Most car manufacturers, especially ones that have been in the business for a long time, go through many model lineups. Production can halt despite great sales, it can resume after a hiatus or it can just have an unlucky short-lived streak on the markets. Chrysler is one of the manufacturers that can proudly boast with a few long-running models and the one we are here to take a look at is the LeBaron. Originally introduced in 1931, the LeBaron remained a name at play all the way up to 1994. This makes it one of their longest-running brands, one that has gone through many iterations and that has served different sectors throughout its existence.
Originally created to compete in the luxury car sector against companies like Lincoln, the LeBaron was sold under the Imperial brand after Chrysler purchased the Briggs Manufacturing Company that produced it in the first place. For the majority of its run, the LeBaron remained a more luxury entry and was offered as a sedan, a coupe, and even a convertible. It wasn’t until 1977 that it ended up being one of Chrysler's lowest-priced models.
In 1989 it was reintroduced to the market once again as the less upscale younger sibling of the luxurious New Yorker. It was powered by a 2.5L four-cylinder engine or a 3.0L V6 engine. The transmission was handled by a variety of gearboxes, both manual and automatic. Consumer reports were fairly positive, praising the general package offered with a great combination of fine handling and comfort. The same is true for the overall reliability of the car, with this generation continuing to stay in circulation for a while after production had finally ended. The overall performance was passable, even on the turbocharged options, but not to the point of being a deal-breaker for a potential buyer.
While most of the LeBaron vehicles over the years looked great, it was from these last generations where the more well-known look was established. A great balance between sportiness and sophistication was struck by the designers, especially on the convertible model.
This final generation of the Chrysler LeBaron had a decent list of features (depending on trim level) that included different steering wheel styles, upgrades to the performance, and even the exterior. The LeBaron was one of the first mass-market vehicles to have a driver’s side airbag along with the rest of the standard safety features expected at the time. Among these safety features are antilock brakes and a transmission interlock that was designed to prevent the car from being started while in gear as the interlock requires that the clutch is fully depressed before ignition. Power windows and power heated mirrors were available on most models as well. Another less frequently seen feature at the time was a trip & fuel economy computer and fuel instrumentation.
The convertible variant of this generation of the LeBaron came with a few extra improvements, including a turbocharged option for the engine and headlights that were hidden behind retractable metal covers as well as a waterfall grille and a steeply raked windshield
But this is just a small bigger picture look at the overall LeBaron name. With a production history as long as this, it’s really hard to make sweeping statements. This model has had its ups and downs, but for the most part, it remains one of Chrysler’s most significant models. When you have this many years of redesigns and reintroductions you can even trace the changes in Chrysler’s priorities and philosophies by looking at just the different LeBaron models.