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Ed, you hit it on the head with this one. A few highlights from an old Detroit guy. 1. I knew no one who owned an Eagle. 2. People used to be delirious about their K-cars. That's how bad things were. 3. The first Dodge Ram on the block made everyone's jaw drop. 4. The Cherokee singlehandedly saved upper middle class mothers from minivans. 5. Yes, we all wanted a Viper. How you know all of this living in Europe amazes me.
The down-sized Cherokee went on sale in 1984, Chrysler acquired AMC in 1987. I owned a 1986 Cherokee Chief for 17 years. My brother and sister-in-law were so impressed with it they bought a 1988 Pioneer. They've owned nothing but Jeeps ever since.
@@joemama38minivans offer more interior space without trying to look obese as suvs of all classes do, you immediately see they are impractical, inefficient, overweight and the driver has ego issues and needs betterhelp.
"Was it really a marriage made in heaven? Find out in part two. Stay tuned!" I was so absorbed into watching that when I heard this I let out a string of swear words.
Daimler - Chrysler merger was a part of my Master's degree thesis in 1999 as a case study (US - EU relationships). I lucked out and had a chance to talk to a couple of Daimler execs in Berlin and they were all incredibly upbeat about the whole thing :) I loved the Cab Forward design of the era. Those cars looked genuinely good. And then there was the Atlantic concept. OMG!!! Unrelated but... I loved Saturn as a concept, it was what Dacia became to Renault, it's just way more reliable. The first cars were great, IMHO, but then GM imported Opels and rebadged them... which boosted the prices, naturally, and also created a situation where Saturns, a budget alternative, was selling European Opels that were in EVERY WAY better than what GMs offered in that era.
GM imported Opels and sold them through "Buick Opel" dealers going way back (1958-1975), so that "badge engineering" wasn't a new thing at all. Saturn ended up cannibalizing existing GM car sales, whilst adding another layer of expense for design, manufacturing, and marketing, for a product that wasn't sufficiently differentiated en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_Corporation .
Of course they were upbeat about it. They were robbing cash rich Chrysler of resources, promised modern and competitive platforms, and drove them off a cliff once the accounts ran dry. The Daimler execs and designers were reluctant to share their best tech and designs, and instead sold Chrysler old designs at a ridiculous premium (Pacifica/Crossfire). I love most of the DaimlerChrysler products, but it was never a merger of equals. I think they could have done so much more as a merger I did the same case study in college, it was an amazing case study I agree!!! Glad someone commented on it.
K-cars weren't the only innovation Iacocca used to turn Chrysler around. He also introduced the rebate to the automotive market, which brought customers flocking and allowed paying back the government loan seven years early. He seriously deserves his own episode; the American automotive... milieu would be far different today if it hadn't been for Lee Iacocca.
He didn’t quite introduce the rebate to the automotive market. That was a pre-Iacocca tactic that Chrysler launched on January 12, 1975, during a Super Bowl commercial featuring Joe Garagiola.
Small correction: the cloud cars were only the 1995-2000 Chrysler Cirrus,Dodge Stratus, and Plymouth Breeze . The Cab Forward Look was based and called the LH platform and most everything else was based on the LH design
The LH platform (correct me if I am wrong!) literally stood for "Last Hope", replacing the Dodge Dynasty (pronounced "Die-Nasty), New Yorker and Fifth Avenue. I remember seeing the then-new LH New Yorker for the first time at the Detroit Auto Show, and I thought it was absolutely beautiful, where Chrysler ought to be. That was then... this is now.
I guess, for many years, I was told it stood for "Last Hope". Then, I found this just now from Hemmings Motor News ((it was joked as the "last hope")... "As pointed out on the 300M Club's website, contemporary journalists joked that the platform's LH designation stood for "last hope," and indeed, much of the company's non-truck/Jeep/minivan fortunes rested on the LH cars." - Daniel Strohl, Hemmings Motor News, May 8, 2020
It's not quite a scam, but people confuse it with something it isn't (a replacement for intensive treatment for people with severe psychological issues/disorders) and then get mad that it isn't that.
I remember hearing a story about a closeted homosexual who got kicked out of his family when he tried coming out and his therapist on better help told him to just be straight and stop being gay instead of acting helping him
Yes better help is a crap service for multiple reasons but I ain't gonna fault a UA-camr for tryna make money especially given the quality of his videos
They recently got caught selling patients’ mental health data to advertisers such as Facebook and Snapchat. They also got caught having unlicensed therapists several years ago
Thank you for being balanced about Lee Iacoca. ALOT of UA-camrs are willing to ignore the flaws in his character, and just focus on his saving Chrysler. This makes their choices a whole lot clearer.
Chrysler always reminds me of those 80's action TV shows that end with the next episode's beginning. "Tune in next week to see how the gang's going to get out of this one!"
11:50 When this generation of Ram hit the market it wasn't popular due to "retro styling" so much as it has a raised central hood reminiscent of North American semi trucks. Ford and GM looked boxy and outdated in comparison, and looking like a semi helped market Rams as strong and powerful. Great video as always Ed!
I'm disagreeing with some of the low points, which actually were sales successes. The Pinto & Mustang II sold massively, so in turn did the Vega and Corvair initially.
Corvair was mostly a solid car.. Nader did a hit job. GM simply cheaped out on some parts, in their typically GM way. They have a unique talent for shooting themselves in the foot by cheapening out on components.
The Mustang II did make Ford some serious cash but I never understood why they couldn't just use the Maverick platform to build a "new" downsized mustang off of. It's not like they didn't have the tooling laying around. They made Granadas up until like 1980 I think before they moved to the fox platform.
It should also be noted that the Ford Mustang II ended up being a major boon to the American automotive aftermarket. Front suspensions from wrecked Mustang IIs were adapted by street rodders. It had the right tread width, was fairly light and compact and had a pretty good suspension geometry. Companies like Heidts and Fatman Fabrications started creating crossmembers that could be used to adapt the Mustang II IFS to street rod frames, and then started manufacturing their own components as the Mustang II disappeared from salvage yards. You can still purchase Mustang II based front suspensions from Heidts, Fatman and a variety of manufacturers which probably don't have any Ford Mustang II components, and may have altered geometry.
Ah, Chrysler... I don't want this brand to die. But it looks like that's what's going to happen. Let's hope Chrysler's next launch is a success. I never had a strong connection with this brand, my parents never had a Chrysler, I don't plan on having one, but I don't want it to just die.
