Built from 1987 to 1995, the third generation of the Chrysler LeBaron was a personal luxury car produced on a modified version of the K-Car platform (the J-body). It was only offered as a coupe or convertible. The styling was improved from the previous LeBaron and Chrysler sold 91,000 copies in 1989 alone, including 37,500 with a ragtop. Carbureted and turbocharged engines were offered, and the seller’s car has a rebuilt version of the latter. Located outside of Washington, DC, this refreshed Mopar is available here on craigslist for $6,500. This is another tip from Mitchell G.’s bag of goodies!
Chrysler would find a lot of success with the third-generation LeBaron, selling more than a half million of them across nine years. And, yet, when was the last time you’ve seen one running around somewhere? Most of them have already moved on to the great automotive graveyard after 30 years. As was becoming the norm of the day, these cars had front-wheel drive and a transversely mounted engine in the front which would also be the foundation for the Chrysler TC by Maserati.
The seller’s turbo has an engine displacing 2.5 liters and is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission, so it should be plenty zippy. A lot of things were rebuilt or replaced at an odometer reading of 79,000 miles, including the brakes, shock absorbers, tires, clutch, radiator, timing belt, and more. Even all the fluids are fresh. The only things we can ding here is that the paint will need to been redone and there is a lack of quality photos. Sellers, please take a lot of pics of the entire vehicle and do it in landscape mode rather than portrait to include more of the car!.
Stick shift convertible fun. 😎
Woman who changed her name from Kitty to Karen in a short skirt long jacket who traded her MG for this available separately
Must be 1 of a very few that had a manual shift. Most of the gals that bought these, weren’t that sporting.
What makes you think only women purchased them???? Fun, attractive cars.
Just like the gals that drove them.
Those who gripe that the hobby has become too expensive, look no further. An attractive, unusual, convertible, reliable, good on the interstates, car. You do not need a ’67 Mustang at $33,000 to join us.
Turbo-stick-convertible? Oh, yeah.
Oh, man if I was still living in the D.C. area, I’d be all over this, and I’m not even a Mopar guy!
I like this better than the Daytona featured earlier. I wonder if it could be Shelby-fied with off the shelf parts?
Yes. You can even one up most Shelby’s with the Chrysler variable nozzle turbo that was available on the Lebaron GTC models. You can even use the Shelby Daytona suspension and brakes. Everything will bolt in.
Or, if you want all the marbles, get the Turbo III from a Daytona IROC or Spirit R/T.
I own a 1989 GTC convertible that is a black and quartz body, tan interior, 2.5 turbo, 16 not 15in. wheels. Mine is all original, automatic but have seen manuals. Yes, in the drivetrain it is a Dodge Daytona Shelby per Mopar parts list. A devil on four wheels. If you can find computers (good luck) can be shelby-fied.
At the new car dealer announcement show in Denver in 1989, there was a black on black on black GTC convertible 5 speed that I just fell in love with. Now, if that combo convertible ever becomes available, I’ll move heaven and earth to get it.
This convertible has 15 in wheels as shown in the ad. It is not a GTC, but still rare and a nice ride, I am sure.
I had a 1989 Chrysler LeBaron Premium coupe with sunroof never gave me problems very reliable loved my Baron made my last payment and an intoxicated driver t-boned me and that ended the Baron it gave me 189,000 miles wish I had another one
My son bought a Shelby Charger -small car- from a dealer in Norwood Ma. bran new and very expensive. Driving it home when he turned a corner the front tires rubbed against the wheel wells and the radio did not work and the elec. in the dash was messing up, called the dealer gave him excuse after excuse, it was a custom car–after market car–and it would be a while before they would help him. He called Chrysler corp same run around–no help–A guy at his work said try the Norwood Chamber of Commerce and in no time the car was fixed. they found out that the wheels were swapped when it came in and the radio was replaced and the elec. was fixed. Interesting in who can get things done. Oh ya the car was very quick.–a lot of torque steer.
A vast number of the LeBaron drop tops ended up on Florida and California rental fleets (but not manual trans). This actually made it hard to get one in the first few production years.
I’d heard that this generation were designed from the get-go to have a convertible variant which is why they were so solid. Much more so than the Mustang of the era. With the turbo, this still wasn’t a rocket ship but a nice performing cruiser. Keep it stock. Even if you could “Shelby” it, the performance gain wouldn’t offset the loss of reliability. And, a current turbo Mustang would still blow you into the weeds.
Always liked the shape of that car, would like it even more if it was rear wheel drive. I am a Mopar guy so all there cars are good in my eyes.
I loved this model and was selling them new.. I wanted one for a demo, but because so much production went to the rental fleets, that didn’t happen for a few years. Then, every time I started driving one, it would get sold. I finally ordered one that I thought would be harder to sell, 2.5 5 speed and blue vinyl interior. Yup some chick bought it a week after I started driving it.