1988 Chrysler LE BARON Convertible | Retro Review

The '88 Le Baron had a drop top, flip-up lights, and a 5 speed!?! Why isn't it the raddest car ever?
Show 746 | Original Airdate 08-11-1988
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[@johnjones393]

The hideaway headlights and digital dash were so perfectly 80s.

[@4HBirtcher]

So that’s a convertible version of the Chrysler New Yorker since the LeBaron convertible has the C-body New Yorker features like pop up headlights and a digital dashboard!

[@michaelsimko7694]

Those last generation LeBaron convertibles were beauties

[@richardscott5155]

Great to see the Chrysler logo on the front grille

[@albertadams2095]

It gleamed so proudly during the braking test 😌

[@jeffmichiels251]

We rented an 89 maroon LeBaron Turbo Convertible while on Vacation in California in August of 89. We loved it😎

[@carexpertandy]

In the 2003 movie ‘Cheaper by the Dozen,’ Nora’s boyfriend Hank (played by Ashton Kutcher) is very obsessed with his red LeBaron convertible. When the younger kids all come running towards them when they arrive, Hank yells at them to stop and says “Please do not touch the LeBaron, I just had it detailed!” Then asks the Dad to tell the kids to respect the perimeter around the LeBaron 😂. When Nora and Hank leave, all neighborhood dogs came running after him when the stepped out of the house, then started scratching up the whole car once he got in. We hear him say “Nora, will you please get in the LeBaron? I beg of you!” Then after she gets in, he says “The community canines have completely ruined the LeBaron’s whole paint job” or something like that.

[@vwsaiphone]

Now I don’t have to watch the move

[@ic1815]

LMFAO I forgot about this, let me try and find a clip

[@FeartheCyr611]

I remember that part of the movie!

[@tientrinh943]

Can you help me find the clip

[@landyachtfan79]

PLEASE KEEP OFF THE LE BARON!!!!

[@benjochs]

Still a very attractive car, in my opinion

[@albertadams2095]

I love those hidden headlights and the way the mechanism operated. Also, the digital dash is pretty neat too. My impression as a little kid in the 80s: I thought these cars had an eyes-closed & lips slightly pursed look 😌

[@itsnotme07]

Drove the 1993 LeBaron GTC Convertible all over California back in 1993. Rental of course in beautiful Green paint and tan top/interior. If you're doing Highway 1 in California, gotta pick a convertible!!

[@reallyrandomrides1296]

One of the best looking K-cars ever made!

[@Bob-Sacamano]

I proclaim this, the Lebaron of George!

[@danmccarthy4700]

One of those cars you used to see all over the place and now there's hardly any left.

[@Natethegreat200c]

Thays all lad cars. Lol you an hardly find a boat load of 1999 anything. People don't want to drive cars that old.

[@danmccarthy4700]

@@Natethegreat200c I still see a shit-ton of 1990s Accords, Corollas, and Camrys. 🤷‍♂

[@Natethegreat200c]

@@danmccarthy4700 I live in DETROIT. If there’s any city that there’s a mix of old and new cars it’s here and I hardly ever see any of those tin cans you named. especially the accords. Accords and Honda in general has a history of transmission issues. 90’s trucks ? Yes but those are American. Hardly anyone is driving a very old SMALL CAR.

[@Arz2003]

@@danmccarthy4700 Not sure where your at but many 90's vehicles both domestic and foreign I barely see anymore

[@user-mo9tu7wq1v]

Those 90s cars didn't have turbos.

[@palebeachbum]

I had a love/hate relationship with my 1989 Lebaron "Highline" convertible. Loved the looks, the interior comfort, and the features. It was a head-turning boulevard cruiser. I hated the anemic power with the 2.5L 100hp 4cyl and 3spd automatic, the incredible amount of body flex (first-time convertible owner), and the poor reliability. Anything that was a powered feature was bound to fail early. It was my 3rd K-car derivative, previously having owned a 1990 Plymouth Sundance 5-door and a 1992 Plymouth Acclaim. Both were great cars and I miss them tremendously. Solid and dependable. The Lebaron convertible was definitely more style and luxury, but less substance than the other two. I swore off flashy cars and prioritized function over form ever since. Cars are too expensive and complicated to not prioritize reliability.

