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Chrysler Facts & Vehicle History

63K views 177 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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#27 ·
Chrysler 300 Heritage 1955 C-300

Chrysler 300 Heritage 1957 300C.

Chrysler 300 Heritage 1957 300C.

1957 Chrysler 300C, left side view.
 
#28 ·
1957 Chrysler 300C convertible, right side.

1957 Chrysler 300C, 3/4 right front view.

1963 Chrysler Turbine

The limited-production 1963 Chrysler Turbine Car, a showcase for Chrysler's renowned engineering capabilities, demonstrated the practicality of turbine propulsion systems in passenger cars.
 
#29 ·
The 1975 Chrysler Cordoba was a big hit in the burgeoning midsize personal luxury segment. Chrysler brand 75th Anniversary press kit photo. March, 1999.

1975 Chrysler Cordoba

1982 Chrysler LeBaron

Perhaps the most distinguished of all K-cars, the 1983-86 LeBaron Town & Country convertible evoked memories of its esteemed ancestor, the 1946-49 Town & Country
 
#30 ·
With its smoothly shaped body surfaces, wide variety of options and promises of unlimited fun in the sun, the 1987-1992 LeBaron convertible quickly generated a loyal following. Pictured here is the 1987 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible.

1991 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible

In its final form, the LeBaron convertible of 1993-1995 featured a different face, but delivered the same open-air excitement of its predecessors; form still followed function. Pictured here is the 1993 Chrysler LeBaron GTC Convertible.

1993 Chrysler Concorde
 
#32 ·
Gotta love classic American muscle cars!



Joe Higgins Dodge Sheriff - 1970

01/17/2015

Gotta love classic American muscle cars! The awesome symphony of eight pistons screaming in maxed out V-8, high octane harmony, as they threaten sub-orbital flight. Oh, I get all goose pimply just thinking about it.

The breeding period for these petrol-sucking beasts generally fell into the 1960s and early ‘70s. The roll call of these brutes might include the Grand Prix, Firebird Trans Am, GTO, or Wildcat with the hefty 455 cubic inch, four-barrel power plants.

Who could forget Chevrolet’s split window Corvette, Camaro, Chevelle or Nova SS? How about the FoMoCo equestrian blockbuster, Mustang? (Shelby if you were really lucky.) If you couldn’t get your hands on one, the Galaxie 500, Torino, or Falcon worked nicely. Did I say Falcon? Holy cow, I’m slippin’!

And certainly not to be left out, AMC’s Javelin, and AMX touted some pretty hefty power and eye-pleasing bodywork. Oh yeah, I suppose their obscure creation, the Matador, may just squeeze into this category. I couldn’t, however, quite justify, including the fishbowl Pacer or bobbed at the rear Gremlin.

OK, you Mopar fanatics, I’m not gonna leave you out. Here it comes. Charger, Challenger, Super Bird, Roadrunner, Hurst 300, Sport Fury, Polara, Barracuda. They were each synonymous with one word, POWER! Chrysler Corporation offered a covey of V-8s for their stable of thoroughbreds. The 318, 383, 413, 426 Hemi or the monster 440 Magnum could make the rubber smoke.

The Madison Avenue geniuses collected their revenue generating thoughts in the late ‘60s and made TV advertising history with their presentation of the aforementioned Mopar power to the motoring public. The spokesperson chosen to deliver their message in 1969 came in the form of a stereotypical, ******* sheriff from the Deep South. (This was prior to Smokey and the Bandit.) He became an instant hit. Mopar sales went through the roof.

The seasoned, professional actor chosen to hawk the Mopar wares was none other than a rotund Hoosier named Joe Higgins. Higgins was born in Logansport, July 12, 1925. His portrayal of the hick sheriff brought instant fame. The wide smile, his uniform complete with sunglasses, Stetson hat and sagging gunbelt captured our attention.

Higgins had worked his way up through the ranks as a character actor in 21 episodes of the Chuck Connors classic, The Rifleman. With some work as a voice over actor in animated films he went on to portray various fictitious television characters in Green Acres, The Monkees, The Mod Squad, Ironside, The Big Valley, Hill Street Blues, and Sigmund and the Sea Monsters. Sigmund and the Sea Monsters? I’m glad I don’t remember that turkey!

In a typical Mopar commercial, the sheriff (Higgins) would stop a supposed traffic violator behind the wheel of a shiny new Dodge muscle car. He would utter his famous catchphrase, “You in a heap o’ trouble, boy!” Whereas, he would proceed to question the driver while inspecting the vehicle and all its mouth-watering features and options.

As part of this advertising campaign, Dodge dealers, coast-to-coast were referred to as the “Dodge Boys.” The title was easy to remember and the car buyers did, as they signed their purchase agreements.

With his newly-acquired fame, Higgins suddenly found himself in soaring demand as featured speaker at dealer sales meetings, public appearances, and auto shows. I met him at an Indianapolis Auto Show in 1970, and he was very gracious.

He traveled from show to show and various conventions by airplane. Higgins held a Ph. D. in Aviation Education from Embry – Riddle University. Dr. Higgins, I presume.

