Chrysler was founded in 1925, when Walter Chrysler purchased the Maxwell Motor Car Company and reorganized it under his own name. And under his leadership, it quickly rose to the forefront of American automotive production, mainly due to a good reputation for advanced design and engineering. By 1928, Plymouth, DeSoto, and Dodge were added to the corporate portfolio, and a hierarchy was made based on price class and functionality, with Chrysler taking top billing.
Among the early technical innovations Chrysler pioneered was the creation of the industry's first wind tunnel. 1934 saw the introduction of the Chrysler Airflow, which was designed with the most modern automotive and aviation principles. In a widely-reported publicity stunt, an Airflow was driven off a 100 foot cliff, bounced down the rocks, landed on its four wheels, and was immediately driven off. Sales faltered, however, as the car's radical styling was just too much for the buying public.
Chrysler pioneered the adoption of transistor radios in cars in 1956. In 1960, Chrysler built... View more all of its passenger cars with a unibody construction, with the exception of the Imperial line, which maintained the body-on-frame design. Chrysler Corporation's Plymouth Valiant was the first production car built with an alternator, rather than a generator. It proved so beneficial all Chrysler products were equipped by 1961. Gas turbine development was a priority in the '60s and '70s, and 50 vehicles bodied by Ghia and fitted with experimental turbine engines were placed in the public's hands for final testing in 1962.
Among the most collectable Chryslers are the 300-series letter cars. Starting 1955 with the Virgil Exner designed 300, it would continue to 1965 with the 300L. 1962's 300H was the first without any semblance of the fins that drove American styling in the previous decade.
The energy crisis of the mid-'70s, new EPA regulations, and spiraling warranty costs led to new CEO Lee Iacocca to ask for $1.5 billion in government back loan guarantees. Over the course of the 1980s, technical innovation would return to Chrysler. K-cars and minivans restructured the market for American cars. The full-size Imperial would return after a six-year hiatus in 1981, featuring full electronic ignition--an industry first--and an all digital dash display.
The 1998 merger of Daimler-Benz AG and Chrysler Corp brought unbridled hype and attention. By 2004 and 2005, Chrysler was turning a sizeable profit due mostly to a return to rear-wheel drive, the PT Cruiser, and all new 300. But success on that level was fleeting, as DaimlerChrysler was pouring too many resources into the Chrysler division, and it ended up selling 80.1% of its stake in the company to Cerberus Capital Management. More shuffling would continue until 2009, when Chrysler LLC entered into bankruptcy protection. The Chrysler Group LLC would be the remainder of the parent company after Chapter 11 reorganization. Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep stayed part of the group, with Fiat entering as 20% minority owner. View less
In 1955 Chrysler Corporation introduced the first 300". This new vehicle was actually pulled from the Chrysler parts bin and "designed" into a new model by their renowned...
In 1955 Chrysler Corporation introduced the first 300". This new vehicle was actually pulled from the Chrysler parts bin and "designed" into a new model by their renowned...
Chrysler manufactured the Aspen from 2007 until 2009. While it bears the Chrysler name, many regard the full-size, all-wheel drive Aspen as a re-branded Dodge Durango. Both are four-door SUVs and they have...
The Chrysler Cirrus is one of the three mid-sized cloud cars" (including the Dodge Stratus and Plymouth Breeze) introduced to the U.S. market in 1995. These vehicles were intended as mid-sized complements to...
The Chrysler Concorde is a full-sized front-wheel drive sedan built by the Chrysler Corporation between 1993 and 2004. Designed under the cab forward" design philosophy, the unique packaging gave the Concorde...
The Chrysler Crossfire is a rear-wheel drive sports coupe that was introduced in 2004 by the Daimler-Chrysler Corporation. The base model sports a 3.2-liter V6 and either a five-speed automatic or six-speed...
The Chrysler Pacifica was a mid-size crossover introduced in 2004 to take advantage of the new CUV market. It competed with other crossovers like the Nissan Murano and was developed remarkably quickly....
The Chrysler PT Cruiser embraces retro style with unabashed glee. From its uniquely-styled exterior to its quirky, old-fashioned themed interior, this five-seat compact wagon took the auto world by storm when...
The Chrysler Sebring is a mid-size vehicle produced during the 1996 to 2010 model years. The Sebring was available in convertible, coupe, and four-door sedan models. The sedan offered a greater seating...
The Chrysler Town & Country is Chrysler's most popular minivan. This family vehicle is designed to be more luxurious than some of the company's other products, such as the Voyager and the Dodge Caravan. The...
