Mexican K car chronology

[Rennsport]

Hello, I´m writing this to show our foreign friends what was sold in Mexico and when. The chart starts in 1982 when the first K car was produced in the Toluca plant, 80 km West of Mexico City.

1981: The Saltillo engine plant is retooled for the new 2.2.
1982: The first K car (a Dart) rolls out from the Toluca plant. The Mexican K car kept the name Dart and was simply marketed as the "Dart K". Both two and four door versions are offered. Only 2.2 engines were available, and an automatic transmission was optional. The Dart K used a Reliant grille but was mostly based in the Aries. A cheaper Volare K was introduced the same year. It came only in two door and was basically a Reliant with an Aries grille. All cars had only the Mopar 2.2 engine. That year was the last for the RWD "A" body cars in Mexico.
1983: The LeBaron is introduced as a sedan and coupe. Turbo engine was optional and together with the Magnum was the first fuel injected car made and sold in Mexico. That same year brings new options like a Dart station wagon. The Magnum is introduced both a N/A version with a H.O. 2.2 engine with a Holley two barrell and a sportier ride, and the Turbo. It was faster than many V8 cars (such as the Mustang and Montecarlo) which were still popular. The Magnum was a local development which used the Dodge 600 grille with an Aries two door body, however many suspension and performance parts were sourced from Europe. The fuel injected engine was a complete novelty for the Mexican market.
1984: A four door sport sedan with European inspiration was launched as the 600. Turbo was optional. Those cars were sold as a more European luxury alternative to the LeBaron but didn´t sell well (strong competition from true Eurosedans like the Renault 18 GTX and the VW Corsar had something to do) and lasted only a year. The LeBaron continued unchanged. More options were brought to the whole line but so far nothing new.
1985: All K cars were restyled following their US cousins. The Dart was made more similar to the Aries, and a new Volare (Reliant) was launched, now with a 4 door option. The Magnum kept its pointed Dodge 600 grille and introduced more European features in its interior and trim. LeBaron was kept unchanged but a Town and Country wagon was added. However the first E platform was introduced as the New Yorker with a 2.2 turbo engine.
1986:The Dart is restyled again. It is now the US E body 600 with small changes. Those Darts were renamed Dart Europa (they were supposed to resemble a large European sedan) and were highly popular. Wagon and two doors kept the new 600 grille, as well as the Magnum which had a bigger turbo by Mitsubishi, a Getrag 5 speed gearbox, a stiffer suspension, Recaro seats and (even more) an increased European feeling. The Volare was unchanged. Among the luxury lineup, the LeBaron line was softened with a rounded grille and tail. A new voice alert system was available (also in the New Yorker). The New Yorker had more options as well as more rounded elegant tailights.
1987:All the line is carried over with only small changes in colours and options. However the new LeBaron GTS Coupé is launched in Mexico as the Phantom. All had turbo engines and there were two versions, a Sport with 5 speed gearbox and analog instruments and a Luxury with digital cluster and a 3 speed auto. Phantoms were among the most luxurious cars built in Mexico at that time and in spite of initial electrical problemas and some jokes with their voice alert system, they sold quite well.
1988:LeBarons are discontinued and instead the Dart inherits its grille and some luxury options. The Volare is also offered with enlarged E body and becomes a best seller. The Phantom gets new colours. New Yorker is unchanged. Last year of the original K platform in Mexico.
1989:Last year of the Dart, which is sold only as a 4 door, same thing with the Volare. The Shadow is launched, including the GTS, a local developmet of the R/T which replaces the Magnum K. Mexican Shadows kept the Sundance grille for its basic versions but the GTS used a Dodge one. Last year also of the New Yorker. The Phantom gets four disc brakes and even more options.
1990:The E platform is completely gone from the Mexican market. Dart is replaced by the Dodge Spirit, a Mexican only New Yorker (based in the Spirit platform) is launched and the 2.2 engine is replaced by the 2.5. Phantom gets new engine and completely new interior.

[89ARIES]

Thank you so much for this valuable historical info. I had no idea the Dodge 600 was even available in Mexico. You don't perhaps mean the Chrysler 600, do you? I am still rather confused. Alfredo of Flickr is a photo collector of classic cars in your country. From his, this was the Mexican K-car line-up he gave us. Perhaps you can edit this or correct it:

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=1113&p=4441&hilit=Mexican#p4441

We badly need some original sales brochures. What about the fact that Chrysler Magnum was called a 400? Was the Magnum really an 83 or an 84 model? So many questions.

[Rennsport]

I´m looking for some brochures and magazine ads from my collection to post here. The confusion with the Chrysler 600 was because there were no Dodge, or Plymouth brands in Mexico. All Chrysler poruducts were sold just as that with only the locally applied name. Thus the original Mexican 600 (which was really a 4 door Magnum with the short K body) was sold as a Chrysler in 1984. The real Dodge 600 was sold as the 1986 Dart Europa but only with a N/A engine. However many Darts were ordered as turbos as a special dealer package. Also many police forces along Mexico were equipped with specially made Darts and Volares even with turbo or H.O. engines and other parts from Magnums. Those cars were marketed in 1983 but as mid-year additions which makes it more confusing. The same happened with LeBaron´s which were first sold with a carburated 2.2 engine (same as the Magnum 400). That version, the 400 was the normally aspirated Magnum and included a two barrel Holley carburator, specially made headers and some other tweaks.
In 1984 fuel injected turbos were available in the 600, Magnum and LeBaron.

The Dodge 600 was not sold with that name in Mexico, but its parts were used for the Dart Europa. The Volare Europa was also made on the E platform with a Reliant grille and was a close relaitve of the Plymouth Caravelle.

Actually Alfredo´s list is quite complete and in the collection I found many pictures of Mexican E cars. However he is wrong regarding 2.5 engines. Those were available after 1990. Even the first 1989 Shadow GTS had the 2.2 turbo with a Mitsu instead of the original Garret from the Magnum. TurbosMX forum has a lot of information also and a small English section if you wanto to visit that website.