I did everything in my power to convince my folks to buy a 400 convertible. We wound up with an Aries station wagon. Broke my 15 year old heart.

@johnmaki3046

Жыл бұрын

The "K" wagons were OKAY! Try dealing with a '65 Buick "Special"! IT WAS "special"!

I came for the quarter mile time and did not leave disappointed. It's a screamer.

American convertibles were dead except for a few 3rd party conversions when Chrysler surprised the world with this K-car drop-top. The first factory-built American convertible since the '76 Cadillac Eldorado, it was an instant hit.

What he didn’t share in his reviews is just how tough these cars were. I once saw one of these get sandwiched between two semis on the freeway, then burst into flames, survive an overnight snowstorm, and still manage 78 miles an hour on the freeway the next day. It had no outside mirror and a melted speedometer, but the radio still worked. It was clear as a bell, don’t ask me how.

@plmn93

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah but John Voight's didn't survive the fire caused by Pop's tinkering. Also the passenger seat adjustment mechanism had some issues.

@zulu6ix290

Жыл бұрын

How did the radio still work

@Tom-cp6yj

Жыл бұрын

"Everybody do the messa-round" 🎶🎶

@kcindc5539

Жыл бұрын

At least you weren’t “GOING THE WRONG WAY”. 🎶 Oh, Kentucky moon keep on shining 🎶

@kpk33x

Жыл бұрын

@@kcindc5539 they must be drunk, how can they know which way we're going?

I knew a Dentist named John Voight that sold a guy his. I think his name was George.

@Scribles

7 жыл бұрын

Jeff Wagner yep

@justinsanto2458

7 жыл бұрын

Jeff Wagner There's Barbara Mandrel's skateboard!

@maybe2243

7 жыл бұрын

Jeff Wagner where's your Lebaron Freddie

@davidjames666

7 жыл бұрын

Jeff Wagner I knew a latex salesman named George who had one.

@kalebaldwin5398

6 жыл бұрын

There's Gregory Peck's bicycle!

Jon Davis is always so positive and optimistic no matter how awful the car is lol.

@Alexander_Timonin

7 жыл бұрын

He actually looks like he loves the car, notices way he strokes the hood @4:04

@91C4NVA

7 жыл бұрын

Lol, yep he thinks the car is quite handsome. I'd like to see him review a turd.

@scdevon

7 жыл бұрын

The poor reliability of these cars was well known in 1982, yet it was never discussed.

@demoskunk

6 жыл бұрын

You just have.

@covid1-184

6 жыл бұрын

It was a luxury car back then

We currently have a 1986 Chrysler LeBaron convertible black with a golden terrier we bought it from the original owners about 20 years ago and we just love the car it's been well maintained never seen winter stays in the garage for the most part. Thank you so much for sharing this video just love it!

@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL

Жыл бұрын

These were the first, really popular, economical, inexpensive, front wheel drive cars any American brand produced in this country, and they came just after Chrysler almost went bankrupt. The front grill and lines of these cars still look nice, to me. Chrysler really hit a home run with the K Car platform.

@johnmaki3046

Жыл бұрын

The "sorta replacement" Sebring was COOL TOO!

That car has more style than most cars today.

I like these early episodes where John is driving.

Neat for what they were. They started the revival of the American convertible, proved the market was there, and that's all that counts! By the early to mid 90's ( though with a completely different body and with a heck of a lot more power with the GTC VNT turbo 5 speed and optional 4 wheel antilock disc brakes) the Lebaron convertibles would be the best selling convertible in the world for several yrs. Love these old reviews!

@gzuzsavz

4 жыл бұрын

Yaas! & I

This would get better for 1984 as that was when the turbocharged version of the 2.2 had first been made an option!

" Wheres ur hand? Between 2 pillows... Those arent PILLOWS!"

I can't see that car and not think of the toasted wreck from Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

@phil955i

6 жыл бұрын

I knew I'd seen that car somewhere before! Lol

@steveespinola7652

5 жыл бұрын

Yeah but that car was a Lebaron woody but true almost the same car.

@jas4925

4 жыл бұрын

Got my license in 1991 a girl in my class had one think hers was an 83 we would cruise in it thinking we were the shit.

