Chrysler LeBaron
| Chrysler LeBaron | |
|---|---|
| Production period: | 1977-1995 |
| Class : | upper middle class |
| Body versions : | Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible |
| Successor: |
Chrysler Cirrus Chrysler Stratus Chrysler Sebring |
The American automobile manufacturer Chrysler offered several models under the name Chrysler LeBaron between 1977 and 1995.
The name LeBaron goes back to a pre-war body manufacturer of the same name and had been used since the 1950s to designate a model of the Imperial brand .
In 1977 Chrysler presented the first LeBaron, a mid-range, compact luxury model with rear-wheel drive in American terms. This was followed in 1981 by a smaller LeBaron with front-wheel drive. From 1986 to 1995, a coupé and a convertible were offered under this name, and from 1989 to 1995 a four-door sedan was added to the side.
LeBaron (1977-1981)
| 1st generation | |
|---|---|
 Chrysler LeBaron Wagon (1980-1981) |
|
| Production period: | 1977-1981 |
| Body versions : | Sedan , station wagon , coupé |
| Engines: |
Petrol engines : 3.7-5.9 liters (63-115 kW) |
| Length: | 5184-5235 mm |
| Width: | 1867 mm |
| Height: | 1354-1415 mm |
| Wheelbase : | |
| Empty weight : | 1459-1665 kg |
In May 1977, Chrysler introduced the LeBaron as a more compact alternative to the brand's traditional full-size cars. The luxuriously appointed car was designed as the Chrysler Group's answer to the Cadillac Seville and Lincoln Versailles .
With the LeBaron, Chrysler founded a new model family, which was summarized under the name M platform . In fact, the LeBaron was no more a new development than its competitors from General Motors and Ford. The LeBaron largely relied on Chrysler's F platform and was technically and externally closely related to the Dodge Aspen and the Plymouth Volare .
The LeBaron was available as a sedan, coupé and - from 1978 - also as a station wagon, which received the traditional name Town & Country . Until 1979, all body versions were based on the same wheelbase; with the facelift in 1980, however, the LeBaron Coupé received a wheelbase that was 10 cm shorter.
Initially, only a 5.2 liter eight-cylinder engine served as the drive; From 1978 to 1981, the Slant Six in-line six- cylinder with 3.7 liters displacement was also available as an alternative . In the 1978 and 1979 model years, a 5.9-liter eight-cylinder engine was also available.
Stylistically, the LeBaron was largely identical to the Dodge Aspen, but had a different radiator grille, an independent arrangement of the light units with indicators that were arranged above the headlights, and a modified rear section. In 1980 the LeBaron received a major facelift with a completely new roof line. The C-pillar was now significantly steeper; in addition, the rear fenders of the coupé were designed in a straight line.
The equipment variants were the basic model, the LeBaron S or Special as an entry-level model with reduced equipment and the top models LeBaron Salon and LeBaron Medallion. A special model that was only offered in 1980 was the LeBaron Fifth Avenue Edition . It anticipated the design of the later models Chrysler New Yorker and Chrysler Fifth Avenue .
From 1977 to 1981, a total of 431,616 copies of the LeBaron were made. The Dodge brand belonging to the Chrysler Group offered its own, slightly more simply equipped version of the LeBaron from 1977 under the name Dodge Diplomat . The diplomat was cheaper than the LeBaron, but sold significantly worse. In addition, a Plymouth version called the Caravelle was also available on the Canadian market .
LeBaron (1981-1988)
| 2nd generation | |
|---|---|
 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible (1981–1985) |
|
| Production period: | 1981-1988 |
| Body versions : | Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible |
| Engines: |
Petrol engines : 2.2-2.6 liters (63-112 kW) |
| Length: | 4564 mm |
| Width: | 1740 mm |
| Height: | 1346 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 2540 mm |
| Empty weight : | 1101-1259 kg |
In the late summer of 1981, a completely new LeBaron model based on the new K-Car platform with front-wheel drive was presented. The parallel model was the Dodge 400 .
The body variants offered were a four-door sedan, a five-door station wagon, a coupé and a convertible. There was also based on the LeBaron extended executive saloons.
