Plymouth is a name synonymous with classic American muscle cars and vintage car culture. The marque produced some of the most iconic vehicles of the 20th century, including the legendary Plymouth Road Runner and the Plymouth Barracuda. In the late 1990s, Plymouth struggled to keep up with changing consumer preferences and industry trends. Sales declined and the brand struggled to differentiate itself from other Chrysler brands. The last Plymouth vehicle, a Neon, rolled off the assembly line in June 2001, marking the end of an era for the iconic American marque.
There are several collectible Plymouth cars based on their popularity, performance, and durability. But not all Plymouths classic cars have stood the test of time. Some models, especially those produced during the “Malay Era”, were considered poor in performance and build quality and were best avoided by collectors and enthusiasts.
ten 1971 Plymouth Cricket
The Plymouth Cricket was a badge-engineered subcompact car produced by the Rootes Group and marketed in the United States under the Plymouth marque. Its aim was to rival other small cars of the time, like the Ford Pinto and Volkswagen Beetle, but it turned into one of the brand’s most epic failures.
The small four-door hatchback featured a criminally underpowered 70bhp 1.5-liter engine, in addition to several quality control, reliability and styling issues that left critics and critics unconvinced. consumers.
9 1983 Plymouth Gran Fury
Chrysler originally designed the Plymouth Gran Fury as a police car, but it quickly became popular with taxi companies and fleet buyers. It has proven to be a reliable and durable car that matches its intended use thanks to a spacious interior and a large trunk, making it ideal for transporting passengers and their equipment.
But it came with its fair share of drawbacks. It was a large, heavy car, which made it less fuel efficient than smaller, more modern vehicles. It also had an outdated design, with boxy styling and limited interior amenities.
8 1983 Plymouth Caravel
The 1983 Plymouth Caravelle was a mid-size car produced by Chrysler Corporation to compete with other popular mid-size cars of the time, such as the Ford Taurus and Chevrolet Celebrity. It was a well-built and reliable car that offered good value for money.
But, it had bland styling, with a boxy design that lacked the flair and excitement of some other mid-size cars of the era. It was also underpowered and struggled to keep up with some of its competitors, and collectors and enthusiasts largely forgot about the car.
7 1983 Plymouth Champion
The Plymouth Champ was a subcompact car produced from 1979 to 1982 as a rebadged version of the Mitsubishi Colt. The Plymouth Champ was a competent and reliable car for its day, but it was not particularly champion in terms of performance or style.
While it’s an option for drivers looking for a fuel-efficient and reliable vehicle, it only maxes out at 70 horsepower, making it sluggish and sluggish on the road. Additionally, it had a basic interior and lacked modern features, making it dated even at the time of production and far from desirable today.
6 1997 Plymouth Prowler
The 1997 Plymouth Prowler was a retro-styled sports car built as an homage to the classic hot rods of the 1930s and 1940s, and was instantly recognizable for its unique styling and distinctive design. It was a head turner with a sleek, low profile design, long hood, short deck and exposed front wheels.
Reviewers criticized its V6 engine and lack of a manual transmission. It also attracted relentless attention while driving due to its slightly ugly appearance, and its limited space and hard-to-access trunk made it very impractical.
5 1961 Plymouth Valiant
Plymouth built the Valiant to compete with popular compact cars like the Ford Falcon and Chevrolet Corvair. The Plymouth Valiant was a well-built car fitted with a range of features that offered good value for money. But it had a bland style with a boxy design that lacked the sparkle of its competitors. The Valiant’s biggest downside was its reputation for rusting quickly, affecting its resale value and long-term durability.
4 1958 Plymouth Fury “Looking Forward”
The 1958 Plymouth Fury was a stylish and distinctive car, part of the “Forward Look” design movement that characterized many American cars of the late 1950s. It was a real head-turner with its accentuated long, low body by clean lines, elaborate chrome trim and the distinctive tail fins that were a hallmark of the “Forward Look” movement.
But beneath the cool exterior was a notoriously unreliable car plagued with mechanical issues that would leave you stranded on the side of the road.
3 1979 Plymouth TC3
The TC3 was a hatchback subcompact based on the Dodge Omni 024, a modified version of the Omni produced from 1979 to 1982. Chrysler designed the car to provide affordable transportation for budget-conscious buyers, focusing on energy efficiency and practicality.
While the TC3 was known for its nimble handling and driving dynamics, it wasn’t particularly powerful. It also featured boxy, utilitarian styling and was prone to rust and other corrosion issues.
2 1978Plymouth Horizon
The Horizon was a subcompact car produced from 1978 to 1990 and was considered one of the least inspiring cars of the era due to its basic design and poor performance. It was part of the Horizon/Turismo family of cars, including the Dodge Omni, available in hatchback, sedan and wagon body styles.
Back in 1985, the Horizon wasn’t cutting edge at all. It was underpowered and distinctly outdated, with a basic interior and missing amenities found on more expensive cars.
1 1980 Plymouth Volare Road Runner
Just five years after Mopar performance peaked with a 390+ horsepower 440 Six Pack V8, the Volare/Aspen compact twins hit the market with 5.2 or 5.9 liter V8 engines that only managed to produce between 150 and 170 horsepower. No amount of decals, louvers, vinyl strips and spoilers could help hide the lack of performance of these Chrysler Malaise Era muscle cars.
The Plymouth Volare and its Dodge Aspen twin have already won the title of most remembered car in history after a series of endless problems.
Sources: Hagerty, Edmunds, road and track
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