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When Lee Iacocca left the Ford Motor Firm and joined Chrysler in 1978, he was confronted with rebuilding a automotive firm on the verge of chapter. One of many causes for the corporate’s lack of capital, he claimed, was that the company’s numerous variety of platforms—5 in manufacturing on the time —shared few widespread components, which in flip had created a fancy manufacturing and stock conundrum.
Correcting Chrysler’s fortunes would require a streamlined system of manufacturing already in apply in Germany and Japan: fewer platforms with a broad array of shared elements, most of which had been hidden from purchaser’s eyes. Whereas Iacocca stood earlier than the U.S. Congress making his attraction for the good “Chrysler bailout” in 1979, his engineers had been busy creating a brand new chassis: The K-car platform.
The brand new front-wheel-drive Ok-platform debuted because the compact Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant within the fall of 1980, changing the recall-plagued Aspen and Volare within the divisions’ lineups. Every of the brand new “Ok-cars” had been provided in two-door and four-door sedan physique types, in addition to a station wagon, in numerous trim ranges. It was a transparent shift for the company, with extra aerodynamic and fuel-efficient automobiles aimed toward reducing the patrons’ working prices whereas concurrently lowering manufacturing prices.
No sooner had the Ok-car begun to roll off dealership tons throughout the nation when the mother or father division started to undertake the chassis for a reimagined LeBaron, set to be launched for 1982. Like its company siblings, the new LeBaron was to utilize the prevailing two-door coupe, four-door sedan, and wagon—however a storied, luxurious identify wanted, maybe, only a bit extra, and that is the place adaptability got here into play as a part of Iacocca’s engineering directive.
The Chrysler model had not provided a convertible for the reason that 1970 mannequin yr. Inspired, partly, by a rebounding financial system, Iacocca felt there is perhaps renewed curiosity. To check the waters, he had a LeBaron two-door coupe despatched from the St Louis, Missouri, plant to California, the place it was modified right into a “non-functional” convertible. As soon as accomplished and displayed at a number of auto exhibits — the place it was met with robust curiosity— Automobiles and Ideas, primarily based in Brighton, Michigan, was contracted to handle the conversion of two-door coupes into convertibles for the luxurious LeBaron (and the brand new Dodge 400).
Automobiles and Ideas was chosen from a listing of aftermarket corporations primarily based on their aggressive worth, coupled with a full-service package deal of engineering, manufacturing, and after-sale help. Simply as necessary, the corporate was deemed to have a correct idea of how you can construct convertibles within the new decade. As one would anticipate, Automobiles and Ideas did extra than simply hack off the roof of a two-door coupe. Roughly 34 separate steps had been undertaken to finish the advanced conversion, most of which included the required sheetmetal surgical procedure and complicated physique reinforcement required.
Thus, when the reimagined Chrysler LeBaron was formally unveiled for 1982, the entry-level luxurious automotive was out there in two-door coupe, four-door sedan, and convertible guises. Having shed its former boxy search for aerodynamic sleekness with out sacrificing elegant trimmings, the all-new LeBaron was introduced as, “Lee Iacocca’s dream to mix excessive mileage and luxurious in a collection of vehicles,” in advertisements pitched by actor Ricardo Montalban.
With the redesign got here refreshing fuel-mileage estimates of 25 within the metropolis and as excessive as 40 on the freeway. Such numbers had been made potential partly by a Chrysler-developed 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine (equating to 135 cubic inches) rated at 84 horsepower and 111 pound-feet of torque provided as commonplace tools, save for the LeBaron City & Nation, which acquired the otherwise-optional Mitsubishi-produced 2.6-liter four-cylinder. A four-speed handbook transmission was commonplace, although an automated was elective.
Naturally, the LeBaron convertible was to be the last word in luxurious additional touted in Chrysler brochures and advertisements: “The convertible exudes an class, a way of favor that begins on the tip of its extremely stylized grille and continues by way of to plush inside appointments. No different automotive is inflicting a lot pleasure.” That stated, a luxurious custom was maintained when Chrysler provided the road within the upscale Medallion collection, as depicted by this Mark Cross version at present underneath the care of Ted DeHoogh of Sioux Heart, Iowa.