What an awesome machine. There is no better image than John Davis sitting on the hood of a LeBaron convertible.

@johnmaki3046

Жыл бұрын

I like GIRLS BETTER, personally!

I own an 86 Dodge 600 and love that car. She rides like you are sitting on a cloud and has so little horse power that you are never in a hurry.

@johnmaki3046

Жыл бұрын

I owned an '82 Dodge "400" YEARS AGO! It was MUCH faster than the '81 GUTLESS Cutlass V-6 it replaced! BETTER CAR THROUGHOUT!

@North49191

9 ай бұрын

I bought an 86 600 conv this year and it's been a great car.

"Your going the wrong way!" "How do they know where we're going?" Classic!!!

@sneakerfreak2002

3 жыл бұрын

Oh he’s drunk

@yup.4901

2 жыл бұрын

Love that film. Steve Martins face and voice after being picked up by the plums is comical.

@ClassicTVMan1981X

2 жыл бұрын

"A door is ajar."

@elsiecovington8481

Жыл бұрын

I had this chrysler car in eighty three it was a mark cross edition It was lovely!!!!!!!

What a shed. Reminds me of Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

You know John Voight owned a LeBaron

@lasuvidaboy

6 жыл бұрын

So did Lucille Ball.

@Akuma240

4 жыл бұрын

He also bit Cosmos arm.

i love old boxy cars, slow or not

"...the most pleasing convertible since the Mercedes 380SL.." bwahahahaha..John, you were smoking good shit back in the day!

She's changing her name From Kitty to Karen She's trading her MG for a white Chrysler LeBaron

@stevensonDonnie

5 жыл бұрын

Short dress/long jacket

@grantmills4184

3 жыл бұрын

I like the reference 😏

Yep! They are awesome cars! This K body convertible evolved into the J body Lebaron Convertible in late 80s, which became the Sebring Convertible in 1996.

@jmin8400

3 жыл бұрын

J Body was out in 1986 and Sebring cabrio in early 1995, not 1996.

George Costanza *heavy breathing

Imagine driving that back in the day. Christopher Cross in the tape deck. Short shorts hugging your nuts on a warm day, sitting on that cheap leather..thinking you run the universe. You know that happened for someone. How terrible

@callumdonington2227

6 жыл бұрын

DaleDenton69 You're approaching maximum 80s!

@chrisj197438

5 жыл бұрын

God the 80’s were gay

@brettcannon74

5 жыл бұрын

Terrible? Nahhh

@chrisj197438

5 жыл бұрын

Brett Cannon As I said......gay

@steveespinola7652

5 жыл бұрын

You're nuts, the 80's were the best decede ever especially if you were a kid in the 80's like me and my brother and some of our friends, fun times back and as for this car it was a nice looking car

“Gee Officer, no I actually don’t know how fast I was going. The speedometer is melted.” -RIP John Candy

@jtb1990419

4 жыл бұрын

“Do you think this vehicle is safe for highway travel?” Love that movie!

@wns808

9 ай бұрын

78 miles an hour

I don't know why all the hate for this car I had two of them a 82 Dodge 400 Conv in 2008 and a 85 Lebaron Woody Conv I just sold after owning it 4 years. Both were well built got GREAT gas mileage. Who cars if not super fast I am not obsessed with power like most morons who drive like maniacs these days in gas guzzling Challengers. They had smooth rides and were very comfortable.

@ekscalybur

5 жыл бұрын

NOTHING Chrysler built in the 80s could be considered well built, even when compared to the poor build quality of everybody else in that decade.

@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL

Жыл бұрын

They were also front wheel drive for winter driving, reliable, and easy to work on, except when the 2.6 Mitusbishi engine was installed. I still like the look of these

I picked a K-Car Dodge Aries to drive one day back in the 80s when I worked for Universal Studios just to check it out. I was in Security and we had mostly Dodge Omni's, which I loved, so the one Dodge Aries was sort of an amusing standout. It looked so small so I mainly wanted to check to see if this 4 door had any back seat room. IT DID NOT!! It seemed like a really cramped 2 door that they slapped 4 doors on to!! That was enough!! I never drove the Aries again and went back to my beloved Fully Loaded Dodge Omni!!