This so spot on. I worked at Chrysler at the time of the merger with Daimler, and it was pretty messy. I am a Mopar hard core fan at heart, and on of the problems with today's line up is the infamous CAFE standards. That's why they have to END all of their 5.7 Hemis, 6.1 Hemis. At a time they were absolute best sellers. How not to LOVE a Hellcat?? No other car maker has such a line of sports oriented vehicles like Chrysler, and this comes form a loooong line of cars. Remember the 5.9 Grand Cherokee? The first fast SUV? And the Grand Cherokee Trackhawks? Simply awesome SUVs. They made the best minivans, and everybody played catch up all the time. Of course mistakes were made like everybody else in the industry, but the passion they incite in their followers is at a level greater than any other brand. Long live Mopar!
I’ve got a lot of touch points with this episode. Owned 2 CJ-5’s and 2 Grand Cherokees. All served well. Also had 2 (yeah 2) Renault Alliances. Slow but fun to beat and cheap. As for K cars, the best Army staff car we ever had was a Reliant K. You couldn’t kill that thing. Until it finally gave up the transmission on the Schuylkill Expressway one evening. The cab forward cars were an incredible sight. Immediately made my then new Lumina look 10 years old. Oh and a coworker had an Eagle Talon TSi just like the one in the video clip you had. It was a fun machine!
I still have my 2001 XJ. They are still a fairly common sight around here, even now. See one almost every day. My '84 Alliance was a tin can, but not a bad car.
Jeep is the gift that just keeps on giving ..not only will it save Chrysler a second time, but it's allowing Stellantis to restructure all the struggling brands like Fiat .Lancia. Alfa .Vauxhall Opel. Maserati etc with the proceeds....it even may save Stellantis itself.
Stellantis doesn't even understand the North American market, much less North American automobiles and trucks. They have no ideas, and have allowed Chrysler to wither on the vine.
@milfordcivic6755 There's snake oil salesman everywhere. Also, why would someone go into therapy to make money? Therapists don't make shit and their student loans are ridiculous.
I discovered your channel a few months ago and it has quickly become my favorite automotive channel. I worked for a company in the late 80s - early 2000s that was heavily involved with Chrysler's new platform launches from the ZJ (Grand Cherokee) until the 300 and You have hit the nail on the head so far. Can't wait for part 2 ❤
My uncle, a Chrysler's retiree, would often riddle: "How do you pronounce DaimlerChrysler?" "Daimler" As a finance guy he always knew how the bread was buttered. As a Detroit kid the Pentastar logo will always be mostly old parts and rust.
Chrysler definitely cut too many corners on quality in the 90s. The early LH cars really on paper are great cars. A smooth and powerful modern engine, a high tech electronic 4 speed, tons of interior space, modern styling, good handling for a big FWD sedan. But in reality, the transmissions are prone to failure, general build quality isnt great, and interior fit and finish is just trash. If they tried just a little bit harder, more of the LH cars would survive and would still be a popular used car these days.
It’s not so much the transmission itself failing from poor design, but Chrysler not educating their customers about the proper fluid for the 41TE/41LE transmission; which at the time was ATF+3 which was improved into ATF+4 which is still used today; customers would top up their transmission with Dexron-III or Mercon-V; which are much “grabbier” fluids than ATF+3/ATF+4 which would proceed to burn up the clutch packs and bands, contaminate the transmission fluid with burned clutch material that would circulate throughout the entire transmission and basically sign the transmission’s death certificate. (Insert the classic GM 4L60E “Oops, All Neutrals” joke here) it wasn’t a bad transmission otherwise they wouldn’t have used the basic design all the way into 2020 in the base 4 cylinder Journey!
@@colinschmitz8297 and where they improved the interior, they launched the 2.7L “Sludgemaster” V6 which completely tanked the reputation of the LH2 platform.
I miss the good old days of Chrysler almost as much as I miss watching your superior videos without being punished every three minutes by commercials because UA-cam want everyone to pay for something that they've been getting for free for years. I hope they pay you well, Ed. Your videos are way too good for their greedy corporate asses. 🐰
GM had lots of stuff in the 70s-90s. K-5 blazer was built that entire time, Buick GNX, fear and loathing Eldorado, largest v8 fitted to a car, GNX, 3800, Syclone/typhoon, ZR1 c4, lotus Carlton. They tried to innovate, they were the first with air bags, cylinder deactivation and diesel but it never worked out for them.
Re Better Help: It’s pretty simple, anything UA-camrs start to hype collectively has to be a scam. No legitimate product or service needs so much advertising. Someone somewhere is making a ton of money and this time it’s on the backs of the most vulnerable in our society. Nice.
As a kid in the mid-1960's, I understood that Chrysler competed head-on with Buick, both upper-medium priced makes. It was so obvious and simple, that, literally, even a 4-year old could understand it. I have had no idea what Chrysler is, or what it directly competes with since 2001, when they pulled the plug on Plymouth after starving Plymouth of product since the mid-seventies (the Chrysler Cordoba was originally supposed to be the then-new Plymouth Sebring, but was given to Chrysler because they needed a smaller car to sell, for example).
When I moved to the us in 2002, my couzins had a brand new eagle talon white on black. I was so jealous. 5 years later, I went onto getting a 2nd gen eclipse myself that was also white on black. We were literally the coolest kids on the block. Both cars are now very rare.
A very good summary, Iacocca had a big hit with the K-cars, but then they kept on with too many variants for much too long. Buying AMC to get Jeep was a smart move, but should have divested all the associated brands sooner. Wish they'd kept the original [AMC]Eagle, though. The LH series of the 90's were fantastic, super roomy and comfortable. Probably the best result of the Daimler-Chrysler marriage was that the Jeep Grand Cherokee became a G-Series Mercedes without the Mercedes price.
Thanks for looking at this topic Ed. I’m a long time Australian Chrysler fan. I feel the ups and downs, pride, frustration, excitement and disappointment over 50 yrs. I look forward to Chrysler returning with electric. I hope to still be driving and having Chrysler as a choice here. Looking forward to your Part 2.
Another great job! I do enjoy all of your hard work. I always look forward to seeing that you have a new video for me to watch. One of my favorite channels.
10:07 - The cab forward cars you highlighted were known as the LH cars in the States and arrived in '93. The "Cloud Cars" (the nickname derived from the model names Dodge Stratus & Chrysler Cirrus) were smaller and arrived in '95. Not mentioned was the Neon, which suffered reliability issues but had strong sales numbers. But the BIG change for 1990s Chrysler was the Grand Cherokee and Ram, both of which were BIG scores in their respective segments.
Very good Ed! You once again did a great job. It was informative and not only that quite good to see and hear about. I am excited for part II. I appreciate the effort you put in the videos. Stay focused and at peace and I say thank you.
