Chrysler and Jeep Articles
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Chrysler The Rise Fall and Rise Again 1920-1970
Cheap Jeep
Jeep Wrangler – a 4x4 that goes off road!
Matchbox Jeep
Is the American Dream at your Chrysler dealership?
Chrysler The Rise Fall and Rise Again 1920-1970
The Chrysler motor company was founded in 1925 by Mr Walter P Chrysler, the formation occurred when the Maxwell motor company was restructured into the Chrysler Corporation.
Walter Chrysler had been hired by the Maxwell Motor Company to sort out what was widely recognised as a company in crisis. Chrysler had a reputation as a no nonsense hard noised businessman which he earned when he turned around the fortunes of the severely ailing Willys car company.
Having firmly established himself in the hot seat at Chrysler, Walter Chrysler oversaw the production of the first automobile under the new Chrysler name. The new 6-cylinder Chrysler was generally well received by the press and public. The new Chrysler had been designed to give customers a well engineered car for a good price. It has been suggested by several people that many of the design elements of the new Chrysler had in fact been under development when Walter Chrysler was at the Willys car company. This suggestion has proved hard to substantiate.
Under the stewardship of Walter Chrysler the Chrysler motor company continued to innovate and to invest significant time and resources into research and development. This was an investment which paid off for Chrysler with the company becoming the second most prominent car company in the US market. Some of the many innovations of Chrysler included; the first mast produced four wheel drive hydraulic braking system, rubber engine mounts and a carburetor air filter.
Chryslers Dark Years the 1930s
During the 1930 Chrysler continued to innovate and actually produced the first range of cars widely available to the public constructed using the principles of air flow and aero dynamics. Chrysler even constructed the first wind tunnel in the automotive industry to do this, this required a significant investment. Sadly for Chrysler the investment although ground breaking failed to pay off. It appears the public were not keen on the new aero dynamic styling of the Chrysler and so turned away form the cars on mass. This significant reduction in revenues left the Chrysler Company unable to continue is investment in new technology at the same rate that it had previously, in fact it was sales of Dodge and Plymouth which kept the company going in the 1930s.
A Slow Recovery through the 1940s and 1950s
The disaster of the aero dynamic cars produced in the 1930s had a big effect on the overall psyche of Chrysler with the cars released in the 1940s and 50s distinctly conservative in design. Sales did grow in this period however as the company began to recover from the disastrous 1930s.
1960s Chrysler Returns to Innovation
Having made its recovery over the 1940s and 1950s Chrysler was now ready to start innovation again and the 60s kicked off with a significant innovation for Chrysler. In 1960 Chrysler became the first of the big three US automotive manufacturers to use Unibody construction. This construction technique, now a worldwide standard improved handling and safety during a crash. Throughout the 60s Chrysler increased its market share and continued to innovate producing the first car to use an alternator as standard. It has been pointed out by many automotive historians that while the Chrysler brand returned to the place of industry leading innovator during the sixties and its financial fortunes certainly improved, Chrysler had began to neglect the Dodge and Plymouth brands which had guided it through the treacherous decade of the 1930s.
A look at the early years of Chrysler up until the nineteen seventies – a truly fascinating time in the companies’ history where they got to the top got knocked off and then came back again.
Cheap Jeep
When it comes to building stuff, the Americans don’t do things by halves. Whether it’s adding to a cityscape with a moon-prodding skyscraper, jetting off to said moon, building the SR-71 ‘Blackbird’ - the fastest plane ever (2,193.167 MPH!), or constructing a colossal super-sized meal, the US rules supreme. But before we get carried away with Uncle Sam, in motoring terms they’ve been…well…unremarkable, shall we say. So whilst sports cars don’t handle and stick you into a hedge backwards and saloons possess suspension that breaks your back at the mere sight of a pebble, Americans go elsewhere. The biggest selling style of vehicle is anything big and with four-wheel drive, and this is where Jeep come in. The words ‘cheap jeep’ may not seemingly fit together – one look at the shear size of a Cherokee or Grand Cherokee (that’ll be the model range, not native Americans) has your wallet popping a cyanide capsule, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
For a tad under 15 grand (UK Money) you can jump on the Jeep bandwagon and have a sparkly new Cherokee all to yourself (that’ll be the model name not an Indian – is this going to get tiresome?) Right lets start at the beginning – other than being cheap, Jeep has a lot going for it. A brief history lesson would inform you that Jeep are the oldest Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV to you and me) manufacturer, beating even long-established companies like Land Rover. Heritage counts for a lot, plus once you’ve been making SUVs for 67 years, you must be doing something right.
