1982 Chrysler LeBaron | Retro Review

A 2-door coupe with a manual !?! Chrysler's all new quasi sport-luxury LeBaron was the cream of the K-Car crop in '82.
Show 105 | Original Airdate 11-10-1981
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[@jonmopar7917]

They started at $8k ($25k in today). To those wondering why they sold so well: Chrysler had the best warranty. They were comfortable, fuel efficient and tough too, but in an era of rust buckets, these things were had amazing warranties and held up.

[@kc0lif]

you 1000$ now.

[@vwestlife]

As the saying goes, "K-Cars run poorly longer than most other cars run at all."

[@jordantomblin2302]

I can confirm after seeing these and other 80s cars in junkyards… these seem to rust the least.

[@tedschmitt178]

Chrysler knew they had a quality problem which was the reason for the 7/70 warranty.

[@toronado455]

@@tedschmitt178 Is that why Hyundai/KIA has the 100k mile warranty? Because they are aware they have quality problems?

[@michaelwelsh6736]

I purchased a new 1982 LeBaron convertible. Owned it for five years. Drove it for 150000 miles. No service problems. Wished I still had it.

[@therandumbcarguy]

“For those who want luxury but can’t afford it” he said… 😂😂😂😂

[@manthony225]

😂 I know right? He didn't sugar coat back then

[@palebeachbum]

Chrysler has always been a "mid-priced" car brand, as he said, rather than a full-blown luxury brand. The same as Buick and Oldsmobile.

[@toronado455]

@@palebeachbum Where do you rank Volvo and SAAB?

[@palebeachbum]

@@toronado455 Luxury

[@kevinwong6588]

@@palebeachbum Acura as well, with a price overlap with higher end Hondas. It never was a true luxury brand, but a mid-tier premium.

[@timetowakeup6302]

My aunt had this car, but it was an 85. It was always in the shop…. “A finer grain of plastic wood”

[@iamgermane]

K-car guts! I actually drove a K-car on the Autobahn in Germany. The 2.2 liter would top out around 80 mph.

[@EnthusiasticHidingCat-rh9uh]

😅

[@stephendavidbailey2743]

@@iamgermane My 1985 Plymouth Reliant would do 75, with flat road, windows up and a/c off. Dreadful car.

[@iamgermane]

@@stephendavidbailey2743 Ya and I had my foot to the floor with the K-car on the West German Autobahn. It was a USAF command car of all things.

[@kc0lif]

you mean real wood.

[@Skittleman2341]

I think we need Motorweek to release some of those vintage logoed jackets, shirts, and hats.

[@TheCarCrazyGuy]

A month after this aired I picked up my 1982 Datsun 280ZX at age 19. Those were the days.

[@douglasb.1203]

I had an '83 280zx. Fantastic car.

[@kevinbarry71]

A finer grain plastic wood. Praise doesn't come any higher than that

[@toronado455]

😂 truth

[@kc0lif]

that's real wood​@@toronado455

[@bc5441]

A finer grain of plastic wood for someone who couldn’t afford it. Ouch!

[@kokocostanza2036]

You could rent these with a borrowed Diner's Club card and a set of shower curtain rings.

[@albear972]

😂 Oooh! A Diner's Club card. That's old school man!

[@michaelre7556]

What about a Casio?

[@kokocostanza2036]

@@michaelre7556 I'm gonna have to say good night.

[@DrCharlesMontague]

When they were adjusting the seat, I couldn’t help but think of “you broke the gahtdamn seat” 😂

[@kokocostanza2036]

@DrCharlesMontague Wasn't broken when I got out.

[@dohc1067]

This platform was the cornerstone of the Chrysler come back, well, at least at the time when it mattered. Times have changed.

[@EyesWideOpen61]

I had 2 Kcars as company cars and drove them into the ground, the drivetrain was bulletproof FAR superior product to competitors from Ford and GM at the time, without a doubt. Drove better, broke less.

[@palebeachbum]

@@EyesWideOpen61 The Chrysler 2.2 and 2.5 engines with the 3-speed automatic were dependable, cheap, and easy to service. My mother did her own tune-ups and taught me how.

