jeep® Cherokee debuted in 1974, and was based on the Jeep Wagoneer SJ platform.

The original Cherokee was marketed as the sporty two-door version of the popular Jeep Wagoneer. The Cherokee remained a two-door sport-utility (SUV) until 1977 when a four-door version was introduced. Jeep produced 197,338 SJ platform Cherokee models between 1974 and 1983.

In 1984, American Motors Corporation invested $250 million to redesign the Jeep Cherokee as a smaller, more advanced SUV based on the all-new Jeep XJ platform. The 1984 Jeep Cherokee was a revolutionary vehicle — 21 inches shorter, 6 inches narrower, 4 inches lower, and a thousand pounds lighter than the full-size Wagoneer (SJ). It was built on a revolutionary unibody platform instead of a traditional chassis-and-frame. The Cherokee continued to be available as both two- and four-door models until 1988.

The Jeep Cherokee (XJ) was the first vehicle with two available 4x4 systems: Command-Trac part-time and Selec-Trac full-time 4x4. Jeep Cherokee XJ models have proven enduringly popular with 4x4 enthusiasts for their off-road capability and wide availability of aftermarket modifications.

Sales of the Jeep Cherokee soared after the 1984 redesign with more than 100,000 units sold worldwide every year from 1986 through 2001. In 2002, Cherokee was replaced by the Jeep Liberty in North America. The Cherokee had its best sales year in 1999, with more than 200,000 units sold worldwide.
 
#16 ·
12/02/2013

Chrysler digs into ancient files, finds build records for 1941 Plymouth project

Getting a glimpse of long-abandoned Special Deluxe sedan's past




A little more than a year ago, I bought a 1941 Plymouth Special Deluxe sedan that had been sitting in the Colorado high desert east of Pikes Peak since the middle 1960s. My plan is to build it into an untouched-patina road-race car with Lexus SC400 suspension, turbocharged GM LL8 straight-six, ZF "black tag" 6-speed from a C4 Corvette ZR-1, and other items from the good-bang-for-buck parts bin. Having begun the process with no paperwork beyond a bill of sale, I have already braved the Kafkaesque process of getting the State of Colorado to issue me a "builder's title" for my Plymouth (which now sits with the body on blocks of wood and the frame cruelly violated with hardware bearing Toyota part numbers). That process involved lien searches, title searches, surety bonds, and so forth, and that got me wondering about the early history of the car. When and where was it built? Where was it sold? Is it really a 1941, or an identical-looking 1940 model? Fortunately, Chrysler Historical Services will dig up the paperwork for many 1930-1967 Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge, and DeSoto cars and trucks, for a fee ranging from $25 to $45.

Read more: Chrysler digs into ancient files, finds build records for 1941 Plymouth project - Autoweek
Follow us: @AutoweekUSA on Twitter | AutoweekUSA on Facebook
 
#17 ·
Plymouth Automobile




Plymouth is a subsidy of the Chrysler Corporation formed in 1929 as a lower-end vehicle. During the depression of the 1930s, Plymouth’s sales kept the Chrysler Corporation intact and by 1931 it rose to third in the automobile industry.

By the mid-1930s, Plymouth began to be exported to other countries around the world such as, Sweden, Denmark, UK and Australia. In 1939, 417,528 Plymouths were produced and 5,967 of them were convertible coupes with a rumble seat. It was advertised as the first mass-produced convertible with a folding power top.

Along with Chevrolet and Ford, Plymouth was one of the top three selling cars in America for the majority of its life. Plymouths were affordable, durable and were more advanced in styling than Ford or Chevrolet. In 1957, 726,009 Plymouths were produced which was about 200,000 more than the previous year.

However, poor quality material was used and with inadequate corrosion protection, it damaged Chrysler’s reputation. Even then during the early 1960s, enough Plymouths were sold to be profitable. With the addition of the Valiant in 1961, sales began to increase, but in 1962 under the assumption that Chevrolet was going to downsize their line, Chrysler produced smaller vehicles and sales once again began to drop. In 1963, Plymouth produced a line of larger vehicles and a restyling in 1964.

In 1965, Plymouth produced their largest vehicles ever and all were named the Fury. Fury I was the basic model, Fury II was a mid-range model, the deluxe model was the Fury III and the Sport Fury was the top of the line with bucket seats and a V-8.

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Plymouth began producing “muscle cars” with either a Super Command 440 or a Hemi 426 V-8 engine. Late 1970s into the early 1980s saw a fall in sales and in attempt to regain sales, Plymouth produced compact front-wheel-drive Horizons. They sold well until 1987. While other manufacturers downsized their models, Plymouth’s attempt to make the Fury line smaller failed and the in 1981 dropped the Fury altogether from its line.