I worked at CTC (Chrysler World HQ and Tech Center) during the Daimler transition as a rep for a 3rd party logistics provider. On what the transition team - on tv monitors called "day one", in the cafeteria it was free weiner schnitzel or hot dogs. Everybody got a free DaimlerChrysler swatch watch. Thousands of business cards and letter heads went straight into the trash for the new logo; badges, and name plates too. I knew it wasn't a merger of equals when the Chrysler emloyees started asking if they could get their discount on a benz, and it was a sussinct, "No." Still, I had a great view of both the Pontiac Silverdome and the Palace of Auburn Hills. I used to go to the Main Event, a restaurant inside the Silverdome, for lunch and watch Barry Sanders at Lions practice. It was a cool time to work in their building, but that went away quickly with the Germans. Like by day 3 when they are going from department to department telling staff that they're the new leadership. I left soon after. Glad I left, way too much corporate drama...
Back in the late eighties we bought a Chrysler Eagle Premier, fundamentally a great handling, power, had room, however a pile of small repeating issues, what a P.O.S. Thanks ED.
I've owed a 1994 Dodge/Chrysler Laser XT, and 1994 Chrysler LHS and, for fun, a 1995 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible. The Laser and LHS were ahead of their time, packed with great features. The LHS was truly my favorite. All three Chryslers I owned had Mitsubishi engines - never had a mechanical issue with any of these cars. However, they just don't make anything I'd be interested in now, or in the last couple of decades.
My neighbor, a retired engineer, keeps buying a Chrysler mini van every 10 years. Likes them as he goes long road trips and loads up friends, too. Can't argue as it has plenty of room and I cannot think of a new vehicle that would be a better fit.
Probably the 1st American car I've seen was a '78 Cordoba. I loved that car, even dreamed about it, and spoke to the owner once. Then I've seen a Dodge Intrepid with Hawaiian plates, in Hungary, that was certainly unusual. And probably the 1st (and only) US car I had a drive in was a Stratus, which was a large barge, and couldn't see or feel the barriers of the car. So even far from the US, I still have some fond memories of the Chrysler Corporation. As for part 2, I badly wanted a Crossfire as a teen, it looked incredibly cool back then. And I still want a PT Cruiser, no matter what rubbish people talk about them, it's still cool by European standards. But I also liked most of their 2000s models, the 300C, 300M, the Concorde, Dodge Nitro and Caliber etc.
I come from a Mopar family so I like brand specific videos like this. Also Im a qualified mechanic and stuff so even though I do the work on my families cars, constantly, i dont own Mopars myself lol. I would say that the movie "Twister" was a really big part of the craze for the 1990s Dodge Ram. Its not like movies today where any trucks the main character use are military/offroad/liftkit decorated. It was a base trim level truck that people found exciting watching on screen. The movie + its new "sport truck vs work truck" design gave it cult like status i believe.
Well the cloud car name refers to the stratus, cirrus and the breeze. The cars like the Intrepid was built on the LH platform. The only good thing that came out of the Daimler merger was the LX platform.
Those certainly were fun and interesting years for Chrysler (as a former employee of an AMC/Jeep/Renault/Eagle dealership). I got out when the going was good… maybe even great. Thanks for the video.
I love this video, and these series of videos, though in this one, when you keep mentioning the cloud cars, you show the LH cars. I thought the cloud cars were the ones that came after: Stratus, Cirrus, and Breeze.
As a young Dutch man, your knowledge of US auto history is amazing. 95% of Americans have *zero* knowledge of anything automotive unless it slaps them in the face.
I knew the Daimler-Chrysler merger was a mistake as soon as it was announced. It has happened a lot when a respected brand acquires one with financial problems: Studebaker-Packard, Citroën -Maserati, Renault-AMC, and recently Boeing-Douglas. The result is always a cheaper product with less quality and loss of the prestige held by their customers.
Well, the Daimler-Chrysler merger era left Chrysler with some great underpinnings like the successful E-class for the 2005-06 300 and the Dodge Charger and Magnum station wagon and the M-class for the upcoming late '00s Jeep Grand Cherokee, which were the pillars for yet another Chrysler revival-Renaissance from 2010s onwards.
One thing I think all the American brands have issues with is too many brands. I think one of the most obvious examples atm is Buick with GM. They are forced to be relegated as this kinda premium but not strategy. If they didnt have to worry about stepping in Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillacs toes, they could have entered so many different segments and tried to build up a better brand image. For example if GMC didnt exist they could have used a large body on frame SUV like the Yukon as their flagship. They could have tried making sportier performance cars as well. Also in the past all the American brands did very very bad rebadges. Mercury for example. Just a husk of a brand that never got to do anything on its own. Its definitely possible to manage multiple brands. But you must put effort into them.
Great summation of Chrysler's fortunes or lack there of. For a company that introduced so many new things that became standards of the industry, that boom to bust cycle has become a recurring headache for brand owners. The first one I remember was the failure of the seven year warrantee- which helped them sell a lot of cars- but were building cars that frequently weren't doing five years/ 50K miles- that led to that bankruptcy you started with. Quality control has been iffy for all Chrysler divisions for decades- either within their own facilities or contractors. A problem Mercedes worked hard to change, but didn't ever prevail on. And they have missed dozens of great opportunities along the way. One of them for me would have been that Hemi engine at least 550-600 hp and a Mercedes AWD under the Viper body. But might of been is often neverwuz. I do not think the present relationship will end well either.
As someone who works for Chrysler Corporation, I can confirm they sometimes forget to take their meds. Although the manic phases that created 700-1075hp monsters are a lot of fun to participate in. 😂
Though he really should have used the "Maserati" version and not the Town & Country, which is actually in a weird way kind of cool...the former could never possibly be mistaken for cool in any way
You made a valid point. Chrysler never spent eniugg money on product improvement. All Chrysler branded cars had awful transmissions, weak engines, and cheap finishes . And as a manufacturing assembly concern, it kept changing its suppliers year in and out, a nightmare to service and auto mechanics.
I had a 1990 Plymouth Laser 2.0 Turbo (a rebadged Mitsubishi Eclipse, also rebadged as an Eagle Talon). It was an awesome car and I often wish I still had it.
0:20 - "...at Chrysler we believer standing still is great way to getting run over." WOW - how prophetic and very VERY on-the-nose! Anton Yelchin got run over by his own Jeep Grand Cherokee while parking due in part to the crappy Chrysler transmission design in that vehicle. RIP Chekov. BTW - I give props to Ed for slyly putting that advertisement at the start of this video! Great archival find!
I remember one of the changes Lee made was to shorten the K Car by about a foot. It allowed them to pack them in closer and add an extra car to the transport truck. Save money.