[@atomsmash100]

The K was a really remarkable platform. Almost endlessly utilized from one vehicle to the next. I had an '87 Dodge Lancer. Great car and still running well when I parted with it at around 125K miles.

[@dchegu]

Wasn't the dodge lancer based on Mitsubishi lancer? Not a K car?

[@boogts]

@@dchegu no

[@gabrielhowardMKE]

Only John Davis can give such an incredibly scathing review and make it sound polite, neutral, complimentary even.

[@christopherconard2831]

I don't think they've given a bad review. But they have pointed out there are better options. Also the use of damning with faint praise.

[@planetfabulous5833]

What was scathing about this review? Stop with the hyperbole.

[@Fidelias]

​@@planetfabulous5833 Are you dense and reading a word of the day calendar? Watch the video again on half-speed and you'll hear em, slow bus.

[@palebeachbum]

Ending the review by saying it's a "Truly modern, very American, but not perfect FWD car." doesn't indicate a scathing review. It would be fair to say it has its high and low points.

[@CRCO1975]

I'm not sure you know what the word "scathing" means...

[@dakotamcaleer6113]

The OG motorweek

[@BillofRights1951]

We had an '88 Dodge Caravan with the Mitsubishi 3.0 litre V6....All in all it was a good car...BUT we benefited from a great Chrysler dealer in So Cal whose owner was dedicated to customer satisfaction, coupled with excellent mechanics...The quality of service work was excellent AND they could fix anything, with a smile (what a concept!). What would have been a below-average reliability car was actually a pleasure to own... When the dealership was sold, the personalized service collapsed.

[@thomasofone]

I loved these cars. Always wanted one.

[@Brian_RobinsonK11]

John Voight had one of these!

[@nutz4gunz457]

The dentist, not to be confused with Jon Voight the actor.

[@exxusdrugstore300]

3:59 That rebound was so dramatic lol. It was doing all of 30mph and the nose damn near bounced off the ground.

[@michaelhayes4537]

I bought a used '83 LeBaron. It was owned by John Voight.

[@51-FS]

Was their a 🖊 pencil in the glove box?

[@michaelhayes4537]

Yes, but it read "No. 2"

[@Stratoliner]

I miss these square boats of the road. I'd love to get one just for old school road trips!

[@therealjayseh]

I remember we had a brand new Toyota Camry LE fully loaded. Our neighbor had one of these. It seemed so ugly and outdated compared to the Camry lol

[@palebeachbum]

What year Camry?

[@toronado455]

the first gen Camry was very nice.

[@therealjayseh]

@@palebeachbum 1983 Toyota Camry we took delivery of it September 1982. We special ordered the car in June 1982 from Julian Garcia Toyota.

[@therealjayseh]

@@toronado455 oh it was sooooo nice compared to what was out there. It was no sport sedan, but it was a very comfortable compact luxury sedan. Had a power sunroof too. I wish I had it now.

[@palebeachbum]

@@therealjayseh Long ago I owned a 1988 Camry DX sedan. I guess that was the generation after yours? It was not a good car. Things started falling apart inside after 100k miles and it was leaking copious amounts of oil and smoking out of the tailpipe by 138k miles. Seat comfort was poor without lumbar support. The suspension would bottom-out over railroad tracks. I've owned 12 cars since then and it was one of the worst cars of the bunch. Interestingly, at the same time I owned the Camry, my mother owned a 1992 Plymouth Acclaim, which is a K-car derivative. It was much better built and much less problematic. Cheaper and easier to repair as well. She had it until 182k miles when it was rear-ended.

[@ouch1011]

“A finer grain of plastic wood” lol it’s so funny what used to pass for luxury in the American car market. All it needs is a sofa for chairs, flubber suspension and fine grain plastic wood.

[@RookitMaster]

I recently got one, its butter cream color and its the convertable version, has no rust, an dis actually in quiet good condition exept the engine, it ran rough so i took it all apart and replaced all the seals and parts that were bent or worn out, have just finnished puting it back together and hope to start it up again this week after i replace the ball joints those were shot,

[@dchegu]

Anyone thinking of Ricardo montalban distinctive voice ?

[@thomasofone]

He pushed the Cordoba.