Plymouth’s division was disbanded in the 1980s and future models were renamed Dodges. By the late 1990s there were only four models sold with the Plymouth name, Voyager and Gran Voyager minivan, Breeze, Neon and Prowler.

After 1990, sales continued to falter with rarely exceeding 200,000 vehicles per year and Daimler-Chrysler announced they would drop the Plymouth after the 2001 limited run of models.

By 2001, Neon was the only model sold under the Plymouth name. Voyagers were now Caravans, the Breeze was now a Dodge Stratus and the Prowler was now a Chrysler PT Cruiser. After 2001 model year, the Neon became a Dodge and Plymouth was discontinued for good.


Read more at Plymouth Automobile - Auto Manufacturers Reference Library - redOrbit
 
#18 ·
A Brief History of Ram Vans



A Brief History of Ram Vans

Published on Jun 26, 2014

Did you know that Chrysler Group has a nearly 100 year history of producing vans? The company's van production began under the Dodge logo. Chrysler Group historian Brandt Rosenbusch picks up the story there with pictures of many of the early cargo and passenger vans.
 
#19 ·
Dodge: 100 Years



Dodge: 100 Years

Published on Jun 27, 2014

A collection of historic Dodge vehicles on display, in celebration of the brand's 100-year anniversary.
 
#20 ·
Dodge 100 | 1915 Touring Car Ride-Along



Dodge 100 | 1915 Touring Car Ride-Along

Published on Jun 28, 2014

Chrysler Digital Media's Dale Jewett takes a ride in a 1915 Dodge Brothers Touring Car with Todd Fisher, a Restoration Technician, during a celebration of Dodge's 100-year anniversary.
 
#21 ·
The 1966 Dodge Charger: Chrysler Shows Its Muscle

The 1966 Dodge Charger: Chrysler Shows Its Muscle



11/23/2014

One of the key turning points in automotive history came when cars went from a one-size-fits-all product to a variety of designs aimed at appealing to different ages, tastes, and budgets. By the 1960s, buyers had their pick of basic, sport, and luxury vehicles. However, the folks at Chrysler were latecomers to the specialized car world. To catch up to their rivals, they chose Dodge to introduce their entry into the fast-growing muscle car market of the 1960s. From their efforts came the Charger; one of the great vehicles to come out of that turbulent decade.

Built on the legendary B-body, the Dodge Charger made its debut at the 1966 Rose Bowl. Everything about the new car suggested speed; from its fastback shape, to its grill that resembled the teeth of an electric razor (or, to some observers, the jaws of a shark). Four engines were available for the ’66, from the relatively tame 318 cubic inch to the 426 hemi, which had been toned down from its racing version for street use. The next year, a 440 cubic inch monster was added as an option.

PHOTO GALLERY: Browse Photos of 1966 Dodge Chargers

One of the questions asked in the early days was, “where are its headlights?” The ’66 featured the first flip-up lamps on a Chrysler vehicle since 1942 De Soto. When folded down, the absence of visible lights gave the Charger the look of a streamlined beast– sleek and strong and on the hunt for fresh prey.
 
#22 ·
The Plymouth XNR

A Car So Personal Virgil Exner Named It After Himself, the Plymouth XNR

December 15, 2014






In the late 1950s, when Chrysler executives asked Virgil Exner Sr to show them what could be done with a highly personalized future car for the popularly priced Plymouth brand, the Chrysler design chief took them at their word and came up with something so personal that he named it XNR, after himself. One of a series of Chrysler Corp show cars built by Ghia in Italy, the XNR was based on the compact Valiant chassis. Unlike many of the other Exner-Ghia concepts that featured Mopar’s marquee motor, the Hemi, the XNR is powered by a souped up version of what would in time become venerable but what was then a new engine, the Slant Six. With its asymmetrical and quirky styling, the little speedster is quite an interesting car, but its provenance, which includes being both Exner’s and the Shah of Iran’s personal vehicles and surviving a Mideast civil war, is even more interesting.

Once built, the XNR was shipped to the United States where it went on the show circuit, appearing on Road & Track’s cover.

After Exner and his team did sketches in 1958 and the following year, a 3/8ths scale clay model was sculpted in Detroit. That model and the modified Valiant unibody was shipped to Ghia in Turin. Ghia and Chrysler had a very successful relationship in the 1950s, with the Italian coachbuilder fabricating most of the company’s high profile concept cars. As was Ghia’s practice with those Chrysler “idea cars”, the XNR’s body was made of hand formed steel.

