Lieberman Does Chrysler

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

It’s funny how some things stick in your head. I’ll never forget Hispanic actor Ricardo Montalban’s satisfaction with the 1976 Chrysler Cordoba: “I like what they’ve done to my car!” My mind also reserves a mental YouTube for the actor’s penchant for “soft Corinthian leather.” Of course, the fact that the term was invented by copy writers at Young & Rubicam, and that the hides in question were equestrian in origin, helped write the ROM. It’s not clear if the Cordoba campaign was the first time a car hooked into a post-modern ironic vibe, but it certainly set the tone for the company for years to follow. In fact, you could say that the 300 is the logical inheritor of this self-referential pomposity. Well, at least that’s what I thought this morning when I watched a beige 300 with arc eyes chrome wheels, a mesh front grill and a dark tan fake Landau roof (complete with matching trunk lid and, wait for it, gas door cover) roll into the local Amazing! porno store parking lot. Does that mean that Chrysler products aren’t just badge engineered, but somehow deeply forever faux? I know: let’s ask Jonny!

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • Windswords Windswords on Oct 02, 2006

    Jerry, you are correct you can avoid (some) regulations by classifying a vehicle a truck instead of a car. But when you consider the Dodge Magnum and the Chrysler PT Cruiser there is no reason (regulatory wise) to call them trucks. As for the Crand Cherokee and Commander, other than lower CAFE regs (22 vs. 27.5?) what safety features do these two vehicles lack that cars have? None that I can think of. Market forces have dictated that these two vehicles have all the same bells and whistles that traditional cars have.

  • Jerry weber Jerry weber on Oct 02, 2006

    I agree, once the magic word cross-over came in all sorts of things find new definitions. I used to think a truck needed a seperate frame to be rugged enough to haul and tow. However some cars (not many left) ie linciln town car, ford, mercury marquis have frames but are cars. I'm confused.

  • RicardoHead RicardoHead on Oct 03, 2006

    Knock corinthian leather and you will suffer the wrath of khan.

  • Studedude1961 Studedude1961 on Oct 04, 2006

    Ah the 70s...fine Corinthian leather (who raised the Corinthians?) the Symbianese Liberation Army (for a free Symbia) and the Chrysler Cordoba. Like the Pinto, the Cordoba was a car everybody hated but everybody bought.

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