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Chrysler name games: stolen by, stolen from, and Star Trek
Chrysler names "adopted" by others
Know of any others? Pass them along! Want to read about the damages of "the name game"?
Then, of course, there's the other way around...though at least Chrysler generally only stole names from automakers who were no longer in business, such as Studebaker and Packard!
Names Chrysler "adopted"
![studebaker.jpg]()
When Chrysler bought AMC, they got (and used) the Spirit. The Fifth Avenue name was also taken from DeSoto after that brand was ended and used on Chryslers. When Maxwell (which was to become Chrysler) bought the remains of Stoddard-Dayton, they got the circa-1911 name Savoy which ended up with Plymouth.
Hotel names
![1986-st-regis.jpg]()
Chrysler Corporation had a period of stealing names from hotels. Some of the casualties:
Eagle brand
Eagle was first used by Willys. Mike wrote about the Edsel/Eagle parallels:
Ryan Connell pointed out: "Did you realize how many Chrysler names have been used as starships on Star Trek? Aries, Avenger, Challenger, Concorde, Conquest, Cordoba, Dakota, Horizon, Intrepid, Reliant, Saratoga, Talon, Valiant, and Voyager, at least. Other makes don't have nearly as many."
(Dennis Menefee pointed out that Star Trek ships were generally named after famous naval ships or star systems.)
Names that are too long
* Shannon wrote (some time ago) that Reliant "has been in receivership a few times in the mid-1990s, [but] it does currently build the 3 wheeled Reliant Robin, small coupes and has contracts to import vehicles from India to the UK."
The Studebaker Wagonaire was similar to the Jeep Wagoneer.
Rod Miller pointed out that the Cranbrook and Kingswood were probably named after schools near Bloomington.
Thomas Beckman wrote that Studebaker used "Land Cruiser" as a body style, on and off, from 1934 to 1942; it was a separate model from 1947-1953. Toyota picked up the name in the 1950s, while Studebaker used "Cruiser" as a model name from 1961-66. Chrysler's "PT Cruiser" was, though, the likely source of the Toyota FJ Cruiser.
Phil Bruce and Ken Westmoreland wrote that the Ford Laser was a rebadged Mazda 323s in the 1980s and 1990s in some nations. The name was also used on some Ford Sierras in the UK and Ireland around 1985-86.
Ray Jones wrote: The Ford F100 and F150 also used the Ranger name before using it on the small pickup.
Keith Summers wrote that the name Durango had been applied to a Mercury Ranchero-type vehicle in 1979, but that only around four were made. They seem to have been an aftermarket custom job.
Bob pointed out that Mitsubishi used Chrysler names after purchasing Chrysler's Australian facilities; they might have gained trademark rights along with the facilities.
Hugh Potter wrote that Renault uses R/T as an option package, with a similar-to-Chrysler emblem. "I have also noticed Challenger, Aspen and Magnum on Renault cars, I guess this link is due to the fact that Renault bought Chrysler Europe."
Bill Watson wrote: "The Chrysler Windsor fit into the theme Chrysler was pushing the
time - royalty. Chrysler had the Royal, Crown, and Imperial, along
with the American status names, New Yorker and Saratoga (a summer spot for the rich). The 1939 Windsor was actually called the Royal Windsor; King
George V and Queen Elizabeth, of the Windsor royal family, toured North America in 1939."
