PARALLEL UNIVERSE: End of the Line for Chrysler's Iconic PT Cruiser
By David M. Kinchen
After a 10-year run and 1.3 million cars sold, Chrysler has ended production of its retro-styled PT Cruiser. The last car rolled off the assembly line in Chrysler's plant in Toluca, Mexico on Friday, July 9, 2010. (Link: http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2010/07/09/last-of-chryslers-pt-cruisers-rolls-out-of-the-factory-today).
The retro-look four-door hatchback -- modeled after a sedan delivery vehicle of the 1930s -- was a strong seller throughout most of its production run that began in 2000, appealing to a wide range of buyers, but especially to baby boomers and slightly older buyers -- like me.
I bought a used 2007 PT Cruiser (pictured) a few months ago, trading in my 2001 Ford Ranger 4X4 pickup, and I've found it to be an ideal vehicle. The rear seats fold down and can even be removed and there is plenty of hauling capacity in the tallish car. Plus I like the looks of the funky vehicle and its handling and fuel economy.
The Mexican plant will be converted to produce another retro-styled car, the Fiat 500, the first collaboration between the Auburn Hills, Mich.-based Chrysler and Italian giant Fiat.
I agree with Jonathan Welsh, the writer of The Wall Street Journal story linked above, that Chrysler may end up regretting stopping the PT Cruiser's production run. In an era of look-a-like "jellybean" cars, the feisty PT Cruiser stands out.
Looking back at the PT Cruiser's hype around the turn of the century, Welsh writes:
"While youthful motorists never really took Chrysler’s bait, their parents and grandparents did. Older drivers, from aging baby boomers to octogenarians. My own parents debated at length about the car’s design. Did it look more like great Grandpa’s 1940 Plymouth or Uncle so-and-so’s 1937 Ford? While my friends made fun of the car, my parents’ friends bought them. They also loaded them with optional equipment and, in the first year or so, waited in line to get them. Many even paid premiums to dealers to get theirs sooner."
Funny Welsh should mention the 1937 Ford: I owned one when I was in high school in Rochelle, IL in the 1950s. It was a black rust-free (Illinois didn't use salt on winter roads in those days) Fordor with the 85-hp V8 engine. I paid all of $75 for it!
My advice to lovers of PT Cruisers is to seek out one that you like and buy it. You might even want to buy two or more. The convertibles especially will become very collectible in the coming years. Even regular four-doors like my Touring Edition will be much in demand now that production has ceased -- and they're great daily drivers.