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LeBling Convertible: 1985 Chrysler LeBaron

Personalizing a vehicle can make for a tricky and lingering resale. It’s like painting half of your house orange and the other half lime green. Even though you may love those colors, a lot of (most?) buyers don’t want to deal with anything too individualized. This 1985 Chrysler LeBaron convertible looks like it’s in fantastic condition, added bling or not. It’s posted here on craigslist in Alsip, Illinois and they’re asking $5,500.

I had pretty much this exact same car back in the mid/late-80s, but mine was 100% original without any added “features”. It was an outstanding car and I had exactly zero trouble with it for the three+ years that I owned it. This era of “K-Car with chrome”, as I used to call mine, is officially a second-generation LeBaron even though Chrysler used that name for the upper trim level on Imperials prior to Lee Iacocca’s time at the helm. They are front-wheel-drive cars as you know.

I’m assuming that this added jewelry will come off, hopefully without leaving any trace but I don’t know for sure. The rear wheel skirts almost look like they’re screwed to the trim but I hope that isn’t the case. Yes, that’s a full Continental kit on the rear bumper, that’s a first for me for this era of LeBaron. The grille and headlight covers are interesting, I’m not sure how night driving would be with those panels covering the headlights. Maybe as with not driving a car in the winter, the seller doesn’t drive this one at night. And, are those mounts for deer alerts on the front bumper?

The interior photos are mainly smallish views rather than overall views, but it looks great inside from what I can see. This one, as with my former car, has the Mark Cross leather package so those are really nice seats. The big, padded armrest has a Mark Cross logo on it and I never understood why such a gigantic armrest didn’t open or offer any storage whatsoever, it seemed like such a waste of space. This car should have the voice-of-reason, the phantom backseat driver that lets you know when “your door is ajar” or “your lights are on” and things like that. It’s a fun feature but there’s a tiny white button in the glove compartment to turn that off when it gets to be too much.

Even with 20 photos posted on the craigslist ad, there isn’t one photo of the engine and this one should have a Mitsubishi 2.6L inline-four with about 100 hp under the decked-out hood, the same as mine did. It was a great engine for my LeBaron convertible. I also have a 2.6 in my 1980 Dodge D-50 Sport pickup and with a 5-speed it seems to have enough power for my needs. They say that it runs and drives great and should go anywhere. The engine isn’t in the back, but I thought I’d end this one with the ultimate in K-Car LeBaron images so you don’t forget this custom ride. Have any of you accessorized your vehicle to this level?

Comments

  1. Fahrvergnugen Fahrvergnugen Member

    Hmmm. Interesting. Not gold-plated or diamond-studded, but rather a mashup of diamond-plated.

    Walking away slowwwwly…

    Like 13
    • Sam Shive

      run away

      Like 15
      • Mike

        Run away? Hitch a ride with Bezos like now.

        Like 3
    • Gary

      These are nice little inexpensive ice cream cone trip transports. This one though, is horrible. Without the gaudy addons, it would be a nice way to spend a few grand and use on sunny days with the grandkids, but this?

      Like 9
  2. Bluetec320 Bluetec320 Member

    I think a set of diamond plate running boards would really set it off! 🤣

    Like 23
  3. Cadmanls Member

    Don’t know quite what to say. Just where did some of this garbage on this car come from. Can’t remember anything like this stuff for a K-Car. It has the accessories.

    Like 6
  4. Kincer Kincer Member

    Ummmm 🤔, Nope, I got nothing! What in the hell were they thinking! The only thing that comes to mind is somebody spent a lot at JC Whitney. It’s kind of a shame too because other wise it looks pretty clean under all that crap.

    Like 12
    • Jim

      J.C. Whitney? It looks like most of it came from Grainger Industrial Supply! That trim made from aluminum tread plate is hilarious!!!! And the covers over the grille and headlights is about one step up from chicken wire!

      I hope whoever did this was doing it for a joke and wasn’t serious.

      Like 3
  5. Mitchell G. Member

    I’m speechless but not in a good way

    Like 4
  6. Bud Lee

    Planes , trains & WTF ?

    Like 18
  7. KC John Member

    Pimpelicous

    Like 8
  8. Autoworker

    Scooby Doo would say “Rug-Ree”.

