Vehicle Description
1985 Dodge 600 convertible, attractively painted in red garnet
pearl and upholstered in white vinyl. She is equipped with the
2.6-liter Mitsubishi 4 cylinder "Astron" engine and automatic
transmission. The paint presents well for a daily driver but has
scratches and peeling that will need to be repainted should you
choose to take it to the next level. The white convertible top is
in great condition. The weatherstripping needs to be replaced, but
remarkably doesn't leak in the rain. I found a small rust hole in
the trunk (see pictures). The driver's side bucket seat is ripped
at the seams on the lower cushion. The engine has strong
compression in all cylinders. I replaced the plugs, wires,
distributor cap and rotor. The carburetor has just been rebuilt
(see receipt). She runs and drives well, but should be checked out
further as it hasn't been on the road since 2019 and is a true barn
find. The under-appreciated and oft maligned K Car. If you are an
auto enthusiast as I am, you know its historical significance. For
the uninitiated, here is a short history. Lee Iacocca, freshly
fired by Henry Ford II was placed at the helm of a rapidly sinking
Chrysler Corporation. Wracked by quality control and innumerable
recalls of its Dodge Aspen & Plymouth Volare, Mopar needed a sales
winner immediately and sales guru Iacocca delivered after having
secured a loan from Uncle Sam. The 1981 Plymouth Reliant was a
sales hit, proving to be the right car at the right time for
Chrysler and ultimately the entire American auto industry. The
Reliant and its cousin Dodge Aries were economical but Lee Iacocca
sensed correctly that they needed a little panache. After seeing a
prototype of a Chrysler LeBaron convertible, he ordered that it be
rushed into production for the 1982 model year. The LeBaron, 400 &
later 600s sold like the proverbial hot cakes. Chrysler saved, the
K Car provided the platform for the minivan in 1984, putting smiles
on the faces of soccer moms ever since.