One such Dodge Boys sales meeting was conducted right here in Kokomo, October 1970. The Central Indiana Dodge Dealer Association was treated to some “City of Firsts” hospitality. They gathered at the Kings Crown Inn at Southway Boulevard and U.S. 31 (931) for a buffet lunch, free Stetson hats, and pep talk by Dodge bosses and Higgins. The dealers also were treated to a photo op with Higgins afterward.

Higgins was later chosen as spokesperson for a series of Public Service Announcements (PSAs) promoting vehicle safety, using his typecast sheriff character. Many of us (as I was) were treated to a Higgins PSA film as part of our Student Driver’s Training classes. I got mine in 1971.

Higgins’ stint as Mopar spokesperson wound down around 1975. He continued to make use of his sheriff character until retirement. Higgins died in 1998 at age 72.

He sold “heaps” of cars for Chrysler Corporation, and we all chuckled in the process (and the transmission builders here in Kokomo appreciated his efforts). Classic muscle cars, there are lots of ‘em still out there, due in large part to Joe Higgins, “The Sheriff.”
“Ya’ll drive careful now, heah?”


Kokomo Indiana
http://kokomoperspective.com
 
#33 ·
A Turntable for Your Car

Portable Music: The Early Years – A Turntable for Your Car
February 6, 2015





Let’s look back to 1956 then, shall we? There were no cassettes or 8-track tapes, obviously no CDs — and digital media? Hell, this was even pre-Jetsons, so the fantasy wasn’t even born. There were, however, a couple of forward thinkers at Columbia, and in 1956 — the year Elvis broke down the door to the future — Columbia began offering portable record players made for your car.

Read More: Portable Music: The Early Years - A Turntable For Your Car | Portable Music: The Early Years - A Turntable For Your Car
 
#34 ·
The 1954 Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe







The 1954 Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe now belongs to David Cutler of Newport Beach. But it was his mother who purchased it new about 60 years ago.

SOURCE
 
#36 ·
First Chrysler tank - 1951

First Chrysler tank - 1951

April 16, 2015



This week’s Out of the Attic item is a photograph of the first production tank to roll off the assembly line at the Chrysler Newark Tank Plant. This momentous event on December 14, 1951, began a new way that Newark-area residents responded to the call to arms.

Historically, Newark-area men and women have responded to every call to arms from before the American Revolution to the present. They have responded with their time and effort and sometimes with their lives. Some have gone to combat, some have gone to support duty. Some have given time at home for duties as aircraft spotters, bandage rollers, supply packers, block wardens, emergency respondents and more.


Chrysler was already a part of the Newark scene when it won the tank assembly contract. Chrysler had bought a large farm that stretched westward from South College Avenue toward Elkton Road and southward toward West Chestnut Hill Road.

In 1948, the company opened an auto parts distribution facility along the Pennsylvania Railroad just west of the South College Avenue overpass. That facility distributed auto parts to Chrysler dealers and other repair shops along the mid-Atlantic coast. The large undeveloped portion of the property would become the location of the tank plant and test track.

When the successor tank contract was signed, the work moved to Detroit. Chrysler then expanded and renovated the Newark campus for automobile assembly.
SOURCE
 
#37 ·
'68 Dodge Dart restored



Just Cool Cars: '68 Dodge Dart restored over 500 hours

04/27/2015

BURBANK, Calif. — Sherman White is a guy who loves to cruise around. And he has the right car for it, a yellow 1968 Dodge Dart that he has restored.

White, who lives in Pasadena, Calif., loves his Chryslers and Dodges. "I'm a Mopar guy," he explains, referring to Chrysler's famous after-market parts division. Back in college, he says he drove a 1974 Plymouth Duster — another famous and long-gone Mopar name.

The Dart was labor of love. White says he probably sank 500 hours into restoring it. It "gives me something to do on weekends," he explains. He says he was attracted to the car's "nice, boxy, curvy sharp lines."


LINK
 
#38 ·
Chrysler’s Turbulent History

Chrysler’s Turbulent History

Chrysler, founded in 1925, has had a tumultuous history as the third-largest of Detroit’s auto companies. Known in the years after World War II for its well-engineered cars, it has spent the last three decades bouncing between highs and lows.

MAY 23, 2015


1979 The Chrysler Bailout

1982 Iacocca Rides High in Detroit

1987 Buying the No. 4 Automaker

1994 The Darling of Car Buyers

1998 Deal With Daimler Shapes a Global Giant

2007 A New Private Equity Owner

2008 U.S. Steps In With Auto Bailout

January 2009 A Lifeline From Fiat

April 2009 Forced to Seek Bankruptcy

June 2009 Fiat Takes Control

2010 Big Three Starting to Look Like Big Two

2011 A Return to Profit

2012 Merger Shows Fruits of Teamwork

2013 An Unlikely Comeback

2014 Chrysler Absorbed by Fiat

2015 A Safety Inquiry Into Jeep



LINK:
 
#39 ·
Retro Review: '00 Chrysler PT Cruiser



Retro Review: '00 Chrysler PT Cruiser

Published on Jun 25, 2015

Since you guys never want to see fast cars, expensive cars or BMWs for that matter, I found something that I know you've all wanted. Well here it is, a properly cool car, a hot rod, a looker and our #1 viewer requested!
 
