Chrysler (brand) facts for kids
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| Owner | Stellantis |
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| Introduced | June 6, 1925 |
| Related brands | Mopar, Dodge, Plymouth |
| Markets | Worldwide |
| Previous owners | Independent (1925–1998, 2007–2014) DaimlerChrysler (1998–2007) |
Chrysler is an American car brand. It's part of a big company called Stellantis North America. Walter Chrysler started the company in 1925. He built it from parts of an older car company.
Chrysler mostly made fancy cars as the company grew. They offered different types of cars, like other big car makers. Chrysler cars have always been popular. Even though other brands in Stellantis are now bigger, many car fans still love Chrysler.
Right now (in 2024), Chrysler only makes the Pacifica minivan. But Stellantis plans to bring back more Chrysler cars. They even showed a cool electric car idea called the Chrysler Airflow. This is because of Chrysler's long history and how much people still like the brand.
Contents
History of Chrysler Cars
How Chrysler Started
The very first Chrysler cars were shown in New York on January 5, 1924. This was a year before the Chrysler company officially started! These cars had many new features. They included a powerful six-cylinder engine and special four-wheel hydraulic brakes. These features were new for cars that weren't super expensive. People loved them, and 32,000 cars were sold in the first year.
In 1926, Chrysler introduced the Chrysler 70. It was named because it could go 70 miles per hour. By 1927, Chrysler had four different models. The company was in fourth place for car sales. In 1928, Chrysler spent $23 million to make its factories bigger.
Chrysler in the 1930s
In 1930, Chrysler started putting radios in some of its cars. Chrysler also became the first car company to use a new type of carburetor. This helped the engine work better. For 1931, Chrysler cars got new grilles and a new engine called the Chrysler Spitfire engine.
In 1932, Chrysler introduced "Floating Power" engine mounts. These were made of rubber and stopped engine vibrations from shaking the car. This made the ride much smoother. In 1933, Chrysler cars got even more improvements. They had a new three-speed manual transmission that was very quiet.
In 1934, Chrysler introduced the Chrysler Airflow. This car was very special because it looked different. It was designed using a wind tunnel to be very smooth and aerodynamic. This helped it handle better and use less power. It also had a strong, welded body. In 1935, Chrysler also offered the Chrysler Airstream. This car was more affordable and had a modern look.
By 1937, most Airflow cars were stopped. Chrysler focused on other models like the Chrysler Royal and Imperial. These cars also had special rubber mounts to reduce road vibrations. In 1939, Chrysler introduced "Superfinish." This made car parts very smooth, which helped them last longer.
Chrysler in the 1940s
In 1940, Chrysler cars got new "sealed beam" headlights. These lights made it 50% easier to see at night. Chrysler also added special edition cars like the Highlander, which had a Scottish plaid interior. The luxury Saratoga model was also added.
In 1941, Chrysler introduced the Fluid Drive semi-automatic transmission. This made driving easier. In 1942, Chrysler cars were redesigned with a new chrome grille. But civilian car production stopped in February 1942 because of World War II.
After the war, in 1946, Chrysler brought back the redesigned 1942 cars. They also reintroduced the Town & Country model. In 1949, Chrysler had its first completely new car design in almost ten years. They also brought back the nine-passenger station wagon.
Chrysler in the 1950s
In 1950, Chrysler made its cars look more modern. They lowered the cars and updated the grilles. Chrysler also added disc brakes to some models. They introduced the new Chrysler Newport hardtop, power windows, and a padded safety dashboard.
In 1951, Chrysler introduced its first V8 engine. It was very powerful, making 180 horsepower. This engine was special because it had "hemispherical combustion chambers." After winning races, the engine was made even more powerful by 1955.
Chrysler also built a unique sports car in 1955. It was based on the New Yorker hardtop coupe. This car had a powerful 300-horsepower "Hemi" V8 engine. It was called the Chrysler 300, highlighting its engine's power.
In 1955, the fancy Imperial car became its own separate brand. It was even more luxurious than Chrysler cars. Imperial stayed a separate brand until 1975. It came back as a Chrysler model from 1990-1993.
A new designer named Virgil Exner restyled Chrysler cars in 1955. Sales went up a lot. In 1957, the cars were restyled again with cool sloping fronts and big tailfins. But the quality wasn't always great because they rushed to build the new cars.
