Marque: Chrysler / Talbot - Company History & Models - Cars By Brand

Chrysler / Talbot

Amidst deep financial troubles, the Rootes Group was totally taken under the wing of the Americabased Chrysler Corporation in 1976 after acquiring the UK firm in 1967, and (with help from the British Government) a new small hatchback model was produced by Chrysler UK to replace the Imp. The resulting car (introduced in 1977 and based on the Hillman Avenger) was designated Chrysler Sunbeam.

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Talbot Samba Rallye

Fast Facts

Produced:
1983-1986
Engine:
1219cc
0-60 mph:
11 secs
Top Speed:
110 mph

Based on the three-door 104 floorpan, the Samba was never given a chance to develop its true potential or identity within the PSA set-up - but the Rallye version displayed what Talbot’s supermini could achieve. Launched in 1983 to replace both the Simca 1000 Rallye and Talbot’s very capable Sunbeam ti, the Samba Rallye was available in any colour you liked - so long as it was red or white - and boasted those essential side decals and a bonnet vent for boy-racer appeal. However, the Samba’s light weight meant that its 80bhp 1219cc engine could muster a very respectable top speed and a very prominent rallying career into the bargain. Two years later Talbot launched an even more potent 90bhp 1360cc version but by that stage the 205 was the blue-eyed boy in the new PSA line-up, the cute Citroen AX was ready and waiting in the wings and anyway the Talbot marque was now on borrowed time. Thus Samba became the last dance.

Chrysler 180/2 Litre

RATING:

4 / 10

PRICE: £200 - £1000

Fast Facts

Produced:
1971-81
Bodywork:
Four-door saloon
Engine:
Overhead camshaft in-line four-cylinder 180: 1812cc 99bhp; 2 Litre: 1910cc 110bhp
0-60 mph:
180: 15 sec; 2 Litre: 14 sec
Top Speed:
180: 105 mph; 2 Litre: 107 mph
MPG:
20-30+

Looking like a scaled-up Avenger, these posh saloons were spacious, comfortable and were in fact once to have been the all new Humber for the 1970s. However, ultimately the 180 and more powerful 2 Litre models were sales flops. They resulted from uneasy collaboration between the Simca and Rootes teams, and were powered by Simca engines (originally it had been intended to install a smooth British V6). Handling was never great but these cars were always fine for long distance cruising. Survivors are very rarely encountered, but if you can find one (and when did you last or even ever see one?) it can make a plush, roomy family classic for a pittance.

Chrysler / Talbot Alpine / Solara

RATING:

2 / 10

PRICE: £100 - £1000

Fast Facts

Produced:
1975-86
Bodywork:
Alpine: Five-door hatch; Solara: Four-door saloon
Engine:
1.3: Overhead valve in-line four-cylinder 1294cc 68bhp; 1.5S: Overhead valve in-line four-cylinder 1442cc 85bhp; 1.6: Overhead valve in-line four-cylinder 1592cc 87bhp
0-60 mph:
12-15 sec
Top Speed:
93-100+ mph
MPG:
24-40

In many ways the five-door Alpine hatch (developed to replace the French Simca 1500/1501) was advanced for its time, offering class leading performance, handling and interior space. They were also attractively styled and all this meant that the Alpine was voted Car of the Year for 1976. Solara saloons followed in 1980 and were variations on the same theme and top line variants were well-equipped. For all their good points though the Alpines and Solaras did not sell in huge numbers; the engines became rattly due to them being canted over, bodies rusted away and build was poor. They are now rare but - are they classics worth saving?

Chrysler / Talbot Horizon

RATING:

4 / 10

PRICE: £100 - £1000

Fast Facts

Produced:
1978-85
Bodywork:
Five-door hatchback
Engine:
1.1: Overhead valve in-line four-cylinder 1118cc 58bhp; 1.3: Overhead valve in-line four-cylinder 1294cc 64bhp; 1.5: Overhead valve in-line four-cylinder 1442cc 64bhp; 1.9 Diesel: Overhead valve in-line four-cylinder 1905cc 64bhp
0-60 mph:
Petrol 12-16 sec; Diesel: 13.5+ sec
Top Speed:
Petrol 90-95 mph; Diesel: 98 mph
MPG:
Petrol 30-40; Diesel: 35-45

Intended to be Chrysler’s ‘World Car’ (and to replace the Simca 1100), but sales figures said otherwise. These boxy cars - generally unloved but under-rated - are all but extinct today; even so Horizons have always offered five-door practicality, spacious interiors and a comfortable ride. They also provided good performance and reasonable economy. although engines tend to become ‘clattery’ and some aspects of do-it-yourself maintenance can be -ahem - challenging. However, survivors can make novel alternative modern classics and interest is sure to increase as they become rarer still. If you are buying, a very good aspect is that asking prices are generally low.

