It was bound to happen: K Car Club springs up

[Intrepidation]

Unloved as they are, let's give Chrysler's K Car its due. Thirty years ago, the K represented a sea change in the Pentastar lineup. Not only did the K and its derivatives return Chrysler to the black, the architecture proved versatile enough to underpin basically the entire lineup, from minivans to LeBarons to turbocharged Daytonas. Southern California now has an official K Car club – fitting, as that's likely the only place you could find an early '80s Chrysler without lots of rust. Club membership is open to the entire swath of cars that share this similar architecture, known as the "EEK" models, so you won't get kicked out for showing up in a Caravelle instead of an Aries. Now's the time to hunt one of these cars down if you're looking for a cheap, enjoyable way to get into the hobby. They're available for a song, don't yet command any respect (perhaps they never will), yet the K Car is edging its way toward official classic status regardless of what some traditionalists might argue. The K Cars are nearly classic, they're historic and significant and worth saving. The hobby must live on after all the boomers are buried in their Tri-Fives, and a Reliant would be a great way to show an interested kid the basics.

Autoblog

[ZL-1]

It's interesting that a car unloved by so many nowadays was actually the turnaround blessing for Chrysler. And who knows? Maybe some NG Cobalts, Malibus, and so on can receive the same 'honor' 20 or 30 years from now...

[Robert Hall]

It's interesting that a car unloved by so many nowadays was actually the turnaround blessing for Chrysler. And who knows? Maybe some NG Cobalts, Malibus, and so on can receive the same 'honor' 20 or 30 years from now...

I wonder if there are any clubs devoted to '80s GM X/A/J/N/L FWDers...

[Intrepidation]

I wonder if there are any clubs devoted to '80s GM X/A/J/N/L FWDers...

Somone on Autoblog asked the very same, the response was too funny not to post

b/c in comparison to the K-cars, which some have already mentioned were reliable crap, the GM X-cars were unreliable crap

[CARBIZ]

I wonder if there are any clubs devoted to '80s GM X/A/J/N/L FWDers...

At the last dealership I was at, we were host to a J-car club that would have a show & shine at our dealership every year. Some of these kids were whacked. I mean, who puts gull-wing doors on a '96 Cavalier? One young lady had a $5k fucia paint job on her Cavalier! There were a few offerings from the '80s, but our notorious salt problem in Ontario has killed nearly all vehicles from the '80s by now.

The K-car did more than save Chrysler, it was a car of its time. I worked at a major hotel in '81 and I remember talking to a cabbie who had just put a Reliant on the road as a cab. He loved it. He loved the gas mileage, he loved the leg room for his customers, he loved the trunk. It was a great car for its time. And you know, if looked after, they proved to be fairly hardy, too (other than the sporadic gasket problems the hoary old 2.2 was known for!) They were dirt cheap to buy, dirt cheap to run - even the timing belt could be changed by a 5 year old.

Alas, Chrysler milked it too long and by the late '80s it had been surpassed by quite a few more 'world class' vehicles.

[MyerShift]

This is great! I love it!

[ShadowDog]

Now, when I see a small K-car belching blue smoke from its tailpipe as it clatters off the line at an intersection, I won't be saying, "Wow, what a piece of $#it." Oh no, I'll be changing my tune and saying, "Wow, that piece of $#it helped save Chrysler!"

[chevelle454]

Now, when I see a small K-car belching blue smoke from its tailpipe as it clatters off the line at an intersection, I won't be saying, "Wow, what a piece of $#it." Oh no, I'll be changing my tune and saying, "Wow, that piece of $#it helped save Chrysler!"

The ones that blow blue smoke have the POS Mitsubishi 2.6

[Robert Hall]

I can't recall the last time I saw a K-car in any condition..pretty scarce around here.

[Intrepidation]

I've seen 5 in the last 2 weeks.

[Oracle of Delphi]

The only thing I know about K, is if you're in Washington, D.C. stay off of K Street or you may end up with something more than you bargained for.

[Sixty8panther]

Yey.... the car hobby has sunk to yet another NEW low.

And I bet this still is not rock bottom. Some dweeb is prob.

organizing a car club RIGHT NOW for Hyundai Scoupes.

[balthazar]

Was talking to a collector/restorer about 2 years ago; I stopped in because he had a B-59 in the driveway (in addition to a B-58). He had already sold one restored turbo Chrysler T&C convert for $25K and was finishing up restoring another one for resale for the same price. He claimed they (turbo/converts) are very collectible.

Was checking out a 'purty young thang' yersterday in a parking lot, and after she finally got out of her car and went into the store, I realized she had been sitting in a blue Reliant K sedan in real nice shape.

[Sixty8panther]

I stopped in because he had a B-59 in the driveway (in addition to a B-58). He had already sold one restored turbo Chrysler T&C convert for $25K and was finishing up restoring another ......

I sure hope the Buicks were getting as much, if not more attention & love.

Edited June 19, 2008 by Sixty8panther

[daves87rs]

I wonder if there are any clubs devoted to '80s GM X/A/J/N/L FWDers...

Yep, quite a few actually.

Try Jbody.org.

