Plymouth & Chrysler’s Dark Secret
Did you know that Plymouth, Chrysler’s discontinued brand, holds a deep, dark Japanese secret? Ok, maybe it’s not too much of a secret, if you ever bothered to look under the hood of an old Reliant K.
A recent Junk Yard find by The Truth About Cars unveiled an interesting fact many of those who “Buy American” were probably unaware (or in extreme denial) of.
The [Plymouth] Sapporo was a Mitsubishi Galant Lambda; its Dodge sibling was badged as a Challenger:
That’s right kiddos! Many Plymouth and Chrysler vehicles from the 1970s and 80s were made by Mitsubishi! (Insert Darth Vader NNNNOOOOOOOOO!!!!! here)
It’s actually not all that bad. A complete Plymouth vehicle (case in point – the aforementioned Reliant K) for 1986-87 was constructed partially in North America. When I was younger, my local family mechanic dropped a bit of import knowledge:
“Eric, your Reliant K engine is actually a Mitsubishi motor. Chrysler has most of their engines built by the Japanese.”
I’m paraphrasing, and I also get the feeling he was telling me this in case I wondered why the price of engine repair was higher than on my father’s Chevy. It leaves you wondering – how much of that “American made” car is really built in The United States.
Photo – Source: TTAC
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