Purple HAZE
The ‘Chrysler by Chrysler’ never made a huge impression on the Aussie market when new, but for one Queensland-based enthusiast, Chrysler’s luxury sedan has a family connection that’s very special.
We all know the Australian-made Fairlane and Statesman, but back when our new car market was dominated by ‘The Big Three,’ what was Chrysler’s contender in the luxury segment?
Ask that question today and you’ll probably get some blank looks from more than a few car enthusiasts. Not so with the Mopar fraternity. They’ll be able to tell you that Chrysler Australia’s pitch for the top end of the local market started with the VE Valiant-based ‘VIP’ in 1967, followed by the smoothly-styled - and confusingly-named - ‘Chrysler by Chrysler’ in 1971.
DOUBLE OFFERING
Where the VE VIP was essentially a Valiant Regal sedan loaded with extras and luxury trim, Chrysler no doubt saw Holden’s mistake with the HK-based ‘long tail’ Brougham and stretched the wheelbase of the VF and VG versions of the VIP that followed.
Holden learnt from their mistake, too, and offered a “proper” luxury sedan with the 1971 HQ Statesman. By this stage, Chrysler had progressed from the VIP to the ‘Chrysler by Chrysler’, which was essentially the same concept, but with a new name and based