I still drive the last true (pre Mercedes Benz) Chrysler. A 1999 Cirrus. Very dependable for more than 25 years now and still going strong. I suspect it will outlast Stellantis.
A clarification. The cloud cars are specifically The midsize platform vehicles such as the Stratus, Cirrus, Breeze, and Sebring convertible. It is not the name for the entire Chrysler lineup of the '90s. The LH platform, neon platform, j a platform, minivan, DSM coupes, Viper were all on separate platforms sharing very little. It would probably be more effective to refer to them as the cab forward vehicles for distinction for future reference. The shopping spree had its pluses and minuses. The acquisition of AMC gave them more than just Jeep, they got a talented group of people who More or less ended up running Chrysler despite Chrysler buying them out. The purchase of Lamborghini wasn't profitable, but it gave them access to technology and assistance with the development of the viper. I will agree that Chrysler struggled with the discipline to effectively make the Lamborghini purchase into a profitable venture.
Back in the 1970's, the 225 cubic inch displacement slant six engine almost sunk Chrysler. The engine was so reliable, cheap & easy to fix & maintain and lasted forever. People weren't trading their Chrysler cars in for new ones because the old ones kept running and that drove down sales of new cars. Amazingly enough, the K cars did not feature the slant six for that very reason!
Anyone living in the rust belt would beg to differ. Growing up in the 70s, almost everyone I knew had a slant six Dart or Valiant as the family car for a few years. While the engines and transmissions were indeed bulletproof, the bodies were notorious for premature rust.
@@martinliehs2513True. I owned four vehicles in a row that were Slant-six powered. I bought a used Dodge pickup with low compression on one cylinder so I called it a Slant-five. Still, the engine outlasted the rest of the truck.
One model that hasn't been updated since 2017 and STILL suffers from the same problems. A friend had a 17 Pacifica which I told him he had to get rid of due to the transmission about to fail. His BRAND NEW 24 has a transmission which is terrible. His 17 had problems with backup camera his 24 does as well. Don't try the keep in lane or it'll kill u.
I did not know that the K cars were a great success. I remember working on them in the 1980s and seeing how Chrysler used some of the familiar large car parts like the ignition cylinder, but in a small chassis.
The vehicles sold under the Eagle name were quite good. The European ones suffered from a crippling exchange rate issue, making the numbers imported at the original (good) prices disappear fast, and very few sent afterwards. The Asian ones were fully competitive with those from Toyota, Honda, and etc.
Even among automotive enthusiasts, few realize the extent of Lee Iacocca's successes or even his background. When Chrysler bought AMC all they really wanted was the Jeep division but they had to buy the whole package to get it. When FCA (now Stellantis) bought Chrysler all they really wanted was the Ram truck division. Like Ford's "new" T-Bird, once the market is saturated with buyers wanting the Charger and/or Challenger it's sales will flatten; that's happening already. So it's questionable how long they will remain, but if they bring enough profit they may be around awhile.
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Hey Ed Better Help is know for selling sensitive User Data
BetterHelp is a scam, many people have pointed out their shortcomings, INCLUDING the fact that they sell customer data. Terrible choice of sponsor.
L
no - I consider your sponsor unfit to offer therapeutic assistance.
The amount of people who don't understand how therapy works that'll get mad at this is amazing 😂
That Iacocca face on a K car is going to haunt my nightmares, thanks.
It's like Thomas the Tank Engine 😂😂 Awesome wood-paneled Le Baron though!
Instead of a horn, there would be a recording of Iacocca saying his catchphrase of 'Either lead, follow, or get out of the way!'
It was used on a Time magazine cover in the early 80s
@@sutherlandA1 From 21 March 1983, the byline: 'Detroit's Comeback Kid.'
I edge to it
Ed, you hit it on the head with this one. A few highlights from an old Detroit guy.
1. I knew no one who owned an Eagle.
2. People used to be delirious about their K-cars. That's how bad things were.
3. The first Dodge Ram on the block made everyone's jaw drop.
4. The Cherokee singlehandedly saved upper middle class mothers from minivans.
5. Yes, we all wanted a Viper.
How you know all of this living in Europe amazes me.
What's wrong with minivans?
@@exxusdrugstore300people don’t like them. it’s why SUVs are popular now
The down-sized Cherokee went on sale in 1984, Chrysler acquired AMC in 1987. I owned a 1986 Cherokee Chief for 17 years. My brother and sister-in-law were so impressed with it they bought a 1988 Pioneer. They've owned nothing but Jeeps ever since.
Go Tigers!
@@joemama38minivans offer more interior space without trying to look obese as suvs of all classes do, you immediately see they are impractical, inefficient, overweight and the driver has ego issues and needs betterhelp.
"Was it really a marriage made in heaven? Find out in part two. Stay tuned!" I was so absorbed into watching that when I heard this I let out a string of swear words.
😅 Me too! Great cliff-hanger! I can't wait for the next episode!
I heard them.
Me too! I cursed in a way that would make a trucker blush, and I am a trucker!
Even knowing how it turned out, that was still a great cliffhanger.
I was saying 'hey, that was the fastest 15 minutes ever!'.
Like "Arschgeige"?
Daimler - Chrysler merger was a part of my Master's degree thesis in 1999 as a case study (US - EU relationships). I lucked out and had a chance to talk to a couple of Daimler execs in Berlin and they were all incredibly upbeat about the whole thing :)
I loved the Cab Forward design of the era. Those cars looked genuinely good. And then there was the Atlantic concept. OMG!!!
Unrelated but... I loved Saturn as a concept, it was what Dacia became to Renault, it's just way more reliable. The first cars were great, IMHO, but then GM imported Opels and rebadged them... which boosted the prices, naturally, and also created a situation where Saturns, a budget alternative, was selling European Opels that were in EVERY WAY better than what GMs offered in that era.
GM imported Opels and sold them through "Buick Opel" dealers going way back (1958-1975), so that "badge engineering" wasn't a new thing at all. Saturn ended up cannibalizing existing GM car sales, whilst adding another layer of expense for design, manufacturing, and marketing, for a product that wasn't sufficiently differentiated en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_Corporation .
To me Saturn should've never been created, instead GM should've put that Saturn quality into all of they're divisions.
Of course they were upbeat about it. They were robbing cash rich Chrysler of resources, promised modern and competitive platforms, and drove them off a cliff once the accounts ran dry. The Daimler execs and designers were reluctant to share their best tech and designs, and instead sold Chrysler old designs at a ridiculous premium (Pacifica/Crossfire). I love most of the DaimlerChrysler products, but it was never a merger of equals.
I think they could have done so much more as a merger
I did the same case study in college, it was an amazing case study I agree!!! Glad someone commented on it.
