Chrysler Toyed With The Concept Of A Lamborghini Ok-Automotive
The Chrysler TC by Maserati is commonly ridiculed for being an overpriced piece of junk that sullied the Italian automaker’s title, however issues may have been even worse.
Writing for Highway & Monitor, former Chrysler government Bob Lutz revealed Lamborghini may have taken an analogous path. As he defined, Chrysler purchased Lamborghini for $25 (£20 / €23) million in 1987 and Lee Iacocca didn’t care about their historical past or heritage.
As an alternative, Iacocca needed to make a fast buck and Lutz took this to imply he needed to rework Lamborghini into an “uplevel Chrysler trim.” Lutz and the remainder of the fans at Chrysler have been appalled by this, so he successfully determined to sabotage the undertaking with a type of “malicious obedience.”
Additionally Learn: Lee Iacocca Passes Away At 94
As a part of this effort, Lutz urged that Chrysler’s vice chairman of design, Tom Gale, make a so-called “Lamborghini Version” of the Ok-Automotive. If that wasn’t horrifying sufficient, Lutz advised Gale to make it so loopy that even Iacocca may see it was a foul concept.
Gale set to work making a monstrosity based mostly on the Chrysler Imperial. Lutz writes the automobile was lowered, painted brilliant purple after which geared up with Lamborghini wheels. The inside was additionally given a fast makeover which reportedly consisted of “buttery-soft light-tan leather-based” and embroidered headrests that includes the Lamborghini brand. Lutz contends the ensuing automobile was “sacrilege,” but in addition the “best-looking Ok-car I had ever seen.”
Whereas that’s faint reward, the automobile by no means went into manufacturing. Nonetheless, Chrysler’s buy of Lamborghini wasn’t utterly in useless as Lutz says their engineers have been tasked with reworking an eight.Zero-liter V10 truck engine into a light-weight powertrain for the Dodge Viper. This was completed extra shortly and affordability than if Chrysler needed to do it alone, and it turned out to be a powerful success.
Nonetheless, Chrysler’s possession of Lamborghini was quick lived and the corporate offered the model in 1994. It was ultimately acquired by Volkswagen and relaxation is historical past.