The drive consisted of four-cylinder in-line engines, Chrysler's own 2.2-liter engine with or without a turbocharger, later also available in a 2.5-liter version, as well as a 2.6-liter engine supplied by Mitsubishi Balancer shafts.
The convertible has been the first US series convertible since the summer of 1976 since the open- top Cadillac Eldorado was discontinued . From 1983 to 1986 there was also a Town & Country edition with plastic "wood" decoration on the sides, a reminiscence of the Chrysler Town & Country models of the early post-war period, which were still equipped with real ash wood.
In the fall of 1985, all LeBaron received a slight facelift, in the course of which the front section was made a little more rounded.
The station wagon with the additional name Town & Country was available until 1988, the sedan dropped out of the range in 1987. Coupé and convertible already received a successor in 1986.
In total, Chrysler produced around 538,000 copies of the second generation LeBaron (including 260,000 sedans, 52,600 station wagons, 120,000 coupés and 106,000 convertibles, 3721 as Town & Country ).
This model was equipped with a digital instrument cluster with fluorescent display; The Electronic Voice Alert (EVA), which announced warnings from the instrument cluster, was available as an additional feature .
Rear of the LeBaron Convertible
Chrysler LeBaron Sedan (1985-1988)
LeBaron Coupé / Cabriolet (1986–1995)
| 3rd generation (Coupé / Cabriolet) | |
|---|---|
 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible (1986-1993) |
|
| Production period: | 1986-1995 |
| Body versions : | Coupé , convertible |
| Engines: |
Petrol engines : 2.2-3.0 liters (74-130 kW) |
| Length: | 4696 mm |
| Width: | 1737 mm |
| Height: | 1293-1344 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 2550 mm |
| Empty weight : | 1216-1442 kg |
In 1986 Chrysler launched a completely new LeBaron coupé and convertible version with a more modern and no-frills body with pop-up headlights. These models were also offered in Europe with some success.
The 2.2- and 2.5-liter four-cylinder from Chrysler were also used in this model generation; from the 1990 model year, a 3.0-liter V6 engine ( Mitsubishi 6G72 ) purchased from Mitsubishi was also available on request . In the 1990 model year, the models were given a new, more ergonomically designed dashboard and in 1993 a facelift with exposed, narrow headlights.
From model year 1989 the LeBaron GTC was offered as a high-performance version, in autumn 1993 the coupé was discontinued, and in the last model year 1995 only the GTC Cabriolet was available.
However, different engine variants were offered between 1989 and 1995: first in 1989 the GTC Turbo II. A two-stage turbocharger produced 130 kW (177 hp) from 2.2 liter displacement, partly produced by Mitsubishi and partly by Garrett. When the Turbo II was discontinued, Mitsubishi's 3.0 V6 was offered as a GTC - but a completely different vehicle in character.
Chrysler built a total of around 567,000 copies of this model generation of the LeBaron (including 221,000 coupés and 346,000 convertibles).
The Chrysler TC by Maserati , developed in collaboration with Maserati and produced from 1989 to 1991 , was technically largely based on the LeBaron Cabriolet.
Chrysler LeBaron Coupe (1986-1993)
Chrysler LeBaron Convertible (1993-1995)
LeBaron Limousine / Saratoga (1988–1995)
| 3rd generation (sedan) | |
|---|---|
 Chrysler LeBaron Sedan (1988-1995) |
|
| Production period: | 1988-1995 |
| Body versions : | limousine |
| Engines: |
Petrol engines : 2.5-3.0 liters (74-106 kW) |
| Length: | 4641 mm |
| Width: | 1730 mm |
| Height: | 1364 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 2629 mm |
| Empty weight : | 1243-1338 kg |
For the 1989 model year, Chrysler added a slightly modified version of the Dodge Spirit / Plymouth Acclaim under the name LeBaron . The sedan was available with a 2.5-liter in-line four-cylinder in conjunction with a three-speed automatic or with the Mitsubishi three-liter V6 and a four-speed automatic.
In Germany, the sister model Dodge Spirit was sold under the name Saratoga .
A good 131,000 copies were made within four and a half years.
literature
- James M. Flammang, Ron Kowalke: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1976-1999. Krause Publications, Iola 1999, ISBN 0-87341-755-0 .
