Chrysler 180
| Chrysler 180 | |
|---|---|
Chrysler 160
|
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Chrysler Europe |
| Also called | Chrysler 160/180/2 litre Chrysler-Simca 1609/1610/2 litres Talbot 180 Talbot 1610/2 litres Talbot Simca 2 Litres |
| Production | 1970–1982 |
| Designer |
Roy Axe Curt Gwinn |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Large car |
| Body style | 4-door saloon |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Related | Chrysler Centura |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual 3-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,667 mm (105.0 in) |
| Length | 4,460–4,530 mm (175.6–178.3 in) |
| Width | 1,730 mm (68.1 in) |
| Height | 1,430 mm (56.3 in) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor |
Simca 1501 Humber Hawk Chrysler Valiant |
| Successor | Talbot Tagora |
The Chrysler 180 was the base name for a series of large saloon cars produced by Chrysler Europe. Resulting from joining development efforts of Rootes Group and Simca, the car was produced from 1970 to 1975 in Poissy, France, and later in Chrysler's subsidiary Barreiros' factory in Spain. The Chrysler 180 was also the base for the medium-sized model built by Chrysler Australia, the Chrysler Centura.
Depending on engine employed, the cars were marketed as Chrysler 160/180/2 litre, and since 1977 in France and rest of continental Europe as Chrysler-Simca 1609/1610/2 litres. After the takeover of Chrysler Europe by PSA Peugeot Citroën, the continental Europe models were renamed Talbot 1610/2 litres for 1979 and 1980 model years, after which the model was discontinued in Europe save for Spain, where a diesel model was sold until 1982.
The large Chrysler fared quite poorly in the principal European markets. The replacement for the car was developed by Chrysler Europe under the codename C9 and was finally launched by PSA as the even more ill-fated Talbot Tagora.
Although Chrysler gradually took financial control of both Simca and Rootes Group during the 1960s, there was little effort to coordinate the operations of both automakers. Therefore, the first "common" European Chrysler car was actually a result of two separate development programmes.
In 1966, under the direction of Roy Axe, the Head of Design, Rootes Group team started working on what was internally named the "C Car" (in reference to the smaller "B car", which became the Hillman Avenger), a new large car for Rootes to replace the Humber Hawk (and the imported Australian Chrysler Valiant, which served as a placeholder in Rootes' lineup after the Hawk's demise in 1967, without much success). In typical Rootes fashion, the plan was to market the car under three brands - the base version as Hillman, a 2.0-litre one as Sunbeam 2000, and atop the range a Humber Hawk with a 2.5-litre engine. A further development of the C Car with a stretched platform was planned, a "D Car", which was to replace the Humber Super Snipe.
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