If you were around and following the auto industry in the early 1980’s, you remember what buzz the Chrysler Lebaron convertible made when it was introduced for the 1982 model year. I do. After all, hadn’t Detroit supposedly made the “last convertible” in 1976 with the Cadillac Eldorado? Lee Iacocca, Chrysler Corporation’s brash, confident, and visionary CEO, had just saved the company from bankruptcy and was featured in a series of now-famous TV ads for Chrysler’s new LeBaron series. Iacocca made it clear that nobody – not Ford, not GM, nor the imports – had a luxury series like LeBaron whose lineup included a coupe, a four-door sedan, the Town & Country wagon (with faux wood paneling), and a convertible that Lee promised would “put a little fun back in driving.” He also did a lot of pointing into the camera to accentuate his claims and sell his product. Iacocca was a very effective spokesperson and the right face and personality of “the new Chrysler Corporation” in the early 1980’s.
Here’s one of the 12,825 LeBaron convertibles sold during its introductory year, and it’s an impressive, highly-original example. This LeBaron has definitely been garaged and pampered the past 43 years and shows the sleek, boxy styling prevalent at the time.. It’s wearing its original Pearl White paint that looks very presentable with no fading, rust, or any bumps and bruises in sight. All the trim, chrome, lenses, and faux wire wheel covers look good as well. The white convertible power top looks pretty good, but could be more taut (I always thought these LeBarons were cleaner looking and more attractive with the top down).
The LeBaron’s cabin is in great shape and features the attractive Mark Cross Edition leather interior (the Mark Cross Company, founded in Boston in 1845, was world famous for its high-end leather goods and exotic skins). I really like the luxurious caramel colored seats with brown trim the matching convertible boot. The instrument panel, steering wheel, and door panels are well preserved and screams ’80’s luxury interior. And being the top-of-the-line Chrysler, the LeBaron is loaded with creature comforts including power steering, power brakes, power windows, power door locks, AC, cruise control, tilt wheel, AM/FM/cassette radio, and more. We’re assuming all of these are in good working order.
Mark Cross Edition LeBarons came with the Mitsubishi 2.6-litre, four-cylinder engine that’s paired with a front-wheel-drive Torqueflite automatic transmission. When new, the 2.6-litre engine generated 92 horsepower at 4,500 rpm with an estimated 18 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. The seller says all service records have been kept, there are many new parts, and it was just fully serviced. This highly-original Chrysler drop top is currently located in Loveland, Ohio with an asking price of $20,000. Another shout out to T.J. for spotting this highly original, low-mileage LeBaron Convertible and sending it our way. What do you think of Mr. Iacocca’s stylish, fuel-efficient, luxury convertible?
Jon Voight
Every time.
Doctor John Voight, to be precise.
Ex-squeeze me, that’s a 2.2 underhood b,t,w, Aside that it’s gorgeous. It should find a nice home fairly quick
Hi Robert, I agree that it’s a nice-looking survivor. Regarding the engine, the ’82 LeBaron sales literature I found online listed the 2.6-liter Mitsubishi engine as standard equipment on the Mark Cross Edition.
20…
Nope
You could get these as a stick. Rare as hens teeth, but well worth finding. A cheap nice weather car. Not sure if this is 20Ks worth, though. Springtime, so cars like this get up priced. Better to buy them late in the fall before someone is going to tuck them in for a long winters nap. Years ago I bought a convert the second of November, got a stealing deal on her. As I recall, they had a lot of cowl shake, at least the turbo I once drove did.
Love the interior. Twenty large is laughable.
That is a 2.2 I have a 84 with the 2.6 and mine has 26K on it.
The 2.6 has the carburetor in front of the engine.
“She wants a car with a cupholder armrest
She wants a car that will get her there
She’s changing her name from Kitty to Karen
She’s trading her MG for a white Chrysler Le Baron“
“Short Skirt Long Jacket” by Cake intensifies
🎶 👗 short skirt and a long jacket”
Where’s the link?
Very nice but I think 20-K is too much.
It’s a nice looking kid car. To me, the Chrysler LeBaron was the best of the lot. This one does have a Mark cross interior. That looks nice. They sold a lot of Mark cross interiors. I especially liked the Mark cross interior in the woody versions, be it a station wagon or convertible. You never see this generation of LeBaron as a two-door coupe. Those are very rare. However, there is no K car in existence worth $20,000. The asking price for this is beyond the pale. This LeBaron convertible might be worth $7500-$8000? That’s it.
What? No pretend wood on the side?
I have a 84 with 26K. I hope it sells for that much makes mine worth more.
I worked at a Dodge dealer in ’82 when these came out. The Dodge equivalent was the 400. The owners wife had a 400 convertible and I rode in the back seat. Most uncomfortable ride ever! The sear itself is no more than an inch thick. Seriously.
The saddle color interior was the “go to” color of the 80s. Hated it.
I haft to agree with Dave Brown $7500-$8000 tops. For that kind of money he is asking you could get a much nicer and bigger convertable. If it was BMW or Mercedes I could possible see $20,000 but not for this Chrysler. I know when the top goes down the price goes up but I think this price is wishfull thinking,.
No link to the ad
Go on craigslist and two dealers are asking the same amount of money.. I believe they are it Nevada .
While a Ford service manager, I also had the responsibility of the service department of our Chrysler store. (double your fun, double you headaches) I drove one of these home one very nice spring day. And the only thing that I remember is
OH! THAT’S COWL SHAKE!
It was terrible! You could literally watch the dash shift left to right. (along with the steering column) It ruined the whole drive home and back. NO THANKS!
I own one and never had that problem.
No Wayne is right. The models that came after this had the same problem. Funny, others do not. Mustang convertibles are solid, even Miatas, but not these. I drove one on a smooth piece of freeway, still shook. Would never buy one of these, though a good looking car. I drove many of these with hardtops, fully different story. Solid, smooth, ,wonderful
20K for a K-car? Never imagined it. Now that’s inflation!
One just sold on BaT auction with 33K for $11000.