1977 Chrysler LeBaron Coupe
1977 Chrysler LeBaron Coupe

If you’re a car guy, you’ve likely been aware of the LeBaron moniker for a while, but perhaps didn’t have an entirely firm grip on why. Any confusion you might feel regarding the LeBaron name stems from the moniker having been used in three distinct epochs in Chrysler’s history.

LeBaron was a luxury coachbuilder, with roots that date back to the Twenties. Between 1931 and 1941, LeBaron built bodies for Chrysler, all of which were for cars priced in league with Cadillac and Lincoln.

The LeBaron name reappeared 1955, this time attached to Chrysler’s Imperial models. Used in this capacity through 1975, the LeBaron name was employed mostly to evoke the prestige of the Thirties-era custom-built cars.

But it’s the third wave of LeBaron branding that we’re looking at today. After rolling out the plus-sized midsize Cordoba for 1975 as a “small car,” Chrysler marketing types saw the appeal of semi-premium models that were modestly sized yet well appointed.

Thus was born Chrysler’s first-ever line of midsize cars. Dubbed LeBaron, the new cars were mechanical clones of the Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volare, but better equipped–and far more expensive.

The LeBaron name would remain in the Chrysler lineup through 1995, after which it would not appear again.

The way we count it, there were 11 distinct LeBaron models produced between 1977 and 1995, most of which rode on variations of the company’s K-Car architecture.

While applying the LeBaron badge to a K-Car may seem like a huge demotion after having once been applied to custom-coachwork classics, the K-Car LeBarons were relatively popular, and did offer a level of comfort and prestige above that found on lesser mainstream products.

If you remember anything interesting about the cars seen below, please tell us what you know. The place for comments is below the last car.

Our Apologies: The Personal Luxury Cars of 1975

 

Sedan

1977-1981

1978 LeBaron Sedan
1978 Chrysler LeBaron Sedan

Length (inches): 206

Wheelbase (inches): 113

Curb weight (pounds): 3466

Base Engine: 100-horsepower 3.7-liter six

Base Price (1977): $5224

 

1982-1988

1982 Chrysler LeBaron Sedan
1982 Chrysler LeBaron Sedan

Length (inches): 180

Wheelbase (inches): 100

Curb weight (pounds): 2455

Base Engine: 84-horsepower 2.2-liter four

Base Price (1982): $8237

 

1985-1989

1985 Chrysler LeBaron GTS
1985 Chrysler LeBaron GTS

Length (inches): 180

Wheelbase (inches): 103

Curb weight (pounds): 2710

Base Engine: 99-horsepower 2.2-liter four

Base Price (1985): $9099

 

1990-1994

1990 Chrysler LeBaron Sedan
1990 Chrysler LeBaron Sedan

Length (inches): 183

Wheelbase (inches): 103

Curb weight (pounds): 2854

Base Engine: 100-horsepower 2.5-liter four

Base Price (1990): $15,995

 

Wagon

1978-1981

1978 Chrysler LeBaron Town & Country
1978 Chrysler LeBaron Town & Country

Length (inches): 203

Wheelbase (inches): 113

Curb weight (pounds): 3598

Base Engine: 100-horsepower 3.7-liter six

Base Price (1978): $5724

 

1982-1988

1982 Chrysler LeBaron Town & Country
1982 Chrysler LeBaron Town & Country

Length (inches): 179

Wheelbase (inches): 100

Curb weight (pounds): 2660

Base Engine: 84-horsepower 2.2-liter four

Base Price (1982): $9425

 

Coupe

1977-1981

1979 LeBaron Coupe
1979 Chrysler LeBaron Coupe

Length (inches): 204

Wheelbase (inches): 113

Curb weight (pounds): 3421

Base Engine: 100-horsepower 3.7-liter six

Base Price (1977): $5066

 

1982-1986

1982 Chrysler LeBaron Coupe
1982 Chrysler LeBaron Coupe

Length (inches): 180

Wheelbase (inches): 100

Curb weight (pounds): 2480

Base Engine: 84-horsepower 2.2-liter four

Base Price (1982): $8143

 

1987-1993

1987 Chrysler LeBaron
1987 Chrysler LeBaron Coupe

Length (inches): 185

Wheelbase (inches): 100

Curb weight (pounds): 2590

Base Engine: 100-horsepower 2.5-liter four

Base Price (1987): $11,295

 

Convertible

1982-1986

1983 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible
1983 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible

Length (inches): 180

Wheelbase (inches): 100

Curb weight (pounds): 2660

Base Engine: 84-horsepower 2.2-liter four

Base Price (1982): $13,998

 

1987-1995

1993 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible
1993 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible

Length (inches): 185

Wheelbase (inches): 100

Curb weight (pounds): 2786

Base Engine: 100-horsepower 2.5-liter four

Base Price (1987): $13,974

Downsized Like Crazy: The Fox-Platform Fords of 1981

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