    Like 6
  9. David G

    What an embarrassment to the entire town of Alsip this surely is. Best thing that can happen for that area is if the buyer is from someplace far away. This brings to mind a quote from Sheriff Buford T. Justice in Smokey and the Bandit. “Decoratin’ a whole town at a cost of forty dollars”.

    Like 11
  10. Sam Shive

    Only thing missing is 22’s and 6 or 8 Subs and you’d be right at home in any Ghetto in America .

    Like 12
  11. Joe

    Nope. Just nope.

    Like 5
  12. Vance

    Sometimes there is nothing you can say because nothing does it justice. I would like to solve the puzzle, Pat. JC Whitney and Fingerhut must love this owner. I have never seen a true abomination here on BF, this one takes the cake. I don’t feel well, if I had any booze in the my house, I would get hammered. I wonder if the owners house is on wheels. Please, just make it go away.

    Like 8
  13. Strange Brew

    I have likely said this before but, after 22 years in the automobile business, I am still amazed on a daily basis by the stupid crap people will do to a car.

    Like 14
  14. That Guy

    I’m guessing the culprit worked at a truck body fabricator and had some extra time and diamond plate on his hands.

    Like 1
  15. normadesmond

    One little car tells us so much about its owner.

    Like 3
  16. That AMC guy

    Marvelously hideous.

    Like 2
  17. Dan August

    It needs curb indicators to be complete.

    Like 6
  18. AZVanman

    It’s the Barden bumper edition

    Like 0
  19. Jonathan A Green

    This is automotive and styling excellence.

    Seriously, you could get a ridiculous car for $4500 or so, perfect for putzing around with, why not? If you aren’t laughing while driving or watching someone drive this car, you aren’t human.

    Like 4
  20. Mikefromthehammer

    Scotty, you were indeed fortunate. That Mitsubishi 2.6 had a well deserved reputation for blown head gaskets. Perhaps it was replaced just prior to your ownership and blew again just after you sold it? Timing is everything.

    Like 1
  21. PaulG

    Looks like Fred got a metal break for Christmas!

    And once again it’d s time to cue up Styx’ s “Too much time on my hands…”

    Like 4
  22. CCFisher

    This car serves a very important purpose: it demonstrates that a stock LeBaron convertible isn’t so bad, after all.

    Like 13
  23. Gerard Frederick

    What a horrible thing; to turn a perfectly nice set of wheels into such a horrendous pimp mobile is outright criminal.

    Like 4
  24. Dave Brown

    This car has been for sale for quite a while. It has popped up in several of my searches. Most likely, no one wants this monstrosity. It was purposely ruined. Maybe a body shop could remove the garbage added to this car and repair the damage? At $6000, this K-car is far, far away from a new buyer.

    Like 2
  25. Rj

    I want to park it in front of your house.

    Like 4
    • Gerard Frederick

      Rj, you are COLD man, cold!

      Like 3
  26. Steve Clinton

    Someone had too much time on their hands and very little talent.

    Like 2
  27. Joe Sewell

    Wondering what the costs would be to remove the crud and restore back to the day it left the factory….

    Like 1
  28. frank

    I own a 84 Lebaron convertible with 25K on it. This guy must have got a deal on diamond plate.. This thing is bone ugly with all of the crap on it. Some people have to much time on their hands. Mine is completely stock and when I go to car shows I get a lot of good reviews. I wonder how easy it would be to remove all of that crap, and this is from a guy that owns one.

    Like 1
  29. robinlarry

    I took a K car for a test ride when they first came out. The salesman: “Just feel that power!” Yea. Right. No sale.

    Like 0
  30. Patrick Anderson

    I wouldn’t want this even if Jon Voight had owned it.

    Like 3
  31. Todd Fitch Staff

    Wow Scotty. Holy Blingosaurus Rex! You’re really flying your flag high when you add a Continental Kit *and* a faux Continental kit… a level of overkill I would not have anticipated. With that theme in mind I’d be tempted to paint or Velcro landau bars on the convertible top. Thanks for bringing this rolling relic of reflectivity to our hallowed halls!

    Like 2
  32. Chuck Dickinson

    Some people’s taste is all in their mouth!

    Like 2
  33. Mark

    Sometimes what happens in the barn should stay in the barn…

    Like 4
  34. dwcisme

    The first thing that comes to mind is “What did that poor little car do to deserve this?”.

    Like 2

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