While Chrysler hype that the car might see production was typical of the day, the XNR was fully engineered and featured a complete black leather interior. While there was a small trunk lid in back, it was easier to access storage for luggage from behind the seats. Instrumentation reflected Exner’s passion for photography, with dial covers that mimic camera lenses.
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#23 ·
Special Report: Chrysler Group Product Heritage
Chrysler Brand Heritage Chronology


1875-1912: Kansas-born Walter Chrysler, son of a locomotive engineer, was connected to the transportation industries throughout his life. His love of machinery prompted him to forsake a college education for a machinist’s apprenticeship, and his early career comprised numerous mechanical jobs in the railroad industry.

1912-1920: In 1912, Chrysler joined General Motors as manager of its Buick manufacturing plant, becoming president of the Buick division four years later. After parting ways with GM in 1919, Chrysler began a second career as a “doctor of ailing automakers,” strengthening first Willys-Overland, then the Maxwell Motor Corporation.

1920-1924: Chrysler teamed up with three ex-Studebaker engineers, Fred Zeder, Owen Skelton and Carl Breer, to design a revolutionary new car. They defined what the products of the Chrysler brand would be – affordable “luxury” vehicles known for innovative, top-flight engineering.



1924: The first was the 1924 Chrysler Six, an all-new car priced at $1,565 that featured two significant innovations – a light, powerful, high-compression six-cylinder engine and the first use of four-wheel hydraulic brakes in a moderately priced vehicle. The well-equipped Chrysler Six also featured aluminum pistons, replaceable oil and air filters, full-pressure lubrication, tubular front axles, shock absorbers and indirect interior lighting.

1925: After securing a $5,000,000 loan to start production, Chrysler sold over 32,000 units of the Chrysler Six in its first year. The Maxwell company soon had a new name: Chrysler Corporation. In 1925, the firm boasted more than 3,800 dealers, sold over 100,000 cars and ranked fifth in the industry.



1925-1930: Some of Chrysler’s early high-performance, high-style cars startled industry observers and customers alike, but mid-range pricing added value and assured the success of the brand. Model numbers told customers how fast each Chrysler would go; the Chrysler 72, for example, featured an optional "Red-Head" engine for better pickup and hill climbing.


Chryslers would also perform commendably in other period racing venues, winning the 1925 1,000-mile Stock Car Speed Trial at Los Angeles and placing second, third and sixth at the Belgian Twenty-Four Hour Grand Prix of 1928. They also did well in endurance competition, completing a 1926 Kansas City-Denver test at an average speed of 51.8 mph and a 1927 New York-Los Angeles round-trip speed run at an average speed of 40.2 mph.

The 1928 acquisition of Dodge Brothers made Chrysler the third of Detroit’s Big Three automakers — and Walter Chrysler one of the most successful industrialists of his generation.

1930-1935: Within a decade of its founding, Chrysler Corporation’s leadership in innovation had earned for it the label of Detroit’s “engineering company.” Chrysler’s list of early automotive “firsts” included Floating Power (a new method of mounting engines to isolate vibration), replaceable oil filters, downdraft carburetors and one-piece curved windshields.



Chrysler entered a higher level of competition with its richly appointed Imperial series. With a custom-built body from LeBaron or Briggs, a 145-inch-wheelbase chassis, a 125-horsepower engine and a price tag of $3,145, a typical Imperial of the early 1930s rivaled a Duesenberg in style, but cost only about a third as much!

In 1934, Chrysler, with advice from Orville Wright, built a wind tunnel to test body shapes that led to the first unit-body, aerodynamic car — the Airflow. The idea came from Carl Breer after he tested conventional car shapes in a wind tunnel and found they registered much less drag “tail first.”


Chrysler’s Airflow "streamliner" was dramatic and ahead of its time — the fluid design and pioneering unit-body construction offered improved handing and passenger comfort in a vehicle unlike any seen before.

The Chrysler Airflow also featured recessed headlights, a low step-up height, a standard in-line eight-cylinder engine, automatic overdrive and good gas mileage (posting 21.4 miles per gallon on a coast-to-coast test trip). Unfortunately for Chrysler, the Airflow was a bit too different for most. Even though its design was soon widely copied, this first truly streamlined car was not a sales success.

1936-1937: Less-than-spectacular sales led to stronger promotion of cars like the $925 DeLuxe Eight over the slow-selling, $1,400 Airflow — and to more conservative Chrysler styling.

