Dodge 400
Encyclopedia
The Dodge 400 was Dodge
's second K-car
in the early 1980s. It was similar to the Chrysler LeBaron
of the same era. The 400 was introduced for the 1982 model year, yet was renamed and added to the midsize Dodge 600
lineup just two years later.
. It was available in three bodystyles: two-door coupe
or convertible and a four-door sedan.
This was Dodge's first convertible since the 1971 Challenger
and the first domestically-manufactured convertible since 1976, when Cadillac had phased out the Eldorado convertible.
Chrysler's chairman Lee Iacocca
believed he could revive interest in convertibles, which at the time were no longer part of any major manufacturer's range, except Volkswagen.
The 400 was available in two trim levels: base and LS. Engine choices were limited to a 2.2 L I4
engine or an optional Mitsubishi
-sourced 2.6 L "Silent Shaft" 4-cylinder. The convertible came with the Mitsubishi
-sourced engine as standard.
31,449 vehicles were produced.
25,952 vehicles.
During 1983, the 400 sedan was replaced by the Dodge 600
. The coupes and convertibles were rebadged as Dodge 600
from 1984.
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
's second K-car
Chrysler K platform
The Chrysler Corporation's K-cars were compact-to-midsize cars designed to carry six adults on two bench seats and were aimed not only to replace Chrysler's nominally-compact F-body Aspen and Volaré, but also to compete with intermediates like the Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fairmont...
in the early 1980s. It was similar to the Chrysler LeBaron
Chrysler LeBaron
The Chrysler LeBaron was originally a classic luxury car of 1930s manufactured by Chrysler which competed with other luxury cars of the era such as Lincoln and Packard....
of the same era. The 400 was introduced for the 1982 model year, yet was renamed and added to the midsize Dodge 600
Dodge 600
The 600 was Dodge's version of the Chrysler E-Class luxury car of the 1980s. It was introduced in 1982, as a 1983 model, as a small mid-size car on the Chrysler E platform and was discontinued after the 1988 model year. It was Chrysler's attempt to compete with the GM A-body, whereas the M-body...
lineup just two years later.
1982
The 400 was intended to be a more upmarket version of the AriesDodge Aries
The Dodge Aries is an automobile sold by the Chrysler Corporation from 1981-1989. It replaced the Dodge Aspen as Dodge's family car with "mid-size room" in a size and front-wheel drive format commonly associated with compact cars...
. It was available in three bodystyles: two-door coupe
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
or convertible and a four-door sedan.
This was Dodge's first convertible since the 1971 Challenger
Dodge Challenger
The Dodge Challenger is the name of three different generations of automobiles marketed by the Dodge division of Chrysler.The first generation Dodge Challenger was a pony car built from 1970 to 1974, using the Chrysler E platform and sharing major components with the Plymouth Barracuda. The second...
and the first domestically-manufactured convertible since 1976, when Cadillac had phased out the Eldorado convertible.
Chrysler's chairman Lee Iacocca
Lee Iacocca
Lido Anthony "Lee" Iacocca is an American businessman known for engineering the Mustang, the unsuccessful Ford Pinto, being fired from Ford Motor Company, and his revival of the Chrysler Corporation in the 1980s...
believed he could revive interest in convertibles, which at the time were no longer part of any major manufacturer's range, except Volkswagen.
The 400 was available in two trim levels: base and LS. Engine choices were limited to a 2.2 L I4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
engine or an optional Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi Motors
is a multinational automaker headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. In 2009 it was the fifth-largest Japan-based automaker and the 17th-largest in the world measured by production...
-sourced 2.6 L "Silent Shaft" 4-cylinder. The convertible came with the Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi
The Mitsubishi Group , Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies is a Japanese multinational conglomerate company that consists of a range of autonomous businesses which share the Mitsubishi brand, trademark and legacy...
-sourced engine as standard.
31,449 vehicles were produced.
1983
There were no major changes made for 1983 other than the LS trim being omitted from the line-up. Production figures for 1983 were25,952 vehicles.
During 1983, the 400 sedan was replaced by the Dodge 600
Dodge 600
The 600 was Dodge's version of the Chrysler E-Class luxury car of the 1980s. It was introduced in 1982, as a 1983 model, as a small mid-size car on the Chrysler E platform and was discontinued after the 1988 model year. It was Chrysler's attempt to compete with the GM A-body, whereas the M-body...
. The coupes and convertibles were rebadged as Dodge 600
Dodge 600
The 600 was Dodge's version of the Chrysler E-Class luxury car of the 1980s. It was introduced in 1982, as a 1983 model, as a small mid-size car on the Chrysler E platform and was discontinued after the 1988 model year. It was Chrysler's attempt to compete with the GM A-body, whereas the M-body...
from 1984.