[@bmstylee]

With the fine Corinthian leather.

[@manthony225]

​@@thomasofonehe did ads for the whole Chrysler line in the 80's too

[@thomasofone]

@@manthony225 No

[@thomasofone]

@@manthony225 do some homework. I was there.

[@gerarddip]

I’m not sure if it was this generation, but my dad had a Lebaron. He says that sometimes the gague cluster would lose power and in that time the odometer wouldn’t roll! Lol

[@andregonsalvez9244]

Great show MW ! My Parents almost bought one of these K LeBaron 4 door sedan, but for the prices you paid for one of these they ended buying a 1983 Chevrolet Caprice Classic sedan . 😊

[@brianm.6271]

Everybody's talkin' at me...I can't hear a word they're sayin'...just drivin' 'round in Jon Voight's car.

[@4HBirtcher]

0:25 John Davis, why did you show a picture of Kirk’s arch enemy “Kahn”!

[@Raptor3388]

Probably for the corithian leather chest (without hair)

[@eugenepiurkowski5439]

Ready to buy one in 84 and the Daytona showed up. Loved that Daytona Turbo w/ five speed.

[@pmafterdark]

Great car. I have one now. 😁

[@eugenepiurkowski5439]

@@pmafterdark Bought mine in the fall of 83, think it was the first in the area.

[@rodsvintagesxschannel.3095]

We had K cars and a dodge 600 turbo . ohhhhh the memories lol

[@Butchcub75]

loved these

[@EuEu-re8lv]

George Costanza's car!

[@Real-CB-News]

beat me to it!

[@davidgalinat4257]

Also John Voight's.

[@EuEu-re8lv]

@@davidgalinat4257 Doesn’t Jon Voight spell his name J-O-N? …I’m sure Jon probably misspelled his own name🤣🤣🤣

[@LeftIsBest001]

I wonder how many of these are still out there? 🤔😏 42 Years old this year.

[@TurboMan942]

The K cars always looked better as coupes.

[@porcelainthunder2213]

These were the senior citizen car of choice before the Buick Century grabbed the market in the late 80s. Note the large print on the gauges and huge warning lights. They knew their market.

[@lukerinderknecht2982]

Dark times but what many people needed at the time.

[@zoomanx9661]

I’ll drive one, at least I know it’ll be there in the morning.

[@MarkMeadows90]

Oh yeah, the old LeBaron. My dad almost bought one of these back in 1984.

[@austinformedude]

Only 2700 lbs! Man have cars gotten pudgy!

[@hellhound47bravo3]

Lots of additional bells and whistles these days (not to mention airbags).

[@tedschmitt178]

Blame the IIHS and NHTSA for too much safety equipment.

[@JoeO.]

Ours was a red ‘84 convertible. A deer took it out in ‘86, but it was fun while it lasted…

[@Stevenimich]

What’s funny so that I didn’t care for any of the K-Car based cars. I thought they were bland and just too polarizing and the only cars I did like from Mopar at the time were the Imperials from 1980-1983. Now, I’m beginning to appreciate these K-Cars and finding a decent one in nice shape is hard to come by.

[@Greatdome99]

Rich Corinthian leather seats, opera windows, padded vinyl roof all stuffed onto a K-Car. Be still, my beating heart!

[@jkeelsnc]

A tarted up economy car.

[@Anthony-bw3mn]

"It's...a LaBaron" "You bet your boots it's a LaBaron!"

[@williamegler8771]

Who would spend the 2024 equivalent of $42,000 on this when so many better alternatives were available?

[@thomasofone]

You do know it would be a whole lot different looking today, right? 🙄

[@albear972]

That was a heck of a lot of money for that piece of crap. Lee Iacocca was a genius though, These Chrysler K's were considered inexpensive but they were built and sold with almost all options to trick customers into overpaying for them.

[@blue_lancer_es]

A 1982 cimarron cost the same pretty much. And it was the same mindset. At least the lebaron stretched the wheelbase. Cimarron was a cavalier through and through.

[@Koexistence13]

Gutless yes but durable, reliable and fuel efficient. Comfortable as well.

