Junkyard Find: 1985 Dodge 600 Turbo
Once Chrysler’s K platform proved successful, the E (for “extended”) version of the K soon followed. First was the 400, which was then upgraded to the 600 for the 1983 model year. You don’t see many 600s these days, though you might see the occasional Hongqi CA750F version on the streets of Beijing. Here’s a once-luxurious brown 600 I spotted in a Denver wrecking yard.
This thing is covered with crystal pentastars.
You like brown cordo-velour and pleather for your interior? Good!
A vinyl landau top was still a relevant feature on crypto-luxury coupes in the mid-1980s.
This one hasn’t held up too well under the Colorado sun.
Because 1985 was the future, you got the Chrysler “Message Center” in your 600.
And, of course, turbocharging.
Even by the standards of early Post-Malaise Era America, it’s hard to imagine that the Dodge 600 convertible was the object of many yearning dreams.
Cheaper than a Buick!
Murilee Martin is the pen name of Phil Greden, a writer who has lived in Minnesota, California, Georgia and (now) Colorado. He has toiled at copywriting, technical writing, junkmail writing, fiction writing and now automotive writing. He has owned many terrible vehicles and some good ones. He spends a great deal of time in self-service junkyards. These days, he writes for publications including Autoweek, Hagerty and The Truth About Cars.
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I had a good friend who was an EMT in the early 90s. When I asked why he quite, his exact words were "I couldnt stomach vacuuming what was left of people out of their K-cars anymore". Words to live by.
My used car dealer friend used to rent these off his lot well into the 1990's, loved them for rental beaters, & the later model Acclaims, Sundances, Dynastys too.