If there is one line of cars I know better than any other, it’s the Chrysler Corporation M-body and it’s close relatives, the F-body and J-body. The M-platform, which is most known for the Dodge Diplomat, Plymouth Gran Fury and the Chrysler Fifth Avenue, was created pretty much as a knee-jerk move to draw attention away from the dumpster fire that the F-body cars, the Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volaré, had become. Originally starting out as an upscale alternative to the Aspen/Volaré, by 1984 they were the last rear-drive cars that Chrysler was making before dying off in 1989.
This first-generation LeBaron sedan is mostly what you would normally expect these cars to be: inoffensive to a fault, built like a taxicab, and in the case of the Chrysler LeBaron, meant to appeal to an audience that had recently fallen out of love with Chrysler products, hoping to win them back before the end appeared for the company. That being said, this low-mile blue survivor just might be the most strangely optioned FMJ Mopar I’ve ever seen…and yes, that is saying something.
The amount of manual-transmission-equipped Chrysler M-bodies of any make is extremely small. There are a known handful of four-speed equipped coupes, and for a short time you could get a Slant Six and four-speed powered wagon as an economy option. But finding one is like digging in the dirt in your backyard and coming up with a ten-carat diamond: good luck. Finding a LeBaron sedan with three pedals is literally a one-of-one shot these days, because there were likely less than a hundred made new of any of them. So, slant six or not, Malaise Mopar or not, this LeBaron is a major find. Never thought you’d hear those words over a slant-six sedan, did you? A turbocharger on the leaning tower of power would do wonders to bring the horsepower level to “useable”, and the A833 four-speed will hold it’s own. We would suggest swapping the 7.25″ rear out for at least an 8.25″, since the smaller rear axle was only adequate in stock form. Junkyard hunt for police-spec Diplomat suspension parts to tighten up the otherwise pillow-soft suspension and call it done!
Craigslist Link: 1979 Chrysler LeBaron
A deadly boring car that if you swapped in a Hemi or turbo’d that slant six would be a deadly boring car that could kill you.
Far better save the money and hunt out a slant six ‘Cuda …
HA! As usual, CHMG pretty much nails it. However, a few pieces to make it a little more sporty in the engine, and you have a nice riding cruiser that virtually no one could steal these days (If someoe were looking to steal a car like that), and even your friends would never ask to bottow, so few “men” can drive a standard these days…
What’s the best part of this car, no vynil top! Talk about a perfect sleeper!
The only problem is whenever I see a mint condition, boring, boxy, granny mobile, I automatically think sleeper. It’s like the camouflage has to evolve with shitty cars.
Wanna surprise me? Make a sleeper out of a 2007 Hyundai Elantra, or a 2002 Town and Country.
I really, REALLY like that car… much want.
McTaggart is currently pricing flights to Colorado…
…and McTaggart’s wife is planning to borrow a woodchipper. We don’t have trees at our house, but that won’t stop her…
For the sake of my marriage, I hope a trip to DIA is cheap. That thing is about 25 miles from me. Strange to say it out loud, but this is one of a small handful of Penta-products I wouldn’t mind owning. Slant-6 and a 4 speed is pure gravy. Someone buy that damn thing, please!
It’s neat with the 4 spd for sure, but I still prefer the coupe version.
http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/5661892075.html
Should have the aluminum overdrive A833. I would go pro touring sleeper.