The Plymouth Sundance and Dodge Shadow were compact three-door and five-door hatchbacks introduced for the 1987 model year by Chrysler Corporation. They replaced the Omni and Horizon, and the Sundance ran until production ended in March 1994.
Plymouth Sundance at a glance
| Maker | Plymouth (Chrysler Corporation) |
|---|---|
| Model years | 1987–1994 |
| Bodies | three-door and five-door hatchback |
| Platform | Chrysler P-body, derived from the K-car |
| Sister car | Dodge Shadow |
| Engines | 2.2 and 2.5 L fours, some turbocharged; 3.0 L Mitsubishi V6 from 1992 |
| Gearboxes | five-speed manual, three-speed automatic |
| First car built | Sterling Heights, 25 August 1986 |
| Production ended | 9 March 1994 |
| Replaced by | Plymouth Neon |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Dodge Shadow, which covers the Plymouth Sundance as the same car.
History of the Plymouth Sundance
The first Sundance and Shadow rolled out of Sterling Heights Assembly on 25 August 1986, and the cars replaced the Omni and Horizon in their respective ranges. The P-body was a variant of the K-car platform combining the Dodge Daytona’s suspension and some of its interior styling with a shortened Dodge Lancer body. It had been intended as a direct replacement for the Omni and Horizon, but with the economy segment growing more crowded after Hyundai and Yugo entered the market, Chrysler made the car a little more substantial. Because the P platform was a cut-down K platform, the car was a bit heavier than its competitors, though it carried more equipment across the range until the stripped-down America model of 1991.
Although the Sundance and Shadow looked as if they had a boot, the body was actually a hatchback; Chrysler advertised the layout as “hidden hatchback versatility” and made the large load space a selling point. The two cars were mechanically identical and differed in the grille, Dodge using a crosshair design and Plymouth an egg-crate pattern, as well as in their taillights.
Engines and changes
At launch the range offered four-cylinder engines of 2.2 and 2.5 litres, some turbocharged, tuned for torque rather than peak power; a Mitsubishi-built 3.0-litre V6 was added later and replaced the turbos. A five-speed manual was available with every engine, a three-speed automatic with the fours and a four-speed automatic with the V6. The 1989 cars received a facelift with composite headlamps in place of sealed beams, new grilles and new taillights. For 1990 a driver’s airbag became standard, and the manual gearbox was changed so that reverse sat below fifth rather than to the left of first. In 1991 the base hatchback was split into the entry-level America or S and the mid-level Highline, and in 1992 the V6 arrived while a low-pressure Bendix-4 anti-lock system became available in 1993.
In 1994 US-market cars received a motorised passenger-side seat belt to meet the passive-restraint requirement of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 208. The belt did not meet Canadian rules, so Canadian cars kept a manual belt and 1994 cars could not legally be imported across the border in either direction until they were old enough. At the time the Sundance and Shadow were the lowest-priced cars on the market with a standard driver’s airbag, which helped them achieve a strong crash-test rating for their size. Production ended on 9 March 1994 and the Plymouth Neon took over. The Duster name was revived as a Sundance trim at mid-year in 1992.
Design and features
- Hidden hatchback: boot-like styling over a practical five-door layout.
- Plymouth identity: an egg-crate grille and its own taillights set it apart from the Shadow.
- Broad engine choice: 2.2 and 2.5 fours, turbo versions, then a Mitsubishi V6.
- Safety value: a standard driver’s airbag at a low price from 1990.
Plymouth Sundance versions
- Sundance base (1987–1990, 1993–1994): the standard hatchback.
- America and S (1991–1992): the stripped entry model, called S in Canada.
- Highline (1991–1992): the mid-level trim.
- RS (1988–1991): the sporting Sundance trim.
- Duster (1992–1994): the revived Duster name as a Sundance version.
The Sundance replaced the Horizon and was replaced by the Neon; it shared its platform with the Acclaim generation of K-car derivatives. More cars are in the Plymouth collection.
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Sources
- Dodge Shadow, English Wikipedia: platform, engines, year changes, trims
