The Chrysler LeBaron is a line of automobiles built by Chrysler from 1931 to 1941 and from 1977 to 1995. Chrysler also used the LeBaron name for the Imperial LeBaron from 1957 to 1975.
The model was introduced in 1931, with a body manufactured by LeBaron, and competed with other luxury cars of the era, such as Lincoln and Packard. After purchasing LeBaron with its parent Briggs Manufacturing Company, Chrysler introduced the luxury make Imperial in 1955, and sold automobiles under the name Imperial LeBaron from 1957 until 1975. Chrysler discontinued the Imperial brand for 1976 and reintroduced the Chrysler LeBaron in 1977 to what was then Chrysler's lowest-priced model.
Chrysler has used the LeBaron name across five cars:
- 1977–1981 M-body (mid-size) LeBaron sedan, coupe, and wagon
- 1982–1988 K-body (mid-size) LeBaron sedan, coupe, convertible, and wagon
- 1985–1989 H-body (mid-size) LeBaron GTS hatchback
- 1987–1995 J-body (personal luxury) LeBaron coupe and convertible
- 1990–1994 AA-body (mid-size) LeBaron sedan
The last Chrysler LeBaron was manufactured in 1995, to be replaced with the Cirrus and Sebring. The LeBaron was one of Chrysler's longest-running brands.
The LeBaron background
thumb|right|1941 Chrysler LeBaron Newport
thumb|left|1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt
LeBaron was one of the many prominent coachbuilders in the 1920s and 1930s to provide bodies for luxury cars. It was founded in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 1920 by Thomas L. Hibbard and Raymond H. Dietrich. It was later purchased by Briggs Manufacturing Company of Detroit in 1926, the major manufacturer of bodies for Ford, Chrysler, Hudson, Packard, and others, and operated as a Briggs specialist subsidiary.
LeBaron supplied exquisite custom bodies for various car companies such as Chrysler's luxury Imperial line, Duesenberg, and Cadillac.
LeBaron's last projects for Chrysler were the Chrysler Newport Phaeton, a super-streamlined dual cowl phaeton with an aluminum body, and the remarkable 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt, a sleek roadster with concealed headlights (like the 1936 Cord 810/812) and a retractable metal hardtop styled by Alex Tremulis, who would later style the legendary Tucker of 1948.
Chrysler purchased Briggs Manufacturing Company in 1953.<br />and others
| transmission = 3-speed manual<br />4-speed manual
| layout = FR layout
| assembly = Detroit, Michigan, United States<br />Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States a sleek roadster with concealed headlights and a retractable metal hardtop styled by Alex Tremulis, who went on to later style part of the legendary Tucker of 1948. Only 6 of each were made.<br /> (Coupe, 1980-81)
| length = (2-door) <br/> (4-door)
| assembly = St. Louis, Missouri (Saint Louis Assembly), United States<br />Newark, Delaware (Newark Assembly), United States<br />Valencia, Venezuela,<br />Toluca, Mexico (Toluca Car Assembly)
| platform = M-body
| related = Chrysler Town and Country<br />Dodge Diplomat<br />Plymouth Gran Fury
| successor = Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue<br/>Chrysler Fifth Avenue
left|thumb|1977 Chrysler LeBaron coupe
left|thumb|1978 Chrysler LeBaron sedan
left|thumb|1980 LeBaron 5th Avenue Limited Edition; one of 654 produced
left|thumb|1980-1981 Chrysler LeBaron coupe
For 1977, the LeBaron model nameplate made its return after a year's hiatus. Released in response to the Cadillac Seville and Lincoln Versailles, the 1977 Chrysler LeBaron was the smallest vehicle ever marketed under the Chrysler brand at the time. While Cadillac and Lincoln offered its mid-size lines solely as four-door sedans, Chrysler also offered a two-door LeBaron coupe; for 1978, the Town & Country station wagon joined the model line.
Sharing its body with the Dodge Diplomat and Plymouth Caravelle, the LeBaron used the Chrysler M platform on a wheelbase. A new generation of the F platform introduced by the Dodge Aspen/Plymouth Volaré, the LeBaron sedan and wagon shared much of its roofline with the Aspen/Volaré; sharing its wheelbase with the sedan, the LeBaron coupe was fitted with a sleeker roofline than its Volaré counterpart. While visibly similar, the LeBaron was fitted with its own hood, trunklid, and front and rear fascia panels.
Both platforms shared a common powertrain lineup, with a standard Slant Six; or V8 engines are optional. A three-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission was offered with all three engines, though a four-speed manual overdrive transmission was offered with the 225 and 318 engines.
