Chrysler 180: the American from Paris

The Chrysler 180 gave its name to a family of European executive cars built from 1970 in Poissy, France, and later in Spain. The result of separate development programmes at Rootes in Britain and Simca in France, it was sold as the Chrysler 160, 160 GT and 180, then as the Chrysler-Simca 1609/1610/2 litres, and finally as a Talbot. It also provided the basis for the Australian Chrysler Centura.

Chrysler 180 at a glance

History of the Chrysler 180

Two programmes, one car

In 1966 Rootes began work on a “C Car” to replace the Humber Hawk, planned in three versions — a Hillman, a 2.0-litre Sunbeam 2000 and a Humber Hawk — with a new 2.0- and 2.5-litre V6 and proposals for De Dion rear suspension and a five-speed gearbox. At the same time Simca was working on Projet 929, its first large car since the Vedette, with four-cylinder engines because the French fiscal horsepower system made a V6 prohibitive. Three styling proposals were prepared, one in-house, one by Bertone and one from Chrysler’s Detroit studio. Early in 1969 Chrysler realised two competing cars were being developed and had both presented to the management of Chrysler Europe; the British programme was chosen, but development continued at Whitley in Coventry with input from both sides.

Cut down to one version

In 1970 Chrysler reviewed the programme again and reduced it to a single version to be built at Simca’s Poissy plant for all markets. Responsibility passed to Simca, which gave the car a different front end with rectangular single headlamps and stripped out features proposed by Rootes such as genuine wood, leather and air conditioning. The V6 was scrapped even though its tooling had already been installed, and production cars received a coil-sprung live rear axle, MacPherson struts at the front and a four-speed manual gearbox with an optional three-speed automatic.

On the market

Launched in 1970 as the Chrysler 160, 160 GT and 180, with designations following engine size, the range used a 1,632 cc unit in the 160 and an 1,812 cc unit in the 180, while the 160 GT also had the larger engine. The cars were introduced under the slogan “An American from Paris”, with the British launch following in 1971. In 1977 the range was renamed Chrysler-Simca 1609/1610/2 litres in France and continental Europe, and after PSA Peugeot Citroën took over Chrysler Europe the cars became Talbot 1610/2 litres for 1979 and 1980. The model was then dropped in Europe except in Spain, where a diesel version was sold until 1982. Its replacement, developed as the C9, reached the market as the Talbot Tagora.

Design and features

• Joint European engineering: the first large car to combine Rootes and Simca development under the Chrysler Europe banner.
• American-inspired styling: a big car by European standards, with a Detroit-designed proposal among the original shapes.
• Simple running gear: MacPherson struts, a live rear axle and a four-speed manual kept the car conventional to build and service.
• Tax-friendly four-cylinders: the French fiscal system ruled out the planned V6 in favour of 1.6- and 1.8-litre fours.

Chrysler 180 versions

• Chrysler 160: 1,632 cc engine, 80 PS.
• Chrysler 160 GT: the larger 1,812 cc engine with 97 PS.
• Chrysler 180: the 1,812 cc model with 97 PS.
• Chrysler-Simca 1609/1610/2 litres: the 1977 renaming for France and continental Europe.
• Talbot 1610/2 litres: the 1979–1980 PSA-era name.
• Spanish diesel: built and sold in Spain until 1982.

The 180 shared its market with the smaller Chrysler Alpine and the Chrysler 1100, and its floorpan and nose were stretched to create the Australian Chrysler Centura. More cars are in the Chrysler collection.

Video: Chrysler 180

Video by MrJosep72 on YouTube.

Sources

• Chrysler 180, English Wikipedia: development, engines, names, production
• Chrysler 180, Wikimedia Commons: photographs