1985 Chrysler Volare
Odds are you’ll never see one of these cars, but know this: Chrysler indulged in some very puzzling reshuffles in the 1980s, especially in Mexico.
Lots of fun in the world of cars
There are many reasons why an American automaker might use different brands in different North American markets. The Fargo truck brand is now defunct, for example, allows Chrysler-Plymouth dealers to sell pickups in the North. Never mind that Fargo and Dodge trucks are exactly the same.
Today we’re taking a look at Chrysler’s K-Car, which was sold in the US from 1981 to 1989. Affordable compact coupes, sedans, and wagons were successful in the US, so selling them in the south border has nothing but to sell them. reasonable. Oh, but marketing…
The K-Cars were sold in the US as Plymouth Reliant and Dodge Aries. But in Mexico, Reliant became the Chrysler Volaré and Aries became the Dodge Dart. Research on name changes for the Mexican market reveals a number of reasons for the nickname swap, though they all sound like conjecture. I think the most interesting thing is that the Plymouth brand was swapped out for Chrysler.
The Volaré is offered in Mexico in coupe and sedan form, while the Dart is also offered as a wagon. Interestingly, a sporty version of the Dart coupe has been renamed the Magnum 400, and from the advertisement seen below, appears to have been sold as the Chrysler. All very confusing.
Fun fact: At the same time, the Plymouth Reliant was sold in Canada as the Caravelle.
For 1986, the Dart was renamed the 600 and switched to the stretched K-Car architecture that underpinned the American Chrysler E-Class, Dodge 600, and Plymouth Caravelle. The Dart coupe and wagon are gone.
What happened next is confusing enough to deserve another blog post. We will eventually get there. Until then, if you see a Chrysler Volaré, you now know where it came from. If you see one.
Southern border frenzy! 10 Classic Car Ads for the Mexican Market
What is the Chrysler Volaré?
1984Chrysler Magnum 400
Advertising Chrysler Magnum 400 1984 (Mexico)
Review flashback! 1980 Plymouth Volare
1984 Chrysler Volare
Advertising Chrysler Volaré 1984 (Mexico)
Too spicy for America: Dodge Ramcharger 1999-2001 for Mexico only
Dodge darts 1985
Dodge darts advertisement 1985 (Mexico)
Dodge darts 1986
Dodge darts commercial 1986 (Mexico)
Listening to Car Stuff Podcast is very interesting
Mexican car advertising showroom
Click below to enlarge the image
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Advertising Chrysler Magnum 400 1984 (Mexico)
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Advertising Chrysler Volaré 1984 (Mexico)
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Dodge darts advertisement 1985 (Mexico)
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Dodge darts commercial 1986 (Mexico)
Southern border frenzy! 10 Classic Car Ads for the Mexican Market
