A century ago, America’s automobile market was bustling with over 1,500 car companies offering diverse options to buyers.
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Over the years, the number of car manufacturers in America dwindled. By the 1950s, only four major companies remained.
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Walter P. Chrysler, an industry veteran, transformed Maxwell Motor Company into Chrysler Corporation in 1925.
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Chrysler quickly gained recognition for innovative engineering, introducing hydraulic brakes and steel-body construction.
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The 1930s brought financial difficulties for Chrysler, but innovation persisted with the launch of the Chrysler Airflow.
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Chrysler shifted its production to support the military, manufacturing tanks, artillery, and aircraft engines.
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Chrysler launched the iconic Town & Country station wagon and the powerful Hemi V8 engine in the late 1940s.
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The 1950s and 60s saw the rise of Chrysler’s iconic muscle cars, including the Plymouth Barracuda and Dodge Charger.
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The 1970s oil crisis and rising fuel prices severely impacted Chrysler’s sales of gas-guzzling vehicles.
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In the 1980s, Lee Iacocca turned Chrysler around with innovative models like the Dodge Caravan and the K-Car.
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Chrysler merged with Daimler-Benz in 1998 and later with Fiat in 2014, but challenges persisted.
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Today, Chrysler is part of Stellantis, but its history of innovation and challenges remains a powerful story.
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