The Mark Cross Version was out there for patrons who wished their LeBaron absolutely outfitted with commonplace LeBaron and otherwise-optional tools. In convertible type, and past the unique Mark Cross leather-based inside and trim, this included energy steering, energy brakes, energy home windows, energy door locks, energy high, distant trunk launch, cruise management, air con, console with bucket seats, tilt wheel, twin distant mirrors, AM/ FM/cassette radio, wire wheel covers, and extra. There was additionally a $1,000 Reservation Certificates receipt offered in a ravishing leatherette Mark Cross portfolio. Extra premiums included an umbrella with holder color-keyed to the automotive’s inside and a “Made in Italy” Mark Cross key chain and key.
Forgoing the usual tools listing additional, the Mark Cross editions had been delivered with the Mitsubishi 2.6-liter “MCA Jet” four-cylinder backed by a front-wheel-drive three-speed Torqueflite automatic. The spunky 156-cu.in., two-barrel-topped four-cylinder featured a second consumption valve that was a lot smaller than the first unit. Previous to combustion, a blast of high-pressure air (the “Jet” a part of MCA Jet) was launched into the combustion chamber to raised distribute the air/gas combination coming by way of the first valve. The consequence was higher combustion and a discount in NOx emissions. The two.6 carried an influence ranking of 92 horsepower at 4,500 rpm and 131 pound-feet of torque at 2,500 rpm.
Opposite to what one might imagine, this four-cylinder powerplant was no stranger to U.S.-market Chrysler merchandise. It had already loved service inside the 1978-’80 Plymouth Fireplace Arrow, in addition to the compact 1979-’80 Dodge Ram D-50 pickup.
The MSRP for our featured and actually limited-edition 1982 Medallion Mark Cross was $13,900 plus a $355 vacation spot cost. Present proprietor Ted explains, “John Franklen, an area Sioux Heart, Iowa, businessman particular ordered this Chrysler LeBaron Medallion Mark Cross convertible by way of Vos Motor Gross sales in November of 1981.” This instance had been ordered in Mahogany Starmist (code VH9) with a white high, and Ted has Chrysler correspondence obtained by the unique proprietor that verified, by VIN, that this automotive was the thirty fourth convertible modified by Automobiles and Ideas. “It was the primary Mark Cross convertible delivered within the four-state space and it was displayed within the seller showroom for per week earlier than being delivered to its proprietor.”
Spending the equal of almost $44,000 in in the present day’s foreign money on what was then basically Iacocca’s compact luxurious automotive gamble, and never having the ability to take supply for per week whereas on show, might need raised an eyebrow for many, nevertheless it mustn’t have fazed Franklen within the least.
“As soon as he was capable of absolutely take possession, Franklen drove the convertible for about 11 years, pulling town float in parades and taking dignitaries across the city,” Ted recollects. “The seller bought the automotive again in 1993 after which put it in storage till I bought it in July 2014. The odometer studying on the time was simply 14,200 miles. I by no means owned a convertible earlier than and when the chance got here to purchase it, I didn’t hesitate.”
Time has since confirmed that reintroducing a convertible to the Chrysler line was a big gamble that paid off. Again in 1970, simply 1,077 Chrysler 300 convertibles had been constructed. On the conclusion of the ’82 season, Chrysler, with Automotive & Ideas, had constructed 3,045 base LeBaron convertibles, along with 9,780 upscale Medallion variations for a then-whopping whole of 12,825 items. That’s excluding one other 5,541 same-year Dodge 400 convertibles. Although seemingly heady numbers out of the gate, a LeBaron Medallion drop-top is a comparative rarity in the present day, one thing Ted retains in thoughts.
“I haven’t pushed the automotive a lot within the eight years that I’ve owned it,” he says, including, “The present odometer studying is 15,500 miles. Since buy I’ve simply cleaned and detailed it, saved it maintained, and have rigorously loved this uncommon piece of automotive historical past—it’s a ‘survivor.’ I’m selective about once I take it out; it’s normally to attend a couple of native exhibits yearly.”
“I’ve a gold mine of documentation relating to the event and manufacturing of those convertibles,” Ted says. “The seller additionally supplied me with all the unique paperwork, extra premiums, and correspondence despatched to the unique proprietor, in addition to brochures and seller posters —it’s all there. It has been very fascinating proudly owning this distinctive automotive with all its documented historical past and sharing it with others who take the time to cease and ask about it at occasions.”
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