Automotive Recyclers Association - Archive

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Chrysler Cars

Chrysler, known as one of the “Big Three” car manufacturers in American and Canadian markets, has a very long history just like other car builders of its time. Many of its cars such as the Fifth Avenue, New Yorker, Imperial and the Dodge Royal Monaco were in the higher end bracket of vehicles, usually costing more and driven by older, financially stable people. But the company had a diverse lineup of cars that appealed to the younger generation as well. For example the Plymouth Barracuda, Dodge Dart, and Dodge Coronet were hugely popular models. Nevertheless, Chrysler saw many years of turmoil due to poor finances and varied ownership. In fact, officially, Chrysler declared bankruptcy restructuring in 2009.

Created as Chrysler Corporation in 1925 by Walter P. Chrysler, the company was founded through the purchase of the Maxwell Motor Corporation of Detroit, a company producing Maxwell and Chalmers vehicles. Indeed, it took no time for the machinist to become a well-reputed master of advanced engineering. So successful were Chrysler vehicles, that he expanded the line by starting two new divisions called DeSoto and Plymouth, and by buying out Dodge Brothers who had recently merged with Graham Brothers.

One popular group of cars for which Chrysler is famous is the “muscle car”. Basically, the idea was to place as big an engine as possible, usually a V8, in a small car while keeping the price at a point where most people could still afford to buy it. Although it is disputed whether Chrysler was the first or not, as both Ford and GM have been said to be the first as well, there is no doubt that the most famous muscle cars were the Dodge Charger (the General Lee in the Dukes of Hazzard), and the Plymouth Road Runner (named after the Warner Brothers' cartoon character).

Although Chrysler is credited with many “firsts”, it is particularly known for the famous Slant Six engine. The name was descriptive, as the engine was a six-cylinder in one row slanted thirty degrees. The design gave the engine power and endurance and subsequently placed the Valiant at the top of the class for handling. It was also famous for getting the best car insurance quotes in the whole category of slant six cars.

Milestones in Chrysler's History:

• - 1933, 1936 to 1949, 1951 and 1952 Chrysler was the second largest producer in North America beating out Ford.
• - 1958 Purchased twenty-five percent of Simca, a French automobile company,
• - 1963 Bought a further thirty-eight percent of Simca giving them controlling interest with sixty-three percent shares
• - 1966 Increased their share of Simca to seventy-seven percent
• - 1998 Merger with Daimler-Benz
• - 1960 Famous slant six engine introduced in the Plymouth Valiant
• - 1961 Last vestiges of Walter Chrysler come to an end as L.L. Colbert, President and Chairman of the Board resigns
• - 1962 Faced with a serious loss of market share.
• - 1962 Dealer network falls to fifty-six hundred down from an incredible ten-thousand three-hundred in 1953.
• - 1964 Richard Petty wins the Daytona 500 in a Plymouth Hemi, the now famous “43” vehicle. Second and third positions follow in Plymouths as well.
• - 1962 Announced new extended warranty for 1963 vehicles. Instead of the typical industry warranty of one year, Chrysler decides to offer a five-year warranty to attract customers and regain credibility in marketplace.
• 1970s First muscle cars appear
• 1987 Purchased American Motors Corporation for roughly one-and-a-half billion dollars. Buying out forty-six percent from Renault and other shares from the public at large, the acquisition was a coup for Chrysler as they were able to take over the highly-profitable and desirable “Jeep” brand.
• 1998 Daimler-Benz and Chrysler merge creating DaimlerChrysler
• 2007 Eighty percent is sold to private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, at a whopping loss of close to thirty billion dollars.
• 2009 After filing Chapter 11, company emerges as a “new” Chrysler due to a partnership with Fiat.

Popular Models and Years Released:

• - 1924 Chrysler Six
• - 1926 Imperial
• - 1934 DeSoto Airflow
• - 1928 DeSoto
• - 1928 Plymouth
• - 1939 New Yorker
• - 1955 Chrysler 300 C
• - 1960 Valiant
• - 1964 Barracuda
• - 1974 Plymouth Voyager
• - 1976 Aspen
• - 1979 Fifth Avenue
• - 1983 K-Car
• - 1990 Town and Country Minivan
• - 1995 Sebring Coupe
• - 1996 Sebring Convertible
• - 2000 PT Cruiser Wagon
• - 2004 Crossfire Roadster Electric Car
• - 2004 Pacifica
• - 2005 PT Cruiser Convertible
• - 2009 Crossfire Coupe
• - 2005 Crossfire Roadster
• - 2009 Aspen Hybrid