Celebrating a Century of Chryslers: 10 Significant Models from Its 100-Year History

In 1925, Walter Chrysler left the Maxwell Motor Company to create his own automobile manufacturing setup. His eponymously named Chrysler Corporation went on to compete with Ford and General Motors, collectively known as the Detroit Big Three. A century later, we look back at some of the most significant vehicles the Chrysler brand has produced.

1934 Chrysler Airflow

Before founding his own company, Walter Chrysler worked at the Buick division of General Motors. When he went out on his own to create the Chrysler Corporation, he attempted to replicate GM's brand ladder strategy by acquiring the Fargo Truck and Dodge Brothers Company, which subsequently led to the creation of the Plymouth and DeSoto brands in 1928, with the Chrysler brand cars sitting at the top in price and prestige. As he built his burgeoning automobile empire, Chrysler became known for his innovative engineering, no better exemplified than by the futuristic 1934 Chrysler Airflow.

The Airflow checked off many “first” engineering boxes. It was one of the first cars designed in a wind tunnel to maximize its fuel efficiency. It employed a unibody design, a revolutionary approach that integrated the vehicle's body and chassis into a single structure, a design common today. Chrysler’s engineers placed the Airflow’s engine forward in the chassis and positioned the two rows of passenger seats between the front and rear axles, resulting in a spacious interior and a smooth ride.

Despite the accolades from the automotive press for its technical advancements, the Airflow's futuristic styling was deemed too radical by the public. Ultimately, the Airflow was discontinued entirely by 1937.

1941 Chrysler Town & Country

Before switching to Second World War military production in 1942, the Chrysler brand introduced its influential Town & Country station wagon. Marketed as a luxurious utilitarian vehicle that could handle trips from the “town” to the “country,” it wore real white ash framing and Honduran mahogany panels for its distinctive look and upmarket appeal. It was one of the first wagons with an all-steel roof, and it became known for its distinctive "barrel-back" double-door design, which enabled rear loading and easy cargo access.

The original Town & Country wagon established the "woodie" style, which gained popularity again later in the 20th century, with luxury station wagons featuring vinyl wood grain appliques instead of the more costly wood panels. Because the outbreak of the war halted civilian car manufacturing in February 1942, fewer than 1,000 examples were ever produced. The Town & Country nameplate would later be revived for steel-bodied station wagons, convertibles, and coupes before becoming the name for Chrysler's luxury minivan in 1990.

1955 Chrysler C-300

With post-war automobile production booming, all of Detroit's automakers experienced a surge in demand for new cars. Chrysler responded with engineering innovations, such as push-button transmissions and power steering. Included was the "Hemi" V8 engine, named for its hemispherical combustion chambers, a design that allowed for better airflow and more efficient fuel combustion, resulting in higher power output. It powered what many consider the industry's first muscle cars, the famous 300 letter series, a decade-long line of high-performance Chryslers that ran from 1955 to 1965.

Technically, the first 1955 model did not bear a letter. The “C” designation was applied to all Chrysler models built on the C-68 full-size New Yorker chassis. For marketing purposes, the performance version was called the “300” to highlight the 300-hp Hemi V8.

The C-300 was not just a high-performance luxury car; it was also designed as a "homologation special" to meet NASCAR's requirement for production cars to be used in racing. The powerful Hemi engine made the big Chrysler a dominant force on the stock car circuit, with 37 wins in the 1955 season.

1961 Chrysler Imperial

Created to compete against GM's Cadillac and Ford's Lincoln luxury brands, the Chrysler Imperial first appeared as a top-of-the-line Chrysler model from 1926 to 1954, and then as a standalone brand from 1955 to 1975. The 1961 Imperial stood out for its aggressive and unique design, featuring quirky, freestanding individual headlights set into concave front fenders and tall, visually distinct tailfins. A front torsion bar and rear leaf spring suspension contributed to its stable ride, while its dashboard featured the Chrysler TorqueFlite push-button transmission system.

After the competition downsized in the early 1960s, the Imperial inherited the title of the largest car in America. However, despite its impressive size and features, the 1961 Imperial faced a tough market. Its sales dropped to under 13,000 units a year, a significant decline from previous years. Reports say a substantial factor in its poor sales was Chrysler's decision to sell the Imperial through the same dealer network as its less-expensive brands, which now included Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, and Chrysler.

As its low sales no longer justified it as a separate brand, given that it offered little over a high-end Chrysler New Yorker, 1975 would be the last year for the standalone Imperial, except for an ill-fated attempt at revival in 1981 to 1983 and again as a Chrysler-badged luxury car for the 1990 to 1993 model years. 

1975 Chrysler Cordoba

With the demise of the 1960s muscle car era, Detroit automakers shifted their focus from power to comfort, giving birth to the new personal luxury coupes in the early 1970s. Typically based on mundane mid-size models, they were characterized by their long hoods, exaggerated styling cues, and unique features such as opera windows, landau roofs, and extensive use of chrome, leather, and wood-grain accents.

Chrysler's first foray into the personal luxury coupe class was the 1975 Chrysler Cordoba. Designed to sell against rivals like the Ford Thunderbird and Chevrolet Monte Carlo, it was built on the older Chrysler B-body platform, a mid-size chassis also used for the Dodge Charger. In true personal luxury coupe fashion, the Cordoba boasted a well-appointed interior, baroque styling with distinctive features such as round headlights and a unique grille, and a comfortable, smooth ride.

Actor Ricardo Montalbán's TV commercial voice-overs, known for the phrase "rich Corinthian leather," became a symbol of Cordobas' marketing and solidified its image as a luxury item. Selling over 150,000 units in its first year and accounting for about 60 per cent of Chrysler's total volume, it was a game-changer that rescued the Chrysler brand during a period of financial distress.