I've been a long time member of the site (since my first cav was an 87)

I find if you can get past the kids, the site has some good info.......

[daves87rs]

As far as the K cars..pretty cool stuff.....

I can just see a Yugo club coming..if they find enough cars.....

[Intrepidation]

Yey.... the car hobby has sunk to yet another NEW low.

And I bet this still is not rock bottom. Some dweeb is prob.

organizing a car club RIGHT NOW for Hyundai Scoupes.

Not really. The K-cars are being recognized because they are what saved Chrysler, and the platform was flexible enough to underpin man different models. It was also reliable, something rare of that period. Naturally they'll never be as cool or lusted after like `59 Imperial or a `71 Hemi `Cuda, but some people want to preserve some of them for different reasons than that.

Hyundais from the 80's-90's, will never be remembered as anything more than cheap, ugly, unreliable, disposable crap.

Edited June 19, 2008 by Dodgefan

[gm4life]

Sad those were the ugly cars of the day. Honestly dorky people I knew drove them aside of that its not like it is a club of decent looking cars but ugly $h!-boxes. I don't care how many turbos they had they were down right ugly. Now where is the Camry Club of America? Actually I don't mind average car clubs like ones of Monte Carlo's, Bonneville's, Equinox's etc. but this is crazy. I am now going to throw up... Then again there is a club for everything these days.

[MyerShift]

That's not too respectful, but hey, GM fan. I was a Chrysler fan, still technically am, but I will not defend something if I know that it's not any good (like the Chrysler 2.7L V6). In doing so, I have come to appreciate the advancements and good qualities of all automotive consortiums. As well as the recognition of inferior products from all as well.

I'll always like the American brands best because of being American(my heart reason in a way as well), for the entreprenuers that they stand for, employment for the people, innovation, and even all of the memories as a child riding in American cars; whether it be from my mom's long disposed 1981 Camaro; to my grandparents' 1987 Chrysler New Yorker (K-Based- E-Platform) with all of its leather, turbo four, crazy digital everything including talking voice (ETA: Electronic Voice Alert), chrome and glitzy bits, the opera style window on its vinyl C-pillar, and comfortable ride along with that chrystal Chrysler pentastar, they left an impression. A Good one.

Those are my reasons for preferring the domestics versus others.

Detroit cars can make an impression. A memorable one that makes people want to attain your products. That New Yorker; remembering it makes me think that American cars can speak louder than any others for their individuality and identity.

Done Right, Detroit Cars Are Unbeatable.

[ZL-1]

I wonder if there are any clubs devoted to '80s GM X/A/J/N/L FWDers...

I have no clue...

Re the J-cars, the Opel version of the car was called the Ascona. It had to be renamed as the Opel 1604 because the last 4 letters of the word Ascona = pussy in Portuguese. We should definitely have a J-Car club here in Portugal. One for pre-renaming J-cars

Edited June 19, 2008 by ZL-1

[6t5frlane]

I had a 1985 Plymouth Caravelle ( who remembers them ? ) It was reliable as all hell. Not fancy and the ride was rough, but she went along time. Oddly it really did not rust and I live in NY....The K's saved Chysler

[Robert Hall]

Having been a teenager in the '80s, I'll always like certain models from that era...not K-cars, but the Fox Mustangs I drove then. For GMs of the '80s, I like the F-, G-, B-, RWD C-bodies and '80-85 E-bodies...

Edited June 19, 2008 by moltar

[Intrepidation]

Sad those were the ugly cars of the day. Honestly dorky people I knew drove them aside of that its not like it is a club of decent looking cars but ugly $h!-boxes. I don't care how many turbos they had they were down right ugly. Now where is the Camry Club of America? Actually I don't mind average car clubs like ones of Monte Carlo's, Bonneville's, Equinox's etc. but this is crazy. I am now going to throw up... Then again there is a club for everything these days.

Like a couple others here you completely missed the point.

[CARBIZ]

Like many things car related, people are playing revisionist history here. I lived the '80s. My first new vehicle was a '82 Dodge Rampage, followed by a '87 Shadow ES (turbo and stick). There are a lot of forgettable vehicles from that era. Chrysler's were no better or no worse. I think the entire era from about '77 to '87 would best be forgotten. Very few cars stand out.

I remember the Caravelle. The salesman who sold me the '87 Shadow wanted me to buy a '90 Dynasty, which was a stretched version of the K-car. Since I'd had so many troubles with the Shadow (it spent more time going up and down the hoist at the dealership than it did going forward on the road, I used to joke), I was turned off Chrysler for my next purchase. Looking back, most of my troubles were with the dealer in the small town where I used to live. They couldn't fix anything right the first time.

So, I went over to GM in '91 with my Caprice and never looked back. But that does not mean I will go around bad mouthing Chrysler because of a couple bad experiences in the '80s. Unlike some people, I understand all manufacturers have improved their quality since the '80s, including Chrysler.

[Robert Hall]

Like many things car related, people are playing revisionist history here. I lived the '80s. My first new vehicle was a '82 Dodge Rampage, followed by a '87 Shadow ES (turbo and stick). There are a lot of forgettable vehicles from that era. Chrysler's were no better or no worse. I think the entire era from about '77 to '87 would best be forgotten. Very few cars stand out.

