Chrysler , An American Automotive Icon

jtallon wrote:

wilber1 wrote:

What's the matter with Volvo? Still very good cars as far as I can see. Sometimes these things turn out very well. Jaguar/ Land Rover has never been stronger since they were taken over by Tata. Sometimes Asian companies put more value on these iconic names than westerners.

With hindsight, Volvo seems to be holding up well, and they have a lot of new models coming out over the next few years. So the investment is there. Hopefully the new models shine.

It wasn't so clear at the time of the deal, though. The Jaguar deal was still an unknown result, and we were also watching the sale attempts and eventual death of Saab.

I liked the quirky character of Saabs, so it wasn't hard back then to imagine a similar fate for Volvo when the sale to Geely was announced, or maybe a line of Geely cars with Volvo badges.

Sorry for the topic derail. Back to Chrysler.

Thanks but it got off topic way before you. Walter P Chrysler was a amazing man. One heck of rags to rich's story. Whether you like Chrysler or not he was a leading innovator in automotive design.

colliehauler wrote:

jtallon wrote:

wilber1 wrote:

What's the matter with Volvo? Still very good cars as far as I can see. Sometimes these things turn out very well. Jaguar/ Land Rover has never been stronger since they were taken over by Tata. Sometimes Asian companies put more value on these iconic names than westerners.

With hindsight, Volvo seems to be holding up well, and they have a lot of new models coming out over the next few years. So the investment is there. Hopefully the new models shine.

It wasn't so clear at the time of the deal, though. The Jaguar deal was still an unknown result, and we were also watching the sale attempts and eventual death of Saab.

I liked the quirky character of Saabs, so it wasn't hard back then to imagine a similar fate for Volvo when the sale to Geely was announced, or maybe a line of Geely cars with Volvo badges.

Sorry for the topic derail. Back to Chrysler.

Thanks but it got off topic way before you. Walter P Chrysler was a amazing man. One heck of rags to rich's story. Whether you like Chrysler or not he was a leading innovator in automotive design.

X2

FishOnOne wrote:

dodge guy wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:
I bet Lee is pizzed what happened to the Chrysler corporation

Definitely just when Daimler owned it!

I would include cerebus since they were lost and didn't know how to manage the company and now with fiat they are no longer an American company

Yep, your right. Cerberus didn't know what to do, they weren't a car company and had no business trying to become one!

There is no longer any true American company! That stopped back in the 80's! All 3 of the big 3 are no longer 100% American.

dodge guy wrote:


Yep, your right. Cerberus didn't know what to do, they weren't a car company and had no business trying to become one!

There is no longer any true American company! That stopped back in the 80's! All 3 of the big 3 are no longer 100% American.

On the flip side few of the foreign name plates sold here are truly foreign anymore. Not only are many assembled here, many of their parts are US sourced as well. It's why Motor Trend dropped the separate Domestic and Import COTY competitions years ago.

Yea, Cerberus is a private investment firm. When something gets bought by one these if it doesn't turn a fast buck in a short time it's either sold or shut down.

colliehauler wrote:

jtallon wrote:

wilber1 wrote:

What's the matter with Volvo? Still very good cars as far as I can see. Sometimes these things turn out very well. Jaguar/ Land Rover has never been stronger since they were taken over by Tata. Sometimes Asian companies put more value on these iconic names than westerners.

With hindsight, Volvo seems to be holding up well, and they have a lot of new models coming out over the next few years. So the investment is there. Hopefully the new models shine.

It wasn't so clear at the time of the deal, though. The Jaguar deal was still an unknown result, and we were also watching the sale attempts and eventual death of Saab.

I liked the quirky character of Saabs, so it wasn't hard back then to imagine a similar fate for Volvo when the sale to Geely was announced, or maybe a line of Geely cars with Volvo badges.

Sorry for the topic derail. Back to Chrysler.

Thanks but it got off topic way before you. Walter P Chrysler was a amazing man. One heck of rags to rich's story. Whether you like Chrysler or not he was a leading innovator in automotive design.

Many people (including me) who grew up in the muscle car era think Dodge/Plymouth made truely exciting, fun cars. 425/426 Hemis, 440 six-packs, SuperBirds, Chargers, Challengers, etc.

My brother built up a 340 Dart into an absolute screamer.

I know we all had our favorites from back then. I just always thought the Dodges of that era were something special.

Chrysler was inovative in earlier years. One of the first american companies to drop generator and go to alternators, one of the first to make front disk brakes standard on cars, one of the first to make disk brakes an option, early use of fuel injection (although didn't work to well), the hemi engine, early adopter of good automatic transmissions, areodynamics with the chrysler airflow (even if it did hit in the middle of the depression) and some pretty wild cars to take advantage of NASCAR rules with the charger daytona, charger 500 and plymouth superbirds. And some of the dealer available cars for drag racing with plastic windows, stripped interiors etc.

FishOnOne wrote:

dodge guy wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:
I bet Lee is pizzed what happened to the Chrysler corporation

Definitely just when Daimler owned it!

I would include cerebus since they were lost and didn't know how to manage the company and now with fiat they are no longer an American company

I worked for a company that was taken over by Cerberus. Fortunately there was still enough left to survive after they sold off its most valuable assets and flogged the rest. Chrysler was lucky to survive them.

I own a real Chrysler.

Just as well Fiat bought them, it seam they now build cars everybody wants. Lol. :B
Frank.

ktmrfs wrote:
Chrysler was inovative in earlier years. One of the first american companies to drop generator and go to alternators, one of the first to make front disk brakes standard on cars, one of the first to make disk brakes an option, early use of fuel injection (although didn't work to well), the hemi engine, early adopter of good automatic transmissions, areodynamics with the chrysler airflow (even if it did hit in the middle of the depression) and some pretty wild cars to take advantage of NASCAR rules with the charger daytona, charger 500 and plymouth superbirds. And some of the dealer available cars for drag racing with plastic windows, stripped interiors etc.

Lots of early innovation like a more modern high compression motor, safety glass, hydraulic brakes, the Airflow was also one of the first to have a weight balance between front and rear. The program showed some of the test where they pushed a Airflow off a cliff and it rolled several times and the roof did not collapse. A car way ahead of its time but the aerodynamic styling did not go over.

In later years to add to your list they were the first to use electronic ignition instead of points and condenser.

wilber1 wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:

dodge guy wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:
I bet Lee is pizzed what happened to the Chrysler corporation

Definitely just when Daimler owned it!

I would include cerebus since they were lost and didn't know how to manage the company and now with fiat they are no longer an American company

I worked for a company that was taken over by Cerberus. Fortunately there was still enough left to survive after they sold off its most valuable assets and flogged the rest. Chrysler was lucky to survive them.

I own a real Chrysler.

Is that an Imperial? It's a very impressive car