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Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep of Brazil

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Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep of Brazil

Based on a 1989 Plymouth Bulletin article by William D. Brisbane, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with additions and updates by Rogério Ferraresi, Mike Sealey, and the staff.

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Chrysler made many cars in Brazil, all with the Dodge name, until it sold its facilities to Volkswagen when pressed for cash in 1980. Its production center was in the Sao Paulo area, along with most other automakers. Dodge returned, briefly, in the 1990s with the Dodge Dakota, and continued for some years to make engines there for BMW's first-generation Mini - before Fiat bought the engine design and the plant.

Chrysler started by exporting to Brazil; Ony Coutinho Junior noted that DeSotos, Chryslers, and Plymouths were sold there in the 1940s and 1950s (he currently owns the only DeSoto DeSoto Diplomat Special de Luxe in the nation as well as a 1955 Plymouth Belvedere, 1954 Chrysler Imperial, and other DeSotos).



The most popular remaining vintage car seems to be the 1950-52 Plymouth Cranbrook sedan. At least one Barracuda and several Satellites are present; some came with American diplomats, who used them and later sold them. Most of the embassy's fleet appears to have been Satellites and Furys for some years.



When Chrysler bought SIMCA in 1958, their first local act was to double the warranty of Simcas produced in Brazil, to counter a reputation for very poor quality, partly due to untrained workers and the poor quality of local materials. Simca used a modified version of Ford's pre-war small-block V8, which produced around the same power as competing sixes. Later Brazilian versions (around 1966-67) were converted to an overhead valve configuration with hemispherical heads, developed by Chrysler and SIMCA.



From 1967 to 1969, Chrysler restyled the front and rear of the old SIMCA Chambord and re-introduced them as the Chrysler Esplanada, Chrysler Regente, and Chrysler GTX. In 1969, they started making Dodge trucks at a new factory, starting with big D700s and D400s, and following with a Dodge pickup. Diesels came later, and alcohol power in 1978. These trucks sold well enough that, after Volkswagen bought Chrysler's Brazilian operations, they kept the name until the end of 1984, when the line was dropped.

Dodge Dart, Charger, and Polara of Brazil

In 1969, the 1966 Dodge Dart four-door sedan was introduced as a new car, soon replacing the troublesome and unpopular Esplanada. It had V8 power and a standard three-speed transmission, and was named car of the year by Auto Esporte in 1970. Sales topped nearly every model of Simca and Dodge production through that point (all but the 1964 Chamboard). A two door coupe came out the next year.

The Dart competed with the Ford Galaxy at the high end, with many becoming chauffeur driven, while the coupe appealed to younger buyers. There were Charger and Charger R/T versions, mainly Dart hardtops with the roofline extended to the trunk and speed-related items such as dual exhausts, four-on-the-floor shifter, mag wheels, and bucket seats. It was at the high end of Brazilian production performance, consistent with the Dart's relatively high price overall.

A high end version was sold for a time as the Dodge Polara, built by Chrysler Fevre Argentina, was named Automobile of the Year by the Argentine Automobile Writers Association.



In 1972, Dart styling moved away from its American counterparts, though the basic engineering remained the same. Production continued with few changes until the 1979 cars, when the Dart name gave way to LeBaron for luxury and Magnum for sport (replacing Charger). Magnum was high-end, according to Status magazine, partly because of window covers that hid the rear seat from view. Few Magnums were made and today they are rare.

The Dart peaked in 1972 and 1973, before the oil crisis, which changed tastes to more economical vehicles. In 1980, only 403 Darts were made, and they were halted the next year. It had been popular, with a spacious interior without excessive width (the Galaxy's problem), and maintenance and durability helped. The lack of a six cylinder no doubt hurt its survival after the fuel crisis.

In 1979-81, two new cars, Dodge LeBaron and Dodge Magnum, were launched; and Avallone built a CanAm car using the Chrysler 318 V8 in the Brazilian Dodge Dart.

Dodge 1800 and Polara

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The Dodge 1800, a two-door sedan produced in England and Argentina as well - "Dodginho" in Portugese - was not a standout at first, partly because of poor quality on the first run of cars. To increase sales, its name was changed to Polara, which had a relatively good image, added power, and gained GLS and GL trim in 1980. It was the first Brazilian production car to have a standard automatic, and sales were steady for its last six years at about 13,000 per year, ending with Chrysler's other Brazilian operations in 1980. [Full Dodge 1800 / Polara story]

Jeep and Willys-Overland do Brasil

The Brazilian subsidiary of Willys was founded on August 26, 1952. A single year later, Kaiser purchased Willys-Overland's automotive business, gaining Jeep in the process.



Still operating as "Willys Overland do Brasil," the company began building its "Hurricane Six" 161-cubic inch (2.6 liter) engines in Taubaté, for cars made in a new São Bernardo do Campo (Sao Paulo) plant that opened in 1958.



When the company launched the Willys Aero in late 1962, the engine was enhanced with dual carburetors. They also started building a new Tornado overhead-cam 230 cid, 140-horsepower six cylinder, which soon replaced the older engines. A luxury version of the car, the Itamaraty, was released with a bored-out 3-liter version of this engine, with an alternator and reliability upgrades. The engine was upgraded in 1967 and made optional in the Rural (Jeep wagon); it became standard in other Jeeps in 1970.

When Ford bought Willys, its power dynamometers were "reassessed," and the cars gained ten horsepower without any changes. The engine continued in production until mid-1975 for use in Jeeps (Willys cars were dropped in 1971) and the Ford Maverick.

Simca Aquilon and VedetteChrysler in other parts of the worldBrazilian Jeeps

Dodge 1800/Polara in BrazilOperation Pineapple: Brazilian scouts in a 1955 Jeep



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