The Car That Saved Chrysler. Hmph. It’s true that the Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant did have a hand in keeping Chrysler from becoming a distant memory, but it’s also easy to deride the cars: small, basic to a fault, cheap. And that isn’t bringing in the car’s two sins against gearheads: a tiny four-banger and front-wheel drive. Chrysler nailed the timing for the right car at the moment, but once the fear of gas shortages came and went and the economy took an upswing, K-cars hit the junkyards in droves as people moved up and onward in the world. The original K-cars occupy a strange point in the automotive world: they deserve respect not only for being a successful small car, but for appearing at the exactly perfect time, yet they are a punchline for every plane-Jane, no frills, no power, no fun joke there could be.
No fun, huh? Right…four words: big-block Aries K. We honestly don’t know how a big-block fits under the hood of this little two-door sedan, and we don’t particularly care either. It’s there, driving the right wheels, and together is shoving the little wonder-Dodge down the track in the nines. It almost looks like a mini-me GM G-body from certain angles, doesn’t it?
I was thinking it looks like a ’67 Dart 2dr sedan –
Or even closer, a 1980 Aspen.
Years ago they fit Hemi’s in Plymouth Arrows.Same issue as putting 44 triple J jugs on a 110 pound female ,just takes a good doctor .The sheet metal is an open field ,Its the drive train that matters. This is very cool ,weird sheet metal.Big block,a Mopar NOT A CHEVY power .And trying to make a brick fast . I think ,Very cool
I disagree with Bryan McTaggart\’s statements describing the K-Car as deserving of respect.
Chrysler,along with the UAW,hoodwinked the automotive-buying public with the blind-eye \”blessing\” of the U.S.Government.
The UAW took concessions to help keep Chrysler afloat,all the while going with the poor quality proposed by Chrysler and knowing the public-at-large was about to be duped into buying a lower-quality vehicle.
https://books.google.com/books?id=cvLdAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA272&lpg=PA272&dq=Chrysler+K+Car+poor+assembly&source=bl&ots=TBjVgWQNx7&sig=g1gomRbZczZXkfcaXWANviERbSQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiHocyK-YnYAhUBQSYKHe_2DnQ4ChDoAQg7MAM#v=onepage&q=Chrysler%20K%20Car%20poor%20assembly&f=false
\”Riding the Roller Coaster: A History of the Chrysler Corporation\”
written by Charles K.Hyde
Pages 248 / 254 / 258 -260
I wouldn’t bad mouth Chrysler too much. GM took the bailout from Obumma and then had the gall to tell us that it had paid the debt.
The K cars were junk.
Chrysler knowingly put out a \’K\’rappy car to stay in the game,all to the grief of many who purchased lemons.
Chrysler was willing to lie to and cheat the car-buying public.
Bit of a reach to say it looks like a GM G-body, but it looks like most agree, its a big improvement over OEM. I remember that a co-worker had one of these, new, and it wasn’t long before it became an unreliable turd.
I am sure they have come a long way but I still will not buy a domestic car with a four banger in it.
That thing sure gets off the line without any sort of drama doesn’t it?