When Chrysler purchased the American Motors Company in 1987, it gained not simply the precious Jeep model (together with the big-selling XJ Cherokee) however an enormous jackpot of Renault powertrain and chassis engineering from AMC’s partnership with the French firm. Beginning properly earlier than that point, loads of Mitsubishi DNA made its manner into Chrysler merchandise as properly, alongside autos with Rootes Group ancestry simply to make issues fascinating. Then the “Merger of Equals” that created DaimlerChrysler occurred in 1998 and an enormous infusion of Mercedes-Benz {hardware} bought mainlined into Chrysler designs. Beginning with the 2004 mannequin 12 months, an SLK-class-based two-seater hit Chrysler showrooms: the Crossfire. Here is a type of first-year Crossfires, present in a San Francisco Bay Space self-service wrecking yard lately.
The Crossfire’s styling was taken from an idea automobile that appeared on the 2001 North American Worldwide Auto present; the thought was that the Crossfire would change the Plymouth/Chrysler Prowler. The chassis was lifted from the Mercedes-Benz R170 SLK-Class, a mid-Nineteen Nineties design whose last mannequin 12 months in the USA was 2004.
That meant that, beginning in 2005, American automobile customers may purchase new R170-based Crossfires and new R171-based SLKs.
Beginning with the 2005 mannequin 12 months, the Crossfire turned accessible as a roadster. Manufacturing continued by way of the 2008 mannequin 12 months.
The Crossfire’s engine was a 3.2-liter Mercedes-Benz V6, rated at 215 horsepower and 229 pound-feet. The SRT-6 model, accessible only for 2005 and 2006, bought a supercharged 3.2 good for 330 horses and 310 pound-feet.
A six-speed handbook was commonplace tools within the non-SRT Crossfire, although the five-speed computerized proved extra standard with consumers right here. This automobile has the handbook, which I predict will find yourself in a Mercedes-Benz earlier than this automobile meets the crusher.
The MSRP was $33,620, or about $55,874 in 2023 {dollars}. In the event you wished the automated, the associated fee was $35,570 ($59,115 after inflation).
The folks driving and admiring Crossfires in tv commercials appear conspicuously youthful than those that owned the vehicles in actual life.
Can the automobile of your goals be an inexpensive actuality? Completely!