35K Miles: 1991 Chrysler TC Maserati
When a car that is typically maligned by the enthusiast community shows up as an apparently well-loved example, the overall vibe is much different than the majority of similar models that pop up for sale. The Chrysler TC by Maserati is a model that was introduced to great fanfare before falling on its face when it came to market, but this example listed here on eBay has clearly been owned by someone who sees the car for its virtues, not its vices. The TC is located in Scarsdale, New York with bids to $5,900 and no reserve.
When you see one of these cars come up for sale, they can sometimes be time capsules, set aside for some future collectability “boom” that never happened. The listings are often short on details aside from the luxurious interiors and low mileage. Or, you’ll see total beaters listed with sellers who haven’t the faintest idea what’s involved in maintaining a vintage vehicle. This TC has the sort of details that you look for in an obscure car listing, with the seller noting the virtues of the later models from an equipment perspective. The body appears to be in excellent condition.
The later cars came equipped with a Mitsubishi-sourced 3.0L V6 that put out about 140 horsepower, which points to one of the biggest issues with the car from a marketing perspective: uninspired performance. This was simply too humble of an engine to install in a high-end luxury car aimed at well-heeled customers who might otherwise buy an R129-chassis Mercedes-Benz cabriolet. The only saving grace was the so-called “Maserati engine” with the DOHC Cosworth head that sadly was produced in extremely limited quantities. The seller notes this engine also came with an improved 4-speed automatic over the original 3-speed (though he incorrectly calls it a 5-speed unit.)
Regardless, it’s just refreshing to see a seller who understands some of the key differences between model years. This TC looks fantastic inside and out from a cosmetics standpoint, with the luxurious appointments in the cabin presenting very well. This leather can look tired in short order if not maintained, so I’d say the seller or a previous owner has been religious about nurturing these Maserati-inspired appointments. The TC by Maserati may have been a sales flop, but all that means today is that you can buy a seemingly nice example for well under $10,000.
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Comments
I think we pretty much nit-picked the last one, no need to repeat. Got to admit, it’s a “global” car. American, Italian, Asian, British, common today, but almost unheard of then. As a fan of K cars( or whatever it is) I think these were just the nicest cars. Best of everything, or so it seemed. To be clear, I believe this was just a stock 3.0 from a LeBaron, and the Cosworth was the 4 cylinder. 1990 was the last year, but some leftovers were titled ’91. One simply has to mention what a colossal flop these were, and a claimed loss of $50,000 on EACH CAR, that Iacocca ironically denies any involvement with. A $600 million dollar loss for Chrysler, imagine. Yeah, but dat’s a da car biz, some make it, some don’t. Like the last TC, great find.
Yup, the “Maserati” 16v head was actually designed and cast at Cosworth with cams designed by Crane, which were then merely assembled and finished at Maserati. This head was then mounted on a standard Chrysler 2.2L short block with some more robust internal components similar to their Turbo II engines. Only 500 cars, and during the first model year only, were equipped with this engine, all of them paired with a Getrag 5-speed manual.
I have a theory about that twin cam motor:
I believe the original intent was for every single manual transmission car to be coupled to that Cosworth/Maserati engine, but it cost spiraled out of control, it was deleted to save money.
It might’ve saved a few bucks, but removed all magic that the car might’ve enjoyed adding another to the coffin
there is absolutely no other reason that Chrysler would’ve paid to develop such an expensive component for 500 cars
mine was turbo 2 with a automatic
I’m not sure which vehicle I despise the most: these TC K-cars or the Versailles Ford Grenadas.
Every street rodder wants the rear disc brake, Ford 9 inch rear end outta those Versailles.
Nice looking example if you’re looking to purchase one, but I don’t know why you would.
Educate me.
Who made this car? Chrysler or Maserti?
I get the bits are missing engine (Mitsubishi).
Well, seeing as how Chrysler owned, still owns, Maserati… the answer is yes!
I was working at a Chrysler dealership when these came out. It was essentially a slightly modified Chrysler LeBaron. Not a bad car. Just nothing special as the Maserati name would suggest.
Thank you, but what’s the badge say?
Clearly the engine says Chrysler, but it’s a
Bits are missing engine
While Iacocca squandered $300,000,000 or so “investing” in Detomaso’s Maserati, Lido got zip from the deal but this cute car/terrible product.
Chrysler did not retain ownership of Maserati (and they sold Lamborghini) after this financial boondoggle
The association today is because Fiat (which owned Maserati and Ferrari, Alfa) purchased Chrysler out of bankruptcy after the financial crisis
The only thing “Maserati” about this car was the assembly and finishing of the 16v head on 500 of the first-year cars, and the involvement of Iacocca’s pal Alejandro de Tomaso, who owned Maserati at the time.
Even the body stamping and final assembly of cars weren’t done at Maserati but, rather, at Innocenti, which de Tomaso also owned at the time, tho’ he was also using Innocenti to stamp and assemble Maserati Biturbos.
I recall that the early Chrysler 4-speed automatics were very trouble prone. If I were to get this one, I would insist on paying no more than $3K so I can replace the drivetrain with something more peppy and engaging, like a 1.5 turbo and 6-speed from a wrecked later model Civic Si. Nice interior though.
This front angle picture reminds me of a couple of Eldorado’s that I owned in the 90’s. Think I would rather have the Eldo
To me this was a tragic mis use of the Maserati name and mystique. It looked like a Le Baron/Sebring and yet it had “Maserati” on it. I never understood how this got the corporate OK. Lost on this boy…
apparently, everyone on the board was opposed to the project, recognizing the impossibility of making an SL competitor out of a K car with a notoriously, Buzzy engine and floppy chassis
lido used his personal connections to de Tommaso and others to get around their decision. It was a catastrophically bad decision.
I was looking for a new car in 1989.
I bought a ’89 LeBaron GTC turbo 2 5 speed.
I was looking at these but for $33,000 that was a very high price to pay for essentially a LeBaron.
These have no body panels whatsoever in common with the J-body LeBaron coupe/convertible, though of course the underpinnings are similar derivatives from the K-car platform, just like every other FWD Mopar product at the time.
The styling is similar because the original plan was that the TC would launch first, then a couple years later the LeBaron would launch and inherit some cachet from the tonier TC.
Instead, development and production delays resulted in the TC launching a couple years after the LeBaron, making the TC seem like little more than a tarted-up LeBaron, rather than the LeBaron seeming like a larger and more affordable sibling to the TC as originally intended.
That’s a convertible hard-top, unless I miss my guess.
Buddy of mine out Pittsburgh way had a Chryslerati convertible. Rattled on any bump, but he treated it a lot more roughly that this solid example. GLWTA!
These were ragtop convertibles, but also provided with a removable hardtop as standard equipment.