This 1989 Chrysler TC by Maserati is a recent charitable donation to a Wounded Warriors organization. The car was given to them by the husband and wife owners, who conceded the husband was no longer fit to drive. The TC has under 31,000 original miles, and while it’s not the desirable manual transmission example with the DOHC, so-called “Maserati engine,” it sure looks like it’s been loved. Find it here on eBay with bids at $3,150 and no reserve.
Despite the fact that they were largely sales flops when new (and hugely expensive for what they were), there seems to be a mild appreciation for these cars today. I don’t mean value appreciation – I suspect they will always be stagnant – but rather, car culture in general doesn’t cast as much scorn in their general direction as it once did. The lines are inoffensive and many of them come with the factory hardtop. It’s a cheap way to drive a limited-production convertible that still offers strong parts availability.
Plus, they featured the reliable turbocharged Dodge powerplant that means you can basically get parts for it anywhere, and I imagine the same elements of boost tuning that made 80s Dodge Shelby products so much fun also applies here. The engine bay sure looks clean on this example, and even the valve cover paint looks nearly new. The seller notes it was well maintained by the previous owners, and reveals no major issues at the moment. Tires and soft top are believed to be relatively new as well.
The interior is a great way to affirm that a car has been loved, especially one with as many fragile surfaces as a Maserati product has. The acres of leather can look great when protected but an absolute disaster when left untreated. Fortunately, the leather interior of this TC by Maserati shows no signs of neglect, and despite the owner no longer being comfortable driving it, it’s clear the car was loved. With just 30,088 miles and no reserve, someone is going to go home with a cheap and cheerful classic.
Those seats look inviting. I’d drive one of these on the weekends.
Chrysler collaborated with Maserati and La-Z-Boy
I’d rent it as a prop for an 80s theme party. Gucci loafers (no sox)… Tommy Bahama off-white linen pants and ink print shirt…straw fedora…Cohiba cigar…second wife 20 years younger than me in a day-glo pink aerobics tank top…with big hair held together with too much Aqua Net.Madonna CD blasting on the stereo because she hates it when I play my Sinatra tunes. Party to be held at some golf course community country club in west Boca Raton.
Detroit, ROFLMAO—Perfect! This ones in good shape and presents itself nicely, and as Jeff points out, not a good reputation. I’m not expert but that doesn’t look like a Maserati Mill, looks like the k car engine. I know a few enthusiastic folks who bought one of these and regretted it until they sent it to the crusher. Good luck to the new owner.
Cheers
GPC
Notorious unpopularity depreciating the value of a car I used to hate to the point where now it actually looks like a pretty good deal.
With the Chrysler engine it makes sense to own it, and drive it. The first edition with the Maserati engine were “cool” but a maintenance problem. Faster, I seem to remember, but expensive to repair, and now a days, probably very hard to find parts. Ten years ago when I was looking for a convertible for fun, in good driver condition, for $10,000 these were priced at that. But shortly after this finally got into the market the Chrysler Le Baron convertible hit the market, remarkably similar in design, and less than half the price, and with a useable back seat (sort of). Those are now the least expensive, reliable, fun convertibles you can buy, if you want to enter the “old car” hobby, and don’t have a lot of money, find one of those Le Barons.
I actually like the car but have no faith in the K motor. Those things were very weak.
I had one and the motor was fine. it was the Tranny that was crap
A Torqueflite three speed? I was about to come in here and defend the FWD Torqueflites, but then I remembered that we sold our Horizon with less than 70K miles and our 1985 Lancer ES Turbo never saw 30K miles. That the transmissions didn’t fail under the stresses of the 70 hp VW-Audi 1.7 or the Turbo 2.2 that blew three head-gaskets before we gave up on the 5/50 warranty doesn’t mean they followed in the 727 tradition.
I’m sure the non car nuts would have no idea you weren’t driving a high bucks classic if you pulled up in this. Could be a cheap entrance to an exotic crowd…till the hoods opened!
I had the thrill of working on several K motors. One of the big issues was the cam and cam followers. So if the transmissions are weak and also the motors I’m thinking I don’t want one.
Having worked in the parts department of Chrysler dealerships back in the 80’s and 90’s, I remember stocking camshaft kits for 2.2/2.5 motors. I thought these cars also came with the 3.0 Mitsubishi V6?
The intentions of this car we’re good at the time, but unfortunately due to delays, it arrived in the show rooms at the same time as the nearly visually identical new LeBaron coupes were coming out. Parked next to each other, it would be very difficult to convince a buyer to pay twice the amount just to have the “prestige” of the Maserati name associated with Chrysler. In the finals years of the TC, this car became more of a Frankenstein… It was designed by Chrysler, assembled by Maserati, and had a powertrain of a Mitsubishi 3.0 L V6 mated to a three speed automatic.
I actually had a Lebaron coupe with the 3.0 V6 and a 5 speed! Not many had a stick. Most were automatics.
I’ve had my 89 TC eight years now and love it, same color combination as the one pictured! Its got good looks with either the hard top with its port holes, or soft top either up or down, beautiful leather interior, easy mechs availability, good MPG and the fact you can say you own a Maserati, all in a car you can actually drive and enjoy for little $$
Detroit Land Yachts, I would love an invite to that party lol!