Export Chryslers, Dodges, Plymouths, Hillmans, and DeSotos
Contents: overviews, by country, by nameplates.
Chrysler export models (overviews)
- Chrysler’s Rotterdam plant, 1959-1969
- History of Chrysler in Europe
- Plymouths by any other name - Plymouths exported as Dodges and DeSotos from 1932 to 1959; Dodges exported as DeSotos
- The 1950s - Dodges, DeSotos, Plymouths, Chryslers, and Imperials
- 1998; 1997
- Fargo Trucks
- Karrier/Dodge trucks in the UK
- Simca
The Americas
- Argentina (Coronado / Polara / Dart / 1500 / Valiant)
- Brazil
- Canada (also see Fargo, Canadian engines)
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- South America overview
- Trazo: rebadged Nissan for Latin America
- Venezuela:
- Valiant.org article
- List of all models sold in Venezuela with some specifications
Other Western Hemisphere
- Belarus: Mopar Action takes you there to see a surprising number of new and vintage Mopars
- Belgium: Chrysler had a plant in Antwerp in the 1950s and 1960s, and with a wide dealer network.
- Bulgaria
- England
- Egypt: Arab American Vehicles, created in 1977 as a joint venture with AMC. 49%-owned by Chrysler in 1998. Currently assembles the Wrangler J8 and other vehicles; used to make Peugeots under contract as well.
- Europe (1960s-1970s) | Europe overview 2004
- Finland: Horizon and Finland: 2009 road test
- France: see “by model” listing later on this page, and SIMCA and Matra. Also see: American Car Club of France
- Germany: see bottom of page
- Greece: Farmobil
- Holland: Randy Knox wrote, “I ran across a shop, ‘Albert,’ that had US-built military Jeeps undergoing frame-off restoration, with two amphibious Sea Jeeps (“seeps”). They had correct US bumper codes and other numbers. On Ascension Day, I saw about a dozen US military vehicles on the streets. Germany's invasion of Holland didn't sit well with the Dutch and they still celebrate their liberation by the US. After the war, surplus Jeep engines were used to power electric generators built for use on farms. This shop is buying these old generators to salvage the original engines for rebuild.”
- Iran: the most popular car ever sold in Iran was engineered by Chrysler Europe.
- Iraq: Sgt Paul Lamont spotted a DeSoto dump truck from neighboring Turkey.
- Israel (major expansion, April 16, 2001)
- Netherlands: Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep are all sold in the Netherlands. In 2004, Dodge sold the "Ram Van" (Caravan) and "Ram Van high roof," both with the 2.4 or a diesel 2.5 engine. The usual full spread of Jeeps was sold (Liberty has 2.4, 2.8 diesel, 3.7 V6, or 2.5 diesel), along with the full spread of Chryslers - PT, Sebring, convertible, 300M, Crossfire, Voyager, and Grand Voyager.
- Norway: Jim Benjaminson wrote: “Plymouths were made in Moss, Norway by Norsk Automobile Fabriken from 1937 to 1939.” Ken Norberg added: “They imported enough parts to assemble complete Dodge passenger cars in Norway. They were assembled at the Strommen Mechanical Factory, and the cars are known as Strommen Dodge. They made 800 to 1,000 a year from 1934 until the Germans came in 1940. There are still many of them restored and running.”
- Poland: see bottom of page.
- Romania: Jim Welch wrote: "the Duster was used by Dacia for their 4WD vehicle! They also marketed a saloon and estate."
- Russia: old cloud cars and Moskvitch Alpines.
- South Africa- also see the Rebel page and Australian links
- Spain: Dart/3700GT, and 160/180, Barreiros, trucks
- Sweden where the police loved the Valiant
- Switzerland: the Swiss assembly plant was known for high quality.
- Turkey where DeSoto still lives
- UK: see "by model" listing later on this page. Also see Rootes Group cars: Hillman, Humber, Singer, Sunbeam
Eastern Hemisphere
- Australia 1930s-40s (D series, 1930s-40s)
- Australia 1950s
- Australia 1960s-1980s (at valiant.org) - Valiants, Chargers, Pacers, and more. See also South Africa and this report on the 2001 Chryslers on the Murray show. The amazing Hemi Six-Pack was an in-line six...
- Australia - Royal, Plainsman, Wayfarer
- India
- New Zealand (Chargers, Valiants) - see also "Avengers in New Zealand"
Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, DeSoto, Valiant, etc. offshore-only models
The Dart name was continued in the mid-1980s for an extended-wheelbase K car (E body) in Mexico; macrogdl told us about his 1986 Dart. During the 1970s, South American Darts were also sold as Chargers, Polaras, and Coronados, with major styling differences between the models (see these photos).
Bruno Geertsen wrote that many DeSoto, Plymouth, and other exports were retrofitted with Perkins P4 diesels by Hunter Ltd, which was started by Mr. Geertsen's grandfather. Perkins diesel page.