I almost bought a Saturn in 95. But they wouldn't dicker, and I got a much nicer Ford for the same price.
I'm watching this while super drunk and eating a whole pan of macaroni and cheese and it's honestly perfect
Lol
It's 520am in Miami, sir you're living the life.
Based af
Mocarbs
@@kin-green Great mashup coinage.
I love that I'm watching this video inside of my 88 New Yorker
yes i’m very curious as well. did it make it out of the driveway??
K-cars weren't the only innovation Iacocca used to turn Chrysler around. He also introduced the rebate to the automotive market, which brought customers flocking and allowed paying back the government loan seven years early. He seriously deserves his own episode; the American automotive... milieu would be far different today if it hadn't been for Lee Iacocca.
Hell, there should be a biopic on Lee Iacocca.
He didn’t quite introduce the rebate to the automotive market. That was a pre-Iacocca tactic that Chrysler launched on January 12, 1975, during a Super Bowl commercial featuring Joe Garagiola.
The father of the Mustang and the savior of Chrysler more than deserves his own episode.
@@adamc7987 I agree. There should be a biopic on Lee Iacocca.
Small correction: the cloud cars were only the 1995-2000 Chrysler Cirrus,Dodge Stratus, and Plymouth Breeze . The Cab Forward Look was based and called the LH platform and most everything else was based on the LH design
Ah! Of course, the JAs with their meteorological names. Ed's "cloud car" ref had me stumped.
The LH platform (correct me if I am wrong!) literally stood for "Last Hope", replacing the Dodge Dynasty (pronounced "Die-Nasty), New Yorker and Fifth Avenue. I remember seeing the then-new LH New Yorker for the first time at the Detroit Auto Show, and I thought it was absolutely beautiful, where Chrysler ought to be.
That was then... this is now.
@@stanciemerych1448 Nope not as far I know it did not stand for that at all especially since it had been in development since the late 80's
I guess, for many years, I was told it stood for "Last Hope". Then, I found this just now from Hemmings Motor News ((it was joked as the "last hope")...
"As pointed out on the 300M Club's website, contemporary journalists joked that the platform's LH designation stood for "last hope," and indeed, much of the company's non-truck/Jeep/minivan fortunes rested on the LH cars." - Daniel Strohl, Hemmings Motor News, May 8, 2020
I'm amazed at your ability never to run out of interesting topics for your channel. Well done!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Isn't BetterHelp known to be a scam or something? Please do not quote me on this I could be VERY wrong.
It's not quite a scam, but people confuse it with something it isn't (a replacement for intensive treatment for people with severe psychological issues/disorders) and then get mad that it isn't that.
I remember hearing a story about a closeted homosexual who got kicked out of his family when he tried coming out and his therapist on better help told him to just be straight and stop being gay instead of acting helping him
Yes better help is a crap service for multiple reasons but I ain't gonna fault a UA-camr for tryna make money especially given the quality of his videos
They recently got caught selling patients’ mental health data to advertisers such as Facebook and Snapchat. They also got caught having unlicensed therapists several years ago
@@latexbeep💀
Thank you for being balanced about Lee Iacoca. ALOT of UA-camrs are willing to ignore the flaws in his character, and just focus on his saving Chrysler. This makes their choices a whole lot clearer.
Chrysler always reminds me of those 80's action TV shows that end with the next episode's beginning. "Tune in next week to see how the gang's going to get out of this one!"
The last time anyone was this early Chrysler was still called Maxwell.
11:50 When this generation of Ram hit the market it wasn't popular due to "retro styling" so much as it has a raised central hood reminiscent of North American semi trucks. Ford and GM looked boxy and outdated in comparison, and looking like a semi helped market Rams as strong and powerful.
Great video as always Ed!
Agreed. The "semi-truck" styling with the drop front corner panel was a huge hit.
I'm disagreeing with some of the low points, which actually were sales successes. The Pinto & Mustang II sold massively, so in turn did the Vega and Corvair initially.
Agree. mustang II saved a whole nameplate from dying in a tough time.
Yup 3 million pintos were sold!
Corvair was mostly a solid car.. Nader did a hit job. GM simply cheaped out on some parts, in their typically GM way. They have a unique talent for shooting themselves in the foot by cheapening out on components.
The Mustang II did make Ford some serious cash but I never understood why they couldn't just use the Maverick platform to build a "new" downsized mustang off of. It's not like they didn't have the tooling laying around. They made Granadas up until like 1980 I think before they moved to the fox platform.
It should also be noted that the Ford Mustang II ended up being a major boon to the American automotive aftermarket. Front suspensions from wrecked Mustang IIs were adapted by street rodders. It had the right tread width, was fairly light and compact and had a pretty good suspension geometry. Companies like Heidts and Fatman Fabrications started creating crossmembers that could be used to adapt the Mustang II IFS to street rod frames, and then started manufacturing their own components as the Mustang II disappeared from salvage yards. You can still purchase Mustang II based front suspensions from Heidts, Fatman and a variety of manufacturers which probably don't have any Ford Mustang II components, and may have altered geometry.
Ah, Chrysler... I don't want this brand to die. But it looks like that's what's going to happen. Let's hope Chrysler's next launch is a success.
I never had a strong connection with this brand, my parents never had a Chrysler, I don't plan on having one, but I don't want it to just die.
Chrysler exists in name only that died back in the mid 2000s
Chrysler has been dead since 98.
This so spot on. I worked at Chrysler at the time of the merger with Daimler, and it was pretty messy. I am a Mopar hard core fan at heart, and on of the problems with today's line up is the infamous CAFE standards. That's why they have to END all of their 5.7 Hemis, 6.1 Hemis. At a time they were absolute best sellers. How not to LOVE a Hellcat?? No other car maker has such a line of sports oriented vehicles like Chrysler, and this comes form a loooong line of cars. Remember the 5.9 Grand Cherokee? The first fast SUV? And the Grand Cherokee Trackhawks? Simply awesome SUVs. They made the best minivans, and everybody played catch up all the time. Of course mistakes were made like everybody else in the industry, but the passion they incite in their followers is at a level greater than any other brand. Long live Mopar!
I’ve got a lot of touch points with this episode. Owned 2 CJ-5’s and 2 Grand Cherokees. All served well. Also had 2 (yeah 2) Renault Alliances. Slow but fun to beat and cheap.
As for K cars, the best Army staff car we ever had was a Reliant K. You couldn’t kill that thing. Until it finally gave up the transmission on the Schuylkill Expressway one evening.
The cab forward cars were an incredible sight. Immediately made my then new Lumina look 10 years old.
Oh and a coworker had an Eagle Talon TSi just like the one in the video clip you had. It was a fun machine!
