If the Chrysler TC by Maserati was made today, can you imagine how quickly its reputation would be tarnished simply by online chatter on Google? It’s rather incredible to think about how many automotive “failures” occurred before the days of the internet and while we know them by name today, it was far less likely that consumers would adopt a scorched Earth policy like they do today when airing grievances. The TC today actually represents great value for a top-down cruiser, and cars like this 1989 example listed here on eBay for $7,900 benefits from lots of recent maintenance.
Now, I understand the complaints against the TC, and they are justified. Underpowered and expensive, and certainly not worth the price of admission. When you introduce a car with as much hoopla as they did the TC, you’re practically asking to be put under the microscope when the finished product finally arrives. Sadly, the launch of the TC was almost immediately undermined by the availability of the Chrysler LeBaron, which looked awfully similar and was available at a far lower price point with generous standard equipment levels. With underwhelming performance, the fate of the TC was almost immediately sealed.
In many ways, the TC was being marketed on the virtues of its luxurious appointments. The interior was loaded up with leather seating and door panels, thick carpeting, woodgrain trim, and other signs of opulence. However, comfortable seats and fancy door panels only go so far when it comes to convincing consumers to part with their hard-earned dollars. The TC by Maserati was listed for $35,000 when new, and that works out to about $65,000 in 2026 terms. Truthfully, with the rapid price in cost of new vehicles, that number doesn’t seem all that shocking. But when a new Chrysler LeBaron convertible in 1990 cost around $16,000, the difference in MSRP seems far more dramatic.
The 2.2L “Turbo II” engine produced 160 horsepower and 171 lb-ft of torque. The hot ticket in TC land is to find one of the elusive examples with the 5-speed manual and the 16V cylinder head, which is what the car always should have been. The seller of this example has made multiple repairs and other updates, including new ignition components, brakes, shocks, trailing arms, tie rods, and more. He’s also had the leather seats refinished, which could not have been cheap. And, of course, the factory hard top is included as well. Do you think $8K is a fair ask for a TC like this one?
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