One look at American roads will have you gazing into the distance without seeing a single bend, the horizon gobbling up the tarmac until it’s out of sight. Faced with this mundane terrain and the alternative - vast mountainous deserts and cactus lined off-road passes, Jeep came to a simple conclusion that was probably along the lines of: “if we make sure it can handle a desert, then geez man, a straight road in Chicago ain’t gonna be a problem”. Owning a Jeep affords you the luxury of cruising comfortably on the motorway, safe in the knowledge that the American (or in my case British) countryside holds no fear should you turn off at the next junction and head for the hills.
Now obviously an SUV isn’t built to climb Mount Everest but that’s because it’d be foolish to assume everyone is going to drive off-road all the time. We all know the school run will far outweigh the amount of times the Jeep will contend with anything taller than a blade of grass. It is however the combination of having the ability to tackle tough terrain and driving something that is built to withstand it that is key. The Jeep Wrangler for example is the US Army’s company car. Essentially, four big wheels, a seat and steering wheel, the only time this vehicle encounters a school is defending one in a war. It is arguably, the most robust, go-anywhere vehicle available to buy today, but is far too small and workmanlike for a mother of three.
The aforementioned Cherokee and Grand Cherokee ranges however, give you Wrangler bullet-proof suspension and reliability whilst lapping air conditioning over you and your leather seats. Ok so which Jeep is it to be? The Cherokee as mentioned earlier, is the entry level model, offering the usual refinements for a price that pits it against the likes of the Ford Focus and the Vauxhall Astra. In the jam packed world of the hatchback, the Cherokee offers a bit of individuality on the road, or outside the school gates.
If you want to really impress however, the Grand Cherokee may be your choice. Ok, so at nearly £30,000 it’s not initially the cheap Jeep I’ve been harping on about, but compare it to the rivals and you’ll need a lie down. For your money you get everything you’d expect on the specification sheet (that’s not me being vague, you really do even get the kitchen sink) and of course the big one – 4 wheel drive. Right sit down please, here’s how the rivals stack up. A BMW X5 is £10,000 more, a similar specification Land Rover is £6,000 more and don’t get me started on Mercedes or Audi.
Admittedly owning the flagship American brand may lead to badge snobbery in the staff car park from BMW man and yes you may be filled with dread every time you reach a corner – but don’t be as you’ll come out the other side without a problem. The Cherokee derivatives really are a serious alternative to the sombre, repetitive metal that lines our streets and despite the US of A’s car making CV; they’ve made a pretty good car, sorry SUV.
Jeep Wrangler – a 4x4 that goes off road!
This week I was driving through whimsical countryside, with the leaves sweeping past my windscreen just as the road did the same and all was right with the world. Suddenly a shadow was cast over my beloved car and as I dared peak into my rear-view mirror I asked myself “What’s that coming over the hill?” It was indeed a monster, in the form of a Chelsea tractor, piloted by none other than a life sized Barbie that was just a plastic. As she applied her makeup – presumably for Ken, the thought of driving seemed like an added bonus, the hand stitched hide of what appeared to be a white tiger lavished over the empty child seat next her. And then she was gone.
This got me thinking. Barbie is your typical 4x4/SUV driver aka the school run mum that sees driving over a pebble as going off road. Well I hear you 4x4ers cry: “we’re not all like that”. I do believe there are those of you out of there that do need off-roaders and there is a simple way to show yourselves – buy a Jeep Wrangler. Oh yes, by purchasing Chrysler/Jeep’s Wrangler, you say to every other wannabe off-roader that you are the real deal and the school run is a thing of the past – unless the school is atop Everest.
Heritage is a key component to standing out from the crowd and the Jeep Wrangler has it in spades. So what heritage then - motor racing? No. Italian flair? No. Helping protect the world from evil? Um, yes actually.
Produced by Chrysler and marketed under the ‘Jeep’ moniker, the Wrangler is derived from the CJ (Civilian Jeep) the go anywhere, do anything utility vehicle made famous throughout World War II, as it helped allied troops immeasurably against German invaders. Launched in 1987, the first generation Wrangler featured four wheels (five if you count the steering wheel), a drop top, large ground clearance and a roll cage. I’m really not skimping on detail, that was about it. Put simply, the reason why the civilian production version was as-near-as-makes-no-difference the same as the army’s’ version was because, like the military version it was designed to go off road and off road alone.
