Plymouth Caravelle: Plymouth’s first front-drive mid-size sedan

The Plymouth Caravelle is a mid-size sedan introduced by Plymouth as a 1983 Canadian model and sold in the United States from 1985. It was essentially identical to the Dodge 600, it was Plymouth’s first front-wheel-drive mid-size sedan, and it was replaced by the Plymouth Acclaim in 1989.

Plymouth Caravelle at a glance

History of the Plymouth Caravelle

The name comes from the caravel, a 15th-century Portuguese sailing ship noted for its speed and agility. In Canada the Plymouth Caravelle first appeared for 1978 as that country’s version of the Dodge Diplomat, sold through Chrysler-Plymouth dealers: because Canadian Chrysler dealers also sold Chryslers, only the top-line LeBaron was offered in Canada, and the most expensive Caravelle was about $670 cheaper than the cheapest LeBaron. Between 1978 and mid-1981 production came from Saint Louis Assembly in Hazelwood, Missouri.

1983: three Caravelles

For 1983 Chrysler Canada revised the nameplate and used it across three separate lines. A two-door front-wheel-drive coupe was derived from the Dodge 400, itself based on the Dodge Aries, and a longer-wheelbase four-door sedan came from the Dodge 600 — the car later sold in the United States. Instead of adopting the Gran Fury nameplate in Canada, the existing rear-drive Caravelle was pared down to the up-level Salon trim. The K-platform coupe was dropped after 1986, the E-platform sedan after 1988, and the Caravelle Salon lasted until 1989.

The US Caravelle

For 1985 Chrysler dropped the unsuccessful entry-level Chrysler E-Class, and rather than leave Chrysler-Plymouth dealers with only the upscale New Yorker on the lot, the former E-Class was given a new grille and rebranded as a Plymouth: this was the US Caravelle, slotted between the compact Reliant and the large rear-drive Gran Fury. Its first year had a single trim, the Caravelle SE, with AM/FM stereo, power windows, locks and mirrors, boot-lid release, cruise control, air conditioning and a 50/50 split front bench with dual recliners as standard. A facelift for 1986 rounded many of the sharp angles for a more aerodynamic look, and from that year a base model was offered without some of the SE equipment. The sedan stayed until 1988 and was replaced by the Acclaim for 1989; a two-door coupe was never offered in the United States.

Design and features

• Two platforms: rear-drive M platform by origin, then front-drive E platform for the US car.
• Dodge 600 twin: same structure and mechanicals, with a Plymouth grille and trim.
• Well-equipped SE: the first US year came only as a fully equipped Caravelle SE.
• Canadian variant: a coupe and a Salon sedan existed only in Canada.

Plymouth Caravelle versions

• Caravelle Salon (1978–1989): the Canadian rear-drive car, later trimmed to Salon spec only.
• Caravelle coupe (1983–1986): Canadian K-platform two-door from the Dodge 400.
• Caravelle SE (1985–1988): the fully equipped US launch model.
• Caravelle base (1986–1988): the later US entry model with less standard equipment.

The Caravelle was replaced by the Acclaim, and the small Plymouth of the same period was the Reliant. More cars are in the Plymouth collection.

Sources

• Plymouth Caravelle, English Wikipedia: Canadian origins, 1983 range, US model and equipment