@johnmaki3046

Жыл бұрын

The "K-cars" were GREAT (in their way), but Omnis/Horizons were BETTER!

Chrysler was on a roll during this time. Interesting vehicles, quality better than GM and Ford, and an undeniable 80s appeal

I'd like to see more retro reviews of Chrysler, AMC, Toyota, and Hyundai, if you have any.

When I was getting my first car in the early 1980s, I considered getting either a Chrysler LeBaron convertible or a Dodge 400 convertible. True.

@johnmaki3046

Жыл бұрын

If you had ca$h, these were RIDES! I had a '73 Plymouth Fury I WISH WAS STILL HERE!

Where's your LeBaron Freddy?

@jsciarri

7 жыл бұрын

It's because they love me more than they love you.

@Greendragon420able

7 жыл бұрын

Nutz4Gunz45 HahahahahahHaahahaha. You beat me to it. Lol 😎

@ocstunta

5 жыл бұрын

Lol. I was thinking the same thing.

"How's he know which way we''re going?" lol

"She's trading her MG for a white Chrysler LaBaron"

@Daniel28021991

7 жыл бұрын

Haha yes.

@lupobikes8406

7 жыл бұрын

cakerolled :-)

@haraldm.1275

7 жыл бұрын

Starting with an MG the trading was surely a step up :-D

My sister had one when I was a kid. Really loved that car.

I've never seen one so shiny and clean!

“Your going the wrong way!” “How does he know where we’re going?”

The roof and rear windows, along with the significant amount of glass were taken off. And you end up slightly less stable with extra 200lbs. But never the less; a boost on the coolness.

The few Reliant K cars we had in the 80's-90's were really decent cars, far better than the blacklisting that Consumer Reports always gave them, 'unbiased' magazine, my ass. & the body roll shown above looks to be largely tire sidewall flex, nm trouble to upgrade there. I have a close car to this one, rn..a '93 LeBaron convertible, 165k miles & going strong, i love it. it's largely based on the good 'ol K car platform, mine has the mitsubishi 3.0L & it's quite spritely.

@TVHouseHistorian

4 жыл бұрын

I could not agree more. The K-car got a bad wrap, but it proved to be one of the most reliable domestic cars of its time. By 1982, GM’s Cadillac division was plagued with reliability issues, while Chrysler very much held its own. Then the 90’s came, and it was Chrysler’s turn to go down the tubes in terms of reliability. You’ve gotta hand it to Chrysler though. They weathered the 80’s very well.

@ClassicTVMan1981X

2 жыл бұрын

None of the Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliants ever warned you "a door is ajar."

I think the Motorweek driving cap needs to make a comeback!

My mom bought one of these. Part of the interior trim fell off, the gauges broke, and the seat recline motors didn't work. However, I always felt cool in it.

I love Chrysler LeBaron and Dodge 600 ES convertibles

I currently own one! After 35 years though, it's not quite rattle free and tight as you said it was.