#40 ·
1970 Dodge Coronet Super Bee





07/05/2015

1970 Dodge Coronet Super Bee

Muscle car is a term that's thrown around more than it needs to be in this day and age, especially by marketing people. If you're searching for a proper machine entitled to wear the muscle car label on its sleeves, then this 1970 Dodge Coronet Super Bee is it.

When talking about old-timer Dodge muscle cars, it's hard not to mention the Charger and Challenger. Blame The Dukes of Hazzard and Vanishing Point or the big-block V8 craze of that era, but one thing is certain - the Coronet Super Bee is true Mopar, one with stars in its headlamps and stripes on its sides.

Only 1,072 units were built in 1970: 599 four-speed manuals and 473 automatics. This is probably the best preserved example of them all. Of course, looking at the undercarriage will tell you that this is a professional restoration job, but originality was paramount during the refreshment process. Original components include the 440 cu. in. (7.2L) 6-pack Magnum V8 with 390 HP on tap, as well as the A833 four-speed manual.

Currently listed in RK Motors Charlotte's inventory at $97,000 (€87,484 at current exchange rates), the 1970 Dodge Coronet Super Bee at hand wears period correct W1 White paint thanks to a smooth, glossy coat of PPG Deltron two-stage. The black longitudinal stripes, black vinyl interior trim, and Super Bee call-outs are aesthetically correct as well, making this old Coronet a thoroughly desirable automobile.

Only 599 examples of the 1970 Dodge Coronet Super Bee are believed to be animated by the Six Pack powertrain. Vector in indicators such as "numbers-matching" and you're looking at one hell of an opportunity to dwell in the world of Mopar muscle. At the end of the day, a Coronet with Super Bee overalls is a constant source of American pride and big-block fun, elements that can't be replicated today.



Original Dodge Coronet Super Bee is What Muscle Cars Are All About – Photo Gallery
 
#41 ·
80-year-old coin celebrating Chrysler's first decade

80-year-old coin celebrating Chrysler's first decade found in Belle River

Jul 06, 2015




An Essex County man has unearthed an 80-year-old coin celebrating Chrysler's first decade in auto manufacturing.

Robb Meloche, of Belle River, used his Fischer F2 metal detector to unearth the coin that's marked 1924 on one side and 1934 on the other. Each side features a different Chrysler car, including the 1934 Chrysler Airflow.

The coins were given away at the 1934 World's Fair as part of Chrysler's huge exhibit there. Every person who stopped by the exhibit received a coin, Fiat Chrysler Canada spokeswoman Lou Anne Gosselin said in an email.

Meloche and his 10-year-old daughter found the coin in about 15 cm, or six inches, of dirt under a tree in his yard.

Not worth a lot

Meloche said the coin isn't worth a substantial amount of money.

Two of the commemorative coins sold on eBay in May for $2 and $38 US, respectively.

"It was really exciting to find such an old piece of history, especially since we live in an automotive city," Meloche originally said in a Facebook post he shared with CBC Windsor.

In June, Fiat Chrysler celebrated 90 years of Canadian operation.

Chrysler Corporation of Canada Ltd. Incorporated in Windsor, on June 17, 1925 as the successor to Maxwell-Chalmers Motor Company of Canada.

The company had 181 employees in 61,000 square feet of manufacturing floor space and produced 4,500 cars in its first year.

Meloche said his house and another house share a piece of property that used to be a strawberry field. He's not sure anyone who lived in either house ever worked at Chrysler.

"For the coin to be here is really odd," Meloche said. "I wish someone who knows about the history would get in touch with me."

Meloche said he would consider donating the coin to the Canadian Transportation Museum in Kingsville.

"The type of person I am, I'd probably have it lost in a month from now. I'd like to give it to someone who wouldn't lose it," he said. "If it was worth $1 million, I know I wouldn't lose it.
SOURCE
 
#42 ·
Chrysler Turbine Car




Chrysler Turbine Car

Published on Jul 23, 2015

The Chrysler Turbine Car Started Out as a Ford

We’ll probably never again see something like the combination real world test and publicity campaign that put 50 Chrysler Turbine cars in the hands of American families to test drive for a few months in the mid 1960s. That we’re talking about it more than 50 years later shows just how effective the PR for the Turbine was. Consequently, the Chrysler Turbine is undoubtedly one of the best known concept cars ever. Less well known is the fact that the Chrysler Turbine as we know it started out as a Ford.

First off, I’m in no way implying that Ford had a role in developing the turbine engine that was the heart of the Turbine cars. Chrysler’s turbine program was entirely the brainchild of senior Chrysler engineer George Huebner, though Ford Motor Company and General Motors both have had significant turbine research programs. However, when you say “Chrysler Turbine car”, people don’t visualize whirring fan blades and regenerators in their minds’ eyes. If they’ve ever heard a Turbine car run, their ears might think of the whooshing sound they make, often compared to a very powerful vacuum cleaner, but the predominating mental image most folks would have would be the very sleek, copper toned bodies that Ghia built to be powered by the jet engines.

While the Turbine car’s powertrain was the result of years of research at Chrysler, its exterior design began as a concept for the Ford Thunderbird. In 1960, Chrysler chairman....