1980 model update
For 1980, the LeBaron underwent a mid-cycle revision. The exterior underwent several aerodynamic enhancements, featuring sharper-edged front corners, and a narrower radiator-style grille (similar to the 1975 Imperial, debuting a design used by Chrysler into the early 1990s). The roofline of the sedan was revised for aerodynamic upgrades; a squared-off look ended its design commonality with the Aspen/Volaré; the coupe adopted a more formal profile.
To position the model line upmarket, Chrysler introduced the limited-edition "Fifth Avenue" option package for the four-door sedan. A conversion by American Sunroof Corporation, the Fifth Avenue featured a padded vinyl roof covering the quarter glass of the rear doors and interior trim upgrades.
In response to the discontinuation of the Volaré after 1980, Chrysler introduced a police-equipment option package for the LeBaron for 1981, sold alongside the Chrysler Newport and R-platform Plymouth Gran Fury. For 1982, Chrysler replaced all three vehicles as it moved the Gran Fury to the M platform (joining the Dodge Diplomat), offering the option for the Diplomat and Gran Fury until Chrysler ended production of the M platform after 1989.
1993 Facelift
thumb|left|1993–1995 Chrysler LeBaron convertible
thumb|left|1994 interior (aftermarket radio)
thumb|left|1993-1995 Chrysler LeBaron convertible, rear styling
In 1992 for the 1993 model year, the LeBaron received a slight facelift. The hidden headlamps of the 1987-1992 models were deleted in favor of less costly flush-mounted replaceable-bulb headlamps, new wheel styles were made available, and all models got the amber rear turn signals introduced on the deluxe 1992 models. For 1994, a passenger side airbag became standard on all models. Also new for 1994 was the "Bright LX" decor package which included a "bright" chrome grille, "bright" chrome badging, and "bright" chrome molding inserts, as opposed to being body-colored on the GTC.
The available engines were a naturally aspirated 2.5 L and a turbocharged 2.2 and 2.5 L versions of Chrysler's inline-four, and the 3.0 L Mitsubishi V6 making a in this application. The turbocharged engines were dropped from the lineup in 1992 for the 1993 model year. The coupe was discontinued after 1993. For the last two model years, the 3.0 was the only available engine. The convertible was discontinued after 1995, to make way for the new Chrysler Sebring coupes and convertibles, for 1995 and 1996 respectively.
Trim levels: 1987–1995
Throughout its lifetime, the LeBaron convertible/coupe was available in a number of trim levels. For its first year, the LeBaron was available in Highline and Premium, typical Chrysler trims at the time. The number of trims grew, peaking in 1990, with six available. After that, the number decreased until just two trim levels remained for 1995.
- 1987: Highline, Premium
- 1988: Highline, Premium, GT
- 1989: GTS Turbo, GT Turbo, GTC Turbo, Highline, Premium
- 1990: GT, GT Turbo, GTC Turbo, Highline, Highline Turbo, Premium
- 1991: GTC, GTC Turbo, Highline, Highline Turbo, Premium LX
- 1992: GTC, GTC Turbo, Highline, Highline Turbo, LX
- 1993: GTC, Highline, LX
- 1994: GTC, LX
- 1995: GTC, LX
Export
The LeBaron coupe/convertible was part of Chrysler's export push and was regularly available across Europe. Springs and shocks were somewhat firmer on European-market cars. The initial European lineup was made up of the naturally aspirated 2.5 and the turbocharged 2.2; both were offered with a 5-speed manual or a 3-speed automatic. Power is respectively. In mid-1988, the turbocharged 2.2 was partially replaced by the 2.5 Turbo, with power slightly lower at . The 2.2 Turbo received an intercooler, which boosted maximum power to . Called the LeBaron GTC, it was not offered with the automatic. Both turbo versions were discontinued during 1989; the 2.5 Turbo returned (only with the five-speed manual transmission) some time during 1990. The new version produces at 4700 rpm, but it was discontinued yet again in 1991. The 3.0-liter Mitsubishi V6 engine was introduced to European buyers in mid-1989, and was only available with the four-speed automatic. It produces somewhat less power than the American models; at 5200 rpm. The top speed was and the sprint took 10.8 seconds. Chrysler Phantoms were marketed from 1987 until 1994, with the first cars delivered in December 1986. A more powerful R/T version (similar to the American LeBaron GTC but using a higher-tuned turbo engine) was also available in 1992 and 1993. The Phantom R/T originally received the 2.5-liter Turbo II engine, coupled to a three-speed automatic, but this was quickly changed to the Turbo III engine with a five-speed Getrag manual transmission.