Chrysler UK
Encyclopedia
Chrysler UK was the British
division of the American
car-maker Chrysler
. It was founded in 1970 when the Chrysler-owned Rootes Group was renamed to reflect its ownership.
, Sunbeam and Humber
vehicles. The first British Chrysler to wear a Chrysler badge was the 1975 Alpine, and a year later the remaining Hillman range was rebadged as Chryslers, while Chrysler's French range retained the Simca
badge. The French version of the Chrysler Alpine was the Simca 1307/1308.
Chrysler UK's next major launch was the 1977 Sunbeam
, a three-door entry-level hatchback which effectively replaced the Hillman Imp
and made use of the Avenger's
rear-wheel drive chassis. 1978 saw the launch of the mid-range Horizon
, a five-door hatchback marketed as a more modern alternative to the Ford Escort, Vauxhall Viva
and Austin Allegro
. Sales of the British Chrysler range were reasonably strong throughout the 1980s.
and Hills Precision, the plastics factory in Canterbury Street, as well as the vehicle manufacturing plant at Linwood in Scotland.
carmaker Peugeot S.A.
who sold the range as Talbot
s in both Britain and France before phasing the name out on passenger vehicles by 1987.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
division of the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
car-maker Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
. It was founded in 1970 when the Chrysler-owned Rootes Group was renamed to reflect its ownership.
Models
The initial British Chrysler range consisted of Rootes-developed HillmanHillman
Hillman is a British automobile marque created by the Hillman Motor Car Company, founded in 1907. The company was based in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, near Coventry, England. Before 1907 the company had built bicycles...
, Sunbeam and Humber
Humber (car)
Humber is a dormant British automobile marque which could date its beginnings to Thomas Humber's bicycle company founded in 1868. Following their involvement in Humber through Hillman in 1928 the Rootes brothers acquired a controlling interest and joined the Humber board in 1932 making Humber part...
vehicles. The first British Chrysler to wear a Chrysler badge was the 1975 Alpine, and a year later the remaining Hillman range was rebadged as Chryslers, while Chrysler's French range retained the Simca
Simca
Simca was a French automaker, founded in November 1934 by Fiat. It was directed from July 1935 to May 1963 by the Italian Henri Théodore Pigozzi...
badge. The French version of the Chrysler Alpine was the Simca 1307/1308.
Chrysler UK's next major launch was the 1977 Sunbeam
Chrysler Sunbeam
The Chrysler Sunbeam is a small supermini 3-door hatchback manufactured by Chrysler Europe at the former Rootes Group factory in Linwood in Scotland. The Sunbeam's development was funded by a British government grant with the aim to keep the Linwood plant running, and the small car was based on the...
, a three-door entry-level hatchback which effectively replaced the Hillman Imp
Hillman Imp
The Hillman Imp is a compact, rear-engined saloon car that was manufactured under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group from 1963 to 1976...
and made use of the Avenger's
Hillman Avenger
The Hillman Avenger was a rear-wheel drive small family car originally manufactured under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group from 1970–1976, and made by Chrysler Europe from 1976–1981 as the Chrysler Avenger and finally the Talbot Avenger...
rear-wheel drive chassis. 1978 saw the launch of the mid-range Horizon
Chrysler Horizon
The Horizon was a subcompact automobile developed by Chrysler Europe and was sold in Europe between 1977 and 1985 under the Chrysler, Simca and Talbot nameplates...
, a five-door hatchback marketed as a more modern alternative to the Ford Escort, Vauxhall Viva
Vauxhall Viva
The Viva was a small family car produced by Vauxhall Motors in a succession of three versions between 1963 and 1979. These were known as the HA, the HB and the HC series....
and Austin Allegro
Austin Allegro
The Austin Allegro is a small family car manufactured by British Leyland under the Austin name from 1973 until 1983. The same vehicle was built in Italy by Innocenti between 1974 and 1975 and sold as the Innocenti Regent...
. Sales of the British Chrysler range were reasonably strong throughout the 1980s.
Plants
Chrysler UK had several plants in Coventry, including the Ryton assembly plant, the Stoke engine plant, the design, engineering and development site at WhitleyWhitley plant
The Whitley plant, situated in Whitley, Coventry in the West Midlands of England, is one of the engineering centres of Jaguar Land Rover and the headquarters of Jaguar Cars...
and Hills Precision, the plastics factory in Canterbury Street, as well as the vehicle manufacturing plant at Linwood in Scotland.
Sale to Peugeot
By 1979, Chrysler was deep in financial trouble and in order to stay afloat it sold its European operations to FrenchFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
carmaker Peugeot S.A.
PSA Peugeot Citroën
PSA Peugeot Citroën is a French manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles sold under the Peugeot and Citroën marques. Headquartered in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, PSA is the second largest automaker based in Europe and the number eight in the world.-History:In December 1974 Peugeot S.A....
who sold the range as Talbot
Talbot
Talbot was an automobile marque that existed from 1903 to 1986, with a hiatus from 1960 to 1978, under a number of different owners, latterly under Peugeot...
s in both Britain and France before phasing the name out on passenger vehicles by 1987.