[@wesleyzimmerman6093]

Well, a lot of people still wanted to “buy American,” they didn’t want RWD after dealing with the blizzards a few years before, and they were used to plush cars with plush rides. The FWD allowed for better space utilization inside, the seats are super comfy, and the over square 2.6L was torque dominant, so while being more efficient, it felt closer to the emission choked torque heavy V-8 motor that buyers were stepping down from. And with auto interest rates around 15-20% , a true luxury car may not have made financial sense. My ‘82 Dodge 400 convertible was $15,000 new, with vinyl seats, crank windows, and optional alloy wheels, 2.6L, and a dealer installed 8 track player. It was financed at an 18.25% interest rate.

[@MySparkle888]

Chrysler LeBaron the official car of ballin on a budget!

[@rabit818]

“Finer grain of plastic wood”, lol. Decent styling for the time

[@IROCMAN666]

In Europe, we saw these car only on TV or cinema. This kind of cars is quiet and slow compared with Muscle Cars...

[@bennetfox]

Are those Rich Corinthian Leather bucket seats in The LeBaron?

[@BradThePitts]

This car was excellent in the snow. Short wheelbase, relatively high off the ground for a car of its size, and NO front air dam.

[@Fleetwoodjohn]

I had an ‘84 for my first car. 😎

[@mjbasl]

Where's your Lebaron Freddy?

[@ericw3517]

Never understood why anyone ever got excited about a K-car with a hood ornament. Either make do with an Aries or save up for a Benz. If you opted for the Benz, you probably still have that car too. Cool time capsule though.

[@1991CALYPSO]

Mine caught on fire.

[@candyman1961]

Ah that Corinthian Leather.😁👍

[@bernardogaetani]

1982 year model (so, it was introduced in 1981)... It's crazy to think that in Brazil Chrysler was selling a LeBaron based in the old Dart 67-74 at the same time... At least brazilian Le Baron had a 318 V8 with 205hp.

[@87camro]

My grandfather had an 88 Aries it went 208k miles after 13 yrs only reason why he got rid of it was because the floors rusted through car was still running

[@Andyface79]

Actually the 400 and the LeBaron had different tail lights. The things you notice when you are a young obsessive car spotter.

[@dontelindsey5846]

Cant believe this was next to thr 5th Avenue in the dealership.

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

I would rather have one of these than the crossover garbage people drive today

[@Cheezwizzz]

I’d be happy to own one today!!

[@vwestlife]

Was it owned by John Voight?

[@rss8363]

The dentist not the actor

[@RSmith-fb4sf]

my 86 lebaron convertible was always in the shop

[@jkeelsnc]

Interesting. I don’t doubt it and Chrysler tends to be crap. Still I always wonder. Did you do oil changes and all maintenance from the book on time? Also, did you drive it smoothly and gently or like a bat out of hell? Now, the other side of the coin is my Grandmother had an 86 Lebaron and didn’t keep it a long time because it was having problems and she was meticulous, by the book with maintenance, and she drove just like a Sunday afternoon Grandmother would drive. Still, I always wonder about people who complain about cars and don’t maintain them and drive them like a race car.

[@wmalden]

Gigantic warning lights!

[@rss8363]

They are called idiot lights

[@WellsoonMayhem]

Bruckell LeGran Coupé Body

[@maxr4448]

My sister owned four old K cars. They were problem free for her. But them seemed to go thru batteries, what ever that was.

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

I think everything Dodge got better After the K Car era.. I drove the one K Car we had as a Security Car only once at Universal Studios. I made sure it was Only Once because compared to the Dodge Omni's we had, which I loved, there was absolutely No Room to spare in that K Car Aries! Any Dodge's I drove after the K Cars were laid to rest were very well appointed and good cars.. I think they learned a lot and applied it from those years.

[@eric-fz1np]

Thanks motor week i was 10 years old when i seen this episode in 1982 my aunt pauline had a lebaron it was always in the shop 😂😆

[@johndrake2729]

Ah, a dressed up Aries.

[@acadm]

Good enough for Mike Ehrmentraut in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, therefore it's good enough for the rest of us

[@sailordave1000]

Hmm, noticed they didn’t show 0-60 nor 1/4 mile time.

[@emeyer6963]

0 to 60 was close to 17 seconds.