1982 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible

The first Chrysler model to wear a LeBaron badge was introduced in 1931. It was sold as a rival to other era luxury cars, such as Lincoln and Packard. Jump ahead a few decades, and the LeBaron name reappeared as a family of sedans, coupes, convertibles, and wagons from 1977 to 1995.

The first-generation LeBaron, from 1977 to 1981, was a formal luxury car based on the rear-wheel-drive M-body platform, which was also used for the Plymouth Fury, Dodge Diplomat, the 1982 Chrysler New Yorker, and the 1983 Fifth Avenue. From 1982 to 1988, the second-generation LeBaron family transitioned to the compact front-wheel-drive K-car platform. This highly successful and versatile platform underpinned other popular Chrysler Corporation models, such as the Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant.

After a six-year hiatus, the 1982 LeBaron Convertible marked the return of factory-built, open-top vehicles to the North American market. The LeBaron Convertible's popularity was largely due to its sleek design, comfortable interior, and advanced features. It was an instant success, receiving thousands of orders before it even went into production. The K-cars, including the LeBaron, were so influential that they prompted Ford and GM to shift significantly away from their larger, rear-wheel-drive platforms in favour of front-wheel-drive designs.

1990 Chrysler Town & Country

Another offshoot of the Chrysler Corporation's K-car platform was the revolutionary 1983 Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager minivans. At a time when station wagons were the standard for people hauling, the Chrysler Corporation’s so-called “Magic Wagons” were just as comfortable as a station wagon, but with more room, easier access with a sliding side door, a one-piece tailgate and fold-down/removable seats, and they would fit into an average garage.

Needless to say, they were a big hit. Over 21,000 Caravans and Voyagers were sold in the first full year of sales. By 1990, two million minivans had been sold. The success led Chrysler to invent the luxury minivan market segment with the introduction of the 1990 Chrysler Town & Country.

Borrowing from the original Town & Country Woody wagon heritage, the modern luxury minivan was distinguished by its imitation wood panels, lower body cladding, a unique grille, and a crystal Chrysler Pentastar hood ornament. Standard luxury goodies included leather seats, front and rear air conditioning, and power windows and locks. In its first year, Chrysler limited production to fewer than 10,000 units to create a sense of exclusivity.

2004 Chrysler Crossfire

To combine their strengths, expand their market reach, and increase economies of scale during a period of economic difficulty for the automotive industry, the parent company of Germany's Mercedes-Benz, Daimler-Benz, merged with Chrysler in 1998. The move was seen as an opportunity for Daimler-Benz to enter the lucrative North American market, while Chrysler would gain access to Daimler-Benz's advanced technologies and global reach.

The first true product of the merged DaimlerChrysler partnership was the 2004 Chrysler Crossfire. (The "Crossfire" name referenced the model's intersecting body lines, inspired by the 1930s Chrysler Airflow, as well as the collaboration between the two companies.) The two-seat sports car shared its platform, engine, and many components with the first-generation Mercedes-Benz SLK. Manufactured by the independent German manufacturer Karmann, the Crossfire featured a distinctive exterior that drew back to the 1930s Chrysler Airflow. A Mercedes-Benz V6 engine, a choice of manual or automatic transmission, and a host of standard luxury features were standard.

With a relatively short production run (2004 to 2008), the Crossfire has become a sought-after collectible. Notably, the high-performance SRT-6 version, which debuted in 2005, features a hand-built 330-horsepower 3.2-litre supercharged engine and a range of performance upgrades.

2005 Chrysler 300

A second significant car from the DaimlerChrysler era was the 2005 Chrysler 300 mid-size luxury sedan. While Chrysler had previously resurrected the famed "300" badge for the 1999 300M, it was a V6-powered front-wheel-drive model based on the Vision produced by the defunct Eagle brand. Six years later, the 2005 300 was seen as a true successor to the original 1950s 300 series muscle cars, with rear-wheel drive and V8 power.

Featuring a large grille, long hood, and a low roofline, the 2005 Chrysler 300 also adopted the original model’s 1950s aggressive styling. Its platform shared many components with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan. While a 340-horsepower 5.7-litre Hemi V8 was available in the 300C models, a 6.1L Hemi making 425 hp in the high-performance SRT-8 version was an affordable alternative to more expensive German super sedans, such as the Audi S6, BMW M5, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class AMG models. 

Initially, the 2005 Chrysler 300 was a success, bringing back a sense of swagger to the brand. It also stood the test of time. The last HEMI-powered Chrysler 300C, using a 485-horsepower 6.4L HEMI engine, rolled off the production line at its Brampton, Ont., facility in December 2023.

2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

Exemplifying Walter Chrysler's penchant for innovative engineering, the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid was a groundbreaking model. As North America's first plug-in hybrid minivan, it replaced the long-standing Chrysler Town & Country minivan as a fuel-sipping and luxurious people hauler.

Built alongside the Dodge Grand Caravan in Windsor, Ont., on top of the base front-wheel-drive V6 gas version, you could order a Pacifica with all-wheel drive or as the innovative plug-in version. It featured a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, along with a modified V6 engine and a two-motor eFlite hybrid system that allowed for up to 51 kilometres on battery power alone on a full charge, while also achieving an exceptional 7.3 L/100 km overall fuel economy.

As a technology leader for the Chrysler brand, the Pacifica Hybrid also made parking easier, offering distance sensors at both ends, a 360-degree camera system, and a self-parking feature for parallel and perpendicular spaces. Many safety features come standard, even on the lowest trim. As an upscale minivan, it offered features such as climate-controlled front seats, rear-seat entertainment screens, a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, and a premium audio system.