@AightBro123

7 жыл бұрын

Aaron Ries how is it today in more modern times

@AightBro123

7 жыл бұрын

cannot keep up with traffic

@aaronries9307

7 жыл бұрын

Actually it's okay. It will make it to 70 by the time you need to merge on an downhill offramp and keeps up nicely in the city and on the highway. You just have to use almost the entirety of the pedal travel available to get upto speed as fast as everyone else but you never feel like it's lacking in power. It's very easy to gauge when the 3 speed will downshift since on the last quarter of the throttle it's slightly harder to push down (you set there if you are cruising at 70) and on the very last cm it gets even harder letting you know that that's WOT (wide open throttle) and the transmission will downshift even more. It's hardly distinguishable but I can feel it. As for cruising on the highway it feels like it needs another gear. The 3 speed will take it to 88-90 realistically on a smooth road but it will cruise at 70-75 no problem. The engine really runs out of steam after that. revs a little higher than I'd like but not super high or noisy. My top does not fit well though. The windows all leak because theres 1cm gaps around some of the edges. I have no idea how it got that way but it has the typical problem where it's super noisy and the top puffs up at speed. I'm looking to sell it though because it needs more work than I can afford and needs someone who can take care of it better than I can. NEVER EVER let the catalytic converter clog or press down on the throttle if it dies. It will backfire and send a rubber hose flying off and you'll have MAJOR emissions problems. It has two catalytic converters and one is built into the exhaust manifold. That one somehow separates unburnt exhaust from burnt. Then it sends the unburnt fumes around to the front of the engine to something called a pulse air feeder. It somehow separates things like possible oil, fumes and air and sends the unburnt fumes in through the intake manifold. I say somehow because it is not hooked up to any kind of belt or power. I have no idea how it works but it works. If that hose goes you have problems. All of the exhaust will want to come out there. Mine has gasket problems and probably valve or piston ring damage. It misses really bad when it's cold and runs in high idle way too long. You can't adjust the electronically monitored vacuum adjusted Mikuni-Solex carburetor and they never idle right, but mine does. Just stays in high idle too long. Like 5 minutes. It's bad. It will settle down and let you drive after a while though. The mileage is great. I get about 20 in the city and 30 on the highway so it's right on the money there. I was at first getting down in the single digits but I figured out there were two hoses switched around on the intake and flipped them and went from 8 to 30. Don't know how that works but it worked some kind of magic in it's 8-bit computer brain. If you find a good one it will work great and you won't have all the problems I did. I got sucked into a bad deal. I have an older man who lives two streets down and he has a brown one. His works great. It only had 30,000 miles on it when he found it. His works great for him. Mine had 94,000 and the owner did all the work himself but had no idea what he was doing. He kind of messed it up for me. Now it has 110,000. You just have to find a good one.

@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL

Жыл бұрын

@@aaronries9307 Sounds like you have the dreaded 2.6 Mitsubishi, which was more common, ironically, in the more expensive Chrysler E Class, etc. The U.S. designed and manufactured 2.2 liter was more reliable, even in turbo form.

I'm supposed to be doing my history homework... Thanks a lot MotorWeek.

Doesn’t look right without the wood paneling

@Kenny-re8ko

6 жыл бұрын

Rising Embers Gaming, yep, the one in "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" with the lime green metallic paint, fake wood, and red leather interior was stupefying!

@sutherlandA1

3 жыл бұрын

@@Kenny-re8ko or George Costanza blue one

@Mario_N64

3 жыл бұрын

That's the classy touch. A neighbor had one well into the year 2000.

@tedschmitt178

3 жыл бұрын

Yep, it looks better.

My cousin bought one of these Chrysler LeBaron's "new in '82" , not a rag-top. He had nothing but good experiences with it, although it was very slow, even weak. He drove it for 11 years before the inevitable... mechanical items began to fail, he unloaded it before it got too bad. I don't remember what he got for it, maybe $300 or so; we all know that the Chrysler products of the "Big 80's" era didn't hold much resale value.

@palebeachbum

4 жыл бұрын

Chryslers still don't hold their value. Just look at the 200 and 300. Dirt cheap used.

Beautiful car, I wanted one 10 years ago but never bought one and now most of them are gone.

I hate to be "that guy" but if the top were 'fully' automatic then it wouldn't have had to be manually unlatched from the windshield.

@MrGoldenwaffler

7 жыл бұрын

Dan McCarthy yeah you really should look further into that hate to be "that guy" thing

@mipmipmipmipmip

7 жыл бұрын

also manually fixing the many press buttons for the cover over the lowered top isn't exactly giving that luxurious feeling

@ellenorbjornsdottir1166

6 жыл бұрын

Was waiting for the word 'nigh'

@tedschmitt178

3 жыл бұрын

Yep, that whole twisting two latches is such a pain…🙄

@danmccarthy4700

3 жыл бұрын

@@tedschmitt178 Regardless of how much of a pain it isn't, a fully automatic top would have fully automatic windshield release. 🤷‍♂️

I want one of these so badly. Does anyone know if you can swap in a column shift and bench seat from another K car?

@pl5624

Жыл бұрын

The console hid floor reinforcements...bench seat is out of the question.

