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97-759: Introduced as "the first Plymouth of the '90s" in advertising, the Plymouth Laser debuted in January 1989 as a 1990 model. The company produced a Chrysler Laser model from 1984 to 1986. The 2-door hatchback was based on the Dodge Daytona model prior to the name badge moving, to the Plymouth brand. Commercials for the 1990 Laser featured R&B singer Tina Turner who appeared in a series of 1990 promotional ads for Plymouth. With three available engines, two transmission offerings, and sporty "aero" styling,

194-438: A 318 cu in (5.2 L), as well as a 383 cu in (6.3 L) with a two-barrel carburetor and single exhaust and with a four-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust producing 330 hp (246 kW) SAE gross. The Cuda had the 383ci 335 hp (250 kW) SAE gross (same as Dodge's 383 Magnum) as the standard engine. Optional were the 440 cu in (7.2 L) with four-barrel carburetor "Super Commando" or

291-466: A 92  hp (69  kW ) 1.8 L four-cylinder engine , whereas a 135 hp (101 kW), 2.0 L 16-valve DOHC four-cylinder was optional with the Laser RS. The top-of-the-line RS Turbo came equipped with a 2.0 L DOHC 16-valve turbocharged 4-cylinder engine rated at 195 hp (145 kW). A 5-speed manual transmission was standard. A 4-speed automatic was optional, except with

388-496: A bright spot during this dismal automotive period, and by 1931 Plymouth rose to number three in sales among all cars. In 1931 with the Model PA, the company introduced floating power and boasted, "The smoothness of an eight – the economy of a four." In 1933, Chrysler decided to catch up with Ford , Chevrolet , and Pontiac in engine cylinder count. The 190 cu in (3.1 L) version of Chrysler's flathead-six engine

485-402: A bulge on the hood for 2.0 L engine models (not necessarily turbocharged ), and available stylish "lace" patterned alloy wheels. Rallye Sport (RS), models are set apart from the base models by their black roof with body-colored targa band, power steering , lower bodyside accent striping, and dual power mirrors, as well as an array of options not available on base Lasers. Base model Lasers carry

582-460: A column shifter seating arrangement favored by many Americans. The Reliant was powered by a then-new 2.2 L I4 SOHC engine, with a Mitsubishi "Silent Shaft" 2.6 L as an option (curiously this engine also featured hemispherical combustion chambers, and all 1981 models equipped with it featured "HEMI" badges on the front fenders). Initial sales were brisk, with both Reliant and Aries each selling over 150,000 units in 1981. As rebadged variants ,

679-480: A first such option on any Plymouth. 1991 : the Laser received anti-lock brakes (ABS), and the turbocharged engine could now be ordered with an automatic transmission. 1992 : the Laser received cosmetic changes for 1992, and a new all-wheel-drive (AWD) model joined the lineup. The RS Turbo AWD came only with a manual transmission, while the front-wheel drive version could still be ordered with an automatic. There

776-441: A limited number of RSs with this package were built. 1993 : AWD Lasers could now be ordered with an automatic transmission. With the automatic, the power rating of turbocharged models dropped to 180 hp (130 kW). All Lasers except for the base model could be equipped with ABS. 1994 : Production of the Laser ended on June 3, 1994., due to poor sales. Nothing, including the price, was changed. The original base prices for

873-555: A low-cost alternative to the upscale Chrysler-brand cars, listing the 4-door 5-passenger Touring Sedan at US$ 695. The logo featured a prow view of the ship Mayflower which landed at Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts . However, the inspiration for the Plymouth brand name came from Plymouth binder twine, produced by the Plymouth Cordage Company , also of Plymouth. The name was chosen by Joe Frazer due to

970-557: A lower-priced companion car, using lessons learned when he was running Buick under William C. Durant at GM . So for 1926, the Maxwell was reworked and rebadged as the low-end four-cylinder Chrysler Model 52. In 1928, the 52 was once again redesigned to create the Chrysler-Plymouth Model Q, although print advertisements called it Plymouth and did not mention engine size or model designation. The "Chrysler" portion of

1067-532: A press release by then Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca , it was indicated that Chrysler was working on a car that would be known as the "Liberty" which aimed to achieve significant cost savings. However, these plans never reached fruition. Popular Mechanics reported that Chrysler's Liberty project attempts at using the K-car platform would be replaced by the AMC-developed Premier. The Liberty name

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1164-432: A range of vehicles in a rapidly growing market segment. The merger may have helped the individual dealerships that signed on. Still, it caused the nascent Eagle division and its largely derivative models to compete unfavorably for attention with Chrysler's and Plymouth's often similar, but longer-established and better-recognized lines of passenger cars. The Eagle brand was phased out in stages. In 1996, Chrysler discontinued

