Chrysler / Talbot Company History
Published: 24th Mar 2011 - 0 Comments - Be the first, contribute now!
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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.
Other Hillman models were all rebadged as Chryslers during 1976/77. In the late ‘70s Chrysler had huge financial problems, and sold its European operations to Peugeot.
A new name was now needed for the ex-Chrysler cars, and Talbot was chosen. So we now had Talbot Avengers and Talbot Sunbeams (for example).
Following the closure of the Linwood factory in 1981 (where the Avenger saloon and Sunbeam hatchback models had been produced), these Talbots came to the end of their respective short lived production roads too.
The Talbot marque name lived on for a few more years, with models sold in Britain including the Tagora (the end came in June 1984), Alpine and Solara (discontinued in September 1984), Matra Rancho (also ended in 1984), Horizon (dropped in September 1985), and Samba (spring 1986).
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