Thanks to Wayne Toy (Matador, Spirit, Concord), Mike Sealey (Phoenix, Sierra, Ranger, Explorer), George Yost (Solara), Jim Benjaminson (Rebel, Seville, Suburban, Fifth Avenue), Bryan Sharp (Super Sport), Rod Linnett (Holden Suburban, Australian Sierra), Sami Hugelshofer (Sierra, GTX), Stuart D. Somers (Edsel, 300), Christopher Krisocki (Challenger, Acclaim), Ed Ellers (Granada), Bob Neas (Premier), Shannon Stevenson (details on several counts and Magnum), Sparky (corrected and clarified), Walt McCrystal (Phoenix, Pioneer), Frank Billington (Diplomat), Tom Cotrel (Dart, Eagle), NytWolf01 (Durango), J.R. Rodriguez Jr. (Magnum), Richard (Studebaker Suburban), Ingvar Hallstrom (Durango, Sebring), Vic Hughes (Colt, Premier, Lancer), Paul and Vivian Novak (Crosley Super Sport), Mike Fettes (Demon), Aussie Dave Somer (Liberty), CraneManBenny (300), Alvaro (Solara and Duster corrections), and Ken Westmoreland (Ranger, Acclaim).
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Chrysler names "adopted" by others
| Name | Chrysler Corporation Car | Later or Current User |
| Acclaim | Midsized sedans, 1980s-90s | GM - Holden Commodore |
| Aspen | 1976 third-generation Valiant | Renault; Ford (model of minivan) |
| Challenger | Famous muscle car, then rebadged Mitsubishi | Mitsubishi (truck); Renault (Europe) |
| Concord | 1951-52 Plymouth | AMC Concorde, 1970s; Chrysler, 1990s |
| Cordoba | 1970s high-end Chrysler | Seat (VW subsidiary) |
| Coronado | "Spring specials," South American cars, DeSoto trim option, European eight-passsenger sedans | Freightliner trucks (also fictional racing car in The Way to Dusty Death) |
| Dart | Dodge, 1950s-1970s | Intended name of the Daimler SP250 |
| Demon | Plymouth Duster clone | AMC |
| Diamonte | 1969-70 concept car (based on Challenger, resembled Superbird) | Mitsubishi - ironically, designed and built by the former Chrysler Australia |
| Diplomat | Dodge, 1950 and onwards | GM: Vauxhall (1990s), Opel (1964-77) |
| Duster | Two-door Plymouth Valiant derivative | Renault/Dacia SUV |
| Dynasty | 1980s Dodge | Hyundai luxury car |
| Explorer | 1954 Plymouth concept car, 1957-59 DeSoto wagon | Ford (SUV, 1980s pickups) |
| Falcon | 1955 concept car | Ford (1960s-present) |
| GTX | 1970s | GM and Renault trim package |
| Granada | 1954 Dodge concept | 1970s Ford sedan (globally, through 1994) |
| Lancer | 1955-62 Dodge/1980s Dodge (LeBaron GTS) | Mitsubishi; BMC-rebadged Wolseley 1500 (1957-61) |
| Laser | 1980s Daytona variant | Ford/Mazda (see notes) |
| Magnum | 1970s and 1980s cars, 1990s engines, 1967 440 V8 model | GM - Vauxhall (1970s Vivas); Mitsubishi truck; Renault cars |
| Matador | 1960 Dodge | AMC, 1971-78 |
| Monica | Not sure | French car (1972-75) |
| Pacer | Australian Valiant, 1960s (see note) | AMC, 1970s |
| Phoenix | Top 1960-61 Dodge Dart trim level | GM - Pontiac (1970s-80s) |
| Pioneer | 1960-61 Dodge Dart trim level | AMC: Cherokee trim level |
| Premier | US-designed Renault sold by AMC | Olds Silhouette variant |
| PT Cruiser | Neon-based SUV/mini-minivan | Toyota (FJ Cruiser) |
| Sequoia | Planned Dodge version of PT Cruiser | Toyota's Tundra-based SUV |
| Seville | 1956 DeSoto hardtop | Cadillac, from 1956 |
| Sierra | 1955-59 Dodge wagon | GMC truck (1970s-1998) Suzuki (Australian "Sidekick") Ford (outside the US) (1982-1993) |
| Solara | 1981-84 Talbot (refreshed version of a Simca made by Chrysler Europe) | Toyota (1999 on) - 2 door Camry |
| Suburban | 1936+ Plymouth wagons; used through the 1950s-1970s, on and off | GMC/Holden truck (1937-present) |
| VIP | 1966-69 Fury trim level; export cars; 1965 concept | Mercury Lynx trim level |
| Wagoneer | 1963+ Jeep wagon; to be used again around 2021 | Skyline Corp. trailers, trademark filed May 2009 (current status unknown) |
| 300 | First used with 1951-52 Packards; Chrysler adopted for its luxury-sports car, the C300 (because of its 300 horsepower), followed by a series of "letter cars" (300B, 300C, etc). | Nissan (1983-2001) 300ZX, named partly for its 3.0 liter (2960 cc) engine |
Know of any others? Pass them along! Want to read about the damages of "the name game"?
