Hemmings Classic Car – October 2019

A manual transmission with a 1:1 ratio
third gear and a .71:1 overdrive fourth gear
was standard for 1978 behind the Federal
Slant Six and 318. Yes, a fl oor-shifted manual
transmission in a luxury car! All others re-
quired the TorqueFlite, which received a
lockup converter to improve fuel mileage in
all but high-altitude models, those with the
A36 Package, or with the six-cylinder engine.
Rear axle ratios ranged from 2.4 to 3.2:1 with
application restrictions.
The optional all-vinyl bench seat in the
LeBaron was upgraded to the folding-center-
armrest style for 1978.
Interesting options included a new T-Bar
roof, a 40-channel CB transceiver integral
with an AM radio or the AM/FM stereo, and
an AM/FM stereo with electronic search
tuner, digital display, direct station frequency
selection, and 10 station presets.

1979
The revised lineup for 1979 coupes and
sedans included the base LeBaron, a new
middle-of-the-road LeBaron Salon, and the
top-shelf Medallion. The Town & Country
wagon also returned.
To create the Salon, the LeBaron was
mildly de-contented, losing its Deluxe
wheel covers, front fender sill molding
extensions, and second horn to the new
model. This meant that the LeBaron, a

luxury car, now came with hubcaps. The

hood silencer pad and opera lamps that

had been standard on the LeBaron were

now extra-cost and only included on the

Medallion.

Newly placed bodyside accent

stripes adorned the Salon and Medallion,

and the latter also received revised color-

coordinated rear stripes, remote left out-

side mirror, and premium wheel covers.

A new grille with fewer rectangular

boxes arrived for 1979, and the tail-

lamps were sectioned to look like three

segments. The landau top option now

featured rectangular opera windows to

further differentiate its appearance.

The base engine became the 100-hp

one-barrel Slant Six and the 110-hp two-

barrel Super Six was optional, as were the

135-hp 318 and 150-hp 360 two-barrel

V-8s. Now at 195 hp, thanks to revised

exhaust featuring dual pipes, catalytic

converters, and muffl ers that merged into

a large single tailpipe, the 360 HD four-

barrel could only be had with the HD

Trailer-Assist Package.

California engines included the

standard one-barrel Slant Six at 90 hp,

and optional four-barrel V-8s including

the 155-hp 318, 170-hp 360, and 190-hp

360 HD. The Electronic Spark Control

System was on the 318 four-barrel and

the 360s. Specifi c high-altitude engines

weren’t listed for 1979.

A diagnostic connector was added

in the engine compartment for use with

Chrysler’s Electronic Engine Performance

Analyzer. Transmission and rear axle ratio

choices mostly carried over.

Bucket seats were offered optionally

for the fi rst time in the Salon. They featured

cloth and vinyl upholstery and had a cen-

ter cushion and fold-down armrest.

Halogen high-beam headlamps were

optional. Styled Sport outside mirrors

in chrome or body color were new,

and were also available in a new Sport

Appearance Package along with the

Three-Spoke Luxury steering wheel, and

Styled Road Wheels.

CONCLUSION

LeBarons were updated for 1980 and the

coupes received boxier sheetmetal like the

four-door, a formal roofl ine, and a 4-inch-

shorter wheelbase. The nameplate returned

for 1981 on the M-body, but for 1982

it was instead affi xed to the new front-

wheel-drive K-car. The M-body four-door

soldiered on at Chrysler (sans the LeBaron

name) and also at Dodge and Plymouth in

the 1980s. Today, the 1977-’79 LeBaron

coupes can offer high-style time travel to

the Carter era for a relatively low price.

1979

SPECIAL SECTION: CHRYSLER CLASSICS 63