16V Turbo 5-Speed: 1989 Chrysler TC by Maserati

The Chrysler TC by Maserati made many missteps during its fleeting run here in the U.S.A., but perhaps the biggest mistake was not building more copies of the one example that made sense: the 16V, turbocharged edition with a head assembled by racing powerhouse Cosworth. The newfound horsepower and 5-speed manual transmission turned the disappointing TC into a legitimate contender in the narrow market of luxury vehicles that could also provide inspired performance. Find this one-of-500 example listed here on Facebook Marketplace for $10,000.

The curious thing about this rare variant of the TC is that it was still a luxury-laden boat of a car around that racy powertrain. Even though the 0-60 time improved dramatically, cutting the run from 10 seconds to the high 6/low 7 second range, it was still a floaty, comfortable convertible. It seems like in the rush to get the car to market, the brain trust behind its conception really spent very little time on actual execution, realizing many of its pitfalls far too late in the process to correct them. The interior of this example presents well, and it’s wild to see a manual gearbox sitting in the center console.

Hiring Cosworth to design the DOHC head with unique pistons was another curveball no one saw coming, and a dose of exotica that is undeniably cool but also makes little to no sense. Legend has it that Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca and Maserati owner Alejandro de Tomaso were both somewhat enamored with the idea of creating a performance variant out of their ill-fated luxury car, and thus, the plan to engage Cosworth and build the 16V TC was born. I speak from some level of experience owning a Mercedes 190E 2.3-16V Cosworth; finding parts for its specialized head is tedious at best, and I can only imagine it’s even more challenging for an oddball like this.

With under 50,000 miles, this TC is like so many others that haven’t seen significant use in their lifetime. The seller mentions it was “garage parked,” which I can’t tell means it was kept all of its life indoors or it was discovered on four flat tires in a forgotten garage (likely both scenarios are true) With 200 horsepower on tap and the punch of a turbocharger jolting its force through the front wheels, this has to be an interesting driver, and one that most observers will write off as a standard TC. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Jack M. for the find.