Continued
 
#43 ·
Iconic Plymouth Superbird



Ontario man spending $300,000 on iconic Plymouth Superbird


08/04/2015

Al Boughton paid $135,000 for his 1970 Plymouth Superbird seven years ago and what a kick it was, driving the most high-winged, cone-nosed, eye-popping, breath-stealing muscle car ever fashioned in Detroit, with its 450-horsepower V-8 and beep-beep Road Runner horn. In fact, last September, he realized it was so good, he had to make it perfect, and perfection meant returning it exactly to original form, just as it had left the Lynch Road, Mich., assembly line in 1969.

Boughton estimated work will total $100,000. Mechanical components, perfected earlier, $35,000. Interior, $40,000. “So you’ve got $300,000 in it, but one sold for $575,000 in Florida last year, and this car is better-documented. If it’s not the best in the world, it’s certainly in the top three.”

To think there were no takers at the $4,804 MRSP in 1970. Too fast on the race track, too slow in the showrooms was the sad, short story of the Superbird and its Dodge Charger Daytona twin, banned by NASCAR after it dominated the 1970 stock car championship and axed by Chrysler for lack of customers.
Continued
 
#44 ·
The Top 10 Most Interesting Vehicles

The Top 10 Most Interesting Vehicles at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum

August 28, 2015




On December 31, 2012, the Walter P. Chrysler Museum closed its doors to the general public, citing the low attendance numbers that didn't justify keeping the museum open to the public year-round. Still, Chrysler has preserved the museum and occasionally opens the doors for special events. Luckily, we got behind the usually closed doors earlier this year at the 2015 Chrysler Employee Motorsport Association (CEMA) charity car show. Here are the top ten most interesting and important vehicles on display.

Read more: The Top 10 Most Interesting Vehicles at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum
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#45 ·
The Chrysler Conquest TSi

The Chrysler Conquest TSi is a Forgotten 1980s Gem

08/29/2015





Automotive history is a bit like a glossy coffee table art book. The greats are given full-page spreads and dazzling historical accounts, while everything else gets a footnote mention, or perhaps none at all. And frankly that’s too bad.

This is a Chrysler Conquest TSi. It earns substantially fewer full-page spreads in metaphorical coffee table books next to its contemporaries—the Toyota Supra, Nissan 300ZX, Mazda RX-7, Porsche 944—but that doesn’t mean it’s any less special. This 1989 Conquest TSi recently graced the pages of eBay, and it’s a welcome reminder of Mitsubishi’s performance car talent. Yes, Mitsubishi.

While it’s certainly no mystery, the Conquest draws its shape and mechanicals from the Mitsubishi Starion coupe, which entered the Japanese market in 1982. The original “narrow body” models produced only 145 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque, and were imported to the U.S. as Dodge and Plymouth brand vehicles. You could say they looked fairly modest in styling, however that would change for 1986.

The Starion (now badged as a Chrysler Conquest) received a substantial upgrade in ESI-R/TSi trim, now brandishing rowdy box flares atop its wheel arches, sleek 16-inch alloy wheels, and over two inches of added wheel track. Under the hood, the Conquest TSi and Starion ESI-R now punched out 176 horsepower and 223 lb-ft of torque from the 2.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, thanks to engine tweaking and the addition of an intercooler.

Sure, the Starion and Conquest twins may be omissions from the history books, but contemporary road tests prove their ability to turn smiles. A 1986 MotorWeek test between a Starion ESI-R and its aforementioned rivals (300ZX, RX-7, and 944 Turbo) found that the Mitsubishi ranked just behind the RX-7 in second place for slalom speed, and tied the 944 Turbo in skid pad top speed. Not bad for the cheapest car of the bunch.

Inside, driver and passenger were treated to seats with absolutely enormous side bolsters, a performance-minded center boost gauge, automatic climate control, motorized seat belts, and a cassette stereo system with graphic equalizer. Apart from the rampant ‘80s-ness inside, the overall Conquest and Starion designs still present very well today.

Further, this ‘89 Chrysler Conquest TSi looks remarkably good for its age, and as a post-’88 car, it sports an even taller 188 horsepower and 234 lb-ft of torque. Also, who doesn’t love a good box flare? According to the seller, the coupe shows only 58,576 miles on its odometer, though it does pack the four-speed automatic rather than the sought-after five-speed manual.

SOURCE
 
#46 ·
1969 Dodge A100 Sportsman Van



09/08/2015


As an A100 owner, I'm always on the lookout for treasures like this one

We haven't had a van Junkyard Treasure since this prehistoric non-minivan Plymouth Voyager last spring, and as a Dodge A100 owner I know how hard examples of Chrysler's forward-control van of the 1960s are to find in junkyards nowadays. These vans tended to get used up, finally getting scrapped only when the last possible mile got squeezed out, and that means they're exceedingly rare. Here's one that I found in the San Francisco Bay Area a few months back.
Read more: Junkyard Treasure: 1969 Dodge A100 Sportsman Van | Autoweek


1966 Dodge Trucks & Vans TV Commercial

Published on Feb 27, 2015

1966 Dodge Trucks & Vans "Tough Trucks" TV Commercial


1967 Dodge Pick-Up Truck & A-108 Van TV Commercial

Published on Feb 20, 2015

1967 Dodge Pick-Up Truck & A-108 Van TV Commercial
 
#47 ·
Chrysler Imperial (A Mighty Pleasant Sound)

Chrysler Imperial (A Mighty Pleasant Sound)

Published on Sep 8, 2015

A 1989 Murilee Arraiac song based on a tape of the exhaust falling off a 1965 Chrysler Imperial on its way to San Francisco.
 
