2013 Audi A3

Guilty Pleasure: First-Gen Chrysler LH Platform

 
2 1,752 views Oct 5, 2011

Chrysler LHS

After feeling the urge to find myself a clean Eagle Premier last week, I got to thinking about the Chrysler products that the Premier spawned after Chrysler absorbed all that Renault DNA through its acquisition of AMC.

Remember how futuristic the first LH Platform Chryslers looked?

OK, now forget about the mediocre reliability and the fact that just about all the 1993-97 LH cars ended up getting eaten by The Crusher by the mid-2000s.

Suspend your disbelief, because it would be cool to have a super-clean Vision or LH New Yorker.

The "cab-forward," curvy look of the LH cars--which included the Chrysler Concorde, LHS, and New Yorker, the Dodge Intrepid, and the Eagle Vision--really made the designers and stylists at Ford sweat when they took a look at the aging first-gen Taurus (which had itself looked radically different from anything else on the road when introduced), which is one of the factors that led to the odd-looking, round-rear-windowed '96 Taurus. Does that mean that an '85 Taurus might get Guilty Pleasure status? Probably.

So, it's a descendant of the Renault 21/25, via AMC, with an engine somewhat superior to the flaky PRV V-6 in the Premier, made by a company that was about to be eaten up by Daimler AG. Talk about your complicated ancestry, which should make any car cooler.

Just about all of them have been crushed by now, but there must be a few low-mile/original-elderly-owner examples out there. Of course, those who don't know cars would hate seeing this thing lowering their property values, and those who do know cars would pity me for buying such a mediocre machine, but I can't help wanting one.
HI-RES GALLERY: Chrysler LHS




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Comments (2)

  1. smopar avatar smopar Posted: 10/5/2011 11:42pm PDT

    I recently bought a 56K mile 1997 Chrysler Concorde that is virtually brand new in feel and performance - and it hasn't given me any touble at all in about 5K miles of driving. I have driven the latest Chrysler products, and while they are very nice, I still prefer the feel and nimbleness of the early LH generation. I smile every time I take mine for a spin. There is a 62K mile Eagle Vision TSI (the upscale one)for sale right now and I also saw a Dodge Intrepid ES with similar low miles, so they are still around. Follow your instincts and go for it - you will be pleased! Email me for details on both listings if you want.
    Steve
     
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  2. Damien Thomas avatar Damien Thomas Posted: 10/6/2011 12:34am PDT

    You crack me up - "Of course, those who don't know cars would hate seeing this thing lowering their property values"

    These cars will certainly cause that reaction in my neighborhood. I should find one and park across the road from my place and just leave it there one night. Only taking it out at night when no one can see me hahahaha.
     
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