I still have my 2001 XJ. They are still a fairly common sight around here, even now. See one almost every day.
My '84 Alliance was a tin can, but not a bad car.
0:10 I hate to out myself with how old I am but people don't appreciate how amazing that lineup was for the time.
Jeep is the gift that just keeps on giving ..not only will it save Chrysler a second time, but it's allowing Stellantis to restructure all the struggling brands like Fiat .Lancia. Alfa .Vauxhall Opel. Maserati etc with the proceeds....it even may save Stellantis itself.
Stellantis doesn't even understand the North American market, much less North American automobiles and trucks. They have no ideas, and have allowed Chrysler to wither on the vine.
Fiat struggling brand ? Only in North America.
I fear Chrysler is a goner.
Stellantis is saving Jeep with electrification. Before the merger, FCA was spending billions on EV credits (mostly to Tesla).
Can’t wait for part two 😛
DO NOT endorse BetterHelp.
Let the man make his bag
Virtual counseling is a joke. Even in person counseling is a joke. They could care less about your troubles....they just want your insurance money.
@milfordcivic6755 There's snake oil salesman everywhere. Also, why would someone go into therapy to make money? Therapists don't make shit and their student loans are ridiculous.
Perhaps BetterHelp can provide therapy for Chrysler management.
@@johngraves6878 Only if they speak Dutch.
I discovered your channel a few months ago and it has quickly become my favorite automotive channel. I worked for a company in the late 80s - early 2000s that was heavily involved with Chrysler's new platform launches from the ZJ (Grand Cherokee) until the 300 and You have hit the nail on the head so far. Can't wait for part 2 ❤
I went through a solid binge-fest when I discovered it as well.
Without question....it is the best Automotive Channel on UA-cam.
My uncle, a Chrysler's retiree, would often riddle:
"How do you pronounce DaimlerChrysler?"
"Daimler"
As a finance guy he always knew how the bread was buttered.
As a Detroit kid the Pentastar logo will always be mostly old parts and rust.
I've read that joke before, with the added bit "...the Chrysler is silent"
Chrysler definitely cut too many corners on quality in the 90s.
The early LH cars really on paper are great cars. A smooth and powerful modern engine, a high tech electronic 4 speed, tons of interior space, modern styling, good handling for a big FWD sedan.
But in reality, the transmissions are prone to failure, general build quality isnt great, and interior fit and finish is just trash. If they tried just a little bit harder, more of the LH cars would survive and would still be a popular used car these days.
It’s not so much the transmission itself failing from poor design, but Chrysler not educating their customers about the proper fluid for the 41TE/41LE transmission; which at the time was ATF+3 which was improved into ATF+4 which is still used today; customers would top up their transmission with Dexron-III or Mercon-V; which are much “grabbier” fluids than ATF+3/ATF+4 which would proceed to burn up the clutch packs and bands, contaminate the transmission fluid with burned clutch material that would circulate throughout the entire transmission and basically sign the transmission’s death certificate. (Insert the classic GM 4L60E “Oops, All Neutrals” joke here) it wasn’t a bad transmission otherwise they wouldn’t have used the basic design all the way into 2020 in the base 4 cylinder Journey!
LH interiors deteriorated before your eyes, and paint jobs were notoriously poor.
In the first generation yes. The second generation was massively improved on both fronts.
@@colinschmitz8297 and where they improved the interior, they launched the 2.7L “Sludgemaster” V6 which completely tanked the reputation of the LH2 platform.
And to think that Mercedes-Benz since that partnership had a quality issues and never completely recovered from it
I miss the good old days of Chrysler almost as much as I miss watching your superior videos without being punished every three minutes by commercials because UA-cam want everyone to pay for something that they've been getting for free for years. I hope they pay you well, Ed. Your videos are way too good for their greedy corporate asses. 🐰
GM had lots of stuff in the 70s-90s. K-5 blazer was built that entire time, Buick GNX, fear and loathing Eldorado, largest v8 fitted to a car, GNX, 3800, Syclone/typhoon, ZR1 c4, lotus Carlton. They tried to innovate, they were the first with air bags, cylinder deactivation and diesel but it never worked out for them.
Re Better Help: It’s pretty simple, anything UA-camrs start to hype collectively has to be a scam. No legitimate product or service needs so much advertising. Someone somewhere is making a ton of money and this time it’s on the backs of the most vulnerable in our society. Nice.
11:47 what an entrance!!! I love how you find these old clips
Fantastic Part 1! I’m really looking forward to this series!
I was A.C.E. certified in their turbos. This was when the neon, viper, prowler, etc... were new.
Could have used better health.
As a kid in the mid-1960's, I understood that Chrysler competed head-on with Buick, both upper-medium priced makes. It was so obvious and simple, that, literally, even a 4-year old could understand it.
I have had no idea what Chrysler is, or what it directly competes with since 2001, when they pulled the plug on Plymouth after starving Plymouth of product since the mid-seventies (the Chrysler Cordoba was originally supposed to be the then-new Plymouth Sebring, but was given to Chrysler because they needed a smaller car to sell, for example).
Love the quality of these videos
When I moved to the us in 2002, my couzins had a brand new eagle talon white on black. I was so jealous. 5 years later, I went onto getting a 2nd gen eclipse myself that was also white on black. We were literally the coolest kids on the block. Both cars are now very rare.
A very good summary, Iacocca had a big hit with the K-cars, but then they kept on with too many variants for much too long. Buying AMC to get Jeep was a smart move, but should have divested all the associated brands sooner. Wish they'd kept the original [AMC]Eagle, though. The LH series of the 90's were fantastic, super roomy and comfortable. Probably the best result of the Daimler-Chrysler marriage was that the Jeep Grand Cherokee became a G-Series Mercedes without the Mercedes price.
Thanks for looking at this topic Ed. I’m a long time Australian Chrysler fan. I feel the ups and downs, pride, frustration, excitement and disappointment over 50 yrs. I look forward to Chrysler returning with electric. I hope to still be driving and having Chrysler as a choice here. Looking forward to your Part 2.
O K You've got the fish on the hook (my Interest) just please don't make me wait a month + for part 2 -BRING IT ON ! 🤔
Right. I was like NNNNNOOOOOOO!!!!! can't wait for part 2
your videos are just about the best. Always entertaining and informative. thanks.
This is excellent! Soo well done! 😊
Another great job! I do enjoy all of your hard work. I always look forward to seeing that you have a new video for me to watch. One of my favorite channels.