1261-579: A reputation for attractive styling, durability, economy, and value. Although the Valiant hardtop was discontinued for 1967, it was reintroduced as a virtual clone of the Dodge Dart Swinger for 1971 under the model name "Valiant Scamp". The Scamp was produced along with the Valiant, Dodge Dart, and Swinger until 1976, when it was replaced with the Volaré. Featuring transverse-mounted torsion bars and

1358-460: A result of the quality control problems and excesses of the Exner-styled models in the early 1960s, people bought enough of the cars to keep the division profitable. Starting in 1961, the Valiant compact became a Plymouth, further boosting sales. Under the impression that Chevrolet was about to "downsize" its 1962 models, Chrysler introduced a significantly smaller standard Plymouth for 1962. As

1455-522: A slightly larger body, the Volaré (and its Dodge twin, the Aspen) was an instant sales success. Available as coupe, sedan, or station wagon, the Volaré offered a smoother ride and better handling than the Dart/Valiant, but suffered quality control problems and by 1980, was selling poorly. Realizing that front-wheel drive, four-cylinder engines, and rack-and-pinion steering would become the standards for

1552-437: A turbine engine. 1955 saw Plymouth's dramatic redesign by Chrysler stylist Virgil Exner. Longer, lower, wider, it was a sensation and sales zoomed up 52% over 1954. In addition to the "Forward Look" styling, the new car got its first modern, overhead-valve V8 displacing 241 cu in (3.9 L). The optional PowerFlite fully automatic transmission had a selector lever on the instrument panel. In 1956, Plymouth introduced

1649-414: Is known, Chevrolet's big cars were not downsized, catching Plymouth in a sales slump in a market where "bigger was better". The 1963 Fury, Belvedere, and Savoy were slightly larger, featuring a totally new body style, highlighted by prominent outboard front parking lights. For 1964, Plymouth got another major restyle, featuring a new "slantback" roofline for hardtop coupes that would prove popular. For 1965,

1746-568: The Brampton Assembly (AMC) manufacturing capacity could be used for making more Jeeps. Moreover, Chrysler kept AMC's long-established Eagle brand by continuing to import the mid-sized Renault 21 (now named Eagle Medallion ) as well as starting production of the Renault 25-based full-size sedan that was developed by AMC (now named Eagle Premier ). To consolidate the marketing and maintain distribution through AMC dealerships following

1843-599: The CJ-5 and CJ-7 models starting in 1976. American Motors also launched an entirely new front-wheel-drive sedan, the Eagle Premier that was developed with Renault, AMC's French partner before Chrysler purchased AMC. Various imported and domestic-built vehicles were marketed, primarily by former AMC dealers along with Jeep products, until the brand was discontinued in 1998. The 1993 through 1997 Eagle Vision sedan sold in respectable numbers, with 115,699 built, while

1940-826: The Chrysler LeBaron and Dodge Diplomat had used the M-body since 1977. 1982-1989 Plymouth Gran Furys shared the Dodge Diplomat's front and rear fascias. They were virtually identical with the exception of badging. Once again, the third generation Gran Fury was available in base and higher-end "Salon" trim. As in previous years, the higher-volume Gran Fury base model catered more towards fleet customers while Gran Fury Salons were geared more towards private customers and offered options such as full vinyl roofs, velour upholstery, turbine-spoke wheels, power windows, and power locks. Although available to private retail customers,

2037-722: The Fury , a "halo" model in the Belvedere series that featured a high-performance 240-hp 303 cu in (5.0 L) V8, and gold-anodized trim on a body available in Eggshell White only and limited to the two-door hardtop. The Fury continued to be a special, high-end car until 1959, when it replaced the Belvedere as the de luxe series, available in hardtop, convertible, and sedan body styles. The 1957 and 1958 Furys were painted in Buckskin Beige, replacing Eggshell White as

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2134-645: The Mitsubishi Mirage -based Eagle Summit , having discontinued the nearly identical Dodge Colt and Plymouth Colt models after the 1994 model year. After a decade of slow sales, Chrysler announced the discontinuation of the Eagle brand in September 1997, and the last 1998 Eagle Talon rolled off the line after that. In 1997, the Eagle Vision was discontinued at the end of its design cycle. However,

2231-624: The Plymouth Fury models were built on the new C-body platform. The Savoy line was discontinued and the Belvedere was classified as an intermediate, retaining the B-body platform used starting 1962. The low-end series was Fury I, the mid-level model was Fury II, and the higher-end models were Fury IIIs. The Sport Fury, which featured bucket seats and a console shifter, was a mix of luxury and sport. Ford and Chevrolet had introduced luxury editions of their big cars for 1965 and Plymouth responded with

2328-456: The tagline "Suddenly, it's 1960", produced cars with advanced styling compared to Chevrolet or Ford. The 1957 total production soared to 726,009, about 200,000 more than 1956, and the largest output yet for Plymouth. However, the 1957–1958 Forward Look models suffered from poor materials, spotty build quality, and inadequate corrosion protection; they were rust-prone and greatly damaged Chrysler's reputation. Although Plymouth sales suffered as

