Chrysler TC by Maserati
| Chrysler | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| TC by Maserati | |
| Production period: | 1989-1991 |
| Class : | Sports car |
| Body versions : | Cabriolet |
| Engines: |
Gasoline engines : 2.2-3.0 liters (105-150 kW) |
| Length: | 4465 mm |
| Width: | 1740 mm |
| Height: | 1318 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 2370 mm |
| Empty weight : | 1374 kg |
The Chrysler TC by Maserati was a two-seater convertible that was developed and built by the US automobile company Chrysler in cooperation with the Italian sports car manufacturer Maserati . The model, which is located in the upper class segment, was presented at the Los Angeles Motor Show in 1986 , but was only available from 1989. Only 7,300 copies of the TC ("Touring Convertible") were hand-built in Milan . In 1991 production was stopped again; the sale lasted until 1994.
development
The initiative to develop the TC went back to Lee Iacocca , Chrysler's chairman at the time. Iacocca had worked for Chrysler competitor Ford in the 1970s . During this time he was in contact with Alejandro de Tomaso , who built his own company in Modena, Italy, building sports cars with Ford technology. Ford sold some De Tomaso models in the US for a number of years, including the Pantera .
After Chrysler ceased production of the high-priced Imperial Coupé in 1982 , Iacocca was looking for a new top model for its group. The GM brand Cadillac was developing at the time together with the Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina , the upper class coupe Allanté that market segment , Mercedes-Benz SL was positioned and should be apart from the drive technology almost entirely manufactured in Italy. Based on the Allanté, the concept of the new Chrysler top model, which was also to be manufactured in Italy, was created. To this end, Chrysler cooperated with Maserati, a traditional sports car manufacturer that had belonged to the Alejandro de Tomasos Group since 1975.
drive
When it was launched in 1989, the TC offered two different 2.2-liter turbo engines. The "normal" 2.2 liter soft turbo of the Chrysler K series (Turbo II) was only installed in vehicles with the Chrysler three-speed automatic transmission (type A413). Here the engine developed around 130 kW (174 hp) and had 237 Nm of torque.
The built in only 500 copies variant with Getrag -Fünfgang switching gear had a special version of the Chrysler K engine with a 16-valve head from Cosworth . This engine is often called the "Maserati engine" because the word "Maserati" is cast on its valve cover. The power is 150 kW (204 PS) and almost 300 Nm.
This 2.2 liter “Maserati” engine was really international: the cylinder head was cast in England at Cosworth and finished in Italy at Maserati . The pistons came from Mahle in Germany and the turbocharger from IHI from Japan . The camshafts were designed by Crane in Florida and manufactured by Maserati in Modena . The rest of the engine was made in the USA and was the equivalent of the standard 2.2 liter Chrysler K in-line turbocharged engine (Turbo II).
The 2.2-liter engines were replaced in the years 1990 and 1991 by a V6 supplied by Mitsubishi . This engine, used in many Chrysler models of the time, developed around 105 kW (143 hp) and 233 Nm of torque. The six-cylinder was only supplied with a Chrysler four-speed automatic transmission (type A604).
technology
The chassis of the TC was based on the shortened chassis of the Dodge Daytona and also contained the suspension and axles of this car. The chassis struts and dampers were specially designed for this car by Fichtel & Sachs , and the ABS came from Teves . The special wheels were made in Italy by the rim manufacturer Fondmetal , which is also involved in Formula 1 .
The TC had a removable hard top with small windows in the C-pillars (Opera Windows) and a hand-operated fabric roof. The interior was available in black, ginger-colored or burgundy leather. The outside of the car was painted black, red, yellow, white or burgundy.
Sales figures and prices
The car was not very successful as its body was similar to that of the much cheaper Chrysler LeBaron , so customers saw it as some kind of overpriced LeBaron convertible, although it had few components in common with this series. With the same equipment (apart from various interior applications) and the same engine, it was almost twice as expensive. The car did not meet sales expectations and only about seven thousand copies were sold in three years, which was even below expectations for the first model year.
| Model year | production | Selling Price (US $) |
| 1989 | 3764 (including 500 with manual transmission with the TC turbo) | 33,000.00 |
| 1990 | 1900 (all with Mitsubishi V6 and automatic transmission) | 35,500.00 |
| 1991 | 1636 (all with Mitsubishi V6 and automatic transmission) | 37,000.00 |
Competitors
The main competitor of the TC was the Buick Reatta , a two-door, front-wheel drive car with a six-cylinder engine. It was also available as a hardtop and convertible, and like the TC, it was partly hand-built. Both vehicles were on the market at the same time. But the Reatta sold much better. Many car enthusiasts have compared the TC to the Cadillac Allanté because both were designed and partially handcrafted in Italy (the difference to the Allanté was the V8 engine and its final assembly in the USA, with the bodies made in Italy and transported by air freight).
literature
- Martin Buckley: Maserati. Italian luxury and flair . Heel Verlag, Königswinter 2012. ISBN 978-3-86852-633-2 .
- Hans-Karl Lange: Maserati. The other Italian sports car. Zsolnay, Vienna 1993, ISBN 3-552-05102-3 .
- David Sparrow, Iain Ayre: Maserati Heritage . Osprey Classic Marques. Auckland 1995. ISBN 1-85532-441-5 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Martin Buckley: Maserati. Italian luxury and flair . Heel Verlag, Königswinter 2012. ISBN 978-3-86852-633-2 , p. 140.