Cab Forward: The Chrysler LH Cars of 1994

Tom Appel

8 years ago

The term “cab forward” was first used by the railroad industry to describe steam engines designed with the passenger compartment located toward the front of the vehicle. The advantage of the layout was a clear and unfettered view of the track ahead. For this reason, cab-forward engines were most commonly seen in rail yards where traffic is heavy.

When Chrysler adopted the cab-forward concept for its own use, it applied the term to a new family of front-wheel-drive vehicles in which the firewall and base of the windshield were pushed farther forward on the car’s chassis than on other vehicles.

This “cab forward” steam-engine model features a cab located at the front of the vehicle.

The claimed advantages of cab-forward design were more-spacious cabins and improved aerodynamics. For enthusiasts, the upside was clear: Cab-forward cars looked much more sleek and modern than the vehicles they replaced.

Known internally as the “LH” cars, the cab-forward vehicles were all sedans and could be found in the lineup of each of Chrysler’s three car divisions. The 1993 model year saw the introduction of the Chrysler Concorde, Dodge Intrepid, and Eagle Vision. The Chrysler New Yorker and LHS joined the team for 1994.

With the exception of the Vision, which would not live to see to see the 1998 redesign other LH cars received, the cab-forward sedans sold very well. In fact, the Intrepid would rank as the best-selling Chrysler Corporation car of 1994.

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