Chrysler TC by Maserati

The Chrysler TC by Maserati was a Gran Turismo, which had been built on the Chrysler K platform, jointly developed by Chrysler and Maserati.

It was unveiled at the Los Angeles Motor Show 1986, but only from 1989 available. The TC ( " Touring Coupe " ) was to be a show car for Chrysler. Only TC 7300 were built by hand in Milan. In 1991, production was discontinued.

Development

Lee Iacocca worked with Alejandro de Tomaso, while he was still employed by Ford, which led to the successful De Tomaso Pantera. In the 1980s, Iacocca worked for Chrysler, while de Tomaso was the established brand Maserati. In 1984 the two companies signed an agreement to build a sports coupe, resulting finally the TC emerged.

Drive

For introduction in 1989, two different 2.2-liter turbo engines were offered in the TC. The "normal " 2.2 - liter soft turbo Chrysler K- series ( Turbo II) was only fitted on vehicles with the Chrysler three-speed automatic (model A413 ). Here, the engine produced about 130 kW ( 174 hp) and 237 Nm of torque had.

The built in only 500 copies variant with Getrag five-speed manual had a special version of the Chrysler K engine with a 16-valve head from Cosworth. This engine is often called " Maserati engine" because the word " Maserati " is cast on his valve cover. The power is 150 kW ( 204 hp) and nearly 300 Nm.

This 2.2-liter " Maserati " engine was truly international: The cylinder head was cast in England at Cosworth and finished in Italy by Maserati. The pistons came from Mahle of Germany and the turbocharger IHI from Japan. The camshafts were designed by Crane in Florida and were manufactured by Maserati in Modena. The rest of the engine was made in the USA and corresponded to the normal 2.2-liter Chrysler K- series engine with a turbocharger ( Turbo II).

The 2.2-liter engine was replaced in the construction years 1990 and 1991 by a V6, Mitsubishi zulieferte. This used in many Chrysler models this time engine made about 105 kW ( 143 hp ) and 233 Nm of torque. The six-cylinder was only available with a Chrysler four-speed automatic (model A604 ).

Technology

The chassis of the TC was based on the shortened chassis of the Dodge Daytona and also contained the suspension and axles of this car. The landing gear struts and shock absorbers have been specially designed for this car by Fichtel & Sachs, and the ABS Teves came from. The special wheels were manufactured in Italy by the dedicated in Formula 1 wheel manufacturer Fondmetal.

The TC had a removable hardtop with small windows in the C-pillars ( Opera -Windows) and a manually operated soft top. The interiors were in black, burgundy or ingwerfarbenem leather. Outside the car was black, red, yellow, white or painted burgundy.

Sales

The car was not very successful because of his styling of the Chrysler LeBaron corresponded much cheaper, so that the customers looked much too expensive LeBaron convertible him as a kind, even though he had barely components, this series together. He was given the same equipment ( in addition to various interior applications) and the same engine almost twice more expensive. So the car did not meet sales expectations and it was sold in three years only about seven thousand copies, which even was below the expectations for the first model year.

Competitors

The main competitor of the TC was the Buick Reatta, a two-door car with front- wheel drive and six -cylinder engine. It gave him as a hardtop and convertible, and how the TC he was partly built by hand. Both vehicles were the same on the market. But the Reatta sold much better. Many car enthusiasts have the TC with the Cadillac Allanté compared, as both constructed in Italy and partially handmade were ( the difference to Allanté consisted V8 engine and its final assembly in the U.S., were the bodies originated in Italy and shipped by air ).

Prices

Sources / Links

Info for TC

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