2425-464: The "Eagle" name from the four-wheel drive AMC Eagle models that were introduced for the 1980 model year. This was the last of American Motors ' wholly U.S.-designed vehicles and (arguably) one of the first modern mass-production crossover vehicles . The Eagle name also appeared on several Jeep trim packages and unique models that included the J-10 pickup trucks, the wide-track Cherokee SJ , as well as

2522-559: The 'Rapid Transit System', which was similar to Dodge's 'Scat Pack' concept. During this time, the brand also competed in professional automobile racing. Examples include Richard Petty 's career with Plymouth in NASCAR; Dan Gurney , who raced a 'Cuda as part of the All American Racers in numerous Trans Am events; and Sox and Martin, one of the most well-known drag-racing teams of the period, only raced Plymouths after 1964. By

2619-588: The 1966 Sport Fury with a 383 cu in (6.3 L) V8 and the VIP was introduced as a more luxurious version of the Fury. Furys, Belvederes, and Valiants continued to sell well during the late-1960s and early-1970s. While Fury I and Fury II were only available in the U.S. as sedans, Fury II was available as a two-door hardtop in addition to the pillared sedans in Canada. The performance car market segment expanded during

2716-465: The 1969 option. The E-body's engine bay was larger than that of the previous A-body, facilitating the release of Chrysler's 426 cu in (7.0 L) Hemi for the regular retail market. For 1970 and 1971, the Barracuda and Barracuda Gran Coupe had two six-cylinder engines available — a new 198 cu in (3.2 L) version of the slant-6, and the 225 — as well as three different V8s:

2813-505: The 1970s, emissions and safety regulations, along with soaring gasoline prices and an economic downturn, meant demand dropped for all muscle-type models. As with other American vehicles of the time, there was a progressive decrease in the Barracuda's performance. To meet increasingly stringent safety and exhaust emission regulations, big-block engine options were discontinued. The remaining engines were detuned year by year to reduce exhaust emissions, which also reduced their power output. There

2910-540: The 1976 Plymouth Volare and Dodge Aspen —eventually contributed to the model's demise in early 1989. That year, a driver-side airbag became standard; this would be the last RWD Plymouth until the introduction of the Prowler . While Dodge offered the 1990 Monaco , and later the 1993 Intrepid , Chrysler never replaced the Gran Fury with any other large car in the remainder of Plymouth's lineup on through to its demise in

3007-539: The 1980s, Chrysler introduced a new compact car for 1978, the Plymouth Horizon/Dodge Omni twins, based on a Simca platform. Horizon sold well, but suffered from a scathing report by Consumer Reports , which found its handling dangerous in certain situations. Plymouth continued to sell the Horizon until 1987, when a variety of front-wheel drive compact cars made up the line. Big Plymouths, including

Plymouth Laser - Misplaced Pages Continue

3104-584: The 1981 model year as the first " K-cars " manufactured and marketed by the Chrysler Corporation . The Reliant was available as a 2-door coupe , 4-door sedan , or as a 4-door station wagon , in three different trim lines: base, Custom, and SE ("Special Edition"). Station wagons came only in Custom or SE trim. Unlike many small cars, the K-cars retained the traditional 6-passenger 2-bench seat with

3201-536: The 1987 acquisition, the Jeep/Eagle division of Chrysler Corporation was formed. Chrysler's initial problem was that unlike the Big Three, which had multiple brands under their corporate name, American Motors had sold passenger cars under its corporate initials of "AMC" since 1970. Thus, without having a separate brand from the now-defunct company, Chrysler looked to re-brand the legacy vehicles inherited through

3298-418: The 1990s when it was finally retired in 1998." Those Eagle cars failed because the automaker did not have a coherent marketing strategy for the mix of models and they also lacked effective promotional efforts in the automotive marketplace. In the end, "Chrysler wasn't fully committed to the nameplate and also left consumers confused about what an Eagle was -- if they knew the name at all." The continuation of

3395-660: The 2001 model year. In 1984, Chrysler marketed the rebadged Plymouth variant of its new minivan as the Voyager, using the Chrysler's S platform, derived from the K-platform ( Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aries ). The Voyager shared components with the K-cars including portions of the interior, e.g., the Reliant's instrument cluster and dashboard controls, along with the K-platform front-wheel drive layout and low floor, giving

3492-688: The AMC Eagle line after Chrysler acquired AMC in only the station wagon body style. Production of the crossover vehicle ended on December 14, 1987. According to the National Automobile Dealers Association NADA Guide, Chrysler's "Eagle was spawned from the buyout of American Motors and their AMC Eagle model." Also badged as the Renault Medallion in March 1987 as an early 1988 model, this car