#48 ·
Chrysler Brand Celebrates 90 Years

Chrysler Brand Celebrates 90 Years of Style, Engineering Innovation and Groundbreaking Products

September 22, 2015 , Auburn Hills, Mich. -

Chrysler Six, Airflow, Imperial, New Yorker, 300 and Town & Country are just some of the nameplates that mark the rich history of the Chrysler brand.

2015 marks the 90th anniversary of Chrysler, which was founded on June 6, 1925, by Walter P. Chrysler. Chrysler represents more than a brand – it symbolizes the people behind the products, and the influence of its founder can still be felt today.


Walter P. Chrysler built a company and a brand that wasn’t afraid to push the limits and think outside of the box. In 1925, when he realized his dream of creating his own company, he dedicated the company’s efforts to excellence in engineering, while building affordable, luxurious cars at a price consumers could afford. That tradition continues today.

Through the last 90 years, Chrysler vehicles were known for innovative engineering, groundbreaking style and “looking more expensive than they were,” the forerunner to affordable luxury.

1920s – The first Chrysler branded vehicle was born as part of Maxwell Motors: the Chrysler Six. Walter P. Chrysler was Chairman of Maxwell Motors prior to establishing Chrysler Corporation in June 1925. Priced at $1,565, the light, powerful vehicle had a groundbreaking L-head six-cylinder engine and four-wheel hydraulic brakes, an uncommon feature in the 1920s. Additional Chrysler Six features included tubular front axles, full pressure lubrication, aluminum pistons, replaceable oil and air filters, shock absorbers and indirect interior lighting.

1925-1930 – Early Chrysler vehicles provided style and power, but were also affordable, which contributed to the brand’s rapid success. Early models were named after their top speed: the Chrysler 58 had a top speed of 58 miles per hour (mph); a Chrysler 72 could go a max 72 mph and so on. In 1926, Chrysler introduced a more powerful and costly Imperial model, giving Chrysler a response to Cadillac, Packard and Peerless. The Imperials offered prestige as a top-of-the-line Chrysler. Chrysler production in the late 1920s focused on both four- and six-cylinder powered vehicles.

1930s – The 1930s brought the Great Depression in the United States and technology took hold in the automotive industry. Chrysler survived the Great Depression with stylish, economically priced cars and its reputation for practical, advanced engineering. Beginning in 1931, Chrysler introduced a number of engineering feats. Chrysler took “Floating Power,” a two-point mounting system strategically placed so the engine’s natural rocking axis would intersect with its center of gravity, keeping the engine’s natural vibration from reaching the frame and body, and improved it with rubber engine mounts, which further reduced engine vibration in the body. By the 1932 model year, all Chrysler models featured Floating Power. Industry firsts also featured on Chrysler products in the 1930s included a downdraft carburetor, automatic spark control and rustproofed, welded steel bodies.

The most groundbreaking vehicle from the 1930s was the Chrysler Airflow. Carl Breer was inspired by a squadron of Army Air Corps planes flying overhead in the late ‘20s. Pushing the boundaries of design, aircraft design principles were used for the development of the vehicle, along with inspiration from pilot Orville Wright, with whom Breer consulted. Chrysler constructed a wind tunnel at their Highland Park, Michigan, headquarters during the development of the Airflow. As the design team developed early prototypes, they learned about aerodynamics as they worked. They built at least 10 full-size semi-streamliners during development. Wind tunnel testing inspired the modified teardrop shape. The body sported a short, curved nose with faired-in headlamps, and the engine sat 20 inches farther back than was normal for the time.

Chrysler shocked the industry with a vehicle that represented future design and engineering advances when it introduced the Chrysler Airflow in 1934. The Airflow was an “engineer’s” car with impressive innovations at the time. A beam-and-truss body gave great strength but weighed less than expected, through a tighter interlocking method of blending body and chassis. Body panels extended below the frame and all passengers sat within the wheelbase. The engine reached past the front axle, enabling a smooth ride to rear-seat passengers. Automatic overdrive was introduced with both the Chrysler and DeSoto Airflows. For maximum passenger comfort, the Airflow seats were stretched to 50 inches, the widest in the industry.

The 1934 Imperial Airflow set 72 national speed records and recorded 95.7 mph in the flying mile at Bonneville.

While the Airflow was an engineering success, it was a car too far ahead of its time and was a retail failure. Yet, just a few years later, many of the cars being produced looked similar to the Airflow. While people flocked to see the vehicle when it was introduced because it was new and distinct, it didn’t translate to sales at the time. Today, the Airflow is considered one of the most significant industrial designs ever. It launched streamlined, modern shaping into the automotive world, as well as signaled an end to what was the traditional body construction and engine placement.

In the late 1930s, Chrysler made significant steps in transmissions with the introduction of “Fluid Drive.” The new gearbox design eliminated a lot of shifting required in transmission designs of the era and was a precursor to the modern automatic transmission. A fluid coupling was mounted in tandem with the conventional clutch, allowing slippage between the engine and transmission when the latter was in gear, allowing the driver to start in high gear if he chose, or the driver could shift gears the traditional way.

