Can you name the “Big Three” automakers in America? Chrysler, General Motors Corporation, and Ford earned this coveted title by shaping the American automotive industry over the last century. A visit to your local Chrysler dealership, and you’ll experience Chrysler’s iconic role in the industry through its commitment to delivering well-engineered and innovative vehicles year after year. It’s this dedication that attracts drivers to the Chrysler brand, forever sealing the automaker’s fate as one of the founding fathers of the American automotive landscape.
But what makes Chrysler so special, and why should you choose Chrysler over other brands? Before you start shopping for a luxurious sedan like the 300 or a spacious minivan like the Pacifica, it’s a good idea to know more about the Chrysler brand and what it represents. Here’s a closer look at Chrysler’s rich history in America.
Chrysler’s Timeline
1900s: From Locomotives to Automobiles
Walter Chrysler got his start with Union Pacific Railroad, but his passion for automobiles quickly took him away from the railyard to General Motors when GM founder William C. Durant named Chrysler the president and general manager of Buick in 1916. In just three years, Chrysler transformed Buick’s production and took his expertise to Willys-Overland, where he did the same before joining the Maxwell Motor Company. By this time, he was determined to design a revolutionary car that offered affordable luxury and performance.
Chrysler’s vision to offer drivers an affordable luxury vehicle started with the Studebaker. He teamed up with Studebaker engineers to design the first Chrysler Six in 1924. The Six was not only affordable at $1,565, but it was also innovative. It came standard with four-wheel hydraulic brakes, which was a first in the industry, and a high-compression, lightweight six-cylinder engine. Other unique features included replaceable oil and air filters, shock absorbers to deliver a smoother ride, and indirect interior lighting for added luxury.
1920s: Chrysler Causes Ford to (Temporarily) Close
The Chrysler automotive brand officially launched in 1925 as Chrysler designed four more models that offered more power than anyone had ever seen. At the time, Ford’s Model T was the fastest on the road with a 35 mph maximum, but the Chrysler 50, 60, 70, and the Imperial 80 easily surpassed this speed. The steep competition forced Ford to close its doors for several months as the automaker returned to the drawing board to design a vehicle that could match the Chrysler’s power.
1930s: Dodge, The Chrysler Building, and TIME’s Man of the Year
By 1928, Chrysler set his sights on expansion and purchased Dodge for $170 million. A year later, he was named TIME magazine’s “Man of the Year.” To celebrate his success, he hired architect William Van Alen to design the 1,048-ft tall Chrysler Building in New York City. As Chrysler envisioned, the building was extraordinary and quickly became one of the most iconic symbols of success on American soil.
1940s-1960s: From World War II to Rocket Science
With the outbreak of World War II, Chrysler shifted its focus from automobile production to making small arms ammunition and war products. These efforts earned Chrysler an Army-Navy award and boosted the company’s popularity in the civilian market for its support of American troops. In the decades following, Chrysler returned to vehicle production and, by the 1960s, ventured into rocket science with the launch of its space division to aid in the development of the Saturn booster rocket.
1970s-1990s: Financial Trouble, Rebuilding, and Expansion
The 1970s was a difficult decade for the American automotive industry. Chrysler secured a $1.5 billion loan from the government to avoid bankruptcy and slowly recovered throughout the 1980s under the guidance of Lee Iacocca. Iacocca was known for his wild antics and flamboyance, but no one could deny his business savvy as he purchased American Motors Corporation in 1987. This meant Chrysler now owned the Jeep brand. Once again, the sky was the limit as Chrysler added to its lineup only to be bought by Daimler-Benz in 1998.
2000s-Present: An Ebb and Flow of Success
The new millennium marked ongoing financial troubles for Chrysler and prompted the automaker to drastically reduce its lineup. Chrysler narrowly escaped bankruptcy around this period thanks to another government bailout, which was eventually repaid in 2011 when the government sold its company shares to Fiat. Although the government lost over $1 billion in the sale, Chrysler stayed in business as Fiat proudly renamed itself Fiat Chrysler Automobiles or FCA US LLC. Now, the company merged with Groupe PSA in January of 2021 to form Stellantis.
Chrysler’s 2021 Lineup
Chrysler has flourished over the last decade by focusing on a smaller lineup that offers exceptional innovation, luxury, and performance. You’ll find these unique features in models like the iconic Chrysler 300 that delivers on your need for speed. If you’re searching for luxury and spaciousness, then you don’t have to look far thanks to the Pacific, Pacifica Hybrid, and the Voyager, all of which offer the innovation and reliability of the Chrysler brand.
Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid
The Pacifica Hybrid is America’s only plug-in hybrid minivan and offers an even better value when you combine its affordable price tag with the money you’ll save on fuel with its 32-mile electric driving range, 488-mile gas driving range, and 520-mile combined range. The minivan also offers the most standard safety and security features in its class so that you have all the confidence you need when you get behind the wheel. The suite of 115 standard and available tools include Adaptive Cruise Control, Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking, and Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking.
300
The Chrysler 300 is a legend on the road, and that’s because it seamlessly blends power with luxury. You’ll find this is especially true on the Chrysler 300S V8 that’s powered by a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine to deliver best-in-class 363 horsepower and 394 lb-ft of torque. This capability isn’t mutually exclusive with luxury as the 300 offers every convenience and comfort imaginable, from leather-trimmed seats and steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters to a premium audio system and the intuitive Uconnect 4C system with smartphone integration and navigation.
Voyager
Chrysler gives families another great option with the 2021 Voyager, which replaces the Dodge Grand Caravan. The Voyager is a budget-friendly minivan that proves a lower price doesn’t mean lower quality. As part of Chrysler’s award-winning minivan lineup, the Voyager doesn’t disappoint with its unique design that offers crisp exterior lines that give the minivan a modern and more appealing aesthetic. You’ll also have plenty of power with the award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine under the hood that delivers 287 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, which makes the minivan quick to accelerate in any condition.
Also earning a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Voyager is loaded with safety, driver-assist, and connectivity features that keep you safe and connected. Features like Brake Assist and integrated voice command with smartphone integration give you all the tools you need at the touch of a button or a simple voice command, which means you can keep your focus right where it should be – on the road ahead. These tools add to the Voyager’s value and reflect Chrysler’s commitment to creating award-winning vehicles marked by innovation and reliability.
It’s Time to Join the Chrysler Family
Are you ready to venture over to your local Chrysler dealership and start shopping? Whether you’re looking for a luxury sedan like the 300 or minivans like the Pacifica, Pacifica Hybrid, or the Voyager, you’ll be impressed by everything Chrysler has to offer. What’s even better is that once you get behind the wheel of a Chrysler, you become part of the automaker’s legacy in shaping the American automotive landscape. And, if you ask us, that’s a pretty big deal.