Perhaps in a misguided move, Jeep launched the Schwarzenegger sounding ‘Renegade’ derivative of the Wrangler in 1991. However the company miss-read it’s key demographic and offered it’s hardcore, off road customer base ‘luxuries’ such as floor mats (front only), a locking glove box, engine lights and cup holders. If these features didn’t alienate their customers with uselessness, the extra $7,000 (£3,500) price tag did. The Renegade sold poorly and was decommissioned in 1994, a year before the standard model gave way to it’s younger brother – the generation two Wrangler.
A key change was Jeep making the new Wrangler available in right hand drive as the company sought to expand its global market. Style wise, it paid heavy homage to its World War II compatriot, with circular headlights a welcome return from the much maligned square monstrosities on the Mk1. The new Jeep also featured a relatively civilised coil spring suspension – if civilised is Mike Tyson biting your ear off. Admittedly, the Wrangler was more manageable on the tarmac but wisely, Jeep didn’t compromise it’s off road performance. A few additions such as a radio and the updating of the interior design were also welcomed, without softening the Jeep too much.
On the back of the successful Mk2, the current generation three offering was launched merely months ago and has been criticised for being too large compared to the military hero it is derived from. Personally I think the Wrangler has grown up and is now a true contender to the likes of Range Rover, the BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne. To help with this, anti-lock brakes make an appearance 20 years too late, traction control appears seven years too late and Jeep are about on par with introducing Satellite Navigation. Ok, so the Wrangler may not be as good to drive on the road as an X5 or Cayenne, but its ultra reliable (the US postal service uses them extensively) and it’ll still do the ugly off-road stuff with a grin on its face, whilst the Porsche struggles with a broken nail. Plus it’s about $10000000000000000 (£100000000) cheaper.
The latest edition is also available for military use – complete with a snorkel so the engine can breathe underwater (seriously). Jeep then have not watered down the Wrangler but with a slight measure of creature comforts it’s a serious contender for the best 4x4 you can buy.
I’ve seen the latest Barbie motoring range - Ken’s cramped and his hair is blown around. She’s been beaten and she’s back in the sports car.
Matchbox Jeep
Being an only child has its benefits. I always remember Christmas being a particularly good time of year with lots of presents and no-one pestering me to play with them. Without doubt, the most coveted moment in my childhood was unwrapping a brand new, shiny toy car. Quite how pushing a lump of metal around the floor for hours on end kept me amused I’m unsure, but the road tax was a damn sight cheaper I know that much. Well I long for those heydays again and Jeep may have come up with the answer.
The Jeep Patriot is essentially a mini Jeep, a matchbox toy version of the Cherokee or Grand Cherokee. It’s Jeep’s aim to entice as many families into the Patriot as possible and are marketing it as a sensible, affordable alternative to the family saloon.
A few things are instantly obvious. Despite the ‘mini’ (and I mean mini compared to a Boeing 747) proportions, the baby Jeep is still most definitely from the same family as its bigger brothers. The seven slot front grill and round headlights are as synonymous with Jeep as the contoured nose on an Aston Martin. The styling combines on road aggression with off road tradition, although the front does sit quite low to the ground meaning any serious off road action could be a problem.
Switchable four wheel drive is included which is de rigueur for any wannabe off road contender. There’s also room for all the family (handy as this is the target demographic) with plenty of boot space and a washable interior allowing for even the messiest weekend outings to be enjoyed without a large valeting bill upon your return.
A pretty economical 2 litre diesel engine is found under the bonnet of the ‘diesel sport’ derivative and makes a fair fist of things when out on the road. In fact an average run will return roughly 42mpg; a statistic you don’t need Einstein to decipher, to know that for an off-road vehicle it’s exceptional. Of course the flipside of this economy means the low rev range isn’t the punchiest and you need to use the full rev range to make any sort of rapid progress, but you won’t have the look of horror as your fuel gauge drops before your eyes. The six speed gearbox doesn’t let the side down either and allows the Patriot to make the best use of those revs you’ll be chasing.
The car’s height is also more adolescent than adult and this stunted height allows the Patriot to tackle corners far more effectively than other 4 x 4 compatriots. The smaller proportions don’t just help eliminate body roll though, the handling is responsive and has a nimble feel that has you forgetting what type of vehicle you’re driving.
The interior is perhaps the one aspect that has had reviewers reaching for their red pens, but I don’t agree. Admittedly the build quality isn’t going to compete with the Germans, let alone the flair of the Italians but we’re missing the point. As touched upon earlier, the Jeep can take anything a family can throw at it and stay pristine. Throw mud, Ribena and Ice-cream on the dashboard (disclaimer: no responsibility taken from this author should you do so) and it’ll wipe clean in seconds.
