OK all of you Planes, Trains, and Automobiles fans, here’s your chance to take a drive, have a smoke, and pretend that you are John Candy with this cool 1984 Chrysler LeBaron woodie convertible. This unique bit of ’80s Chrysler engineering is located in Woodside, California and is available, here on Barn Finds Classifieds for $6,000.
What’s really cool about this LeBaron is that it’s equipped with Mopar’s Electronic Voice Activation system (EVA) that’s still in working condition. EVA was a synthetic voice system that let drivers know helpful things like a warning about low fuel or a door being ajar. Comedian Eddie Murphy parodied EVA in one of his comedy routines by stating that his car was so equipped and it was helpful because he lived in a bad neighborhood. He claimed that when he tried to start his car and nothing happened the monotone voice came on and chimed, “Some mofo has stolen your battery!” OK, so it’s highly unlikely that was one of the canned messages but you get the idea and can read about EVA here and how it worked.
Said to have been garaged for 30 years, this LeBaron is suffering a bit from faded clear coat but that’s a common issue with ’80s Mopar finishes. The seller suggests, “Clear coat is peeling on some wood trim. Exterior paint has lost its sheen and would need new clear coat to be a show car” Nevertheless, the body, faux wood trim, and convertible top still present quite well. It’s hard to imagine a LeBaron from this era without wire wheel covers!
Power is provided by a 101 HP, 2.6 liter, in-line, Mitsubishi four-cylinder engine working through a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transaxle. The seller states, “Car drives like it did in 1984” and he also mentions a valve job that was performed at only 75K miles – that item might be worth further inquiry.
The leather-clad interior of this 115K mile convertible is showing some signs of cracking – a typical aged leather attribute, especially if this LeBaron has experienced a lot of top-down time, but it looks minor and a proper leather “massage” may heal some of it. The seller adds that there are no rips or tears and the carpet and dash pad check out fine. All-in-all, the environment shows really well in its blocky, sharp-angled ’80s Chrysler way.
These were interesting though common cars back in their day. The combined woodie/convertible mash-up seemed unusual to some but it was really an attempt to capture the elegance of the 1940’s vintage Chrysler Town and Country convertibles which featured genuine wood trim. Was 1980s Chrysler successful on that front? I think not but I applaud their attempt to relive some of their storied past. This is as nice a LeBaron woodie convertible as I’ve encountered in some time – they’re certainly not regularly found any longer. I say buy this convertible, grab a cigar and go for a drive, right?
It’s nice to see any K-car or especially K-car convertible at this point, but I think the Planes, Trains and Automobiles Lebaron was a 1985 with a turbocharged engine.
Imagine if it had a manual 🙏🙌
How about the pencil with Jon Voight’s teeth marks?
C.O.D. This never gets old.
Just a correction: that’s not a 2.2, it’s a Mitsubishi 2.6 which is more or less the devil’s work!
Well, I went with what the seller stated, but according to the VIN, it is a 2.6.
Fixed now.
Thx,
JO
I find most K-cars and their derivatives to be the epitome of “meh,” but for some reason, I love these woody convertibles. I guess it’s like when the class nerd shows up at the high school dance in contact lenses and designer clothes.
A ridiculous car from day one in my humble opinion. Maybe that’s why it was chosen for Planes, Trains, & Automobiles…? At this point it has achieved true Clown Car status. I chuckle every time I see one as I recall some of John Candy’s lines. As for the paint imperfections- no worries – “They can buff that right out.”
First of all I own a 84 convertible with 25K on it and we have a weekly car show on Saturday and you would be surprised at all the positive comments I get on the car. And pictures taken so many of you people do not have a clue about this car. Mine is not a woody.
Chrysler tried to revive the good old 1946 Chrysler Town & Country and failed miserably.
Maybe they forgot or never investigated to see if or why the front fenders would be made of wood, which they never were, of course.
The Barenaked ladies song “If I had a million dollars” is now playing in my head. Thanks Jim.
Actually I kind of like that song.
What a “blast from the past”. I like the looks of this car. So sad that many of the older “woodies” have not survived!!
But the radio still works?
Clear as a bell.
I cant say anything good about the car , so no comment BUT i can truly say that i really, really miss john candy
What a great actor he was
Love all of John Candy’s movies, even “Heavy Metal”! Only the good die young, I guess. This car had a valve job at 75k miles so the weak points of the engine have already been addressed (head gasket, timing chain). Fair asking price IMO for a drop-top that’s in great shape, jump in and drive!
Years ago , a good decent man that was also a customer of mine passed away from cancer , his wife was very disappointed to hear all the friends repeat the old saying « only the good die young »
She said that she was a very good person and the saying made no sense
And she was a really great person …
A word to anyone who owns one with the Mitsubishi 2.6 engine: the fuel pumps have a propensity to misbehave, allowing gasoline to pour into the crankcase and thin out the engine oil. Before you’d discover it, your engine is ruined. Therefore I advise you to rebuild your fuel pumps regularly whether they work well or not.