3589-458: The Acclaim was initially available in mid-range LE and high-end LX trim. The LE and LX models came equipped with features such as premium cloth seating, power windows/door locks, premium sound systems, bodyside cladding, additional exterior brightwork, and on the latter 15-inch lace-spoke aluminum wheels. In spite of this, the base model accounted for nearly 85 percent of Acclaim sales. Unlike

3686-461: The Chrysler family, but entered the commercial market in 1937 with the PT50. Eagle (automobile) Eagle was a brand of the Chrysler Corporation following the purchase of American Motors Corporation (AMC) in 1987 and marketed through the end of the 1998 model year. It was aimed at the enthusiast driver and promoted as more "European" than the automaker's similar models. Chrysler took

3783-488: The Diplomat always outsold it, usually by several thousand units each year. The Chrysler Fifth Avenue's total sales were always more than that of the Gran Fury and Diplomat by far, even though it generally cost about $ 6,000 more. This was the last car to carry the Gran Fury nameplate, but it remained largely unchanged for its 7-year run. Declining sales, a lack of promotion, and technical obsolescence—the platform dated back to

3880-640: The Eagle marque was born. Under new ownership, Chrysler quickly discontinued the domestic-built front-wheel drive Alliance and Encore that were developed under Renault (plans by AMC to import the Renault Espace minivan and the Alpine GTA halo car were also scrapped), but continued to build the four-wheel drive AMC Eagle crossover. It was now called Eagle Wagon and marketed into the 1988 model year until production ended in December. This meant

3977-644: The Fury and Gran Fury, were sold until the early 1980s, but mostly as fleet vehicles. While attempting to compete with Ford and Chevrolet for big-car sales, Plymouth was hurt by Chrysler's financial woes in the late 1970s, when both its competitors downsized their full-size models. Most Plymouth models, especially those offered from the 1970s onward, such as the Valiant , Volaré , and the Acclaim , were badge-engineered versions of Dodge or Mitsubishi models. The Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aries were introduced for

Plymouth Laser - Misplaced Pages Continue

4074-460: The Laser was the most performance-oriented Plymouth since the Barracuda , Duster , and Road Runner muscle cars of the 1970s. Despite its close resemblance to its Mitsubishi and Eagle siblings, it has several unique styling cues intended to set it apart from the other two. Apart from badging, Lasers sport a race-inspired look, with a plastic panel in the place of a grille, a full rear light-bar,

4171-503: The M-body Chrysler LeBaron , which had moved to the compact K platform that year. Now considered a mid-sized car, this generation Gran Fury was close to the exterior size of what was once the compact Valiant and Volaré but offered more interior room. The M-body was in fact heavily based on the Volaré's F platform . Like its predecessor, the 1982 Gran Fury was introduced later than its Chrysler and Dodge siblings;

4268-478: The M-body Gran Fury was far more popular with police departments and other fleet customers, primarily since the car was reasonably priced and had a conventional drivetrain with proven components that could withstand a good deal of abuse. This generation of the Gran Fury sold in respectable numbers. However, despite having the same base prices as the Gran Fury (just under $ 12,000 USD for their final year),

4365-677: The Plymouth Laser. Figures are in United States dollars . The Laser Turbo was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list from 1989 through 1992. The Plymouth Laser was not a major sales success. It did not sell as well as the Eagle Talon , and certainly not as well as the Mitsubishi Eclipse . Several factors influenced this. First, the Laser was a product of badge engineering , therefore it had to compete with two other cars that were virtually identical. Compounding

4462-550: The Prowler not also offered in a similar version by Dodge. From a peak production of 973,000 for the 1973 model year, Plymouth rarely exceeded 200,000 cars per year after 1990. Even the Voyager sales were usually less than 50% of that of the Dodge Caravan. In Canada, the Plymouth name was defunct at the end of the 1999 model year. Consequently, DaimlerChrysler decided to drop the make after a limited run of 2001 models. This

4559-624: The Reliant and Aries were manufactured in Newark, Delaware , Detroit, Michigan , and Toluca, Mexico — in a single generation. After their introduction, the Reliant and Aries were marketed as the "Reliant K" and "Aries K". The Reliant replaced the Plymouth Volaré / Road Runner . The Aries replaced the Dodge Aspen . The Reliant and Aries were classified by the EPA as mid-size and were

4656-617: The Spirit, the Acclaim did not receive any sport-oriented models. The Acclaim has also been characterized as the replacement for the smaller Reliant , though the Sundance launched in 1987 is closer than the Acclaim in most dimensions to the Reliant. By the 1990s, Plymouth had lost much of its identity, as its models continued to overlap in features and prices with its sister brands, Dodge and Eagle. Chrysler attempted to remedy this by repositioning Plymouth to its traditional target market as

4753-575: The Voyager a car-like ease of entry. The Voyager was on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1985. For 1987, the Voyager received minor cosmetic updates as well as the May 1987 introduction of the Grand Voyager, which was built on a longer wheelbase adding more cargo room. It was available only with SE or LE trim. First-generation Voyager minivans were offered in three trim levels: an unnamed base model, mid-grade SE , and high-end LE ,