This 4x 4 is the antithesis of Italian flair, the Bruce Willis of the metro sexual world we live in. The front is square, the back is square – even the wheel arches are somehow square. In fact with the exception of the wheels and the headlights that must’ve crept through the conveyor belt at the assembly plant, there isn’t a curve on the car – and it’s all the better for it.
The rugged intent is matched by its go anywhere, take on anything reality. The Jeep really is a serious alternative to the other family cars on the road. At £15,000 ($30,000) the price tag doesn’t put you off either. Perhaps crucially though, it really is a small 4 x 4 and as a result, the usual off road vehicle haters let you slip by unnoticed.
In summary the Jeep Patriot makes you feel like the manliest man ever, whilst gently wrapping its protective arms around your family. It may have the 4 x 4 proportions of a matchbox toy, but this is one car that wants to be taken out of the box and pushed around the floor until the pile is worn out.
Is the American Dream at your Chrysler dealership?
It’s very hard to ‘crack America’. Many have tried and failed, whether it’s film, TV or music. For every Ricky Gervais, there’s a multitude of unsuccessful suitors, including the likes of Oasis and the Manic Street Preachers. Mention either of those bands in Europe and you’ll be inundated with fans. Ask the question in America and no doubt a blank face will point you in the direction of a desert or church.
You see, whilst the world becomes Americanised, the US is very picky about what it accepts onto it’s shores – with the one exception of cars. For every Chevrolet or Chrysler dealer there are BMW and Mercedes Benz franchises competing. Europe you see, knows how to build a car and historically, despite Henry Ford getting things rolling with the Model T, America has lagged behind. Therefore, flying in the face of the American Dream™, European cars dominate the roads around the globe, with the US begging Europe for acceptance of it’s motoring offerings.
Well America’s deliverance may well come from your local Chrysler dealer, although there are a few stipulations first. You need to be extremely rich, have no children and be prepared to receive whiplash every time you accelerate. Has the Chrysler Grand Voyager been fitted with a turbo where the rear seats should be? No – with a riotous bellow the Dodge Viper is back in town. Ok, so this is a car only the top 1% of the world’s population could even consider buying, but it clearly demonstrates that when they put their minds to it, America can build a car that quite simply is a brilliant monster.
The old Viper was conceived and born when Chrysler were in one of their financial crises. Despite this, for approximately $50 million (car design usually cost $1 billion) and only 17 men the Viper was launched and showed little signs of cost cutting. Admittedly you couldn’t open the windows and the roof looked like the last time I attempted to build a tent, but under the bonnet was an 8-litre V10 engine that threw 400 horsepower onto the road. Subtlety was not a strong point, but it is widely recognised and loved all over the globe – even if that is thanks to a strong showing on the Gran Turismo racing game.
So what’s changed with the latest offering? Well worryingly, Chrysler announced the new car would be more civilised and upon initial inspection this appears so. The windows now go down and then back up again, the tent on the roof has been correctly erected and the pedals can even be adjusted to your shoe size – by electronic means would you believe. Thankfully despite this, the car is as civilised as Borat at a dinner party and Chrysler should be thanked for keeping their cocktail, ten parts whisky and zero parts mixer. Power has rocketed from 400 to 500 horsepower, with the car’s weight remaining unchanged. This healthy equation results in 0-60 in 3.9 seconds and a top speed surpassing 190 mph.
If the devil was a car, then look no further. The exhaust bellows and the tyres squeal as they struggle to get any of the power onto the black stuff. The interior is cramped, the materials used are so cheap that having got my calculator out, I can confirm the total is the same as two pints of beer. If you’ve played Gran Turismo, you’ll know the car handles like a hippopotamus on ice and that at the end of any corner you’ll be going backwards. The real version shows just how realistic the game is.
It looks like the work of Lucifer too. The car literally bulges with aggression and looks like it’s going 150 mph standing still. The front bumper could easily eat a number of small children and the vents on the bonnet look like they could suck a country the size of Wales into the engine. Chrysler’s big problem then is who will buy the devil on wheels? Even David Beckham may think the car is too bling, leaving the likes of 10 cent and his rapper friends…oh, 50 cent, my apologies, to foot the bill.
Compare the Viper on paper to a Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini et al and it’ll lose. It isn’t the fastest; it’s not the prettiest and definitely not the best handling. All this though, is like saying “no” to Cindy Crawford because she has a mole. Despite a flaw or two, the Viper is – no arguments please - a supermodel for the road. Yes it’s high maintenance, hugely expensive and shouty but isn’t that the idea of a supercar? What Chrysler have done is create the perfect monster and show that America has what it takes to compete with Europe’s finest. Chrysler and financial crisis will hopefully never be mentioned in the same sentence again.