Then, of course, there's the other way around...though at least Chrysler generally only stole names from automakers who were no longer in business, such as Studebaker and Packard!
Names Chrysler "adopted"
| Name | Original User | Chrysler Use |
| 300 | Packard (1951-52) | Top-end luxury/sport models with a letter; full size models without a letter |
| Acclaim | Triumph (1981/2-1984) | Reliant-based family sedan |
| Challenger | Studebaker (1964) with supercharger option | Muscle car, Mitsubishi import |
| Champ | Studebaker (1960s pickups) | Mitsubishi import |
| Colt | Mitsubishi, from about 1965 | Imported Mitsubishis so maybe it was OK. |
| Daytona | Studebaker (1962-66) | 180-mph Charger model; sporty Reliant derivative |
| Durango | Durango 95 kit car (1971); Chevrolet package for 1990s S-10 pickups; Dodge 1500 model sold by Chrysler Argentina | Dakota-based SUV |
| Liberty | Subaru Legacy sold in Australia since 1989 | Jeep Cherokee replacement in the US and Canada |
| Pacer | 1958 Edsel | 1960s-70s Australian Valiant variant; 1970s AMC |
| Premier | Holden (GM), 1962-80 | Eagle car (modified Renault) |
| Ranger | Edsel (also GM export models) | Australian Valiant model |
| Rebel | 1957 Nash (which with Hudson formed AMC), 1970s AMC | 1960s South African Valiant variant; 21st century Ram 1500 variant |
| Reliant | English automaker* | K-car |
| Sebring | Maserati | 1962 3500 GTIS 2+2. |
| St. Regis | Studebaker (1930s body style, see illustration below) | 1980s Newport variant, 1956 Chryslers |
| Suburban | Studebaker (1908-1914); EMF and Flanders, 1911-1914. | 1940s Plymouth |
| Super Sport | Crosley, after WWII; Olds Model 47 V8 in 1922-23 | 1959 Plymouth concept, almost 1962 model; |
When Chrysler bought AMC, they got (and used) the Spirit. The Fifth Avenue name was also taken from DeSoto after that brand was ended and used on Chryslers. When Maxwell (which was to become Chrysler) bought the remains of Stoddard-Dayton, they got the circa-1911 name Savoy which ended up with Plymouth.
Hotel names
Chrysler Corporation had a period of stealing names from hotels. Some of the casualties:
Eagle brand
Eagle was first used by Willys. Mike wrote about the Edsel/Eagle parallels:
- Both Edsel and Eagle are 5-letter words starting with "E."
- Both were new makes from established manufacturers.
- Both are gone now.
- Lee Iacocca was part of both companies when the new makes were introduced.
Ryan Connell pointed out: "Did you realize how many Chrysler names have been used as starships on Star Trek? Aries, Avenger, Challenger, Concorde, Conquest, Cordoba, Dakota, Horizon, Intrepid, Reliant, Saratoga, Talon, Valiant, and Voyager, at least. Other makes don't have nearly as many."
(Dennis Menefee pointed out that Star Trek ships were generally named after famous naval ships or star systems.)