[@samnangchea5025]

If you got a T2 Lebaron coupe with a 5 speed, it was a completely different animal. 180 hp, still a little squishy in handling, but properly quick, like, 0-60 in sub 7 seconds if you shifted right. I had a T1 Lebaron (2.5 turbo with the 3 speed) and that damn transmission was the worst part of that car. 2.5 turbo was a gem of a motor though, so long as you kept a good radiator in it every 5 years, lol.

[@fernandorocha901]

I love Chrysler Lebaron 88, is my favorite

[@houseofno]

A shame Chrysler killed this car in early 90s and never brought it back. This is actually one of Chrysler's most historic nameplates. I like the earlier exteriors best but I did like the interior refresh. It shared a lot of interior and mechanical parts with the Dodge Daytona.

[@kingjlinza]

I want a red Lebaron convertible so badly, my grandmother had one when I was young and I want to preserve her memory by having one just like hers

[@isaacsmind5575]

I heard Jon Voight had one of these

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Man those sold like hot cakes back then! I remember a guy from work bought two of them! The one that really caught my eyes was the white one with red interior! Boy that one sure looked great!

[@irieite100]

Can’t believe the Mustang GT convertible was cheaper. Would be a no brainer which one to get.

[@TakuroSpirit77]

Ford clearly spent all the money under the hood of these old Fox Bodies... The interior was plastic trash and miles behind even the LeBaron.

[@irieite100]

@@TakuroSpirit77 The drivetrain is the most important thing to me. :)

[@FELIPE8226M]

Lol

[@basshead.]

ice ice baby

[@darnellrobeson4761]

Very very sleek design for mid-80s car. Still good looking

[@chuckchuck4016]

The design definitely aged well

[@9Xavier1]

But what do Jon Voight and George Costanza think of the LeBaron?

[@JDMHaze]

lmao😂😂

[@mikederucki]

Missing the wood paneling kit haha

[@fhowland]

Was looking for this comment

[@9Xavier1]

@@mikederucki That was Jon Voight the periodontist’s car, though, that’s why. 😉🤣

[@mikederucki]

@@9Xavier1 lol that’s right, as confirmed by Tim Watley

[@Golbez1991]

I just love those Gran Detroit Farm & Country Turbos with the fake wood paneling.

[@briq4409]

I love when motorweek describes a Chrysler LeBaron convertible as a luxury car.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Because it was pretty luxurious for it time!

[@briq4409]

@@anibalbabilonia1867 a Cadillac of the time. Luxury. A Mercedes’ Benz of the time. Luxury. A 4 cylinder K car? No. Not luxury.

[@Natethegreat200c]

@@briq4409 your not going based off facts Interior materials the body structure and styling. It's luxury. You're going off name of the company which gets you no where.

[@parkpy]

I loved this generation of Chrysler lebaron and hatchbacks and Daytonas . My first time being in a turbocharged car

[@garynelson4485]

I traded a 1987 Mustang GT T-Top on a 1989 Lebaron GT - white on white with red interior and the 5 speed stick. Mine had the larger 2.4 liter Turbo with balance shafts. I loved that car. I wish I still had it! It was gorgeous!

[@aenoymotors]

The Turbo GT white on red is probably the best looking of all the LeBarons and (in my opinion) one of the best looking cars of all time.

[@thebentleyeight4307]

Had an '88 LeBaron turbo convertible with an automatic. It was my favorite car! Quick, quiet, with overall good quality. Never gave me a single problem. I'd give up my Hyundai to have another one!

[@davidaubin3902]

5:06 John: WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU’D STICK WITH THIS SUPERIOR AND STANDARD ANALOG UNIT! LOL

[@Andrew-zs5tc]

They seem to have figured out digital gauges 30 years later. Could you imagine trying to find a replacement when the old digital gauges eventually broke. Great advice from John Davis as always. What a wise man.

