Bizarre Car of the Month

The Automobiles de Luxe Bizarre Car of the Month Award for August goes to none other than the Chrylser TC by Maserati.

Just what was Lee Iacocca smoking? In the late 80s, Chrysler’s chairman organized the purchase of a significant portion of struggling sportscar manufacturer Maserati only to try and introduce Americans to the concept that they too could purchase a comfortable sports-cruiser hybrid in the form of a regular Chrysler LeBaron wearing Trident badges.

In the words of Richard Porter, author of Crap Cars, the Chryslerati offered, “the feeling that you’d just been sold a lightly polished piece of poop.” Cheap plastic trim, excessively wrinkly leather, and faux wood veneers were the only Maserati touches to the Chrysler’s tacky cabin.

Well that and a silly porthole with a Trident badge which marked the exterior pièce de résistance .

On the objective side, if objective thinking could possibly be applied to the unfortunate convertible, the concept of creating comfortable GTs might not have been a new concept, but it was well worth exploring as modern GTs affirm. Mr. Iaccoca must have felt that it was up to Chrysler to give it their own half-assed shot.

The Italians all the while were probably just happy to pocket the dollars that Detroit kept wiring them a half a world away.

Thank goodness both manufacturers have since come to their respective senses. And that the Chrysler TC by Maserati is now only a distant memory (rehashed briefly).