Chrysler. Perhaps you think of Middle America, a typical car. Of course, you may think of their recent quality issues, but this is 1989 we are talking about, so you probably think of a typical car, albeit one with a safety advantage due to their early introduction of air bags.
The Maserati TC didn't have air bags at its late 1989 launch - even a Dodge Omni (made by Chrysler) of the time had a driver air bag. Of course, with the air bag requirement not taking effect until 1998, most cars didn't have even a driver air bag until about 1992. Chrysler prided itself on being earlier, with all 1990 (and many 1989) vehicles it built in the US having a driver air bag. One problem: the TC was built in Italy. Later TCs got an air bag, but by this time, most of the TCs that would ever be built had already been built bagless.
But that's just the beginning of the TC's problems. The TC was built in three different locations - stamping took place in Torino, and it was assembled in Sparone and then Milan. Two of the engines - four cylinders - were developed jointly with Chrysler and Maserati. The third, a more powerful V6, came from Mitsubishi. Mitsu-flipping-bishi.
Let's not forget about the Chrysler LeBaron GTC, which offered the same features and more color choices at little more than half the price of the TC. Of course, one may argue that the Maserati build quality was probably better, but the Maserati of the late 1980s - early 1990s was not in its finest hour. The company was nearly bankrupt. Their volume model of the time was the Biturbo, a model which was known for being unreliable. And decidedly un-sexy.
The GTC had far better build quality. And an air bag. And was available at all Chrysler dealers, not just 300 select dealers.
Seems like a simple choice, and it was: only 7,300 units were sold at $33,000 - $37,000 each.
Awww... I kinda like it!
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