1986 Chrysler LeBaron - $160 beater

[toolatecrew]

MMMMM real imitation synthetic wood and velour. That just don't make em like that anymore.

[mrthompson]

You have the fancy model with the bucket seats and floor shifter.  Most K-cars I've seen had the split bench seat and column shifter. 

My grandmother owned an '84 Dodge 400 that she bought used in the late 1980s.  It had the fuel injected 2.2L.  My parents owned an '85 Reliant Wagon with a carbed 2.6L Mitsu engine.  When my dad got rid of it in 1996, he purchased a gently used '84 Aries and kept it for a year or so.  Ah, the memories...

The K-cars are not very good handlers, but the ride is decent.  They are surprisingly roomy.  According to wikipedia, the curb weight is 2300 lbs!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Reliant

Congrats on the K-car beater!  

[X-Traction]

My theory on the "Front Wheel Drive" plaque:  As someone else mentioned, most of these cars had "bench" front seats and a column shifter.  The little window where the plaque is inserted, was for the shift position indicator.

Our Spirit has a console and stick shift.  The gap on the dashboard that would have contained a shift position indicator, had Chrysler gone to the trouble of providing it with the console shifter, also says "Front Drive" instead.  Or in case Chrysler thought their customers were so stupid they needed to be reminded of this.  As it is, you have to look down at the console to check which gear it's in.  Not so great if you use downshifting much.

That's a great digital dash, much coveted among fans of those cars.  Despite the unfashionable appearance, that's a very comfy interior, better than many newer cars.  Amazing to see how well those interiors lasted.  I'm more used to seeing them full of mildew and smelling of rancid oil sitting in junked car lots.

btw, AD, you might want to join the EEK forum on allpar.com.  There's a very friendly and enthusiastic community of owners of similar cars there.

[johngenx]

My theory on the "Front Wheel Drive" plaque:  As someone else mentioned, most of these cars had "bench" front seats and a column shifter.  The little window where the plaque is inserted, was for the shift position indicator.

They had originally designed the plaque to say "sucker!!!" but the marketing department nixed it.

[Arthur Dent]

Thanks - signed up for allpar

That makes sense about the front wheel drive plate - better than a blocking plate I guess. I kinda would have liked a column shifter - haven't had one for years. I want a column shifted manual one of these days.

This car cost less than the wife's iPod - that includes the license plate.

[TopGun]

This car cost less than the wife's iPod - that includes the license plate.

 

[safristi]

...when it's parked ya can rent it out as a chinese takeout OR a Bordello............... ..M'lud err yer Honour  err yer Baronet........sir   sir.....is that LeBron the basketball guy....


  special K...............the hockey Mom's will lurve U............

[toolatecrew]

This car cost less than the wife's iPod - that includes the license plate.

Yeah but how many MP3s can the car hold...sorry I mean 8 tracks...

[Arthur Dent]

This car cost less than the wife's iPod - that includes the license plate.

Yeah but how many MP3s can the car hold...sorry I mean 8 tracks...

I'll have you know its got an AM/FM radio WITH a tape deck - how is that for fancy! Shame I tossed all my tapes years ago. 

[dr_spock]

I have blank casette tapes if you need some to transfer your iTunes over... 

[Mitlov]

It's pimpin!   

Seriously, would you honestly put kids in that?  It looks like a death trap.

Sorry to be negative, I just can't see it surviving a crash of any sorts... I'd be reluctant to put any family members in it.

Bob, you're 25 years too late.  All the domestic cars and pickups back then were death traps.  It's what defined being a Canadian; the good o'le days.

And what, twenty-three years ago, a Civic or Corolla made Volvo shake in its boots?

Hell, even Volvos from back then are nothing to brag about by modern standards, and these were the days when Volvos were head and shoulders above mainstream brands:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3ygYUYia9I

If we're going to warn him about the safety of a car that old, fine, but let's not make some meaningless Japanese/American distinction.

[articsteve]

If we're going to warn him about the safety of a car that old, fine, but let's not make some meaningless Japanese/American distinction.  
 
Only you are making a meaningless and useless Japanese/American distinction. 

In the early 80's all Japanese cars were considered by many as death traps in this country.  Euro cars were the safer units.

[PJungnitsch]

Winter tires, an mp3 player, and a GPS modernizes an old vehicle pretty quickly. Just don't hit anything at speed.

[Zoo]

Jeesh does that thing ever bring back memories. One of the customers on my paper route in Ottawa had a similar car in Blue. SOld his Cadillac for one of these and it too had the digital dash. The car also "talked" to you. "Door Is Ajar", "Fuel Is Low" etc. At the time all seemed pretty neat. Compared to my buddy's 1977 Bobcat station wagon complete with woodgrain the "K" seemed so futuristic.

I remember wanting a Laser back in the day with the 146 hp turbocharged mill. My friend replaced his 1977 Mercury Bobcat with a 1986 Pony. Darn thing had pitting in the roof in less than a year! Even with the "upgraded" 1600 engine (versus the standard 1400 engine) the thing was a dog. Cars are so much better now. Some of these vehicles were downright dangerous when trying to merge onto a highway.

Cool ride. Would love to get in on that 1980s night if you ever get one set up. Would still love an "Electic Blue" coloured IROC Camero as a running mate to my Chevelle. That, or a 5.0L Mustang LX with Centerlines would be a nice ride to bring.

[Erik]

Man, brings back some memories.

I was given a 82 Reliant around that time. BASE 4 door. Only option it had was the automatic transmission. I mean BASE - AM radio, no rear window defroster, manual steering, bench seat.

Actually, had a lot of fun with that car. Filled it full of Daytona (suspension) and Shelby Charger (engine) parts. Drove the snot out of it. Was great on gas and ran like a top. Gave it to my brother who drove it for years, until the rust finally caught up with it at somewhere around 300,000 km.

[blur911]

Man, brings back some memories.

I was given a 82 Reliant around that time. BASE 4 door. Only option it had was the automatic transmission. I mean BASE - AM radio, no rear window defroster, manual steering, bench seat.

A radio, it's loaded.    Way back when a friend's grandma wrote to the local Dodge dealership asking for the cheapest car possible.  A few days later a salesman showed up with what she asked for.  She got a K-car with a manual stick, no radio, no nothing.  She loaned it to her grandkids who drove the snot out of it.

[Arthur Dent]

new pics!

Rattle can painted it. The hood and roof need another coat since we got frost over night but otherwise turned out ok I think. Keep the roof in red for an added dash of class. Picture taken in front of city strip club for even more class!  :jester:

[Turbo Bob]

That's awesome!  Could be an ex-army car.

[johngenx]

...Keep the roof in red for an added dash of class...

 

[safristi]

..that's certainly NO STRIPPER..... or i'm Lebaron under false assumptions....hats off to Larry........................