[@peter455sd]

Ridiculous

[@2LaneTraveler]

I used to own a 1987 coupe. That was the car that taught me never to loan anyone my car, because the guy I loaned it to buggered up my clutch.

[@51-FS]

The first time I ever barrowed my buddies car is win I learned not to ever lone my car to anyone.....

[@jkeelsnc]

These days having a manual means you pretty much don’t have to worry about anyone borrowing it but you are right.

[@johnjones393]

Similar thing happened to me. Lesson learned the hard way.

[@srirachasauce8430]

I immediately stopped my buddy from practicing manual on my 89 lebaron turbo II the 3rd time he stalled. It was a wrap after that

[@BigBoss1292]

So nice of Jon Voight to lend his car to the guys for this review

[@ryanpatterson9526]

I remember those things being everywhere!

[@solosick4172]

In junior high I used to steal my mom's red and white Chrysler LeBaron and drive all my friends to school lmao.. this just brought me back

[@brian70Cuda]

I loved those cars... I'm pen-star faulty. I would love to have that car in a hard top version, I would drive that now. I guess it would be called "old" now. Thank you Motorweek!! I have loved you guys from the start.

[@tonyfortner9948]

I still have one... bought it new in 93. V6 auto. Been a good car. I always said I'd get rid of it when it started having problems. Well, it now has 326,000 miles and has been very good. Just typical maintenance stuff. Not a refined car by any means. But, decent and rather reliable. It's not worth a dime. So, I just keep driving it. Cheap, fun little convertible.

[@FerrariCarr]

5:18 I always thought that little car icon looked like a Testarossa 😂

[@aenoymotors]

I've owned so many of these things... finally sold my last one recently. Mitsu 3.0L V6 5 speed so the most reliable one ever made. I miss looking at it but I don't miss owning it, if that makes sense.

[@bigw8549]

I had a love/hate relationship with my 90 GT coupe 3.0 5spd. After seven years I traded in in for a Nissan Maxima.

[@ddogg14]

I know it's 1988... but how was this digital dash design confusing? To me, it looks pretty clean for this time period's digital clusters

[@4HBirtcher]

I think they feel that the operation of the dash and the look were confusing! They should have used the one from the New Yorker Landau instead because you don’t have to try to find the oil and voltage gauges in the dash design!

[@dontmesswitbill9161]

@@4HBirtcher Whats confusing about a big zero for the speedo? Some of these guys remind me of Henry Ford. So afraid of change..If they hated those digital dashes back then, they'd have a heart attack with the dash boards we have now, lol

[@THESLlCK]

I have seen one of these in flawless condition on the street not far from me. Good god it's so cool.

[@AdamG1983]

If "The Office" was set in 1995, you just know Michael Scott would be driving this

[@scottleyva8656]

I had a 1989 LeBaron convertible with the turbo. I loved that car! I didn't know it had only 146 hp, since it seemed quite fast to me.

[@srirachasauce8430]

yours was a 1989, it might've been the 2.5L turbo, like mine is. 155hp/180lb.ft stock

[@christopherconard2831]

When my parents were looking for a new car I campaigned heavily for one. We ended up with an Aries-K station wagon.

[@thewiseguy3529]

Your parents had great taste 🤣

[@johnjuarez8005]

😂

[@rickb6694]

My Dad was mighty proud of their brand new two tone Cavalier wagon...may have been one of my biggest childhood disappointments when I heard them say they were getting a new car, and came home with that lump lol

[@christopherconard2831]

When my parents got the Aries I was just about to get my regular driver's license. I knew whatever they got, I'd be driving it. I had absolutely no cool points so I figured a new convertible would somehow help. A white station wagon with fake plastiwood siding didn't help.

[@rickb6694]

@@christopherconard2831 lol

[@sjgrall]

Loved this car as a child, but never got to drive one.

[@bn9983]

Warm weather is here, while wearing a winter coat.