Sales dropped in 1958 and 1959, even with better quality. In the mid-1950s, Chrysler offered different models: New Yorker (top), Saratoga (middle), and Windsor (base). Exner's designs in the early 1960s were too much, and sales didn't improve. He left in 1962.
Chrysler in the 1960s
In 1963, Chrysler cars were restyled to be more modern and boxy. The Windsor and Saratoga models were replaced by the Newport. The New Yorker continued as the luxury model. The Imperial was still the most expensive brand.
The Chrysler 300 continued as a high-performance car. Each year, it got a new letter of the alphabet, from 300-B in 1956 to 300-L in 1965. In 1962, a cheaper "non-letter" 300 was also made.
In 1965, Chryslers were restyled again. They had a modern body and bigger engines. They looked squared-off with flat sides. Some had cool glass-covered headlights that hid when turned on. Chrysler cars in the 1960s were well-built. They had new features like strong bodies and special front suspension. In 1963, the Chrysler Turbine Car was introduced. This car had a special engine like a jet!
Chrysler in the 1970s
The Cordoba was a new luxury car introduced in 1975. It replaced the 300 model. It was meant to compete with other fancy cars. The Cordoba was originally planned to be a Plymouth car. But Chrysler decided to sell it as a Chrysler model to make more money. This was because of problems like the 1973 oil crisis.
The Cordoba was a big success! Over 150,000 were sold in 1975, which was a tough year for car sales. Sales kept growing in 1976 and 1977. The Cordoba had a more luxurious interior than other similar cars. It had soft seats, some even with "Corinthian leather."
In 1977, Chrysler also introduced a new mid-size car line called LeBaron. It came as a coupe, sedan, and station wagon.
Chrysler in the 1980s
In 1982, the LeBaron became a smaller, front-wheel drive car. It was the cheapest Chrysler model. It was first available as a sedan and coupe. Then, in 1982, a convertible version came out. This was the first factory-built convertible from a US car maker since 1976! A station wagon version called the Town and Country was also added.
A special Town and Country convertible was made from 1983 to 1986. It had fake wood panels, like the original 1940s model.
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Also in 1982, the New Yorker name moved to a smaller car. The fancy "Fifth Avenue" option was still available. It had a special vinyl roof and luxurious seats. These seats were covered in soft velvet or "Corinthian leather." The carpet was thicker, and the interior had more chrome.
The last year for the Cordoba coupe was 1983. That year, Chrysler introduced a new front-wheel-drive New Yorker. It was based on a longer version of the K-Car platform. A cheaper version was sold as the Chrysler E-Class. Even fancier stretched K-Car models were sold as Chrysler Executive sedans and limousines.
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From 1984, the New Yorker Fifth Avenue was just called Fifth Avenue. This name lasted for six years. All Fifth Avenues from 1984 to 1989 had a V8 engine. They were very popular and sold much better than similar Dodge and Plymouth cars. Production peaked at 118,000 cars in 1986.
In 1985, Chrysler introduced a new mid-size hatchback called the LeBaron GTS. It was sold alongside other LeBaron models. The LeBaron coupe and convertible were redesigned in 1987. These new models had unique styling, not just two-door versions of the sedan. They had hidden headlamps and full-width taillights.
The New Yorker was redesigned in 1988 and came with a V6 engine. It also brought back hidden headlamps. In 1989, Chrysler released the TC by Maserati. This was a luxury sports car made with Maserati.
Chrysler in the 1990s
Chrysler brought back the Town & Country name in 1989. It was a luxury version of the Dodge Grand Caravan minivan. This minivan version of the Chrysler Town & Country was sold until 2016. Then, the Pacifica minivan took its place in 2017.
In 1990, the Fifth Avenue became a model of the New Yorker again. The New Yorker Fifth Avenue was a bit longer than the standard car. It was considered a full-size car. For 1990, it had a new 3.3L V6 engine. Later, a larger 3.8L V6 engine became an option.
The New Yorker Fifth Avenue had famous, soft seats. They were available in velvet or leather. Leather cars had a "Mark Cross" logo. In 1992, the New Yorker Fifth Avenue got new, rounded front and rear ends.
