That’s it, eBay is the devil, and tonight the master of trickery has pulled up his “Temptation” file and has selected one for yours truly. We all have our bucket list cars, and one of mine is a V8, rear-drive late 1980s Chrysler LeBaron coupe. I’ve admitted this vice before…I love the shape of the coupe. It’s like a more formal version of the Dodge Daytona to me. But it’s humble K-car origins betray all of the good things I appreciate about the car, so if you ditch the four-banger and convert the car to rear-drive, surely that will make everything that much better, right?
Right.
I don’t care that the LeBaron is considered a “chick car”. I don’t give a rat’s ass that this particular machine is painted Metallic Raspberry or whatever that shade is. All I see is the 408 stroker underneath that Pro Stock scoop, the 727 moving it along, and the 4.56 gears turning steamrollers out back. I don’t care what the seller’s “butt dyno” has to say on the engine, either…there’s a V8. If it’s hot, sweet. If it’s a pooch, build a block and do it right. It’s the right size, has good aero, and those buckets look pretty comfortable for what I’m seeing. The hardest part of the job is done. I can change the hood if I don’t like it. I can change the color if I don’t like it. I can scrape off the R/T badging, or I can add more to my heart’s content. It’s a V8 LeBaron, as it should have been. I’m sold.
eBay Link: 1987 Chrysler LeBaron
I don’t hate it…
I had an ’89 LeBaron Coupe that may have originally been painted that same shade of red. Hard to be certain as the paint was faded, peeling, and it had rust everywhere from being a Canadian car. I wouldn’t mind owning another one with a hot turbo motor under the hood – and a V8 swap would be even better. Nice find.
Get rid of the “stupid scoop”, (and don’t replace it with a cowl scoop), and I’d be down for it!
Now the drive wheels are on the correct end of the car!
I remember the direct connection catalog that had tube chassis kits for the 80 s dodges and always wanted to build one drag or roundy round . Needs a blower and injection other than that its cool .
I’m looking to sell or trade this car I’m looking for a pro street 55 Chevy