Chrysler Fifth Avenue
The Chrysler Fifth Avenue was one of the U.S. carmaker Chrysler from 1983 to 1989 offered sedan in the upper middle class with rear-wheel drive.
Background: Badge Shifting
After Chrysler had in 1975 his previous top mark Imperial set, the New York series was the largest and most expensive of the group car model. In the first three years, the New York models were identical to those produced until 1975 Imperial LeBaron; 1979-1982 Chrysler then offered a redesigned New Yorker, which was based on the Group's own R platform. In the summer of 1981 Chrysler stopped production of these large sedans all the way in which the market did not able to enforce.
For the year beginning in the fall of 1981 model year 1982, the name New York remained as the name of the top model of the Chrysler Group, but he was transferred in a process called sifting Badge in American parlance, to a much smaller vehicle. The New York of the vintage in 1982 was based on the positioned in the intermediate region M platform, so that the new car was about 40 shorter than its predecessor. He was identical with that of 1977 to 1981 LeBaron produced in technical terms, lifted from him but by stylistic changes in the roof area from. As in previous years, the highest quality equipped versions of the car were named New York's Fifth Avenue, which should remind you of the same street in New York.
In model year 1983, the model name of New York was used for two different vehicles:
- When New York was now uses a high quality equipped version of the front-wheel drive Chrysler K -Car, which was based on the e- platform and with a length of 4700 mm more than half a meter shorter than last year's rear-wheel drive New York.
- In addition to this compact New York Chrysler offered in 1983 to a vehicle called New York's Fifth Avenue. Here, it was the well-known from the previous year, based on the M - platform vehicle with rear wheel drive. Of particular importance was the pricing: The smaller, modern designed New York was much cheaper than the old, rear-wheel drive New York's Fifth Avenue.
For model year 1984 Chrysler sparked the confusion on the double use of terms. The name of New York was used only by the front-wheel drive K -Car offshoot, while the large, rear-wheel drive sedan was sold as a future Chrysler Fifth Avenue. This model name kept the car in to the end of production in 1989.
Model history
The 1984 to 1989 Chrysler Fifth Avenue offered at this time was the most expensive cars of the Chrysler Group. It was technically identical to the models Dodge Diplomat and Plymouth Gran Fury, which were also based on the M platform, were significantly better equipped and have been offered at a lower price by 30 percent.
Technology
Technically, the Fifth Avenue was " outdated " even at its launch. He had a simple chassis with rear leaf springs and rigid axles. When driving an eight-cylinder engine was used with 5.2 liters of displacement, which gave initial 132 hp and 142 hp from 1985. As power transmission served a TorqueFlite three- speed automatic. The Fifth Avenue had on the front wheels disc and drum brakes on the rear wheels.
Design
Externally the Fifth Avenue differed from its cheaper sister models by a vinyl roof, in the Landauer - style to the rear of the car, ie was restricted to the C-pillar. A stylistic feature was the vinyl cover a portion of the rear side windows. This design is based on a special model of the LeBaron, which had been offered in 1980 under the name LeBaron Fifth Avenue Edition. Specializing in convertible conversions Company American Sunroof Company ( ASC) had in 1980 produced a total of 650 vehicles of this special series.
The front end was also initially independently. Here the turn signals were arranged horizontally across the four headlights. This design element took over the Dodge Diplomat as part of a facelift for model year 1985. The Fifth Avenue was fitted with wire spoke wheels. Along with the vinyl roof made the car so a decidedly conservative impression.
Equipment
The interior was of high quality. Electrically operated windows and seats, air conditioning included as standard equipment, as of 1988 was supplied as standard, a driver's airbag. On request, the seats were upholstered in real leather. From year to year, the range of available colors has been changed a bit, otherwise remained the vehicle during its construction period without significant modifications.
Production
The Chrysler Fifth Avenue was successful on the American market. He regularly achieved high five-figure, in two years, six-digit production numbers. Based on the models of the M platform, he was the most successful vehicle in the 1980s. The Fifth Avenue sold four times better than the Dodge Diplomat and five to six times better than the Plymouth Gran Fury. From Fifth Avenue Chrysler built within six years, more than 420,000 copies.