1979 Chrysler LeBaron

The Lebaron name was part of the Chrysler marque for many, originally in reference to the coachbuilder, LeBaron. Chrysler acquired LeBaron with its parent Briggs Manufacturer Company in the early 1950s, followed by the introduction of the luxury make Imperial in 1955, which sold automobiles under the name Imperial LeBaron until 1975. The Imperial brand lasted until 1975, with the LeBaron name returning to Chrysler in 1977, and has since been used on five different cars built by the Chrysler Division.

the first generation of styling for the Chrysler LeBaron was introduced in the Spring of 1977 and used the Dodge Aspen F-body platform, but wearing body shells known as the M-body. Bodystyles during that inaugural year included a coupe and sedan, with a Town & Country station wagon joining the lineup in 1978. The coupes had a length of 204.1 inches, the sedans measured 206.1 inches, and the wagons were 202.8 inches in length. Power was initially from a 318 CID V8, but for 1978, the standard engine was the 225 cubic-inch Slant Six with four main bearings, solid valve lifters, a two-barrel Carter carburetor, overhead valves, and delivering 110 horsepower at 3,600 RPM. A four-speed manual transmission with overdrive was standard with a TorqeuFlite three-speed automatic optional.

The front grille had rectangular openings with fine horizontal chrome bars. It extended the entire width of the front, rested above the bumper, and encapsulated the dual rectangular headlamps and parking lamp. Above it was the hood with a stand-up eagle ornament. The four-door body styles had a padded full vinyl roof while the two-door coupes had opera lamps. In the back were wraparound taillamps with eagle medallions.

The 'base' coupe was priced at $5,115 and the sedan listed for $5,270. The sedan was more popular with 22,215 examples built while 15,999 examples were coupes.

The 'S' trim level was new for 1978 and was even more affordable than the 'base,' with the sedan priced at $5,060 and the coupe at $4,895. The higher-level 'Medallion' trim level added a map reading lamp. The two-door coupe, priced at $5,485, had center-pillar assist handles and 29,213 examples were built. The sedan, priced at $5,640, had rear pillar vanity mirrors with lamps and door courtesy lights. 35,259 examples of the 'Medallion' sedan were built in 1978.

The new Town & Country station wagon had seating for six and was priced at $5,675 with six-cylinder power and 5,850 when equipped with the lowest-priced V-8 engine. 21,504 examples were built, most wearing simulated white moldings with authentic grain patterns and finger-locking joints. The 'wood' exterior could be deleted if the buyer requested. The wagons had the 'LeBaron' script on the front fenders and tailgate, 'Chrysler' block letters on the liftgate, and a carpeted cargo area with stainless-steel skid strips. The name 'Town & Country' was placed on the quarter panels and a LeBaron medallion on the 'C' pillars. Brightwork highlighted the liftgate window, roof drip rail, belt, windshield, quarter windows, and the door upper frame.

1979 Chrysler LeBaron
The Chrysler LeBaron closed out the 1970s with a reputation for being reliable, practical, and with enough room for a family with a pinch of luxury. Among the biggest change for 1979 were the trim levels, that now included the 'base,' 'high-line Salon, and premium Medallion. Styling changes were made to the front fascia, highlighted by a chrome-plated grille with rectangular openings. Contained within the openings were fine vertical chromed bars. The quad rectangular headlamps were below the quad rectangular parking lamps and the parking lamps with amber marking lamps and cornering lamp lenses wrapped around the fenders.

In the back, the bumpers housed backup lamps, and the word 'Chrysler' in block letters was spelled out on the panel between the taillamps.

The two-door body styles could now be ordered with a new Landau vinyl roof with rectangular opera windows. A Sport appearance package was also optional, adding color-keyed remote sport mirrors, sport wheels, and a three-spoke steering wheel. 1,936 LeBaron vehicles were equipped with the Sport Appearance Package in 1979.

The LeBaron 'Salon', also available with either six- or eight-cylinder power, was priced at $5,260 for the six-cylinder coupe and $5,490 for the sedan. 35,906 examples of the combined 'Salon' coupe and sedan were built. Salon trim levels added new standard bodyside accent tape stripes, and the four-door sedan had a fully padded vinyl roof with brushed stainless center pillar moldings. Two-door body styles had windshield header reading lamps and door pull straps.

Like the 'Salon,' the 'Medallion' trim level added a full padded vinyl roof with brushed stainless center pillar moldings for the four-door sedans. They had deck lower panel accent striping, door pull straps, door courtesy lights, and map-reading lamps. Two-door body styles had center-pillar assist handles and windshield header reading lamps. The Medallion coupe was priced at $5,735 and the sedan at $5,960. The combined coupe and sedan Medallion production was 35,475 units.

The LeBaron Town & Country station wagon was priced at $5,960 with six-cylinder power and $6,190 with the base eight. A total of 17,463 units were built in 1979.

New additions to the extensive options list included wire wheel covers and halogen headlamps. Standard equipment on all trim levels included power brakes and steering, and a compact spare tire (except for the station wagon). The standard engine was the one-barrel 225 cubic-inch Slant Six and the two-barrel Super Six was optional in all states except California. The 318 and 360 cubic-inch V8s were also part of the options list. The one-barrel six came standard with the 4-speed manual with overdrive, and the TorqueFlite with lock-up torque converter came with the V-8s.

The inline, overhead-valve, six-cylinder engine with the 224 cubic-inch displacement had an 8.4:1 compression ratio, four main bearings, solid valve lifters, a one-barrel Holley carburetor, and delivered 100 horsepower at 3,600 RPM. The two-barrel version delivered 1110 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque.

All of the V-8s had overhead valves, a cast-iron block, five main bearings, and hydraulic valve lifters. The 318 CID V8 produced 135 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque. The 360 CID V8 produced 150 bhp and 265 lb-ft of torque, and the High-Output version of the 360 CID used a four-barrel Carter carburetor, 8.0:1 compression, and delivered 195 bhp at 4,000 RPM and 280 lb-ft of torque at 2,400 RPM.

The 1979 Chrysler LeBaron was joined by the Cordoba, Newport, and the New Yorker. the two-door hardtop coupe cordoba was priced at $6,000 and the Cordoba 300 listed for $7,665. The Newport was a pillared hardtop priced at $6,100 and the New Yorker - also a pillared hardtop - was priced at $8,630.

The first generation of LeBaron styling, introduced in 1977, would continue through 1981. In 1982, the LeBaron was moved to the Chrysler K front-wheel-drive platform and continued to occupy the entry-level position within Chrysler's lineup. Body styles initially included a sedan and coupe, with a convertible being added in early 1982.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2021