Chrysler developed the “Superfinish” method of mirror-finishing engine and chassis components, which set a new benchmark for bearing smoothness and helped minimize friction.

Notable vehicles that debuted in this period were the New Yorker and the Town & Country.

1940s – The Chrysler Thunderbolt was introduced in 1940.

Walter P. Chrysler, founder of the company and the brand, died in August 1940.

The early 1940s saw the development of the “Vacamatic,” a four-speed gearbox with two ranges. The driver used the clutch in the normal way by selecting either a Low (1-2) or High (3-4) range. Most driving could be done in high. While not a true automatic, it satisfied many buyers in the ‘40s and ‘50s.

The shapely, wood-bodied Chrysler Town & Country sedans and wagons were part of the smoother look for Chrysler products, with signature grille bars that wrapped around the front fenders.

Chrysler, like many automakers, geared up for war production after the start of the 1942 model year and halted civilian production of automobiles in February 1942. Among the better known of Chrysler’s World War II products were the M-4 Sherman tank, “Sea Mule” marine tugs, Harbor Utility Tugs (HUTs) and Chrysler-Bell air raid sirens.

The government authorized civilian auto production to begin in July 1945 and gas rationing ended in August 1945. Chrysler resumed production of civilian vehicles in December 1945.

The late 1940s saw the wood-bodied Town & Country sedans and the graceful and beautiful Town & Country convertibles draw the interest of celebrities, which began to spark interest in the full line of Chrysler vehicles.

1950s – 1951 was the birth of what would be one of the most recognized, powerful engines in the automotive industry, the hemispheric-head V-8 engine, otherwise known as the HEMI®. Initially installed in the Chrysler Saratoga, New Yorker and Imperial, the HEMI operated with exceptional volumetric efficiency and delivered truly thrilling performance for its day. The engine’s lower compression ratio also let the HEMI run on lower octane fuel than most V-8s at the time.

In 1955, the first muscle car, the Chrysler 300, was introduced. The hardtop contained a 300-horsepower HEMI V-8 with solid valve lifters and dual four-barrel carburetors, the most powerful full-size car in the world. A tight, competition suspension made the big Chrysler handle as well as it accelerated. The new Chrysler 300 would dominate NASCAR racing with the Kiekhaefer Mercury Outboard Racing team and driver Tim Flock. The Kiekhaefer team would win 20 of its 40 NASCAR races.

Highway Hi-Fi from CBS debuted in 1956 and featured a compact phonograph mounted under the dash with sound that came from regular speakers.

Virgil Exner took over Chrysler design in the early 1950s, with his “Forward Look” styling debuting in 1955. Exner’s new styling language featured a flat hood, light, airy roof and soaring tailfins.

In 1957, Chrysler Corporation’s entire line of cars was awarded Motor Trend’s “Car of the Year” award, and Exner and his team received the Gold Medal from the Industrial Design Institute.

1957 saw the introduction of torsion-bar front suspension, which delivered superior handling and allowed for much lower bodies. Chrysler also introduced the first rear-window defogger and child-guard rear door locks on its vehicles. In addition, the push-button TorqueFlite transmission with three speeds was offered. The three speeds allowed for better fuel economy and the TorqueFlite quickly earned a reputation as the industry’s best automatic transmission. In 1957, Chrysler Corporation products took first place in every class of the Mobil Economy Run.

In 1958, a Chrysler 300-D set a land speed record at Bonneville at 156.387 mph.

1960s – The brand continued to produce “style and speed” with the 300 J, as well as “affordable luxury” with the Newport line and the New Yorker.

The 1960s brought the move of all of Chrysler’s cars to unibody construction, rather than body-on-frame construction. Unibody construction is lighter, which helps to improve performance and fuel economy, and it is also designed to dissipate energy in a crash by enabling the frame to crumple and bend in specific ways, which allows the kinetic energy to travel through the car’s body, around the passenger compartment.

Chrysler began testing its gas turbine cars, producing 50 fourth-generation turbine-powered cars to be tested by consumer representatives all over the U.S. beginning in 1962. 1962 also marked the end of the Windsor nameplate, which was replaced with a non-letter 300. In the letter series, the Chrysler 300-H debuted in 1962.

In 1963, Chrysler shook up the automotive industry by offering a five-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty – the first of its kind in the industry.

The late '60s birthed the muscle car era, as well as a redesign of the big cars. Elwood Engel, the head of Chrysler design, went to a squarish but smooth exterior look highlighted by his trademark bright metal fender edging. Cleanly swept fenders ran in an unbroken front-to-rear line and a conventional column-mounted shifter replaced the push button controls inside for the TorqueFlite automatic transmission. Full-size cars could get the biggest V-8 to date, a 440-cubic-inch engine, and Chrysler issued the last of its 300 letter series cars, the 300-L in 1965, but production of the non-letter series 300s continued.

1968 brought the availability of rear washer/wiper for Chrysler wagons.

1969 debuted the new “fuselage styled” Chryslers, which were larger than the models they replaced.