4850-568: The Voyager, along with the Dodge Caravan , are considered to be the first mass-produced vehicles to have dedicated built-in cup holders . Original commercials for the 1984 Voyager featured magician Doug Henning as a spokesperson to promote the Voyager "Magic Wagon's" versatility, cargo space, low step-in height, passenger volume, and maneuverability. Later commercials in 1989 featured rock singer Tina Turner . Canadian commercials in 1990 featured pop singer Celine Dion . For 1987, which

4947-653: The Year for 1981 and sold almost a million Aries and 1.1 million Reliant units over the nine-year run. In 1982, Plymouth downsized the Gran Fury again, this time sharing the mid-size M platform with the Chrysler Fifth Avenue (called Chrysler New Yorker / New Yorker Fifth Avenue for 1982 and 1983) and the Dodge Diplomat . In addition to the R-body Gran Fury, the M-body Gran Fury replaced

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5044-492: The automaker's entry-level brand. This included giving Plymouth its own new sailboat logo and advertisements that focused solely on value. However, this only further narrowed Plymouth's product offerings and buyer appeal, and sales continued to fall. Chrysler considered giving Plymouth a variant of the highly successful new-for-1993 full-size LH platform , which would have been called the Accolade, but decided against it. By

5141-528: The base model split into two distinct models: entry-level America and mid-level Highline, in addition to the high-end RS. The stripped-down America had previously been offered for the Plymouth Horizon's final year in 1990. The AA-body cars were badge-engineered triplets, as were most Chrysler products of this time. The Acclaim differed from its siblings primarily in wheel choices, bodyside molding, and fascias where it sported its unique taillights and

5238-570: The corporate Plymouth eggcrate-grille. Like the K-body and E-body vehicles they replaced, the Acclaim and Dodge Spirit were both marketed as mainstream variants, while the Chrysler LeBaron was marketed as the luxury variant. Despite this, there was substantial overlap in trims and equipment among each car. For example, a fully loaded Acclaim was almost similar to a base LeBaron in features and price. In addition to its entry-level base model,

5335-459: The day after it had begun. The redesign for the 1970 Barracuda removed all its previous commonality with the Valiant. The original fastback design was deleted from the line and the Barracuda now consisted of coupe and convertible models. The all-new model, styled by John E. Herlitz , was built on a shorter, wider version of Chrysler's existing B platform , called the E-body . Sharing this platform

5432-527: The drag races, 1968 had a stripped-down Belvedere coupe, the Road Runner, which featured a bench seat and minimal interior and exterior trim, but was available with Chrysler's big-block engines and a floor-mounted four-speed manual transmission. The Barracuda, originally a "compact sporty car", became available with the 426 Hemi and 440 big-block engines in 1968. The GTX, Barracuda, Road Runner, Sport Fury GT, and Valiant Duster 340, were marketed by Plymouth as

5529-461: The introduction of its successor, the 1995 Plymouth Neon . The Neon was available as a two-door coupe and a four-door sedan and was a far better sales success than the Laser. The Mitsubishi Eclipse and Eagle Talon were both redesigned for 1995. The Talon became Eagle's last surviving model in 1998; the car and the Eagle marque were both dropped after that year. The Eclipse continued until the 2012 model year. Plymouth (automobile) Plymouth

5626-617: The late 1960s and early 1970s. The 1964 Barracuda fastback is considered the first of Plymouth's sporty cars. Based on the Valiant, it was available with the Slant Six , or 273 cu in (4.5 L) small block V8. For 1967, Plymouth introduced the Belvedere GTX, a bucket-seat high-style hardtop coupe and convertible that could be ordered with either the "Super Commando" 440 cu in (7.2 L) or Hemi 426 cu in (7.0 L) V8 engines. Looking for an advantage at

5723-722: The late 1990s, only four vehicles were sold under the Plymouth name: the Voyager/Grand Voyager minivans, the Breeze mid-size sedan, the Neon compact car, and the Prowler sports car, which was to be the last model unique to Plymouth, though the Chrysler PT Cruiser was conceived as a concept unique to Plymouth before production commenced as a Chrysler model. After discontinuing the Eagle brand in 1998, Chrysler

5820-433: The latter bearing simulated woodgrain paneling. A sportier LX model was added in 1989, sharing much of its components with the Caravan ES. Safety features included 3-point seat belts for the front two passengers and lap belts for the rear passengers. Standard on all Voyagers were legally mandated side-impact reinforcements for all seating front and rear outboard positions, but airbags or ABS were not available. Notably,