Wendy Beamish got this car as a gift from her dad in St. Elmo's Fire. Kirby Keger then borrowed it to stalk Dale Bieberman at her cabin in the woods.

HAD A CHANCE TO BUY AN '87 "drop-top" LeBaron for $1500 in '98! WISH I WOULD HAVE HAD THE CA$H! TOTALLY COOL RIDE!

such a sharp little car

It seems like most K-Cars are in junkyards now. Seriously, I haven't seen one in over 10 years.

@cress7572

7 жыл бұрын

without a doubt, they're nearly all in the junkyard, on the rare occasion i sometimes see a later model aries or reliant.

@Delorean217

7 жыл бұрын

jriley1992 Not all of them are gone. I saw a Dodge 400 convertible in Montreal a couple of months ago. It was in nice shape.

@tomhertz1614

7 жыл бұрын

+Sean James What are talking about? They are always on eBay and there's 6 of this exact model on eBay right now.

@cameronlovesevolve

7 жыл бұрын

i saw one on the highway here in Nova Scotia last month! I was elated. still am!

@Delorean217

7 жыл бұрын

cameronlovesevolve It's nice to see these classics still roaming around.

For 1983, the Electronic Voice Alert ("EVA") was added and right away it became rather annoying (who doesn't remember hearing "a door is ajar"?), so much so that after about 10,000 units sold, during the year Chrysler responded to complaints from owners unhappy with it by adding a switch to the glove box that allowed the driver to shut it off.

The elderly loved those.

I wonder if a Baron ever owned a LeBaron?

@SSoHPKCSON

7 жыл бұрын

bob3zaaafs i met a barron who owned a lebaron

@MrGoldenwaffler

7 жыл бұрын

bob3zaaafs i dont knowJerry, maybe you can look into it for us

Had a '83 hardtop for 18 months (bought it early '93) until the auto trans started to slip & when it rained it leaked from a crack in the metal by the windshield. Had a wet carpet afterwards.

As a Southern California native, I would see Chrysler LeBaron convertibles everywhere during the 80's. Not too much anymore now. The only reasonable price convertibles we see here now are Mustangs and Miatas.

i beleive Jon Voight had one of these ;-)

Beautifull Lebaron convertible

Soon as I saw this I thought ‘Hoovies Garage’ 😂 needs to be a Mark Cross edition with faux teak sides

Never thought I'd hear "LeBaron" and "fantasies" in the same sentence.

Never seen a converatble k-car neat, I'm guessing that it would be very hard to find one of those today in Mint condition?

My Grandparents had one of these. 85 or 86 maybe. Could be wrong on date. Anyways there's wasn't convertible. But they had the Turbo engine. What a 2.2 I think idk. Anyways it was very nice. Fully loaded. They took really good care of it. Lasted them quit awhile. But then traded it in for a caddy.

Isn't this the car that caught on fire in planes trains and automobiles?

@jtb1990419

4 жыл бұрын

Pretty much. The one in Planes Trains and Automobiles was a 1986 LeBaron Town and Country turbo convertible. A little more peppy than the NA 2.2 used here!

This is the only K-car that I ever wanted.

Beautiful car

Oh, man... The early days of the show were so distinct from what I grew up watching. It's a completely different program.

Most people don't know. Lee Iacocca delivered the first one to Brooke Sheilds

I had black one back in the day. My first car I bought for myself

@AightBro123

7 жыл бұрын

Chapman Films damn was it nice?

I have question. I could have sworn that the Chrysler K-Car convertibles had a bigger back seat and side rearglass. Why doesn't this one? I'm confused...or am I thinking about a different model year?

@aaronplatt8714

5 жыл бұрын

JshrBs01 the 1982 models were 2 door sedans made into convertibles by a subcontractor. They cut the roofs off and the side windows went with the roof. Starting in 83 Chrysler made them as convertibles with working side windows. The back seats on the 82s were cut down to make room for the top mechanism.

Beautiful car.

Just drivin' around in Jon Voight's car

That thing needed a V6 very badly!

@jtb1990419

4 жыл бұрын

The turbo helped somewhat, but the 3.0 V6 in the later LeBaron helped a lot! It’s a shame the transmission seemed to be made of glass!