[@jsciarri]

John was hiding his fast growing waistline during these years.

[@barsaf9989]

I'd only buy one if it was owned originally by Jon Voight.

[@robertc5200]

I’m only here for the Jon Voight comments.

[@GGN-92]

What a great review of such a nice designed car from the 90's. Thanks for the share and take care.

[@austenfairbanks5604]

Wow the exterior reminds me of my 88 buick reatta a lot

[@Cockatiel2007]

We once had a sedan leBaron from the same era. It caught on fire, as apparently those cars were wont to do. Burned to a crisp-- there's still some bits of melted metal embedded in the driveway.

[@carexpertandy]

The red one looks just Mrs. Wormwood’s LeBaron convertible in ‘Matilda.’ But seeing the top go down and the interior reminds me of the one in ‘Jumanji’ Alan and the kids steal after the owner Mrs. Thomas suffers seizures from a mosquito bite and is taken to the hospital after colliding with the ambulance.

[@rickb6694]

My neighbors had a silver turbo coupe. My kid brain thought it was the coolest thing ever...next to my parent's two tone Cavalier wagon 🤣

[@chynacash3138]

I had a two toned turbo coupe back in 02 with a fist sized rust hole in the lower front fender lol. It was a burgundy/tan 87 or 88, blew a head gasket not long after I bought it.

[@rickb6694]

@@chynacash3138 ooof definitely past it's prime lol

[@lehbeltman]

My mom had one of these for 14 years, gave it to my nephew and bought a Sebring convertible that she had for another 14 years until I bought it for my daughter. I can’t see one of these without thinking of her.

[@Natethegreat200c]

Same with my mom. 3 of these and like 5 sebrings.

[@landyachtfan79]

"She wants a car (hey) with a cup holder armrest (ho) She wants a car (hey) that will get her there (ho) She's changing her name (hey) From Kitty to Karen (ho) She's trading her MG (hey) for a white Chrysler LeBaron I want a girl with a short skirt and a long, jacket"

[@sirissummers3811]

I was alive when this aired. I feel old.

[@joec1774]

A $47,000 (in 2022) K-Car. 😮

[@Modine.]

Considering the average new car price is about $42k today and quickly going up, that's about right. 💯

[@joec1774]

@@MyerShift7 whoa chill out.... but i mean, of course a 40K RAV4 will smoke this 47K K-Car to 60, while being MUCH more fuel efficient, much safer, more reliable, pull a stronger skidpad, seat five, haul luggage, etc. It's OK, we know mopar fanboys are still holding on to the Marchionne dreams that never were. We're here for you. Big hug.

[@march24-lp4pv]

Thank you Joe bidet.

[@peter455sd]

@@joec1774 Yeah,what about a 1988 Toyota to be fair ?

[@RajaReign78]

I always wanted one of these cars when I turned 16, unfortunately I never got one. My mom had a similar car called the Dodge 600. I still want one of these cars to this day.

[@junali94]

My brother had an ex father in law who had one in a bright teal color. He used it to pick me up from Jr high school one day, and sadly that was the only time I got to ride in a convertible with the top down :(

[@javardstanley1521]

Please post more Convertibles Motorweek videos. Like the Volvo C70 Convertibles or the Chrysler Sebring Convertibles or the Mitsubishi Eclipse Convertibles or the Volkswagen Beetle Convertibles or the Audi A4 Convertibles or the Saab 9-3 Convertibles or the Dodge 400 Convertibles or the BMW 6 Series Convertibles or the Lexus SC430 Convertibles please.

[@bigw8549]

I rented a Lebaron convertible in 1995 while on vacation in Ft Lauderdale. It had the V6. The only thing that I didn't like was the rain would leak in around the top of door glass. Apparently it was a common problem. I worked at a Chrysler dealership back then and we were always replacing weatherstrips. My personal car was a 90 Lebaron GT coupe 3.0 with a 5spd. It moved along pretty well. I liked the new dash design that was introduced for the 1990 model year.