10:07 - The cab forward cars you highlighted were known as the LH cars in the States and arrived in '93. The "Cloud Cars" (the nickname derived from the model names Dodge Stratus & Chrysler Cirrus) were smaller and arrived in '95. Not mentioned was the Neon, which suffered reliability issues but had strong sales numbers. But the BIG change for 1990s Chrysler was the Grand Cherokee and Ram, both of which were BIG scores in their respective segments.
Very good Ed! You once again did a great job. It was informative and not only that quite good to see and hear about. I am excited for part II. I appreciate the effort you put in the videos. Stay focused and at peace and I say thank you.
I worked at CTC (Chrysler World HQ and Tech Center) during the Daimler transition as a rep for a 3rd party logistics provider. On what the transition team - on tv monitors called "day one", in the cafeteria it was free weiner schnitzel or hot dogs. Everybody got a free DaimlerChrysler swatch watch. Thousands of business cards and letter heads went straight into the trash for the new logo; badges, and name plates too.
I knew it wasn't a merger of equals when the Chrysler emloyees started asking if they could get their discount on a benz, and it was a sussinct, "No."
Still, I had a great view of both the Pontiac Silverdome and the Palace of Auburn Hills.
I used to go to the Main Event, a restaurant inside the Silverdome, for lunch and watch Barry Sanders at Lions practice. It was a cool time to work in their building, but that went away quickly with the Germans. Like by day 3 when they are going from department to department telling staff that they're the new leadership.
I left soon after. Glad I left, way too much corporate drama...
Glad to know Jon Voigt’s car from Seinfeld helped save Chrysler back then
Ah, yes, the dentist Doctor John Voight!
Ed this is possibly your best video yet. Excellent work. I will be patiently awaiting part 2.
Brit Roy Axe who was brought across the Atlantic from the ruins of Chrysler UK was a big influence on the K cars.
Really enjoying tris!! Look in foward to part 2!!
The irony of a Chrysler vid supported by a mental health provider is not lost.
"Bipolar" is literally in the video's title. I almost didn't watch the video when Ed started with his sponsor's blurb.
@@BoomennialX There are indeed days when I believe that the inmates are running the asylum.
Ed I love your channel and wish you success, but please stop it the shilling for your sponsors.. it just looks weird when you do that.
He’s gotta make money somehow. You know you can just skip it right?
Hope the new lineup that is supposed to be coming in the next years sells well.
Back in the late eighties we bought a Chrysler Eagle Premier, fundamentally a great handling, power, had room, however a pile of small repeating issues, what a P.O.S. Thanks ED.
I've owed a 1994 Dodge/Chrysler Laser XT, and 1994 Chrysler LHS and, for fun, a 1995 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible. The Laser and LHS were ahead of their time, packed with great features. The LHS was truly my favorite. All three Chryslers I owned had Mitsubishi engines - never had a mechanical issue with any of these cars. However, they just don't make anything I'd be interested in now, or in the last couple of decades.
My neighbor, a retired engineer, keeps buying a Chrysler mini van every 10 years. Likes them as he goes long road trips and loads up friends, too. Can't argue as it has plenty of room and I cannot think of a new vehicle that would be a better fit.
We had a '95 LHS like the one behind Lee at 9;45-really good car-lots of power, comfort, and 30MPG on the highway.
My dad had a Shelby GLH Omni turbo. Great car. My first car was a 1989 Plymouth Sundance. That first car took me all around Canada.
Probably the 1st American car I've seen was a '78 Cordoba. I loved that car, even dreamed about it, and spoke to the owner once. Then I've seen a Dodge Intrepid with Hawaiian plates, in Hungary, that was certainly unusual. And probably the 1st (and only) US car I had a drive in was a Stratus, which was a large barge, and couldn't see or feel the barriers of the car. So even far from the US, I still have some fond memories of the Chrysler Corporation.
As for part 2, I badly wanted a Crossfire as a teen, it looked incredibly cool back then. And I still want a PT Cruiser, no matter what rubbish people talk about them, it's still cool by European standards. But I also liked most of their 2000s models, the 300C, 300M, the Concorde, Dodge Nitro and Caliber etc.
I come from a Mopar family so I like brand specific videos like this. Also Im a qualified mechanic and stuff so even though I do the work on my families cars, constantly, i dont own Mopars myself lol.
I would say that the movie "Twister" was a really big part of the craze for the 1990s Dodge Ram. Its not like movies today where any trucks the main character use are military/offroad/liftkit decorated. It was a base trim level truck that people found exciting watching on screen. The movie + its new "sport truck vs work truck" design gave it cult like status i believe.
Well the cloud car name refers to the stratus, cirrus and the breeze. The cars like the Intrepid was built on the LH platform. The only good thing that came out of the Daimler merger was the LX platform.
Keep working! millions of companies on Corporate Welfare depend on you!
Those certainly were fun and interesting years for Chrysler (as a former employee of an AMC/Jeep/Renault/Eagle dealership). I got out when the going was good… maybe even great. Thanks for the video.
Excellent report. I cn hardly wait for deel drie.
I love this video, and these series of videos, though in this one, when you keep mentioning the cloud cars, you show the LH cars. I thought the cloud cars were the ones that came after: Stratus, Cirrus, and Breeze.
Nice one Ed, another fantastic video
At 2:31---The low point illustrating the "Landyacht era" was best represented by Ricardo Montalban's Chrysler Cordoba!🤣🤣🤣
The Viper poster reference.. right it the feels!!
That same poster is in the shop.
As a young Dutch man, your knowledge of US auto history is amazing.
95% of Americans have *zero* knowledge of anything automotive unless it slaps them in the face.
I just left a comment with specific examples. I grew up two miles from the GM Tech Center, and I am beginning to believe he was actually born there.
Anyone else notice the rad Sim City 4 music in the background? Brings me way back 😂
I knew the Daimler-Chrysler merger was a mistake as soon as it was announced. It has happened a lot when a respected brand acquires one with financial problems: Studebaker-Packard, Citroën -Maserati, Renault-AMC, and recently Boeing-Douglas. The result is always a cheaper product with less quality and loss of the prestige held by their customers.
Boeing-MD, I think the joke ive heard is McDonnel-Douglas bought Boeing with Boeing's money.
I had a '97 Dodge Stratus with a Mitsu engine. No major repairs, 240k. Great car!
What a cliffhanger! Can't wait episode 2!
Well, the Daimler-Chrysler merger era left Chrysler with some great underpinnings like the successful E-class for the 2005-06 300 and the Dodge Charger and Magnum station wagon and the M-class for the upcoming late '00s Jeep Grand Cherokee, which were the pillars for yet another Chrysler revival-Renaissance from 2010s onwards.
What a CLIFFHANGER Looking forward to part 2
The thumbnail of a convertible woody K car with Iacocca's face is absolutely iconic
One thing I think all the American brands have issues with is too many brands.