Names that are too long
- 2018 Dodge SRT Hellcat Challenger Demon
- 2016 Dodge Charger Road & Track R/T
- 1970 Plymouth Sport Satellite Suburban
- 1970 Plymouth Sport Fury Brougham
- 1977 Dodge Charger Daytona SE
- 2006 Dodge Charger Daytona R/T
- 1986 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z C/S
* Shannon wrote (some time ago) that Reliant "has been in receivership a few times in the mid-1990s, [but] it does currently build the 3 wheeled Reliant Robin, small coupes and has contracts to import vehicles from India to the UK."
The Studebaker Wagonaire was similar to the Jeep Wagoneer.
Rod Miller pointed out that the Cranbrook and Kingswood were probably named after schools near Bloomington.
Thomas Beckman wrote that Studebaker used "Land Cruiser" as a body style, on and off, from 1934 to 1942; it was a separate model from 1947-1953. Toyota picked up the name in the 1950s, while Studebaker used "Cruiser" as a model name from 1961-66. Chrysler's "PT Cruiser" was, though, the likely source of the Toyota FJ Cruiser.
Phil Bruce and Ken Westmoreland wrote that the Ford Laser was a rebadged Mazda 323s in the 1980s and 1990s in some nations. The name was also used on some Ford Sierras in the UK and Ireland around 1985-86.
Ray Jones wrote: The Ford F100 and F150 also used the Ranger name before using it on the small pickup.
Keith Summers wrote that the name Durango had been applied to a Mercury Ranchero-type vehicle in 1979, but that only around four were made. They seem to have been an aftermarket custom job.
Bob pointed out that Mitsubishi used Chrysler names after purchasing Chrysler's Australian facilities; they might have gained trademark rights along with the facilities.
Hugh Potter wrote that Renault uses R/T as an option package, with a similar-to-Chrysler emblem. "I have also noticed Challenger, Aspen and Magnum on Renault cars, I guess this link is due to the fact that Renault bought Chrysler Europe."
| 1932 Studebaker St. Regis courtesy of Thomas M. Beckman; "St. Regis" was the name of the two-door body style. |
Bill Watson wrote: "The Chrysler Windsor fit into the theme Chrysler was pushing the
time - royalty. Chrysler had the Royal, Crown, and Imperial, along
with the American status names, New Yorker and Saratoga (a summer spot for the rich). The 1939 Windsor was actually called the Royal Windsor; King
George V and Queen Elizabeth, of the Windsor royal family, toured North America in 1939."
Thanks to Wayne Toy (Matador, Spirit, Concord), Mike Sealey (Phoenix, Sierra, Ranger, Explorer), George Yost (Solara), Jim Benjaminson (Rebel, Seville, Suburban, Fifth Avenue), Bryan Sharp (Super Sport), Rod Linnett (Holden Suburban, Australian Sierra), Sami Hugelshofer (Sierra, GTX), Stuart D. Somers (Edsel, 300), Christopher Krisocki (Challenger, Acclaim), Ed Ellers (Granada), Bob Neas (Premier), Shannon Stevenson (details on several counts and Magnum), Sparky (corrected and clarified), Walt McCrystal (Phoenix, Pioneer), Frank Billington (Diplomat), Tom Cotrel (Dart, Eagle), NytWolf01 (Durango), J.R. Rodriguez Jr. (Magnum), Richard (Studebaker Suburban), Ingvar Hallstrom (Durango, Sebring), Vic Hughes (Colt, Premier, Lancer), Paul and Vivian Novak (Crosley Super Sport), Mike Fettes (Demon), Aussie Dave Somer (Liberty), CraneManBenny (300), Alvaro (Solara and Duster corrections), and Ken Westmoreland (Ranger, Acclaim).
Home •
Engines •
Reviews •
Chrysler 1904-2018 •
Upcoming •
Trucks •
Cars
Spread the word via <!--Tweet or--> Facebook!
We make no guarantees regarding validity or accuracy of information, predictions, or advice - .
Copyright © VerticalScope Inc. All rights reserved. Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Ram, and Mopar are trademarks of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