[@TheBlake8]

Jon Voight used to own one…not the actor, the periodontist..

[@markwagner4909]

I had a 1992 V6 I had it until I bought a 2002 Sebring limited convertible and let me tell you what a huge difference but loved both

[@FlyingTigersKMT]

I loved this car when I was a kid. I thought this was the most elegant design in a convertible. Clean. Sleek. Hidden headlights. What else can you ask for?

[@adamtrombino106]

The 1992-1994 are the ones to get. More structural integrity, and better brakes. These are the ultimate K convertibles. Great looking and fun to drive, while K car easy to fix.

[@jsciarri]

"I only see one Lebaron Freddy. Where's your Lebaron? It's because they love me more."

[@johnnymason3265]

I have sat in one of these cars. It was quite comfortable. Did sit low, though. It was much better with the 2.5 liter turbo four (152hp) or the Mitsubishi-built 3.0 liter V6(142hp).

[@tomaslongoria2449]

Wheres your Le Baron Freddy? Ha ha

[@abckirov1929]

Good timing! I just saw one just like this yesterday! Paint was a bit faded tho, but in excellent condition. Personally I had an 1989, non-convertible. 2.5L with the 3 spd auto. Slow, but got good gas mileage. I liked the car. Neat looking. Sold it to a friend......and then the block cracked on him. Whoops!

[@ericwhitehead6451]

Very nice looking cars, they still look good even today.

[@crabbcake]

grandparents had this ; it was really nice considering the price. The radio had AM stereo ! something that remains obscure to this day .... (non conv) it was aerodynamic and had MPG reading .. the most I could get I believe was 35. very close to 55mph

[@PeterWiernicki]

I really wanted this car when I was 12 years old

[@johnjones393]

These were everywhere back then. Always thought they were good looking cars but preferred the coupe version. I'm sure the junkyards are littered with them now.

[@matthewbowen5841]

They are past that stage even. These things got used up hard.

[@briangeeesq]

I remember my Mother renting this car from “Dollar” on our vacation to Miami in 1989, the car had 2000 miles on the odometer, and the trim on the dashboard as well as the stitching around the convertible top was already falling apart.

[@AaronSmith-kr5yf]

These things aged like milk IMO. Chrysler sold A TON of them, 7 model year production run. Yet they are rare as hen's teeth here in 2022. Convertibles like the E30 BMW, R107 Benz SL, 3rd gen Camaro/Trans Am, C4 Corvette, fox body Mustang, I still see those occasionally on the weekend or at car shows. Can't tell you the last time I saw an 88-95 Lebaron convertible, despite them outselling all those cars by a good margin.

[@srirachasauce8430]

They rust out, people dont maintain em, normal cheap car stuff. Mine was rock solid for 12 years until it got hit.

[@jasonz7788]

Great work

[@chriscornelius2518]

Ditch the digital dash and this car is really a gem. This version of the convertible and the coupe were a nice car. I dont know about the reliability, but i think these were one of the nicest looking cars.

[@devinbiz]

I was actually wondering just a few days ago when we might see a review of this model

[@transamburnoutdarren1115]

My first car was a 90 model with the Mitsubishi v6 and 4 speed electronically controlled auto. For $300 it was a riot! The transmission was weird with its early electronic controls; instead of having Drive 3 2 1 (or some similar shift pattern) it had Overdrive, Drive and Low. The first two gears did what you'd expect- Overdrive had all 4 gears and Drive cut out the overdrive gear, but Low did something unusual. It wasn't just first gear, it was like a sports mode; it would run every gear to 5500rpm before shifting and would downshift to the next lowest gear as soon as it could, even off throttle! I remember that in drive, if you floored it in first gear and then let off for a moment just as it was about to shift into second before flooring it again, it would (effectively) neutral bomb second gear and chirp the tires! It would also do smokey burnouts if you floored it in reverse and then slammed it into drive- I miss that car.

