Affordable Maserati: 1990 Chrysler TC
There’s no shortage of odd brand collaborations throughout automotive history, with the Chrysler TC by Maserati hailing as a worthy contender for falling into this category. Chrysler seemed to have hit a near home run during the eighties with their LeBaron and by the decade’s end the powers that be decided it would be a good candidate for a sports car. The joint venture between Chrysler and Maserati resulted in what became known as the Q-Body, or the Chrysler TC by Maserati, with one of the core issues being that the car just looked too much like a LeBaron. But fast-forward three decades and if you’re wanting affordable Italian bragging rights, these are hard to beat for attaining the Maserati status on a budget. This one’s located in Gulfport, Florida, and can be spotted here on Craigslist. Best of all, it can be bought for just $1,400.
We’d like to thank reader Pat L. for cruising the web and sending us this find! We don’t get a whole lot of photos or any specific information about how long ago the seller acquired the car, nor do we get to see the passenger side or engine compartment at all, but from what is visible the body and paint still seem to be in pretty good shape. And considering during the course of production only about 7,300 of these unusual cars were made, it’s kind of a rarity and peculiarity all at the same time. Plus when you consider that these things cost over 30 grand back in 1990, or nearly $75k in today’s economy, the seller’s price seems like a bona fide bargain.
But the higher-than-average price back when these cars were new worked against them, as a LeBaron could be had for roughly half, and unless a buyer walked onto the lot already knowing the difference, their outward appearance was eerily similar. But at least when the hardtop was in place, the extra circular window featured a Maserati Trident logo inside a Chrysler Pentastar, so that’s worth something! The interior on this one is showing some wear on the seats, but it looks OK overall in there, just more of what I would expect from a Chrysler inside as opposed to a Maserati.
One cool factor is that these were two-seaters, plus I do kind of like the design in the area behind the seats. The seller estimates this car’s mileage to be less than 60,000, even though the odometer stopped working about 3 years ago, and it’s also said to be a strong runner that always starts right up. Additionally, there’s been some recent A/C work and the tires are said to be virtually new, so for a running and driving example I’m finding very little here to complain about for $1,400. How about you?
Auctions Ending Soon
1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1Bid Now3 hours$7,100
2003 Porsche Boxster SBid Now4 hours$6,500
1966 Lincoln ContinentalBid Now6 hours$500
2000 Jaguar XJ8LBid Now4 days$1,250
1977 Datsun 280ZBid Now5 days$275
Comments
Well that didn’t last long! I guess someone is bragging “I just bought a Maserati”. I wanted to look at the ad to see what motivated this fine automobile since none was listed in the article. The only one i consider to be remotely cool would be the 16 valve engine. It’s still a lot of leather for the asking price.
Indeed, the only thing “Maserati” about these was that 16v head, only equipped on 500 of the first-year (’89) cars with a manual transmission, and even that head was designed and cast by Cosworth, only finished and assembled at Maserati. Automatics got the Daytona’s intercooled Turbo II 2.2L for that first year, then ’90-91s were all automatics with a Mitsubishi 3.0L V6.
The bodies were stamped and assembled at Innocenti, which happened to have the same owner as Maserati, Alejandro de Tomaso, though they did also produce the bodies for Maserati Biturbos, and interiors were done by the same contractor Maserati used.
I’d like to share a little info on these cars as I am the owner of 2 of them.
There is more than just the one of a kind logo on the grill and port hole window in the hard top that is Maserati. The following information is what I have gathered over the years at our club meets and shows.
One thing is that when the modified Dodge Daytona/Chrysler Laser frame and engine were shipped to Sparone, Italy for the body, thy were hand assembled there and painted. The car was then boxed up for shipment and sent to Milano, Italy for installation of the hand stitched leather seats and dashboard. If you get the chance to sit in a TC notice stitching seams of the dash. The leather used was more of a glove type and not the more durable leather of American cars that when new was a very sumptuous feel to the seats and other leather appointments. To maintain this look and feel of this leather maintenance was required which was moisturizing polish that was seldom promoted by Chrysler dealers or mentioned in any service bulletins to the buyers. This is why the seats most noticeably the rivers sear were prone to wear as they did.
