Roshake found this LeBaron resting in a courtyard in Budapest. These LeBarons have become quite rare in my part of the world; it’s been years. It was the first of many dress-ups of the K-Car, and as such, something of a pioneer.
And how did you end up here?
That has to be a “fun” find in a location like that.
Seems that anything is possible in Hungary.
I cannot recall the last time I saw a basic, original K-version of the LeBaron before they added the many variants. Maybe this one’s isolation preserved it from the contagion that wiped out all of the ones stateside. 🙂
With an exhaust hole likely, the fast idle wouldn’t sound too far removed from a push lawn mower.
Wild guess on the origins – originally sold in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, and then resold into Hungary, along with many thousands of other cars were into many former eastern European markets.
But it’s just a guess. Were these assembled by Magna Steyr at any time, alongside the minivans?
Good guess – I agree that’s the most likely explanation.
I always enjoy looking at the European ads and brochures for these cars:
Wow. Has there even been a dorkier take on a personal fauxury coupe? My sincerest respect for the K-Cars’ merits and accomplishments, but this? Just look at that full profile, for crying out loud! Malaise Metropolitan, just because I genuinely feel like being kind.
Wow. That side view (top photo) could be one of the most awkward (or pathetic) car designs I’ve ever seen. It looks like it had several feet cut out of the middle, maybe with the hope that that ‘oh-so-elegant!’ roof would distract doubtful buyers.
Did Chrysler still have any designers working for them, or had they all been let go by the wizards in accounting and marketing?
To think that the K cars saved Chrysler !. Just proves the low expectations of the American buyer in the early 80s. Must have been a American service man’s car left behind in Germany ,cant see if it has Euro lights….
What German would prefer this over a VW?.
Don’t know, but could have been brought there by someone in the service?
In 1996, we were driving from Bad Gleichenberg, enroute to Budapest, we saw a Hummer with US Servicemen…it was a bit after the Bosnian War. They pulled over at a rest stop and my Dad (who was in the US Army in the early 50’s) tried to talk to a couple of them, but they were pretty closed-mouth, but I think they were probably stationed nearby (or maybe just on maneuvers…never found out). I haven’t been back since (though we’ve had relatives come over…my Mother’s family still is bigger over there than in Europe, only her Dad’s descendants are here (some came over and returned, her Uncle over here was a bachelor) though my Mother has been back once since.
This looks like an 80’s K car…my Dad had bought an ’86 Dodge 600 new, but would have been a bit old by ’96 never mind now…but maybe someone left it there?