The early 1990s also saw the return of the Imperial as a high-end sedan. This time, it was a model of Chrysler, not its own brand. It was the top full-size car in Chrysler's lineup. The Imperial looked different from the New Yorker Fifth Avenue. It had a more wedge-shaped front and rounded rear. It also had full-width taillights.
The 1990 Imperial had a 3.3L V6 engine. In 1991, it got a larger 3.8L V6. Both engines came with a four-speed automatic transmission.
Also new for 1990 was a redesigned LeBaron sedan. It offered a V6 engine as standard. Later models also had 4-cylinder engines. The Town & Country minivan was restyled in 1991. This was also the last year for the TC by Maserati.
The first Chrysler Concorde came out in 1992 as a 1993 model. It was a well-equipped car. The Concorde had a modern version of Chrysler's special waterfall grille. The back of the car had a full-width lightbar between the taillights. This made it look like the lights stretched across the whole trunk.
In 1993, the Chrysler LHS was introduced. It was the top-of-the-line Chrysler model. It was different from the New Yorker sedan. The LHS had leather bucket seats and other standard features. The New Yorker was stopped after 1996.
The last New Yorker models were front-wheel drive. They came out in 1993 as 1994 models. The New Yorker had a 3.5L V6 engine. Chrysler wanted the New Yorker to be a "traditional American" luxury car. The LHS was seen as more European.
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In 1995, the Chrysler Sebring coupe replaced the LeBaron coupe. The new Chrysler Cirrus replaced the LeBaron sedan. A year later, a convertible version of the Sebring came out. In 1999, Chrysler introduced the new 300M sedan. It was originally planned to be an Eagle Vision, but Eagle was stopped.
Chrysler in the 2000s
In 2000, the Voyager minivans became Chrysler models. This was because the Plymouth brand was ending. In 2001, a Sebring sedan was added, replacing the Cirrus. That same year, Chrysler added the cool, retro-styled PT Cruiser. They also added the Prowler sports car, which used to be a Plymouth. By 2004, all Chrysler minivans were called Town & Country.
The 2000s also saw Chrysler make crossover and SUV vehicles. They introduced the Chrysler Pacifica crossover in 2004. The Chrysler Aspen SUV came out in 2007. The Pacifica crossover was stopped in 2008. The Aspen SUV was stopped in 2009.
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From 2004 to 2008, Chrysler offered a two-seat sports car called Crossfire. This was in addition to the Sebring coupe and convertible.
In 2005, Chrysler introduced the Chrysler 300 sedan. It replaced both the 300M and Concorde. This was Chrysler's first rear-wheel drive sedan since 1989. It was also the first time a Chrysler sedan had a V8 engine since 1989.
Chrysler in the 2010s
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Chrysler Corporation started working with the Italian car maker Fiat. This led to the two companies joining together in 2014. The new company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), wanted to make Chrysler a full luxury brand again. They planned to compete with Cadillac. But these plans didn't fully happen in this decade.
In 2011, Chrysler's winged logo was changed. The old blue ribbon was removed. Also that year, the Chrysler 300 was restyled. The Sebring was renamed the Chrysler 200. In 2014, FCA said Chrysler would be a mainstream brand with premium features. A redesigned Chrysler 200 came out in 2015. But it was stopped in 2017 as FCA focused more on SUVs and minivans. In 2017, the Chrysler Pacifica name came back on a new minivan. It replaced the long-running Town & Country.
During this time, Chrysler's quality ratings were sometimes below average. But Chrysler did have some successes. In 2015, Strategic Vision named Chrysler a winner for strong customer appeal.
Chrysler in the 2020s
In the early 2020s, Chrysler had only two car models: the Pacifica minivan and the Chrysler 300 sedan. The 300 sedan was last redesigned in 2010. In March 2023, the CEO of Stellantis said the Chrysler brand would be "relaunched" with new models. One of these new models is expected to be an electric SUV by 2025. This was shown by the Chrysler Airflow concept car. The company also plans to make the Chrysler brand fully electric by 2028.
Current Vehicles
The Chrysler brand's current lineup includes the Chrysler Pacifica minivan.
Images for kids
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1994–1996 Chrysler New Yorker
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