The prototype plans for the TC sat on a drawing board for several years while to two companies haggle about what to build. Maserati had a built prototype built that it wanted to sell and have it badge as a Chrysler in the same manner as Mitsubishi had done with the Chrysler Conquest. I once saw a photo of this proposed car and if it was as I read more resembled a mid engine Tesla sedan. Way to advanced for the Chrysler’s of the 1980’s.
Chrysler wanted a model resembled their product line at the time with a promise of what the future might hold. That promise was a limited production touring coupe with an overseas flair that would compete with the Buick Reatta and Cadillac Allante. To keep the cost competitive Chrysler dig into the LeBaron parts bin for power window and seat motors and the like and still offer the buyer a hand built one-of-a kind car.
There is a lot of drama that followed the go ahead in the TC’s production that could make a good movie and too much to go into here. In short, cost over runs in design, Maserati’s insistence of using overseas vendors rather than Chrysler’s parts bin to make domestic serving easier, and Chrysler’s insistence of the removable top. All this eventually ended up as a quality control nightmare for Chrysler and production run of the car was drastically cut. Chrysler went all in the TC idea, to the tune of over $661 million in 1988. Sticker price for the 89 models was just over $36,000 and the 1990 models ballooned into the stratosphere to a whopping (in1990 dollars) sticker price of $39,900. By today’s number that build coast per car would be about $89,000.
I hope this provides some insight as to how unique this car was and how it’s intention never reached full maturity.
I believe lack of a “Turbo” badge on the front fenders, means a V6 engine.
I always liked the interior…so, so about the car in general. I’m odd as I really like Buick Reatta’s and picture the overstuffed TC interior in a Reatta.
I reckon the TC, even though it’s a Chrysler, is more reliable than the modern day “dealership” Maserati’s.
Sam61, I’m right there with you, though, I think the Reatta’s seats are far more sporty. TC and Reatta were natural competitors, and having driven both (and owning an ’89 Reatta), the problem with the TC is that it just couldn’t escape its K-Car roots and drove very much like a LeBaron or any 80’s FWD Chrysler, not to mentioned the blocky, awkward lines.
Gone already because the price was more than fair to say the least. I assume this is an inherited estate car and someone just wanted it out of their life. Engine? I assume the Mitsu V6. Not a bad engine, reliable.
Chrysler had to show Maserati’s craftsmen how to sew the leather interior. After years of striving for perfectly smooth leather, the idea of gathered leather with wrinkles sewn in was foreign to them.
To me it doesn’t fit the profile . Soooooooooooooooooo its not for me .
My buddy had one. Nobody could make it run correctly for the last few years. They changed sensors and computer. It sat in the garage would start but not run. No power and would cut out. Got to be friends with the tow truck driver. Over priced money pit. He gave it away.
I never looked closely at these since they appeared to be badge-engineered. I’m surprised the bodies are different, disappointed that the engines were anemic, and not sad at all to see these fade away like the Yugo.
The metal on these cars was much stronger and heaver than normal cars.I have 5 of them from 89 to 91.The turbo 16valve is a barn stormer.The 89 turbo chrysler motor was soso.The rubber parts used on these cars was european garbage.I have had to shop for replacement rubber parts as Chry or after market doesn’t supply anything.The sixteen valve motor is great with the exception of minor parts.Vacum lines ground connections etc.My 16 valve I have owned sinse new .The others I have piked up along the way.I have factory tapes showing them being assembled at the factory,the dealer maintenance kits etc.
Despite all the flaws,,,,,it’s got the required Opera Window.
So count me in !!! lol
It’s part of auto history, I like it .
on Craigs list this car is almost $6000
I had two of these (and also two ’80’s Maseratis); the fit and finish of the interiors are all Maserati. One of my TCs I sold to a friend of Jay Leno who has the car garage adjoining Jays. This is car here is a 1990, so has the V6 engine and ugly airbag steering wheel. Fyi, although people uneducated about these used to dismiss these as being Lebarons, no body panels fit from one to the other; this body was shortened about six inches.