[@jimmysgarage9068]

Still want one ----------------------------->

[@JarmelSingsKaraoke]

🔥🔥🔥

[@TurboDub1991]

40 years later, chrysler is still hurting

[@deepthinker999]

There is only (1) model left and it's a minivan.

[@christopherconard2831]

I tried to convince my parents to buy the convertible version. We ended up with an Aries K station wagon.

[@Surreyredneck]

lol Half of the gauge cluster was the fuel gauge.

[@TrailBlazerSS502]

Nice little sleeper; the stereo, without a CD player, well…

[@owlnswan4016]

The CD format just came out in 1982, and not in a car from the factory until the Lincoln Town Car in 1987 with the JBL stereo.

[@TrailBlazerSS502]

@@owlnswan4016 I knew that. LOL!

[@dandennis8465]

The distance for the stop would be shorter if the lady went in a straight line.

[@Ficon]

Everyone knows the AZ-1, the Beat and the Cappuccino. But Lebaron is the forgotten kei car.

[@tommywatterson5276]

K Car with style.

[@TheMICMusicInspirationChannel]

In the language of the French, it means _The Baron._

[@rider9187]

Chrysler needs new K-car badly.

[@sterlinsilver]

Chrysler needs a new ANYTHING badly...

[@dontelindsey5846]

My library teacher had one of these wmd she ran over my cat with it and told me to get another cat.

[@glovedcop69]

2700lbs!!! It looks way heavier

[@adamtrombino106]

If you bought a base Aries coupe with 4 speed, you could lop off another 190lbs from this LeBaron.

[@DanielSlaughter-vi5hy]

As far as the 80s styles go, the K cars were still better looking.

[@georgetaylor1063]

I bought a Chrysler GTS, Didn’t make it past 40k miles before the engine head casket gave out. Nothing but rattles. Enormous piece of junk. In 36 months the car had little to no book value. Honda didn’t even want it on a trade.

[@ericbliss6354]

$42,000 in today’s money 😳

[@CorbinBlankenbiller]

Where’s your LeBaron Freddy? I only see one LeBaron… (why does he get a new car??)…. That’s because they love me more than you…hehehe!

[@user-cj4sm8hv9y]

Lebaron Start

[@bobtepedino5661]

These cars were superior in EVERY regard to the Cimarron.

[@deepthinker999]

Cimmaron has no friends.

[@bc5441]

K cars looked like Chiclets.

[@jeffforbess6802]

Chrysler has been in trouble for nigh on 50 years. Lipstick on a pig.

[@palebeachbum]

The K-cars saved the brand. Sales shot up.

[@willnzsurf]

adequate😭

[@connor_flanigan]

I miss the early 80s so dearly, but not the cars. whew 🤢

[@Tatortot318]

We look at knew cars that would come out in the fall as a group of kids, the year they downsized all those boats to peddle cars, we all laughed and picked them apart, same price, where was the other half of the car. Lincolns where a total dissapointment.

[@jcat96]

We used to be a country.

[@albear972]

All those Chrysler K's were absolute junk. Especially the ones with the Mitsu 2.6 engine and that damned Mikuni carburetor.

[@1BlubeTube]

The biggest junks America Made, until 87 when they started putting Mitsubishi 3.0s in the cars. But a 70s Dodge, I would drive everywhere.

[@TheRasta4ri]

Had the 2.6 liter turbo mistibushi engine k car

[@emeyer6963]

No such thing.

[@sammyt3514]

Those so called K-cars sold because they were cheap for what you got and, to many eyes, looked attractive, but make no mistake, they were rolling piles of junk! Never heard of anyone who owned a K-car that replaced it with another Chrysler product when it came time to get rid of it.

[@TheJoncic]

Who here has seen Freddie Got Fingered?

[@kc0lif]

a nice L frame car.

[@MercOne]

Any wonder why Chrysler is out of the car business? Utter junk for many years.

[@owlnswan4016]

I rented a very attractive 300S for a month or so in December 2022-January 2023. It was a very nice car...definitely better than older versions...I would have bought it.

[@sjhudon386]

Ironically, this is the car that saved Chrysler the first time!