Chrysler Maserati TC

I have the opportunity to buy an '87 model of the above car, with the 2.4i
engine, but it needs some bodywork repairs and general cleaning up. The
interior leather is also DOA, due to exposure to the sun, leaving it badly
cracked in most areas. I have been quoted a figure around £700 GBP for the
leather to be replaced, so that's not TOO bad, but there are a few dings on
the body, and the rubber seal on the driver's door window is perished
(apparently a regular 'feature' of the LeBaron, which is basically what this
car is, with Maserati body and interior styling).

What is the availability of body parts for this model? I haven't had a lot
of luck with google looking for them, and wondered if I'd be buying a
liability (I'm in the UK).

I love the overall looks of this car, and would dearly love to get my hands
on it, but would it prove horrendously expensive to get it back into good
order, or can it be done sensibly?

Thanks for any advice/comments, good or bad.

Dave

 

Bugger! It's an '89 not '87.

Sorry!

 

I suspect that the availability of body parts would be almost nil.
I'm in the USA and could perhaps could check with local Chrysler dealers for
you.
However, I suspect that they might not be too cooperative.

This was a VERY limited production car and I'm sure that few spares are
stocked.

On the other hand, the mechanical parts are almost surely available.

Have you checked with Maserati in Italy to see if they might have something?

Doug

 

word of warning there is very few parts around for this car

 

Thanks for all the input guys, but the whole thing is moot. The guy I was
buying it from withdrew it from sale JUST before I did the deal.

The annoying part is, I'd spent all morning trying to arrange insurance for
the beast here in the UK, only to have the rug pulled out from under me at
the last second, as I found an underwriter willing to carry the risk

I suspect it is the ONLY example of the car in this country too!

Damn my luck.........

 

I'd say your luck is excellent indeed.

Unless you were anxious to spend US$3,000 on a headlamp assembly, US$1800
on a brake master cylinder, etc.

Get a LeBaron Cabrio instead. Almost as scarce/exclusive in your part of
the world as a TC, several orders of magnitude more dependable and several
MORE orders of magnitude cheaper to keep running. You can find them on the
continent, e.g. via www.mobile.de . Be sure to get an '87 to '92 model
(with hidden headlamps), as LH-dip headlamps are available for these but
NOT for the '93-'94 aero headlamp units.

DS

 

Thanks for the sage advice Daniel (As ever in this group). I'll take a look
for a cabrio as suggested.
However, the cachet of driving around in a car BADGED as a Maserati, with
the reliability of Chrysler running gear was sooooo tempting

Dave

 

Buy or make the badges!

 

They weren't Chrysler's best years. I like the styling, & the turbo models
have good power, but I would find another car. If a TC came along, I'd
want it to since it *is* a rare, good-looking machine. But it would
have to be as a collector machine (not a daily driver), & I would expect
to have to make or repair the unavailable parts.
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

Giggle Cream - it makes dessert *funny*!