Well now we know how John stays so tanned...

Frost White, just like that 8-ball in the glove box.

Love my car they are collectors today

in 1991 I had an 86 with 79k on it that was junk, rode well, decent on fuel, power was meah, and it was a total pile of crap. The fan circuut went out, and even crysler couldnt fix it, so the fan switch was a toggle on the dash, the turbo failed at 80k and sent metal into the enginie taking out #1 piston, so rebuilt it put in a new turbo, (bare of a job) then it failed again. So fixed it and sold it. Later had a 91 and a Lebaron both bought new that were good cars, fast comfortable and fun to drive. The 91 was a 5spd and I drove it 131K with no problems the 1995 lost a trans at 1500k but then burned the ground a year later with only 5k miles on it.

Ok. Ok. Ok.... No, they ain't a Mercedes. No, not a Porsche... Not even a Fox Mustang. But these are truly decent "fun" cars. Dad was the Service Manager at a Houston Chrysler dealership back in the 80s. The only real trouble any of the customers had with these cars when new, was when they bought 'em with the Hemi 2.6 in them... And even that was seldomly. Otherwise, fit and finish was decent. Performance was lackluster, but the Chrysler 2.2 would chug along forever if it was MAINTAINED... Even though they always sounded like a malnourished farm tractor. And YES... the Christopher Cross cassette was mandatory!😜

Amazing.

Cool blue jacket

Needs Del Griffith driving it with him jamming to the “Mess Around” by Ray Charles on the radio

I can see James May saying the same things about this Lebaron

@MaestroTJS

7 жыл бұрын

He does have a soft spot for some very bad vehicles.

@robertgary3561

7 жыл бұрын

Dennis Juez he's spent the entire time describing how the electric top works.

They were kinda cool to drive. The turbos were quick. For then. Not now. LoL

John Davis is a legend.

Best looking convertible since the Mercedes 380 SL? lol, best joke in history.

@audioisgood

7 жыл бұрын

flees4free apparently John Davis invented trolling back in 1982.

@briangeeesq

5 жыл бұрын

flees4free I had to rewatch that part to make sure I heard John correctly 😂😂

@wiibaron

5 жыл бұрын

Name the better looking late 70's to mid 80's ragtop. We will wait.

The Chrysler Lebaron for the guy who won't drive an Oldsmobile.

@jacksongay6848

4 жыл бұрын

James Realistic this hit close to home

MotorWeek This show is classy classic.

she's trading her MG for a white Chrysler LeBaron....

@primaltone

7 жыл бұрын

Piece of Cake....

I've been watching a bunch of these motorweek videos but I can't find one of a car they actually didn't like!

@bigheadfred

3 жыл бұрын

There's a negative review of the Pontiac 1000 he did on KZread.

Get in the LeBaron!!!!

Brakes like that cannot be passed off as equipment for a 'luxury' model...what a shame.

Oh come on for a 1982 car it was a nice little convertible. Look at the 82 Corvette and see what the standard for top of the line sports cars were. Aside from the engine, that is is nice car for the 80s.

Hahaha love these retro vids. This car is downright hilarious....ly bad.

Attractive as Mercedes 380SL ? I didn’t realize this was a comedy show.

It's hard to believe that once this monstrocity was considered "good-looking".

@minivanmaster

7 жыл бұрын

it was no different than a Rolls-Royce in styling and people paid way more for a Rolls than this. only difference is materials and engine, it was still the same boxy car style. that was style.

Every time I hear about these LeBarons I think of the Seinfeld Ep. where George buys one (appearing with the wood grain though I believe) because he thinks a famous actor used to own it and it turned out to be just some old Joe with the same first n last name as the actor. Something like that Anyway...Oh and not sure of what year George's is, I like looking at all the old cars in that show when I do watch it now if I ever do.

HELLO I'm John Davis.

hi , i have chrysler lebaron by 2 month convertible lebaron 1986 i like it drive very good.

68 mph in the quarter mile. Was that the top speed for this car, anybody know? No matter, looks like they had a good time cruising in it top down.

planes trains & automobiles 😂 19.8/68mph 1/4 what a rocketshitttt