1970s – The muscle car era came to an end as a result of stricter emissions and safety rules, rising insurance rates and a trend toward less expensive vehicles.
Electronic ignition is standard on all Chrysler vehicles in 1973, 5 mph front crash bumpers and 2½ mph rear crash bumpers are mandated and anti-theft devices operate the horn and lights.

With the 1973 oil embargo and fuel shortages, Chrysler had to shift its focus to production of mid-size and small vehicles.

1975 was the debut of the new Chrysler Cordoba, and Hollywood actor Ricardo Montalban took TV by storm as the pitchman for the vehicle. The Cordoba was billed as the new small Chrysler and a personal luxury coupe. It was the smallest post-World War II Chrysler built to date.

A new “fuel pacer” option debuted on 1975 models to warn drivers when they hit the gas pedal too hard.

In 1977, Chrysler and Calspan jointly develop a Research Safety vehicle that featured a reinforced body structure, soft elements, run-flat tires and a driver‘s side airbag. 1977 also marked the last of Chrysler’s turbine concept cars, the LeBaron Turbine Special, which featured knife-edge-shaped front fenders and headlamps hidden behind huge doors.

November 1978, Lee Iacocca is named President of Chrysler Corporation.

1980s – A financial crisis forced the brand to return to the basics.

In 1981, the Chrysler Imperial received a makeover to be one of the most distinctive cars of the year with hidden headlamps, knife-edge fenders and a unique “bustleback" rear end. Each car got a 5.5-mile road test at the assembly plant before it was delivered to the dealer.

The K-car platform was introduced by the company in 1981.

1982 brought the debut of the Chrysler brand K-car, the all-new front-wheel-drive Chrysler LeBaron. 1982 also saw the debut of the LeBaron Town & Country “woody” wagon, as well as a LeBaron convertible, the first convertible from Chrysler in a decade.

Chrysler Corporation introduced an entirely new vehicle segment in 1984 that revolutionized the automotive industry, the minivan, a front-wheel-drive compact van that was garagable, and provided easy entry and exit for drivers and passengers.

Chrysler acquired Lamborghini and debuted the Chrysler Portofino concept vehicle at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1987.

1990s – All Chrysler products are now front-wheel drive, and all Chrysler 1990 models offer a driver’s side airbag as standard equipment, leading the industry with this emerging safety technology.

The 1990 model year brought the introduction of the world’s first luxury minivan, the Chrysler Town & Country. It sported imitation wood paneling and luxury accommodations and other features typically not found on a minivan at the time.

With more than 75 minivan and industry innovations and more than 275 awards worldwide, the Chrysler minivan forever changed the automotive world. Even today, nothing moves people and things better than a minivan for the price of the vehicle: seating for seven, flat cargo load floor that can hold an 8-foot sheet of plywood with the Stow ‘n Go seats stored in the floor, excellent fuel economy and a variety of price points make the minivan the best people mover in the marketplace. Integrated child safety seats were available in the Town & Country minivan in 1992, an industry first.

In 1993, the front-wheel-drive LH-body Concorde sedan debuted. The Concorde was larger than a mid-size sedan, but smaller than a full-size sedan. The Concorde featured the new “cab forward” design where the windshield was pushed forward and the wheels were located much closer to the corners of the car than was normal at the time, creating more interior cabin space for passengers.

The Chrysler Cirrus mid-size sedan debuted the cab forward design when it entered the market in 1995. The Cirrus also debuted simple but significant details like an easy-to-remove battery and, for the first time, ashtrays were not standard equipment, they were an option.

1996 ushered in the debut of the third-generation minivan. The big news was the availability of a second sliding door for the passenger side and Easy-Out roller seats, both industry firsts.

The 300 nameplate returned to the Chrysler lineup in 1999 with the introduction of the 300M. Based on a 10-inch shortened version of the Concorde and LHS, it was designed for European export in mind. The Chrysler 300M was the first in the series to be powered by a front-wheel drive six-cylinder engine. Meant to be a modern interpretation of the 300 series, the 3.5-liter, 253-horsepower 300M offered a balance of performance, handling and fuel efficiency. The 300M sedan would be named Motor Trend’s “Car of the Year” in 1999.

2000s – With the merger of the Daimler and Chrysler companies, Chrysler continued to develop cars that people wanted, as well as taking a page from the minivan playbook by inventing vehicles that created new segments in the marketplace.

In 2001, the Chrysler Town & Country debuted the fourth generation of the minivan with an industry-first power liftgate. The Town & Country also featured power sliding doors with industry-first opening direction obstacle detection and in-door motors.

The PT Cruiser sedan also joined the Chrysler family in 2001, and was named Motor Trend’s “Car of the Year.” The too-cool-to-categorize PT Cruiser added a soft-top option in 2005 with the Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible, the latest in a long line of factory-backed customizations for the vehicle.

The Chrysler Pacifica debuted in 2004 as a “Sports Tourer,” the forerunner to the now popular crossover segment. The Pacifica was a segment buster with the flexibility and safety of a minivan, the capability of an SUV, but the style and refinement of a luxury sedan. With three-row “2+2+2” seating and front- or all-wheel-drive capability, the Pacifica was a stylish alternative for drivers who wanted flexibility and capability with luxury amenities.