5917-602: The marketplace in 2001. The Plymouth models that were produced up until then were either discontinued or rebranded as Chrysler or Dodge . The Plymouth automobile was introduced at Madison Square Garden on July 7, 1928. It was Chrysler Corporation's first entry in the low-priced field previously dominated by Chevrolet and Ford. Plymouths were initially priced higher than the competition, but offered standard features such as internal expanding hydraulic brakes that Ford and Chevrolet did not provide. Plymouths were originally sold exclusively through Chrysler dealerships, offering

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6014-481: The nameplate was dropped with the introduction of the Plymouth Model U in 1929. While the original purpose of the Plymouth was to serve the lower end of a booming automobile market, during the Great Depression of the 1930s the division helped significantly in ensuring the survival of the Chrysler Corporation when many other car companies failed. Beginning in 1930, Plymouths were sold by all three Chrysler divisions ( Chrysler , DeSoto , and Dodge ). Plymouth sales were

6111-421: The older car to carry them through to the new car's introduction. However, Chrysler executives decided to pull the plug on the Eagle brand just a few months later. The car they were working on went on to be marketed as the Chrysler 300M . The AMC name disappeared with Chrysler's acquisition of the independent automaker, "but the Eagle name carried on, worn by various Renault- and Mitsubishi-sourced models through

6208-420: The only available exterior color. Optional equipment included air conditioning, automatic transmission, power steering, and brakes. In 1959, a special Sport Fury was available as the "special" sporty Plymouth. The PowerFlite automatic was now controlled by reliable mechanical push buttons on a pod on the left side of the dash. In 1957, Virgil Exner's new Forward Look design theme, advertised by Plymouth with

6305-557: The point that even "gross inefficiency and poor financial condition are not legitimate grounds for termination." Two of Eagle's first models, the Eagle Premier and the Eagle Medallion , were designed by AMC in cooperation with its former corporate partner (and 46.4 percent owner), Renault . The remainder of the brand's cars were rebadged versions of cars sold by other Chrysler Corporation divisions, as well as some captive imports produced by Mitsubishi Motors . At one point, an Eagle variant of Chrysler's popular AS platform minivan

6402-409: The popularity of the twine among farmers. The origins of Plymouth can be traced back to the Maxwell automobile . When Walter P. Chrysler took over control of the troubled Maxwell- Chalmers car company in the early 1920s, he inherited the Maxwell as part of the package. After he used the company's facilities to help create and launch the six-cylinder Chrysler automobile in 1924, he decided to create

6499-404: The previous year. On March 25, 1954, Chrysler officially introduced to the public its first attempt at a turbine-powered car . Chrysler installed an experimental turbine, developed specifically for road vehicles, in a Plymouth. The car used was a standard 1954 Belvedere two-door hardtop. This was the beginning of a decades-long but unsuccessful attempt to develop and market a viable car powered by

6596-400: The problem, it faced in-house competition from the Talon, as the Eagle brand was also owned by Chrysler. Where Plymouth was generally marketed as the value-oriented, mainstream brand, Chrysler was trying to market Eagle as their performance brand. Due to this, a much heavier amount of advertising was devoted to the Talon. The fact that the Laser was far different from any other product Plymouth

6693-441: The purchase of AMC under the Eagle name instead of trying to fold those outside-designed products into Chrysler's existing distribution structure. A limiting factor is that almost all states "have dealership-friendly franchise regulations" that do not allow manufacturers flexibility because the laws provide dealerships territorial exclusivity including protection from new competition, as well as limit dealership franchise termination to

6790-453: The similar Dodge Intrepid and Chrysler Concorde were redesigned for 1998 and continued through 2004. Only the Mitsubishi Eclipse -based Eagle Talon remained for 1998, after which it, along with the Eagle brand itself, was discontinued. Chrysler had initially planned to redesign the Eagle Vision for 1999. Prototypes were spotted wearing the Eagle logo. Vision production continued into September 1997 to provide dealers with enough stock of

6887-445: The six-barrel "Super Commando Six Pak" as well as the 426 cu in (7.0 L) Hemi. The 440- and Hemi-equipped cars received upgraded suspension components and structural reinforcements to help transfer the power to the road. In 1970, the power plant options offered to the customer were: Other Barracuda options included decal sets, hood modifications, and unusual "high impact" colors. The compact Valiant sold well and built

6984-634: The smallest cars to have 6-passenger seating with a 3-seat per row setup, similar to larger rear-wheel drive cars such as the Dodge Dart and other front-wheel drive cars such as the Chevrolet Celebrity . Chrysler marketed the car as being able to seat "six Americans." The Aries was sold as the Dart in Mexico . The Reliant and Aries were selected together as Motor Trend magazine's Car of

7081-509: The sport model 'Cuda (BS). Beginning mid-year 1970, and ending with the 1971 model, there also was the Barracuda Coupe (A93), a low-end model that included the 198 cu in (3.2 L) Slant Six as a base engine, lower-grade interior, and (like other Coupe series Chrysler Corp. offered that year) had fixed quarter glass instead of roll-down rear passenger windows. The high-performance models were marketed as 'Cuda deriving from

