Chrysler TC by Maserati
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| Chrysler TC by Maserati | |
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| Manufacturer | Chrysler Corporation/Maserati |
| Production | 1989–1991 |
| Class | Grand tourer |
| Body style(s) | 2-door convertible |
| Platform | FF Q-body |
| Engine(s) | 2.2 L Turbo II I4 2.2 L TC I4 3.0 L Mitsubishi 6G72 V6 |
| Transmission(s) | 5-speed manual 3-speed A413 automatic 4-speed A604 automatic |
| Wheelbase | 93.3 in (2370 mm) |
| Curb weight | 3033 lb (1376 kg) |
The Chrysler TC by Maserati was a Chrysler K platform GT car jointly developed by Chrysler and Maserati. It was introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 1986 but was not available until late 1989. The TC (Touring Coupe) was intended as a halo car for Chrysler . Only 7,300 TCs had been made (by hand in Milan, Italy) when it was cancelled in 1991.
Lee Iacocca started a friendship with the late Alejandro de Tomaso while at Ford, which led to the successful De Tomaso Pantera. During the 1980s, Iacocca found himself at the helm of Chrysler while De Tomaso was owner of the historic Maserati brand. In 1984, both companies signed a memorandum of understanding to create a sport coupe, which ultimately became the TC.
| 1989 | 3,764 |
| 1990 | 1,900 |
| 1991 | 1,636 |
The 1989 TC used a special turbocharged 2.2 L Chrysler K engine. 500 special 1989 models came with a Getrag manual transmission and a 16-valve Cosworth head. This engine is often called the "Maserati" engine as it has Maserati on the valve cover. The 2.2 L was replaced by a Mitsubishi-sourced V6 for 1990 and 1991.
The 2.2 "Maserati" engine was truly international: The cylinder head was cast in England by Cosworth and finished in Italy by Maserati. The pistons came from Mahle GmbH in Germany, and a Japanese turbocharger was sourced from IHI. The camshafts were designed by Florida-based Crane but were constructed by Maserati in Modena. The rest of the engine was made in the United States and was similar to the Turbo II. The normal Turbo II was used on automatic transmission-equipped cars.
The TC's platform was based on a shortened Dodge Daytona chassis with suspension and axles from that car as well. The struts and shock absorbers were specially designed for the car by Fichtel and Sachs, and the ABS system was also a unique product from Teves. The special wheels were made in Italy by the Formula One supplier, Fondmetal.
The TC featured a detachable hard top with opera windows and a manually operated cloth convertible top. The interior could be had with black, ginger, or bordeaux colored leather. The exterior was black, red, yellow, white, or cabernet.
The car was very poorly received, as its styling heavily resembled the less-exclusive LeBaron, and many buyers regarded it as nothing more than an overpriced LeBaron convertible, although it shared few components with the LeBaron. As a result, the car failed to meet sales expectations, selling only about four thousand models over its three year lifetime, lower than the sales expectations for the first model year.
The TC's main competitor was the Buick Reatta, a front-wheel drive six cylinder two-door car. It came in a hardtop and convertible, and like the TC it was partially hand-built. Both were on the market at the same time. The Reatta outsold the TC. Many car enthusiasts have also compared the TC to the Cadillac Allanté, as both were Italian-designed and partially hand-built (the differences were that the Allanté was powered by a V8 engine and its final assembly was in the U.S. after the bodies built in Italy were shipped via special air cargo).
[edit] Chrysler TC prices
- 1989 - $33,000 USD
- 1990 - $35,500
- 1991 - $37,000
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| Compact | Le Baron | PT Cruiser | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Town & Country | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size | LeBaron | Sebring | Sebring | Sebring | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| E-Class | LeBaron GTS | LeBaron | Cirrus | Sebring | Sebring | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LeBaron | Fifth Avenue | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Yorker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full-size | Newport | Fifth Avenue | Concorde | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New Yorker | New Yorker | 300M | 300 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Town & Country | Imperial | LHS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports | Laser | Conquest | Prowler | Crossfire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crossover SUV | Pacifica | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SUV | Aspen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minivan | TEVan | Voyager | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T&C | Town & Country | Town & Country | Town & Country | T & C | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Limousine | Executive | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal Luxury | Cordoba | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| GT | TC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| See also: List of Chrysler vehicles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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