The introduction of the 2005 Chrysler 300 series marked a return to rear-wheel drive and included the 5.7-liter HEMI-powered 300C model with 345 horsepower. The new 300 was named “Car of the Year” by Motor Trend. Adding even more performance to the lineup, the 425-horsepower Chrysler 300C SRT8 featured a 6.1-liter HEMI engine, four-piston Brembo brakes, performance styling, suspension and exhaust, and was capable of 0-60 mph times in the low 5-second range. Additional models within the 2005 to 2010 model year span included all-wheel-drive versions, the “blacked out” 300S, the 300C and 300C SRT8 Touring models (outside of North America) and the 300 “DUB” edition with standard 20-inch wheels.

2005 also saw the debut of a new Chrysler Town & Country minivan, which offered a revolutionary new feature, the Stow ‘n Go seating and storage system. The system featured industry-first, fold-in-the-floor, second- and third-row seats for a completely flat load floor that could still accommodate an 8-foot sheet of plywood, still an exclusive in the industry.

The fifth-generation Chrysler Town & Country minivan made its debut in the 2008 model year with 35 new or improved features for the “family room on wheels,” including the Swivel ‘n Go seating system. Swivel ‘n Go featured second-row seats that swiveled 180 degrees to face the third row and included a removable table that installed between the second and third row, along with covered storage bins in the second row. The 2008 Chrysler Town & Country also offered an integrated child booster seat in the second-row quad captain’s chairs, which was an industry first, and a minivan exclusive one-touch power-folding, third-row, 60/40 bench seat.

2010s – The Chrysler brand, after emerging from bankruptcy and now a part of Fiat Chrysler, continues to engineer excellence with an entirely all-new lineup of vehicles in the pipeline.

In May 2014, as part of the FCA US LLC five-year plan, Chrysler brand refocused it efforts and returned to the founding principles of Walter P. Chrysler: a mass-market brand that delivers innovative engineering, groundbreaking style and most important, all of this at a very attainable price. Chrysler products today are a value proposition that Walter P. would be proud of.

With these principles in mind, Chrysler debuted the all-new-from-the-ground-up Chrysler 200 mid-size sedan in 2014 as a 2015 model-year vehicle. The first mid-size sedan to offer a nine-speed automatic transmission as standard equipment, the 200 brought a number of features into the mid-size segment that were previously only seen on luxury cars. Advanced safety and security features, including Forward Collision Warning-Plus with crash mitigation, Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist, Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist and available luxury amenities, including heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated seats, premium leather interiors with real wood trim, handsfree phone and navigation, state-of-the-art all-wheel-drive system with a segment-first disconnecting rear axle for improved fuel economy and much more.

With roots that include the breakthrough 1955 and 2005 models, Chrysler debuted the new Chrysler 300 in 2015. It takes the nameplate’s bold style and sophistication to new levels and highlights six decades of ambitious American ingenuity through iconic design proportions and inspired materials, world-class quality and craftsmanship, best-in-class 31 mpg highway fuel economy, plus class-exclusive innovations, including a state-of-the-art TorqueFlite eight-speed transmission now standard on every model, the segment’s most advanced all-wheel-drive system, award-winning Uconnect Access services, all-new and segment-exclusive 7-inch full color driver information display and the newest generation Uconnect systems.

The Chrysler story continues in the second half of the decade with the introduction of an all-new Chrysler Town & Country minivan. The highly anticipated next generation of the minivan will make its debut in the first quarter of 2016.

About Chrysler Brand
The Chrysler brand has delighted customers with distinctive designs, craftsmanship, intuitive innovation and technology all at an extraordinary value since the company was founded in 1926.

Whether it is the groundbreaking, bold design of the Chrysler 300, the simple elegance and extraordinary driving experience of the all-new 2015 Chrysler 200 or the family-room-on-wheels functionality of the Chrysler Town & Country, Chrysler brand vehicles reward the passion, creativity and sense of accomplishment of its owners. Beyond just exceptionally designed vehicles, the Chrysler brand has incorporated thoughtful features into all of its products, such as the innovative center console with pass through storage and sliding cup holders in the 2015 Chrysler 200, the industry-exclusive Stow 'n Go® seating and storage system on the Chrysler Town & Country and the fuel-saving Fuel Saver Technology in the Chrysler 300.

The Chrysler brand's succession of innovative product introductions continues to solidify the brand's standing as the leader in design, engineering and value. The premium for the Chrysler brand is in the product, not the price.
 
#49 ·
Chrysler Sunbeam

22 September 2015



July 1977 saw the launch of Chrysler’s all-important small car, the Sunbeam. And to promote it the company employed the services of Petula Clark, the ’60s star who now found herself wearing a tight perm and singing about a hatchback.

The song was a version of Petula’s ‘Put a Little Sunshine in Your Life’, adapted to ‘Put a Chrysler Sunbeam in Your Life’ by those crafty creatives at Chrysler, with the second line promising ‘It’ll put a smile on your face’. A Sunbeam was shown tackling a variety of rural roads, while a voiceover boasted about the car’s annual service intervals and 50mpg fuel economy.

The Chrysler Sunbeam lasted just four years, selling around 200,000 units during that time. Happily, however, Petula Clark is still with us.


1977 Chrysler Sunbeam featuring Petula Clark

SOURCE
 
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