7178-499: The sporty Eagle Talons were made in two generations from 1990 until 1998, with more than 200,000 produced. Most significantly, the Eagle Premier was the basis for Chrysler's successful series of "LH" models that were introduced for 1993. Following the introduction of General Motors ' Saturn brand automobile, Chrysler promised a similar new brand designed to take Saturn on with innovative design and building methods. In

7275-488: The turbocharged engine, which could only be ordered with the manual transmission until 1991 models debuted. 1990 : the Plymouth Laser was released in January 1989 as a 1990 model. Three models were initially offered: base, RS, and RS Turbo. The similar Mitsubishi Eclipse was also released in 1989, and the Eagle Talon soon followed. The RS models, among other options could be equipped with a factory-installed CD player ,

7372-572: The wagon was a rebadged Mitsubishi Expo LRV . The 1991-1996 sedan was a rebadged Dodge/Plymouth Colt. Like the Plymouth Laser and the Mitsubishi Eclipse , the Talon was Eagle's halo car and outsold its Plymouth cousin. (see also Diamond Star Motors ) A rebadged Mitsubishi Galant four-door sedan. Marketed also as a Dodge only in Canada . One of Chrysler's three original LH-cars . It

7469-475: Was a brand of automobiles produced by Chrysler Corporation and its successor DaimlerChrysler . The brand was launched in 1928 to compete in what was then described as the "low-priced" market segment that was dominated by Chevrolet and Ford . It became a high-volume seller for the automaker until the late 1990s. Plymouth cars were marketed primarily in the United States. The brand was withdrawn from

7566-476: Was advanced to 'PD'. The PC was redesigned to look similar to the PD and became the 'Standard Six' (PCXX). It had been the 'Plymouth Six' at the introduction and was sold through to the end of 1933, but in much lower numbers. In 1937, Plymouth (along with the other Chrysler makes) added safety features such as flat dashboards with recessed controls and the back of the front seat padded for the rear seat occupants. The PC

7663-483: Was also a freshening to the hood and front and rear fascias. The pop-up headlights were removed in favor of multi-form fixed headlights, making the car look more aerodynamic. The rear lightbar was replaced by two separate taillights. The RS model came with alloy wheels and other cosmetic differences. The RS could also be ordered with the Gold Package, which featured gold-trimmed wheels, pin stripes, and graphics. Only

7760-458: Was also an increase in weight as bumpers became larger and, starting in 1970, E-body doors were equipped with heavy steel side-impact protection beams. Higher fuel prices and performance-car insurance surcharges deterred many buyers as the interest in high-performance cars waned. Sales of pony cars were on the decline. Sales had dropped dramatically after 1970, and while 1973 showed a sales uptick, Barracuda production ended April 1, 1974, ten years to

7857-575: Was announced on November 3, 1999. The last new model sold under the Plymouth marque was the second-generation Neon for 2000. The PT Cruiser was ultimately launched as a Chrysler, and the Prowler and Voyager were absorbed into that make, as well. Following the 2001 model year, the Neon was sold only as a Dodge in the US, though it remained available as a Chrysler in Canadian and other markets. The Plymouth Breeze

7954-498: Was applied for a Jeep model starting with the 2002 model year. The main objective of Chrysler acquiring American Motors was the long-established Jeep vehicles, but Renault forced the company to take on the contractual obligations of the passenger car models as part of the deal. Another major factor was that, due to state franchise laws, Chrysler could not start selling Jeeps through their existing dealer networks, nor could ex-AMC dealers begin to sell other Chrysler products. Thus,

8051-460: Was commonly referred to as the "low-priced three" marques in the American market. Plymouth almost surpassed Ford in 1940 and 1941 as the second-most popular make of automobiles in the U.S. In 1954, Plymouth offered an optional torque converter mated to a standard three-speed transmission, marketed as "PowerFlite". It improved upon the "Hy-Drive" semiautomatic transmission which had been introduced

8148-475: Was dropped after 2000, before Chrysler introduced their redesigned 2001 Dodge Stratus and Chrysler Sebring sedan . Plymouth built various trucks and vans over the years, mainly rebadged Dodge or Chrysler vehicles. Early pickups, delivery trucks, and other commercial trucks were available, and later an SUV, full-sized vans, and minivans. Plymouth had supplied components to the Fargo vehicles, another member of

8245-536: Was equipped with a downdraft carburetor and installed in the new 1933 Plymouth PC, introduced on November 17, 1932. However, Chrysler had reduced the PC's wheelbase from 112 to 107 in (284.5 to 271.8 cm), and the car sold poorly. By April 1933, the Dodge division's Model DP chassis, with a 112-inch (284.5 cm) wheelbase, was put under the PC body with DP front fenders, hood, and radiator shell. The model designation

