1971 cuda 383 4 sp

[Lee Stewart]

Originally Posted by 442w30

If that were true, then Chrysler wouldn't have gone bankrupt. :twocents:

The Chrysler Bailout of 1979: A Retrospective

Back in 1979, Chrysler was on the verge of bankruptcy and in desperate need of a $1.5 billion loan from the federal government.1 However, Chrysler's troubles began further back in the 1960s, when the company tried to expand both within the United States and worldwide in an attempt to catch up to its main competitors. In hindsight, it was ill-advised as the seventies would have a total of three recessions, two energy crises, and new government environmental and fuel-efficiency standards. The fear of millions of jobs being lost, along with resurgent German and Japanese auto industries, had many concerned that an already weak economy could be pushed into a depression. All these factors eventually led to Chrysler's 1979 bailout by the federal government.

https://www.investopedia.com/article...er-bailout.asp

Chrysler did go Chapter 11 Bankruptcy back in April 2009 which was caused by The Great Recession

[442w30]

My point was that perhaps Chrysler Corp was watching every penny based on the inferences of that bulletin, but the truth is that Chrysler was bleeding cash because it didn't watch every penny. Look at the 1970 performance offerings and how many options were available for, let's say, the Barracuda, and how many are quite rare. And in 1971 they continued to pretend the market was strong when other manufacturers were paring back. How many E-bodys were they building during this time? The investment made did not pan out.

And then if you read the reports in the automotive press back in the day, Chrysler was famous for sending unwanted cars from its sales bank to dealerships. None of this was "watching every penny." By the end of the decade, the operation couldn't sustain itself anymore.

Anyway, it seems that your bone to pick is with my choice of words, and that's valid.

[Lee Stewart]

Originally Posted by 442w30

My point was that perhaps Chrysler Corp was watching every penny based on the inferences of that bulletin, but the truth is that Chrysler was bleeding cash because it didn't watch every penny. Look at the 1970 performance offerings and how many options were available for, let's say, the Barracuda, and how many are quite rare. And in 1971 they continued to pretend the market was strong when other manufacturers were paring back. How many E-bodys were they building during this time? The investment made did not pan out.

I could say the same thing about Chevrolet and 1969. A car: The Camaro: with almost 100 different options and 13 different models. The Chevrolet BB engine: 11 different variations.

That's why John Z. DeLorean was moved over from Pontiac to Chevrolet: to pare down the options and stop the red ink.

The US car manufacturers were being attacked by the foreign car OEMs and were losing serious sales to them. It became a downhill snowball that got bigger over time and affected each at a different point in time with the culmination being The Great Recession.

[442w30]

But the thing with pony cars, as pioneered by the Mustang, was an arm's length list of options to choose from.

Chrysler's problem was it was late to the game, and that it was in no financial shape to sustain the kind of business that it was promoting at the time.

Look at the 1970.5 Camaro and you'll see that its option list was kept tidy in comparison. The 1971 Mustang seems to be similar in that regard.

[Lee Stewart]

Originally Posted by 442w30

But the thing with pony cars, as pioneered by the Mustang, was an arm's length list of options to choose from.

Yes - an arm's length. Not two arms and both legs. LOL

Chrysler's problem was it was late to the game, and that it was in no financial shape to sustain the kind of business that it was promoting at the time.

I would say latest to the game. GM was late to the game. Ford unveiled the Mustang at the NY Worlds fair Opening Day: April 22, 1964. Not a prototype. A production car - ready to take orders. The Camaro hit showrooms Sept. 1966 and the Firebird: February 1967.

Look at the 1970.5 Camaro and you'll see that its option list was kept tidy in comparison. The 1971 Mustang seems to be similar in that regard.

Yep - John Z did a great job in paring down the option list - a fraction of what was offered in 1969. And for 1970 model year he got rid of all the exotic racing engines. One 454 (LS5) for the Corvette, Impala, Monte Carlo, none for the Camaro or Nova and two for the Chevelle SS (LS5 & 6).

1971 Mustang: first time Power Windows are offered in a Mustang.