1938-1941: A new brand-defining model appeared: the New York Special, soon recast as the richly appointed Chrysler New Yorker. Its longstanding popularity would eventually make it America’s longest-running automobile nameplate (1938-1996).

"Fluid Drive" became known as another of Chrysler’s significant engineering innovations — it was an "almost automatic" transmission that virtually eliminated shifting. Others included Superfinish to reduce wear on contacting metal surfaces and Oilite self-lubricating bearings.

Gaining widespread notice in 1940, the Chrysler Thunderbolt show car was a huge two-seater with a retractable steel roof and streamlined cladding front to rear. Chrysler turned even more heads on Memorial Day that year when its exotic Newport Phaeton, one of only five built by LeBaron, served as pace car at the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.

The most striking production-model Chrysler of the prewar years was the 1941-42 Town & Country, a “barrelback” sedan expanded into an aerodynamic station wagon and trimmed with ash-and-mahogany side panels – the company’s elegant entry into autobuilding’s “woody” era.

1942-1945: All civilian car production stopped for the duration of World War II. Chrysler was eighth among all manufacturers in producing materials for the war effort.

1946-1954: When peacetime returned, Chrysler and other automakers rushed back into production with new cars retaining many of the solid, reassuring features of the prewar models, such as the ash-and-mahogany trim of the new 1946 Chrysler Town & Country sedans and convertibles that succeed the pre-war T&C station wagons.

While many customers, especially Hollywood stars, loved those postwar “woodies,” many others were ready for a change, not just from the style of Town & Country, but from all "high-and-wide" models that harkened back to prewar styles. But Chrysler stood steadfastly by its tall, stolid cars. Through the early '50s, it built "comforting" large cars; when Chryslers did eventually get a bit longer and lower, styling visibly trailed most rivals in the market.

The first indication of changing times at Chrysler came with the 1951 development, and enthusiastic reception, of the authoritative, hemispheric-head V-8 engine. The soon-to-be legendary HEMI® combined better combustion, higher compression and lower heat loss to create much more horsepower than previous V-8s. Close behind was the fully automatic Powerflite transmission.

Chrysler then reaffirmed its engineering reputation by commissioning a revolutionary gas turbine engine program. This 20-year campaign to apply an aircraft engine turbine's smooth power and low maintenance requirements to automobiles became part of the Chrysler brand's folklore.

In 1949, Chrysler hired Studebaker designer Virgil Exner to head an advanced styling section, a first step toward realigning the company’s design priorities. Exner enlisted the aid of Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Ghia to began building a remarkable series of so-called "idea cars," like the 1951 Chrysler K-310 five-passenger sport coupe, the 1952 C-200, which featured the "gunsight" taillight design later used on Imperials, and the 1953 Chrysler D'Elegance, a three-passenger sport coupe with hand-sewn, black-and-yellow leather upholstery and matching luggage.

The most extraordinary car in this series was the Chrysler Norseman, featuring cantilevered arches to support a roof without “A” pillars, all-aluminum body panels and a power-operated, 12-square-foot panel of glass that slid forward to expose the rear seat to the sky. Shipped to America by Ghia, the Norseman sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean on the ill-fated Italian steamship Andrea Doria.

1955-1962: Exner revived Chrysler production car design with the sleek, sculptured Forward Look designs of 1955 that transformed the product line overnight. The Forward Look flagship was the 1955 Chrysler 300, a striking automobile that combined smooth styling with brawny HEMI power. The 300, arguably the first muscle car, became a legend on and off the race track and set records throughout the 1950s, including a 143-mph performance at Daytona Beach.

As the Fifties progressed, Chrysler products began to sprout distinctive tailfins, ostensibly to improve handling and stability above 70 miles per hour. The 1957 Chrysler brand standard-bearer, the 300C, was equipped with a standard 392-cubic-inch, 375-horsepower HEMI, two four-barrel carburetors, a high-output camshaft, Torsion-Aire suspension and the new Torqueflite transmission, making it the fastest, most powerful production car built in America that year and earning it the appellation “beautiful brute.”

Throughout the postwar years, Chrysler engineering leadership paced new styling advances. The company's engineering "firsts" from that era include the first "safety cushion dashboard,” the famous Chrysler push-button transmission (which became an icon of the '50s), power steering, torsion-bar suspension and the first practical alternator (introduced in 1960, it proved so successful it became standard equipment just one year later).