[@lilpeppa117G]

My cousin that died had one of these bback in the day loved it

[@stevee8318]

The second greatest car ever made, after the Chrysler TC by Maserati

[@lkporter1989]

Don't forget the yugo

[@thewiseguy3529]

You've forgotten the pinto

[@SavageBunny1]

You forgot Lada.

[@sweetdreams2460]

@@thewiseguy3529 I have a Pinto lol

[@landyachtfan79]

My 8th Grade Spanish teacher actually had a red LeBaron convertible just like the one tested here.

[@pl5624]

To heck with the drop top...the coupe is the style leader..the roof curve is radical

[@palebeachbum]

The convertible is nice, but I agree the coupe looked even better. It had a very sexy shape for a late 80s car. I think the design aged beautifully. The Lebaron convertible was a dime a dozen on the road, but the coupes were a rare sighting.

[@pl5624]

@@palebeachbum and the only reason the convertibles survive is because they aren't usually winter vehicles and are pampered more...hardtops get thrashed.

[@palebeachbum]

@@pl5624 Makes sense. When I bought my 1989 Lebaron convertible in 2006 it was a Florida car with 55k miles. It looked brand-new, though the replacement vinyl top was starting to show age.

[@steveespinola7652]

Loved the old PEPSI can.😎👍

[@meatman6660]

1992 GTC with Mitsubishi 3-liter V6. Bought in 98 with 88k on the odometer for $3k. Great beater car kept it for three years till it needed tires and breaks. Sent it down the road with some HS kid for $1k.

[@thewiseguy3529]

As a kid back then I liked these. They looked good for an American car.

[@dinioco5648]

My mom used to own a 1992 Chrysler LE BARON coupe with the V6. It was a good road trip car.

[@saxongreen78]

'Make your Daddy proud?' _'PROUD!'_

[@jhomrich89]

funny how they call the celicas less solid then the LeBaron yet tell me again how many celicas from this era are still on the road compared to the LeBaron? I saw a Toyota Cressida today from this era in the parking lot of the restaurant we went to so proves my point

[@keithmattioli5159]

Why in 1988 were these guys still looking at radial tires as a safety feature? By this time radial tires had been widely adopted for at least 20 years.

[@ohguy1991]

Yeah I don't even think bias ply tires were even still around in 1988

[@markallen2984]

quite a nice-looking car. I actually like the digital dashboard

[@pyrotechnick420]

"Where's your Le Baron, Freddy?" -Tom Green

[@FeartheCyr611]

I VAGUELY remember that my aunt had one like this!

[@andersonsanjose8785]

Chrysler é sensacional 👍👍

[@andersonsanjose8785]

Esse carro é muito lindo 😍😍👍

[@mikeyveloster7615]

The LeBaron is the grandaddy of the Chrysler 200 Convertible, last made in 2017

[@tonysdiecastcustoms]

Definitely nice too see this 👍😎👊💯

[@marcosduarte1830]

Beautiful Car Convertible .

[@olikat8]

Time to show the old TC convertible to which the LeBaron kyped a lot of it's styling from- with the 16-valve Maserati motor & Getrag 5-speed. They never lived up to the Chrysler/Iacocca hype that promised way too much with the TC.

[@jp8950]

Virtually none of these cars are around today.

[@waihontham4475]

George Costanza’s car!

[@user-cj4sm8hv9y]

Still Trendy After All These Years

[@brandonplaisted8194]

I knew someone who had a Chrysler lebron thing rode rough and the convertible top was bad in the midwest winters. But due to the lovely Mitsubishi transmission they made non stop for Chrysler and dodge thru the yrs that's what caused the person I know to scrap it once he found out how expensive it was to rebuild a Chrysler transmission. Fun fact Carroll Shelby helped build a lotta turbo models to help Chrysler compete at the time.

[@bigbullfrog98]

Tom Green prefers these in blue

[@stupid8911]

The hitwoman drinks Pepsi, what a monster. 😄🤣

[@mistervacation23]

Just driving around is Jon Voight's car

[@xnopyt13]

Where did rubber shift boots go? I like them way better than leather ones, it looks so clean