I remember the Caravelle. The salesman who sold me the '87 Shadow wanted me to buy a '90 Dynasty, which was a stretched version of the K-car. Since I'd had so many troubles with the Shadow (it spent more time going up and down the hoist at the dealership than it did going forward on the road, I used to joke), I was turned off Chrysler for my next purchase. Looking back, most of my troubles were with the dealer in the small town where I used to live. They couldn't fix anything right the first time.

So, I went over to GM in '91 with my Caprice and never looked back. But that does not mean I will go around bad mouthing Chrysler because of a couple bad experiences in the '80s. Unlike some people, I understand all manufacturers have improved their quality since the '80s, including Chrysler.

Lots of forgettable cars then...my first car was an '84 Escort diesel, which was very reliable in the time I drove it in HS and college, and my first new car was an '87 Mustang GT....still have it, still a fun car to drive. The 5.0 Mustangs are probably my favorite and most memorable car of that decade, because I've enjoyed them so much--simple, fun and fast. I also still like the big cars of that decade---I enjoyed driving the Town Cars of the '80s that my Dad drove then.

Most of the FWDers of that decade, though, like the '90s, are best forgotten, IMHO.

Edited June 19, 2008 by moltar

[BrewSwillis]

Dude, a Dodge 600 Turbo convertible is off the chain!

Unfortunately, I only had a used maroon 600 ES sedan. It was still a nice first car though.

[CARBIZ]

Nobody did convertibles like Chrysler in the '80s. When the LeBaron coupes came out in '86 or '87, I covetted one of those, but the Shadow ES was in my budget, alas.

[Intrepidation]

Dude, a Dodge 600 Turbo convertible is off the chain!

Unfortunately, I only had a used maroon 600 ES sedan. It was still a nice first car though.

We used to have a 600 sedan...I always thought it was a neat little car. It looked a lot bigger when I was younger though! We still have the wheels to it somewhere in the garage.

Edited June 20, 2008 by Dodgefan

[Drew Dowdell]

I spent more time going up and down the hoist at the dealership than it did going forward on the road, I used to joke

[CARBIZ]

OH, hush. Don't you act all surprised!

[CMG]

I like a few K car derivatives.... I had a Rampage and really liked the thing, it was peppy and good on gas, and I could actually USE it... I had a Shelby Lancer with a 2.2 turboII and a Getrag 5 speed, it was actually a nice car.

The bare bones K cars were sort of along the same lines as a VW Beetle for me, they drove from A to B for a long time, and you could fix things with a coat hanger.

:AH-HA_wink:

Look up "Relentless" on the interent, there are a few K car crazies out there, and the Relentless Reliant is one of them!

[Intrepidation]

I like a few K car derivatives.... I had a Rampage and really liked the thing, it was peppy and good on gas, and I could actually USE it... I had a Shelby Lancer with a 2.2 turboII and a Getrag 5 speed, it was actually a nice car.

The bare bones K cars were sort of along the same lines as a VW Beetle for me, they drove from A to B for a long time, and you could fix things with a coat hanger.

:AH-HA_wink:

Look up "Relentless" on the interent, there are a few K car crazies out there, and the Relentless Reliant is one of them!

Yup, we literally used a coat hanger to keep the muffler up on the Aries wagon we used to have. I always liked the look of Lancers, but they re very rare these days.

[PurdueGuy]

A car club for K-cars? Sheesh. Next thing you know people will be modifying Saturns...

[BrewSwillis]

A car club for K-cars? Sheesh. Next thing you know people will be modifying Saturns...

Now that's just crazy talk!

[LosAngeles]

Yey.... the car hobby has sunk to yet another NEW low.

And I bet this still is not rock bottom. Some dweeb is prob.

organizing a car club RIGHT NOW for Hyundai Scoupes.

Sorry that not everyone's gonna be about 3-ton, 230-inch behemoths from the anti-communism era.

Times are changing. People have new eras to be nostalgic about, and cars to appreciate to go with it. And let's not forget we're in the $5 gas world.

Sad those were the ugly cars of the day. Honestly dorky people I knew drove them aside of that its not like it is a club of decent looking cars but ugly $h!-boxes. I don't care how many turbos they had they were down right ugly. Now where is the Camry Club of America? Actually I don't mind average car clubs like ones of Monte Carlo's, Bonneville's, Equinox's etc. but this is crazy. I am now going to throw up... Then again there is a club for everything these days.

Appreciation clubs for any given car are NEVER a bad thing. I say that and I probably hate Aries and Reliant arguably more than I hate Tempos and Topazes.

But not all the Chrysler fronties of that era were turds. That 024/Charger/Turismo, Lancer, and Omni were all cool (when turbo'ed up). 90s Daytonas, Shadows, and those Imperials and Dynasties have a capacity for looking somewhat handsome too.

I think the entire era from about '77 to '87 would best be forgotten. Very few cars stand out.

I smell a good spinoff here....due to the fact I respectfully disagree.