HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1976-09-29, Page 30•
Chrysler Corporation
Chrysler's lineup remains pretty much
unchanged for 1977. The biggest alteration
is the deletion of the Dart-Dust,er-Valiant
line in favour of the Aspen Volare line
• introduced last year. Consisting of a 2 door
coupe, 4 door sedan and 4 door wagon, this
line, received much praise upon its
introduction last year. The option list is
extensive, all three Aspen models are
available in standard, custom and special
edition (S.E.) trim with the coupe only
offering the R.T.trim and package.
Next size up is the Monaco-Fury mid size
replacing the Coronet & Sattelite available
in two door hardtop, 4 door sedan and
station wagon. Both Plymouth and. Dodge
offer three different trim levels and a large
option list. Cosmetically the only change is
grill and headlight (rectangular) and tail
lights.
The full size Dodge and Plymouth line is
virtually unchanged from last year, being
offered 2 door hardtop, 4 door sedan and
wagon models.
It's that time of year again, when all car
buffs make their way to the show rooms
and lots to check out what "the Big Three"
are offering for the coming year.
The coming year will be the start of a
great change in direction for the North
American auto industry. Since the
"Energy Crisis" of a few years ago the
auto industry' has begun building and
promoting, smaller cars and last year for
the first time a "midsized car" replaced
the full size as top seller. 1977 will see
some familiar nameplates dropped, some
added but many shortened and narrowed.
Gone are the days when the car models
were changed completely and made bigger
each year. The companies are now
concentrating on handlingo interior roomy
compacting- size s and most of all
encouraging miles per gallon and low
emmissions.
1 977 new car introductions
" Despite rumours, the Continental did not
get smaller for '77. The Ford ultimates are,
slightly redesigned but not smaller.
The big change is in Thunderbird It is
much smaller and has lost some exclusivity
because there's a sister look alike at
Mercuiy. The Cougar XR 7 •
The Bird has been cut by 600 lb. in
weight and 10 in. in overall length. It's also
been cut drastically in price and Ford
expects it to meet headon in the market
'place with the Monte Carlo, Cordoba and
Grand Prix.
The new Thunderbird is definitely a
Ford. The nose is long, the headlights
hidden (LTD style) and the grill large and
familiar.The distinctive feature is the
Targa-type bar across the roof.
Standard engine is the 302 cu. in V8
(Optional are the 3512 bbl., 4002 bbl. and
4004 bbl.
Although the standard feature list is
down on the New Bird, to'help cut the cost,
the option list can be applied to fully deck
the car to anyone's liking. •
The new .Thunderbird shares its body
style with the Cougar. Some people think
this will detract from sales: But that name
is still magic and now the car is within
economic reach of more people.This looks
like the better idea for '77.
The Cougar nameplate is attached to a
full line of cars - 2 door hardtops, 4, door
sedans and 4 door wagons. All Cougar
sedans come standard with 302 engines
and optional 351 & 400's. The wagons get a
standard 351. Wheelbase for, ,hardtops is
114" with 118" for the 4. doors & 118" for
wagons. These figures are dittoed in the
Bird. t
The LTD 11 replaces the Torino as an all
new intermediate. Coming in 2 door
hardtops, 4 door sedans and wagons, the
cars will be offered in 2 trim levels. LTD IIS
8z LTD II. ,
The rest of the Ford lineup is exactly the
Ford Motor Co.
Wh ile G.M. has ordered down sizing of •
its big cars, Ford has opted to keep the
traditional wheel bases for at least one
more year. Ford figures they'll win a lot of
gtound from QM by offering full size cars -
We'll see!
The 1977 LTD & Marquis are relatively •
unchanged. However things are different
in the intermediates: The LTDII and the
Cougar. LTDII replaces the Torino, while
the Cougar line replaces the Montego.
From here up there is n othing changed
for 1977 except trim. Charger and Cordoba
share the same body styling as they had
last year. Cordoba is of course more
luxurious and was a good seller in !76 as a
personal luxury car. The full size Chrysler
is again available in Newport, New Yorker.
Brougham and Town and Country trim.
Most options remain the same with the list
including everything from soup to nuts.
Chrysler engine lineup includes the slant
six with one and 2 barrel carbs. The small
block engines, the 318, 360, & 400 cu. in.
engines and the 440 big block. The 225 cu
in six's available in the compacts and
midsized sedans. The 318 & 360 available
in the compacts mid size and personal cars,
the 400 in the mid 'personal and full size
cars and the big 440 only in the full size
All models get automatics except the
mid size sedans where you can chose a 3
speed standard and the compacts where
you can chose from, an auto, 3 speed
manual or 4 speed overdrive manual.
Chrysler's big, newest inovation is the
Lean Burn System which was introduced
during '76 or 400 engines.
It is available on
360, 400 & 440 V8' s now, and 318's after
Jan. 1, 1977. Basically the system is an
electronic spark control computer which
adjusts the spark plug firing time to,
achieve the best combustion efficiency.
Trucks & Vans
In the past 2 years light truck sales'
climbed to a point where all coca,
regard them as near their top sellers".;
people view a light truck as a ,
alternative to a second car or even a
vehicle and a small car for
Consequently the option list has
where it looks like are for a high price(
Chrysler will hit the '77 market
customized pickup called the W
Based on a short bed Uniline (step
the truck will sport factory steels`
wheels off road tires and stakes and
about a' foot high around the pickup
Included in the package are bucket
and the truck is available in black, red
dark green.
The styling remains the same u
trucks except for a new grill in pi
ramchar .gers and trail dusters,'
engine line up is the same as 1.975,..
Ford
The word from Fords light truck di
is extensive changes under the
engine, ignition and rear axle are,
targets with emphasis on Fuel ewe
New to the pickup line are two V8's,
351M and 400M putting out 161 &170,
respectively. These engines are pass
car Cleveland,' reworked to deliver
performance and fuel economy, The
cu. in six, 302 V8 and 460 V8 remain
All engines will get a new 1
system. Dura spark deli vers a high ti
to the spark plugs. Its an improved
of brakeless ignition that will improve
economy and emissions. A new op'
axle ratio will also help at the gas puni
General Motors trucks will rem
pretty much the same as in 1976.
changes and a few options will be the
differences. GM will also emph
economy and creature comfort,
same save some cosmetic changes
and there.
YOUR
NEW
CAR
Energy crisis. sports-changes':t
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WITH
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Rust Proofing
featuring a 5 year or 50,000 mile WARRANTY
•
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