Chrysler / Talbot Sunbeam

RATING:

4 / 10

PRICE: £100 - £1000

Fast Facts

Produced:
1977-82
Bodywork:
Three-door hatchback
Engine:
1.0: Overhead camshaft in-line four-cylinder 928cc 42bhp; 1.3: Overhead valve in-line four-cylinder 1295cc 59bhp; 1.6: Overhead valve in-line four-cylinder 1598cc 69bhp
0-60 mph:
1.0: 24 sec; 1.3: 15 sec; 1.6: 13 sec
Top Speed:
1.0: 80 mph; 1.3: 95 mph; 1.6: 100+ mph
MPG:
1.0: 40-45; 1.3: 35-40; 1.6: 30-35

Rare now and always under-rated, these models represented a brave entry for Chrysler UK into the small hatchback market in the late 1970s. Based around Avenger parts and designed in just 18 months, they offered hatchback practicality with conventional, easy owning running gear. The smallest in the line-up was the 1.0 employing an enlarged Imp unit to 928cc but now mounted at the front. The 1.3 and 1.6 litre versions were fitted with the proven, Avenger motors. Ride and handling qualities were then and still are impressive; it’s just a shame that the car was too little, too late to save the once proud Rootes Group. The 1.6 (and Tis) are our pick.

Talbot Matra Rancho

RATING:

8 / 10

PRICE: £100 - £1500

Fast Facts

Produced:
1978-85
Bodywork:
Three-door estate
Engine:
Overhead camshaft in-line four-cylinder 1442cc 80bhp
0-60 mph:
15 sec
Top Speed:
90 mph
MPG:
25-35

A true classic, ahead of its time in styling and appeal… If ever a vehicle was crying out for four wheel drive, this was it, but in fact the Talbot Matra Rancho was only front-wheel drive. It was very trendy for its time though and age hasn’t diminished its style. Indeed, interest in the few remaining examples is notably rising. It was intended to be an affordable multi-purpose estate using a mix of proven Simca running gear. The SUVstyle bodywork incorporated glass fibre/polyester sections and featured heavy-duty rubbing strips along the body sides. Today, with 4x4s all the rage, the Rancho an interesting classic take on the modern SUV concept.

Talbot Samba

RATING:

4 / 10

PRICE: Hatchback £100 - £1000; Cabriolet £200-£2000

Fast Facts

Produced:
1982-86
Bodywork:
Three-door hatchback; two-door cabriolet
Engine:
1.0: Overhead camshaft in-line four-cylinder 954cc 45bhp 1.1: Overhead camshaft in-line four-cylinder 1124cc 49bhp 1.4: Overhead camshaft in-line four-cylinder 1360cc 71bhp Rallye: Overhead camshaft in-line four-cylinder 1219cc 90bhp
0-60 mph:
11-18 sec
Top Speed:
85-110 mph
MPG:
30-50

The last Talbot, based on the Peugeot 104 and Citroën LNA, was a neat, three-door hatch, with all-round independent suspension and - on the 1360cc models - a five-speed gearbox. The range-topping GLS was equipped with electrically-operated windows, tinted glass and load-adjustable headlamps, among other goodies which were rarely found on small cheapies back then. The Cabriolet – developed by Pininfarina and introduced in 1982 - featured same 1.3 engine but Rallye used a 1219cc 90bhp and was a rapid performer, intended for motorsport. When Samba was killed off, with it went the Talbot marque in favour of new generation Peugeots.

Talbot Tagora

RATING:

6 / 10

PRICE: £100 - £1000

Fast Facts

Produced:
1981-84
Bodywork:
Four-door saloon
Engine:
2.2: Overhead camshaft in-line four-cylinder 2155cc 115bhp; 2.6: Overhead valve V62664cc 163 bhp
0-60 mph:
2.2: 11+ sec; 2.6: 9 sec
Top Speed:
2.2: 105+ mph; 2.6: 120+ mph
MPG:
2.2: 22-30+; 2.6: 19-25+

An attractive and now very rare executive saloon (of the Humber mould…), engineered in France and styled in Britain with input from the U.S! As with Chrysler/Talbot products of the era, the Tagora never achieved the sales success hoped for by its makers. It was fast (especially in V6 form), competent and it provided plenty of interior and boot space. Yet, while it wasn’t a bad car it wasn’t sufficiently outstanding to woo potential buyers away from other large saloons of the time. If you can track down a decent survivor you will own a fascinating final account of what was the Rootes empire which will attract interest wherever it goes - and all this for less than a grand!

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