1963-1970: Chrysler entered the second phase of its gas turbine project, completing 50 smartly styled, Ghia-designed prototypes for testing by 200 customers. With its whooshing jet-aircraft sound, distinctive exterior and a space-age interior filled with a massive console, the Chrysler Turbine Car would not be confused with any other vehicle. But the realities of poor mileage [11.5 mpg] and high production costs brought the project to a quiet close.

Chrysler products evolved gracefully through '60s — fins disappeared, large cars became more refined — and ads for the 1963 New Yorker promised that there were "no junior editions to compromise your investment." The 1963 Chrysler 300-J maintained the brand’s style-plus-speed image with standard leather interiors, heavy-duty torsion bars and Ram induction manifolds; a special-edition Pace Setter convertible version started the Indianapolis 500.

By 1965, Chrysler sales had increased 65 percent and the brand moved from 11th to ninth place in national rankings. Models ranged from the "affordable luxury" of the Newport line (with no fewer than 376 trim and color combinations), through the high-line New Yorker to the sporty 300 with its 440-cubic-inch V-8 engine.

1971-1979: Following a decade of considerable success, Chrysler made an ill-fated, $450 million investment in new large cars just before the 1973 oil embargo. Public demand quickly turned from traditional large cars to mid-size and smaller vehicles, forcing Chrysler and its competitors to make expensive changes to their product lineups.

One design highlight in Chrysler's rapidly evolving 1970s lineup was the Cordoba — a 115-inch-wheelbase coupe billed as "Chrysler's new small car." With its Jaguar-like front end, formal roofline and one-of-a-kind rectangular taillamps, it became one of the era’s most memorable cars – along with the TV commercials featuring actor Ricardo Montalban extolling the virtues of its “rich Corinthian leather” interior. Cordobas sold better than all other Chrysler models combined, inspiring other new, "smaller" Chrysler designs, like the LeBaron Medallion coupe.

1980-1987: In 1980, Chrysler — deep in its greatest financial crisis — turned to the all-new K-Car for salvation. While some called it "the metal brick," in many ways the functional, compact, front-wheel-drive K-Car was just the right car for the times.

This automotive "back to basics" era peaked with the 1984 introduction of the minivan. Chrysler Corporation's most practical vehicle proved to be its most popular and eventually led to the revival of the Chrysler Town & Country nameplate on an upmarket version.

The design highlight for the Chrysler brand during this period was unquestionably the LeBaron convertible, which reintroduced the convertible to the American market and enjoyed a nine-year run as it brought style and excitement back to the brand.

1988-1998: In the late 1980s, new leadership at Chrysler, determined to return the brand to its roots of engineering and design excellence, decided to create an entirely new line of "Euro-Japanese-ethic" cars — and developed platform teams to get the job done quickly and affordably. The new product philosophy was reflected in the development of concept cars like the 1988 Portofino and the 1989 Millenium.

Chrysler's renaissance began in earnest with the mid-size 1993 Concorde sedan, which was quickly followed by the full-size LHS and Chrysler 300M, the smaller Cirrus sedan, the companion Sebring luxury sports coupe and the separate Sebring convertible, and the next-generation Town & Country minivan.

1998-2007: Since the DaimlerChrysler merger in 1998, still more outstanding Chrysler vehicles have been developed, including the new Chrysler 300C, the PT Cruiser and PT Cruiser convertible, the all-new Sebring sedan and Sebring convertible, the Pacifica crossover, the latest versions of the Town & Country minivan and the Crossfire sports car.

More than 80 years after the creation of the company, each of these vehicles continues to personify Walter P. Chrysler’s original vision for the brand bearing his name: superb engineering, standout design and fun-to-drive performance — all at an affordable price.
 
#24 ·
1934 Chrysler Airflow

airflowwaterfall
The chrome


The world's first streamlined automobile, the Chrysler Airflow, posed beside the world's first streamlined train, Union Pacific's M-10000, in 1934.

1940_Chry_Thunderbolt_sd_top_up_concept.jpg
1940 Chrysler Thunderbolt concept
 
#25 ·
1946to1948ChryTCfrntlft.jpg
1946 - 48 Chrysler Town & Country


1951 Chrysler New Yorker. (C-988)

1955 Chrysler New Yorker

1955 Chrysler 300 Sport Coupe
 
#26 ·
1955 Chrysler 300 Sport Coupe

1955 Chrysler 300, a precursor of the Chrysler 300C Concept vehicle.

The 1955 Chrysler 300 established a new level of production car performance. Chrysler brand 75th Anniversary press kit photo. March, 1999.

Chrysler 300 Heritage 1955 300B.
 
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