Just as we’re getting our first snow in some parts of the upper Midwest, we bring you this 1982 Chrysler LeBaron convertible to rub salt into your wounds. Not road salt, just regular salt. This beautiful example can be found posted here on craigslist in equally-beautiful Olympia, Washington. The seller is asking $4,500 which seems like a bargain to me given how nice it looks in the photos.
I have mentioned many times that I had a similar LeBaron convertible in the mid-1980s once I made my first real money in a business that I had started. Mine was silver with gray Mark Cross leather and it was a fantastic car. I never drove it in the winter and this car doesn’t appear to have any rust on it anywhere, even the underside. The trunk is on the small side but it’s big enough for a couple of people to throw their luggage in there and hit the road for a couple of weeks.
The seller has outdone most other craigslist sellers by providing a wide range of great photos, well done! The second-generation Chrysler LeBaron was made beginning for the 1982 model year until 1988. Most of you may remember that it was the first American car to come back with a convertible option after the 1976 Cadillac Eldorado was to be the last factory convertible made in America due to safety regulations. We all knew that wouldn’t last and the two cars were similar in being front-wheel-drive and having a convertible option, but that’s about it.
We have seen many (many, many, many) white Chrysler LeBaron convertibles but a lot of them have had the Town and Country wood panel exterior, this one is crisp and clean, and thank God that Seinfeld never used a plain white LeBaron convertible on an episode. I always called my LeBaron a K-car with chrome because it was basically a Chrysler K-car in a nice trim level. Those seats are “Mark Cross” leather, at least the lighter portion that you sit on. The back seat is smallish, not exactly Eldorado-sized, but it’ll work in a pinch.
This 2.6L inline-four Mitsubishi engine appears to have a Weber carb conversion and the seller gives more Seinfeld references than they talk about how it functions, but they do say that it drives nicely and this car sure looks fantastic. If you had to choose: 1976 Eldorado convertible or 1982 LeBaron convertible? Dumb question.
Had a 82 same two tone interior with dark brown exterior and white top very elegant looking wish I still had it
I just stopped by to ask if Jon Voight owned this
He could have. You have to check the pencil in the glove box
Yes he did, but if you want the pencil it’s available at extra cost.
But where are the wood sides?
Thanks for the laugh. Nice car though.
Looks like it was on two different auction sites when it was in Portland Oregon. The price is very appealing but I have to wonder why a “flipper” would try to sell so cheaply, unless he got it for a song on the auction. This is not necessarily a bad thing though.
https://topclassiccarsforsale.com/chrysler/664010-1982-chrysler-lebaron-convertible-mark-cross-edition-61k-documented-orig-miles.html
http://davidsclassiccars.com/chrysler/504679-1982-chrysler-lebaron-convertible-mark-cross-edition-61k-documented-orig-miles.html
Been up for 13 days at $4500 and no takers. What am I missing?
That not many people want to own nor be seen driving this?
If it was a turbo, would have had more takers. Wonder if they are open to offers? Face it, this car was never meant to be a performance car, it does what it does well, though, open air touring on a warm sunny day. Besides, i think it is a sharp looking car.
That it was a POS when built and still is?
C’mon….that is one nice, reasonably priced, parade car.
I know it sounds corny, but how many of you have driven your car in a small-town parade, or escorted the homecoming queen and/or court around the high school football field? For me, it’s a hoot. Almost worth the price of admission for this.
I’ve done the homecoming duty once. Had the Junior class attendants (boy and girl). Yes they were impossibly cute. And happened to be boyfriend and girlfriend. And nervous wrecks. I kept telling them to just smile and wave, and they would be fine. For my part, I made sure I didn’t ‘kill’ the car (manual transmission). It all went great.
Admit it, the view in the rear-view mirror is why you enjoyed that parade so much.
If everything is on the up and up, I see no downside to buying this just to have the experience of having a convertible. It appears so clean and well kept. Once again, clean car, nice photos, and this car will sell soon. The upside to this is that if you tire of the convertible ” fix “, you can get what you paid for it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, too bad its not a turbo, it would be a bit more fun, but a turbo wouldn’t be as nice as this one.
I had a “woody” Lebaron and enjoyed it thoroughly! We have one of the largest Memorial Day parades and l was asked to carry a prominent local newscaster in the parade, in that car which l proudly did!
