Chrysler was facing bankruptcy in the mid-1970s. They were making cars that people weren’t buying (land yachts instead of small cars). Fortunately, they had the good sense to develop the Dodge Omni/ Plymouth Horizon subcompacts which debuted in 1978. And they brought Lee Iacocca on board from Ford who later pioneered the minivan. These collective measures pulled Chrysler’s chestnuts out of the fire, at least for a while. This 1979 Plymouth Horizon TC3 is the sporty hatchback version of the Horizon and is said to have only 17,000 miles and is in good overall condition. Located in Wood Dale, Illinois, this Mopar is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $5,000. Thanks for this 1970s tip, Andy Morris!
The new L-body platform would be the first (and only) “world car” designed by Chrysler as initial work was done by Chrysler Europe. Badged as both the Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon, they were also the first front-wheel-drive economy cars built in the U.S. These autos and their variants would stick around for a dozen years, wrapping up in 1990. Collectively, they would account for nearly 1.4 million units, including 54,000 TC3s in 1979, the first year of the seller’s little-used example.
Plymouth’s TC3 and the Dodge 024 wore different sheet metal than the Horizon/Omni sedans but would be mechanically similar underneath. The first engine was a 1.6-liter inline-4 from Simca with a manual transmission that would use half as much fuel as some of the big cars Chrysler had been peddling after the 1973 OPEC oil embargo did a number on gas prices. Early L-bodies drew criticism for misbehaving during hard maneuvering (remember, FWD was new to Americans at the time). So, Chrysler did some tinkering with the suspension on these cars to calm things down, which worked.
How it came to be that this Horizon TC3 has only 17,000 miles is unknown. Surely, someone didn’t stash it away for years expecting it to become a collectible and soar in value. While the body looks good and the paint is okay, everything else comes across as too nice to be 117,000 miles, especially the interior. We’re told it runs and drives great and seems to be lacking anything to be pressed into daily service. Considering what $5,000 buys today on the used car market, would you consider this a good purchase?
Most likely 117K miles, but then again, it doesn’t look too bad, it has a third pedal, and the price is right. If this is your cup of tea, it looks like good one.
I was all set to defend the 17K mileage claim until I saw the clutch pedal. Much too much wear for 17K. Honestly, 117K makes the condition even more remarkable.
The first L-bodies used a Volkswagen 1.7L engine. The Chrysler 2.2 was added in 1981, and the Peugeot 1.6 replaced the Volkswagen engine in 1983.
i have an 82 still today. I believe that clutch pedal is missing its pad, this is common they don’t stay on very well. I can believe the 17k based on the limited photos.
you are spot on about the engines
I believe that ’79 was the second year for these. After not driving for many many years, my father came home with a ’79 Horizon 4 door for my mother so that she could get her license again.
I don’t recall ever having any major issues with it, but I do recall the distinctive odor of that all plastic interior, and the super hard plastic steering wheel.
78 was the first year for the 5 door only. No three door until 1979.
Would make a nice first car for someone but not really a desirable classic.
The seat covers, door panels, dash, instrument panel and the whole exterior of the car tell me it’s a low mileage car. A 43 year old unrestored car can only look this good being driven very little and garaged.
You mean Likely Uncollectible
If the person who buys enjoys it that’s all that counts. Its not a bad looking car I had a 83 Charger that was a 5 speed.I enjoyed the car .This is a good price for a cruiser or a everyday driver . I like it & would drive this car.
As unremarkable as this is, it would be fun to take to car shows. Everybody will remember them and have a story of their brother in law who had one. For years this was the $500 beater that everyone had just to get to work and back. Then they disappeared into the scrapyards, except for this one.
In 1985 I was pondering the thought of buying a new Plymouth Turismo (some were Dusters) or a Dodge Charger. I believe they were going for around ten grand at the time.
Bob C.,
I bought a brand new 1984 Plymouth Turismo Duster with the 2.2 engine and automatic transmission from Kehoe Chrysler in Wellesley, Mass for $8,800. My brother worked for Chrysler at the time, and I dealt with Mister Kehoe directly. So, I got a good deal on it. :)
Fancy cars are nice, but if you want a smile, drive something old and relatively cheap. Everyone will remember their own experiences with it. Just yesterday I rode my 1970 CT90 to the drug store, and two guys in the lot went nuts about how they rode them when they were kids, etc. I think this car would be a hoot. My kid wouldn’t think so, but it’s not his money…
Back in the day when these were new, we had one just like this one in my hometown with the license plate that read . . “BEYOND” . . worth every penny it cost extra, just for the laughs of those behind it at a red light.
