Hello and thank you for posting this excellent video of my car. I still drive it occasionally to campus as my students love to see it in the parking lot. They are amazed that a 28-year-old car still gets nearly 40 miles per gallon! It's a great little car and still turns heads on the street and at car shows. Thanks again.
@broxtop It was my pleasure! It's great to see a car in this condition. I'm glad your students get to see a prime example. Nice that you checked my channel for the video!
What is a K car Jack? It is a real time machine this, isn't it, with the cell phone and the Reagan sticker? The boxy styling reminds me of Nissans and Mazdas of the period, and maybe, apart from the trunk instead of a hatchback, the Chrysler (Plymouth in the States?) Horizon.
@rx6180 Hey, Mick! The "K car" was the name for the front wheel drive platform that provided the basis for all Plymouth, Dodge and Chrysler cars, including the Dodge and Chrysler mini vans. It essentially saved Chrysler from bankruptcy, and Chrysler's head, Lee Iacoca, fresh from being fired from FoMoCo, deftly pulled it off. Chrysler was given a sizable government loan, and Lee payed it off, ahead of time! He is and was a strong character! Thanks! :) Jack
You have to remember,the K cars started development early 1977.Cars were all square then...GM A-bodies,GM B-bodies,Fairmont/Zephyr,the X cars....so,the K was just on the drawing board way before Tempo/Topaz,Taurus/Sable,GM J cars...
@hpspeedster That's true...and there's nothing inherently wrong with squarish cars..as exemplified by the 63 Lincoln Continental...trends come and go in Detroit styling studios. However, squarish cars are out today as mileage and wind resistance become all important...but now they seem to all look very much alike! Thanks! :) Jack
When I first heard of these cars, I laughed! A K car? What the hell is a K car? I couldn't believe something as boxy and homely as this could prove as popular as it did.
@Seattlecarnut Hey, Jason! I think they appealed to people interested in cars as strictly functional means of transportation. Kind of like an appliance. Style was not really important to them...reliability and economy were.
So they were a core group this car appealed to. Thanks! :) Jack
@Seattlecarnut Hey, Jason! That is the secret of modern merchandising...lots of things in the marketplace can do the job, but the nice looking one often is bought. Thanks! :) Jack
@raconter1 I agree. When I first saw the K cars, I didn't find them very attractive. But after a while, particularly by the 90s, the styling changed and I found them to be more attractive.
@raconter1 How about being well built and reliable? I've never owned a K car, so I wouldn't know what they're like; either a Plymouth Reliant, or anything else.
@raconter1 Hey, Jason! I owned two, the Chrysler Laser and Dodge Shadow, both 5 speed turbo 4's. And the K car based Dodge Grand Caravan. Overall, they were pretty reliable..never had engine problems..it was minor stuff that occasionally cropped up. Thanks! :) Jack
OMG JACK! I can't believe these are at car shows already. Haha. There was one at the grocery store the other day in nice shape. Only 82 HP WOW. I think they claimed 41 MPG HWY with the manual.
@gene978 Hey, Gene! Yeah, this guy was looking to sell this one...low mileage, I believe he was the second owner. That low horsepower rating was shocking...but it seemed to be enough to navigate ok. I'd be very surprised if any achieved 41 mpg! Thanks! :) Jack
Omg beautiful car!! we had a red 2 door '84 reliant all through my childhood. I even remember how they smelled when they were new, it's different and sweeter than modern new car smell.
Nice to see one of these K cars in such nice shape. They were very important for Mopar at that time and it does show that Lee really understood the auto industry. Nice cell phone. :P
@cheddyrod Hey, Chester! You certainly seldom see them at all....a very important car in the history of modern transportation. That cell phone is definitely vintage! Thanks! :) Jack
@mrcaymanislands1 Very true...Chrysler was really bereft of alternatives except these cars! They met the criteria of front wheel drive, compact size and economy! Thanks! :) Jack
Hello and thank you for posting this excellent video of my car. I still drive it occasionally to campus as my students love to see it in the parking lot. They are amazed that a 28-year-old car still gets nearly 40 miles per gallon! It's a great little car and still turns heads on the street and at car shows. Thanks again.
broxtop 2 weeks ago
@broxtop It was my pleasure! It's great to see a car in this condition. I'm glad your students get to see a prime example. Nice that you checked my channel for the video!
Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 2 weeks ago
What is a K car Jack? It is a real time machine this, isn't it, with the cell phone and the Reagan sticker? The boxy styling reminds me of Nissans and Mazdas of the period, and maybe, apart from the trunk instead of a hatchback, the Chrysler (Plymouth in the States?) Horizon.
rx6180 1 month ago
@rx6180 Hey, Mick! The "K car" was the name for the front wheel drive platform that provided the basis for all Plymouth, Dodge and Chrysler cars, including the Dodge and Chrysler mini vans. It essentially saved Chrysler from bankruptcy, and Chrysler's head, Lee Iacoca, fresh from being fired from FoMoCo, deftly pulled it off. Chrysler was given a sizable government loan, and Lee payed it off, ahead of time! He is and was a strong character! Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 1 month ago
You have to remember,the K cars started development early 1977.Cars were all square then...GM A-bodies,GM B-bodies,Fairmont/Zephyr,the X cars....so,the K was just on the drawing board way before Tempo/Topaz,Taurus/Sable,GM J cars...
hpspeedster 2 months ago
@hpspeedster That's true...and there's nothing inherently wrong with squarish cars..as exemplified by the 63 Lincoln Continental...trends come and go in Detroit styling studios. However, squarish cars are out today as mileage and wind resistance become all important...but now they seem to all look very much alike! Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 2 months ago
When I first heard of these cars, I laughed! A K car? What the hell is a K car? I couldn't believe something as boxy and homely as this could prove as popular as it did.
Seattlecarnut 3 months ago
@Seattlecarnut Hey, Jason! I think they appealed to people interested in cars as strictly functional means of transportation. Kind of like an appliance. Style was not really important to them...reliability and economy were.
So they were a core group this car appealed to. Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 3 months ago
@raconter1 Indeed they were. I'm into function as well, but I like some style and apperance to go as well.
Seattlecarnut 3 months ago
@Seattlecarnut Hey, Jason! That is the secret of modern merchandising...lots of things in the marketplace can do the job, but the nice looking one often is bought. Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 3 months ago
@raconter1 I agree. When I first saw the K cars, I didn't find them very attractive. But after a while, particularly by the 90s, the styling changed and I found them to be more attractive.
Seattlecarnut 3 months ago
@Seattlecarnut Hey, Jason! They had the virtue of being simple...and relatively cheap. Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 3 months ago
@raconter1 How about being well built and reliable? I've never owned a K car, so I wouldn't know what they're like; either a Plymouth Reliant, or anything else.
Seattlecarnut 3 months ago
@raconter1 Hey, Jason! I owned two, the Chrysler Laser and Dodge Shadow, both 5 speed turbo 4's. And the K car based Dodge Grand Caravan. Overall, they were pretty reliable..never had engine problems..it was minor stuff that occasionally cropped up. Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 3 months ago
That is a very square car. Mr Strong off Mr Men would have loved this one
ricochetVendetta 3 months ago
@ricochetVendetta This car is about as square as you can get! The only curved lines are the windshield and wheels! LOL!
Thanks! :D Jack
raconter1 3 months ago
@brians09challenger Hey, Brian! Seeing the shape it was in, I knew I had to video this one! Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 3 months ago
@brians09challenger Hey, Brian! Just another touch of authenticity! LOL! Thanks! :D Jack
raconter1 3 months ago
OMG JACK! I can't believe these are at car shows already. Haha. There was one at the grocery store the other day in nice shape. Only 82 HP WOW. I think they claimed 41 MPG HWY with the manual.
gene978 3 months ago
@gene978 Hey, Gene! Yeah, this guy was looking to sell this one...low mileage, I believe he was the second owner. That low horsepower rating was shocking...but it seemed to be enough to navigate ok. I'd be very surprised if any achieved 41 mpg! Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 3 months ago
Omg beautiful car!! we had a red 2 door '84 reliant all through my childhood. I even remember how they smelled when they were new, it's different and sweeter than modern new car smell.
HappyTheHomo45 3 months ago
@HappyTheHomo45 Hey, Happy! It was a perfectly good car, doing what it was supposed to do! Glad you like!
Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 3 months ago
Nice to see one of these K cars in such nice shape. They were very important for Mopar at that time and it does show that Lee really understood the auto industry. Nice cell phone. :P
cheddyrod 3 months ago
@cheddyrod Hey, Chester! You certainly seldom see them at all....a very important car in the history of modern transportation. That cell phone is definitely vintage! Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 3 months ago
It's something the 81 K cars and 84 Chrysler minnie vans saved the company back then.
mrcaymanislands1 3 months ago
@mrcaymanislands1 Very true...Chrysler was really bereft of alternatives except these cars! They met the criteria of front wheel drive, compact size and economy! Thanks! :) Jack
raconter1 3 months ago