8342-609: Was imported from France, rebadged as an Eagle for the 1989 model year only, and was similar to the Renault 21 . Designed by AMC, the Premier was briefly badged as the Renault Premier before launch. Unusual (for an FWD car) in having a longitudinal engine mounting (to accommodate a future AWD version), it shared several parts with the Renault 25 , and spawned a rebadged version named Dodge Monaco (1990–1992); this platform

8439-519: Was in financial difficulty at the end of the 1980s and did not have the funds to spread to its new automotive division. Moreover, Jeep vehicles were popular and profitable, so most of the division's marketing resources flowed to the Jeep product range. Since Jeep's products had better recognition and higher profit margins, many dealers emphasized Jeeps. They considered the Eagle line of passenger cars to distract that business. Their sales and service expertise

8536-698: Was in the planning stages, but this variant never made it to market. Unlike Chrysler, Dodge , and Plymouth branded automobiles, the Eagle models lacked the Chrysler Corporation " pentastar " logo. Instead, all models prominently featured the Eagle head logo . Throughout its history, the Eagle brand needed more product recognition, although its Premier was technically more advanced than anything offered by Chrysler. Most of Eagle's models were available in Chrysler-Plymouth, Dodge, and Mitsubishi dealerships under different guises. Chrysler

8633-618: Was marketed in Europe as the Chrysler Vision. The Eagle Optima was a 1990 concept car. It was a four-door sedan that used cab forward design and was powered by an experimental, 32-valve all-aluminum V8 engine with all-wheel drive. The Optima was on the show circuit to judge consumer reaction to the thinly disguised version of the LH platform sedans that were to be introduced for the 1993 model year. Two earlier concept cars emphasizing

8730-510: Was planning to expand the Plymouth line with a number of unique models before the corporation's merger with Daimler-Benz AG. The first model was the Plymouth Prowler , a hot rod -styled sports car. The PT Cruiser was to have been the second. Both models had similar front-end styling, suggesting Chrysler intended a retro styling theme for the Plymouth brand. At the time of Daimler's takeover of Chrysler, Plymouth had no models besides

8827-410: Was primarily in the four-wheel drive Jeeps and AMC's Eagle all-wheel-drive models. Furthermore, the dealership network was realigned following Chrysler's acquisition of AMC. Some former AMC/Jeep dealers were consolidated with Chrysler-Plymouth franchises . Up to this point, Chrysler-Plymouth outlets needed a sport utility vehicle (SUV) to sell, and adding the Jeep line helped dealers offer customers

8924-411: Was prominently featured at Chrysler's exhibit at the 1939 New York World's Fair , advertised as the first mass-production convertible with a power-folding top. It featured a 201 cu in (3.3 L), 82 hp (61 kW; 83 PS) version of the flathead six engine. For much of its life, Plymouth was one of the top-selling American automobile brands; it, together with Chevrolet and Ford ,

9021-459: Was selling at the time did not help its popularity. In the early 1990s, Plymouth's bread and butter lineup still consisted of K-car -derived cars and minivans; the Laser simply did not fit into this group. Due to these factors, the Laser was discontinued after a brief run of 1994 models. This failure of badge-engineering was just a preview of what would happen to the whole Plymouth marque in subsequent years. The Laser's discontinuation coincided with

9118-599: Was shipped overseas to Sweden, Denmark, and the UK, as well as Australia. In the UK, it was sold as a ' Chrysler Kew ', the town of Kew being the location of the Chrysler factory in a district in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames . The flathead six which started with the 1933 Model PC stayed in the Plymouth until the 1959 models. In 1939, Plymouth produced 417,528 vehicles, of which 5,967 were two-door convertible coupes with rumble seats . The 1939 convertible coupe

9215-490: Was the Sundance's first year, it was available in a single base model. For 1988, a higher-end RS model was available. The RS model, which stood for Rally Sport, came with standard features that included two-tone paint, fog lights, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. It was also available with a turbocharged 2.2 L I4 engine, and other amenities like an Infinity sound system, tinted window glass, and dual power mirrors. For 1991,

9312-434: Was the basis for the 1993 LH cars . Two models were offered. The two-door hatchback and four-door sedan were rebadged Mitsubishi Mirages , and the station wagon (badged as either an Eagle Vista or a Dodge/Plymouth Colt Vista) was a rebadged Mitsubishi Chariot . These cars were marketed only in Canada. Coupe, sedan, and wagon models were available. The coupe and 1987-1991 sedans were rebadged Mitsubishi Mirages , while

9409-484: Was the newly launched Dodge Challenger ; however, no exterior sheet metal interchanged between the two cars, and the Challenger, at 110 inches (2,794 mm), had a wheelbase that was 2 inches (51 mm) longer than the Barracuda. The E-body Barracuda was now "able to shake the stigma of 'economy car'." Three versions were offered for 1970 and 1971: the base Barracuda (BH), the luxury oriented Gran Coupe (BP), and

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