Why does everyone credit Chrysler or dodge for the first minivan when you could buy a Volkswagen since the 60’s yes Volkswagen missed the mark and with some refinement they could have dominated the market before the dodge thing hit the market.
This would be a fun little car for someone.
VW’s weren’t the first, too big. For almost 40 years the auto industry has recognized Chrysler as the father of the mini-van rightfully so. Guess you’ve forgotten just how small those first minis were.
I recall seeing a ’60-something Corvair van drive by me when I was a kid in the mid-70;s. I recall thinking “Now that’s a mini van”.
I believe the ill remembered Plymouth Cricket to be the Chrysler Corporations first attempt at a ‘World Car’. Since it was built in the UK, New Zealand, South Africa, Columbia, Argentina and Brazil under many different names.
Or maybe the 60s Simca ?
Ok this is a good example of a problem i run into often. Way back in the 80s and old timer i used to help fix cars for told me that if the numbers on a 5 digit odometer are straight across its probably accurate if the numbers are skewed and not straight its probably rolled over any thoughts from you folks?
‘Early L-bodies drew criticism for misbehaving during hard maneuvering (remember, FWD was new to Americans at the time)’
The bad rap came from Consumer Reports doing stupid stunts with them: jerk the steering wheel to the left, then jerk the steering wheel to the right. Let go of the steering wheel.
Like I said: stupid stunts.
CR had never done that type of “test” on any other cars.
But as you reported, Chrysler did make changes to the car, but under normal circumstances [no one ever drove like CR did] the cars were fine. FWD wasn’t that weird.
Wicki:
Criticism
‘Shortly after their introduction, Consumer Reports tested the Omni and Horizon and reported that it lost control in hard maneuvering. As front-wheel-drive cars were still considered a new idea in the American automotive industry, the allegation received extensive mainstream coverage, including a piece in Time magazine.[21] Other auto automotive media reported no problems and described the test did not approximate real-world driving conditions.[11]
In response, Chrysler made modifications that included a steering damper and a lighter-weight steering wheel.’
Anything questionable was resolved by the time the Tursimo/025 came out in ’79.
I do not think that Chrysler had any good sense then or now especially with regards to the Horizon/Omni. OK -I will admit that the minivan was a great idea. I had a Plymouth Horizon and it was the most miserable poorly engineered piece of crap that I have ever owned. Worse than my 77 Sunbird or my 81 Mone Carlo with a 229 V6 & first year comouterized emissions. Note-computers & carbs do not work together. The Monte was awful but the Horizon had it beat which is saying something. The Sunbird was bad but nothing like the Horizon. .
Apples and oranges, old school rear drive technology vrs fist gen FWD technology . A mid size luxury car vrs an econobox ?
I thought these were cool back in the day.
I went to look at a Dodge Rampage a couple of weeks ago. The front end looks very much like this Horizon. The guy wanted 3k for it, but it was not as clean as this one. He was able to hook a jump pack to it to start it up, and he replaced a carburetor part with the old part thrown in the back of the bed. I was impressed at the body which was straight. But it was a project for sures. This Horizon doesn’t look bad. I would want the door scratches gone since the rest of the car looks so nice. I wouldn’t mind having this in my garage if I had another garage space.
I had several L bodies back in the day…’83 Turismo, ’85 GLH Turbo and an ’89 Horizon. All three of them were tough little cars that ran and handled well. I was a broke college student at the time that I had them, and maintenance was never high on the list of things that I could afford. These cars took a lot of abuse and kept right on running. The ’83 was a 1.7L, four speed stripper….would go miles and miles on a gallon of gas. The GLH was just a ball to drive and the Horizon was just as tough and thrifty as the Turismo.
I wish I had all three of them still!
Would be fun with a Neon SRT 4 transplant
Steve h you lost me on the beyond license plate? What am I missing beyond horizon?
I liked the later chargers with the filled sail panels look better
Don’t feel bad, I don’t think anybody else got it either . . you must have never see the 1942 movie . . “BEYOND, the Blue Horizon” . . I have a license plate collection on my garage wall ( over 300 ) I’ve always been into special plates, when I saw this one the first time back in the 70’s I didn’t get it either – until I realized that plate was on a blue Horizon. So they named their car “Beyond”.
Hi, I own the car. Yes, the clutch pedal is missing the pad. Yes, it’s 17,000 original miles. A friend of mine, his step dad bought it for his mom in hopes that she would learn to drive stick on it. She tried it a few times and hated it!! They would argue every time he tried to teach her LOL. Soooo… he would take the car out a few times a year to the grocery store etc… he passed away and she wanted the car out of the garage so I wound up with it. That’s the story behind the low mileage 😁