I think one of the most obvious examples atm is Buick with GM. They are forced to be relegated as this kinda premium but not strategy. If they didnt have to worry about stepping in Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillacs toes, they could have entered so many different segments and tried to build up a better brand image. For example if GMC didnt exist they could have used a large body on frame SUV like the Yukon as their flagship. They could have tried making sportier performance cars as well.
Also in the past all the American brands did very very bad rebadges. Mercury for example. Just a husk of a brand that never got to do anything on its own.
Its definitely possible to manage multiple brands. But you must put effort into them.
Great summation of Chrysler's fortunes or lack there of. For a company that introduced so many new things that became standards of the industry, that boom to bust cycle has become a recurring headache for brand owners. The first one I remember was the failure of the seven year warrantee- which helped them sell a lot of cars- but were building cars that frequently weren't doing five years/ 50K miles- that led to that bankruptcy you started with. Quality control has been iffy for all Chrysler divisions for decades- either within their own facilities or contractors. A problem Mercedes worked hard to change, but didn't ever prevail on. And they have missed dozens of great opportunities along the way. One of them for me would have been that Hemi engine at least 550-600 hp and a Mercedes AWD under the Viper body. But might of been is often neverwuz. I do not think the present relationship will end well either.
Lovely video. The Chysler corporation also owned Lamborghini Automobili from 1987 to 1994
As someone who works for Chrysler Corporation, I can confirm they sometimes forget to take their meds. Although the manic phases that created 700-1075hp monsters are a lot of fun to participate in. 😂
pronounced "Dame-ler". Another smasher of a video, thanks Ed!
That thumbnail is the stuff of nightmares
Though he really should have used the "Maserati" version and not the Town & Country, which is actually in a weird way kind of cool...the former could never possibly be mistaken for cool in any way
Loved the looks of the second gen rams went out a few years back and got one never again went back to a 1988 dodge d150
You made a valid point. Chrysler never spent eniugg money on product improvement.
All Chrysler branded cars had awful transmissions, weak engines, and cheap finishes . And as a manufacturing assembly concern, it kept changing its suppliers year in and out, a nightmare to service and auto mechanics.
Thanks Ed! Can't wait for part two! Here's one for the algorithm! :^)
I had a 1990 Plymouth Laser 2.0 Turbo (a rebadged Mitsubishi Eclipse, also rebadged as an Eagle Talon). It was an awesome car and I often wish I still had it.
Love your work Ed.
0:20 - "...at Chrysler we believer standing still is great way to getting run over."
WOW - how prophetic and very VERY on-the-nose! Anton Yelchin got run over by his own Jeep Grand Cherokee while parking due in part to the crappy Chrysler transmission design in that vehicle. RIP Chekov.
BTW - I give props to Ed for slyly putting that advertisement at the start of this video! Great archival find!
I remember one of the changes Lee made was to shorten the K Car by about a foot. It allowed them to pack them in closer and add an extra car to the transport truck. Save money.
I still drive the last true (pre Mercedes Benz) Chrysler. A 1999 Cirrus. Very dependable for more than 25 years now and still going strong. I suspect it will outlast Stellantis.
Always enjoy my EAR. I write my comment whilst the ad plays, a win-win, for Ed anyway. =)
A clarification. The cloud cars are specifically The midsize platform vehicles such as the Stratus, Cirrus, Breeze, and Sebring convertible. It is not the name for the entire Chrysler lineup of the '90s. The LH platform, neon platform, j a platform, minivan, DSM coupes, Viper were all on separate platforms sharing very little. It would probably be more effective to refer to them as the cab forward vehicles for distinction for future reference.
The shopping spree had its pluses and minuses. The acquisition of AMC gave them more than just Jeep, they got a talented group of people who More or less ended up running Chrysler despite Chrysler buying them out.
The purchase of Lamborghini wasn't profitable, but it gave them access to technology and assistance with the development of the viper.
I will agree that Chrysler struggled with the discipline to effectively make the Lamborghini purchase into a profitable venture.
Back in the 1970's, the 225 cubic inch displacement slant six engine almost sunk Chrysler.
The engine was so reliable, cheap & easy to fix & maintain and lasted forever.
People weren't trading their Chrysler cars in for new ones because the old ones kept running and that drove down sales of new cars.
Amazingly enough, the K cars did not feature the slant six for that very reason!
Anyone living in the rust belt would beg to differ.
Growing up in the 70s, almost everyone I knew had a slant six Dart or Valiant as the family car for a few years. While the engines and transmissions were indeed bulletproof, the bodies were notorious for premature rust.
@@martinliehs2513True. I owned four vehicles in a row that were Slant-six powered. I bought a used Dodge pickup with low compression on one cylinder so I called it a Slant-five. Still, the engine outlasted the rest of the truck.
That and the slant six wouldn't fit sideways for a FWD K car. The Slant Six was not a small engine
The K-car’s engine was basically a slant six with two cylinders removed.
I love your choice of Sim City 4 background music.
One model that hasn't been updated since 2017 and STILL suffers from the same problems. A friend had a 17 Pacifica which I told him he had to get rid of due to the transmission about to fail. His BRAND NEW 24 has a transmission which is terrible. His 17 had problems with backup camera his 24 does as well. Don't try the keep in lane or it'll kill u.
My buddy’s parents had an eagle premier back in the day. It was a really nice car, surprised they didn’t sell better
Ed?????????????
The Pinto & Mustang II were a HUUUUUGE success!! The Mustang II saved the Mustang (?)!!
Still your biggest fan though. 😁
I did not know that the K cars were a great success. I remember working on them in the 1980s and seeing how Chrysler used some of the familiar large car parts like the ignition cylinder, but in a small chassis.
Loved the Sim City 4 music in the background ❤ 🏙️
The vehicles sold under the Eagle name were quite good. The European ones suffered from a crippling exchange rate issue, making the numbers imported at the original (good) prices disappear fast, and very few sent afterwards. The Asian ones were fully competitive with those from Toyota, Honda, and etc.
I always thought the Eagle brand was the return of De Soto.. Hell, they probably should have called it the De Soto.
Even among automotive enthusiasts, few realize the extent of Lee Iacocca's successes or even his background. When Chrysler bought AMC all they really wanted was the Jeep division but they had to buy the whole package to get it. When FCA (now Stellantis) bought Chrysler all they really wanted was the Ram truck division. Like Ford's "new" T-Bird, once the market is saturated with buyers wanting the Charger and/or Challenger it's sales will flatten; that's happening already. So it's questionable how long they will remain, but if they bring enough profit they may be around awhile.
Thanks for sharing 👍