I have a 84 with 25K miles so to me this is a reasonable price.
This is nice and a good way into the hobby, but the next version, the bean shaped, with a V6, dark green, tan leather, is the bargain of our times, classic lines, fast enough, and plenty of parts available.
Sorry, but they never made a k-car that was nice so nicest one left is still junk
My reply to Beckster is you wouldn’t know a good thing if it was right in front you. Also I go to a weekly car show and get alot of compliments on mine.
Hear hear!
Having had multiple friends who had K cars built in the 1981 – 83 time period, including someone who had an 82 LeBaron convertible with the Mark Cross interior, and another who had an 82 LeBaron coupe, I’m pretty wary. I remember lots of breakdowns, parts falling off, and various early failures. I remember the friend with the 82 LeBaron convertible having problems with the car when it only had 9,000 miles on it. This one seems to have survived intact, but I think I’ll pass, thank you.
Well well well! Hmm, I had a similar one and sold her last year. Mine was gold, tan leather.
So, here’s my story LOL but 4 years ago from the original owners wife. He had passed 20 years before but she couldn’t bear to get rid of it it’s sat in the garage. It had 110k original top after rebuilding the carburetor twice the 2.6 ran great did many things, wheel bearings complete fuel system overhaul transmission service the list goes on. California car never any rest original paint. Decided to sell it as I bought a Thunderbird convertible. Do you know that I have that car for sale for over 3 years! Was lucky to get $2,000. It cost $1,400 to ship it.
Back when the K cars came out, I thought they were a piece of junk. Now that I’m older, I’m attracted to it! Is it still available? Any leaks or other issues I should know about? It would be site unseen for me. Thanks!!
*sight
It’s a K car. You can’t make a silk purse out of a pigs ear!
Those Mark Cross interiors were incredibly comfortable and held up so we’ll over the years of use. I bought a Town and Country version for my oldest son’s first car. For a 16 year old, new driver, it had some sportiness to it, but even with the turbo, he couldn’t get in too much trouble power-wise. It served us well. A few years later, his younger brother got the Dodge 600 version of the same car in Silver with gray leather. They were cheap to maintain and operate. Great cars for young drivers.
I had an ‘86 version in light yellow. It was fun when it worked but suffered from electrical ’gremlins’. Another sharp Chrysler car ruined by poor engineering. I have owned several Chrysler products and swear that their research and development was done by the public and the Chrysler dealership. It went in and stayed at the dealership for computer repairs too many times. The doors both rattles and didn’t close well. The rear window was glass and shattered four different times before I traded it. I do not recommend the convertible version of a K-car. The coupes were cool though and seemed much more solid.
The fuel pumps go bad without a clue and allow gasoline into the Mitsubishi engine oil, thinning it out and ruining the engine. Rebuild the fuel pumps, even if they work properly.
According to the pics, this is a gem. But if it´s a gem, why so low priced? Could it be, that there are too many unfixable squeejks and rattles? I just don´t know, it makes me wary, even if I love the car.
Gotta say one thing. They spent good money on those interiors.
Looks good for the price, and yes low miles.
I had one of these back in the nineties. This one is nicer than mine was back then. Nice cruisers and sized just right IMO.
I think the later models with the rear quarter windows look better, but this one really is nice! GLWTA!! :-)
Come on guys. The turbo didn’t come out until 1984MY.
My friend Art bought one two weeks after they came out. He originally bought for his wike who was use to a Buick Electra. It was a nice riding car. I rent a car with Enterprise in Norfolk, VA. on time. Snow was falling. It was a blizzard. I asked after waiting a half hour where was my car and they told me it was being cleaned. I said to forget the cleaning the car will be salt coated before I get to the hotel. They gave a set of keys to a brand new Chrysler LeBaron four door. That car ran great and handle the snow good. I bought a Plymouth Reliant K after driving that. It to ran great. It got hit at a light and was totaled but everybody walked away unhurt.
I agree with Beckster, they were pretty cheaply made, incredibly slow, handled fair at best, nothing to see here at all.
I have owned a few of these and had no complaints, right now I have a 84 conv with the Mark Cross interior and get a lot of compliments on it so when I hear the negative comments to most of these guys if it isn’t a muscle car they have no clue as to the value and remember its a conv.. Another thing is to know where to advertise it not on craigslist for sure but someone that deals in classic cars.