Monteverdi Sierra Cabrio
I’m a simple guy. All I ask is that one reader collects themselves a Monteverdi Sierra, Sierra Cabrio, and Sierra Wagon, assembling the world’s greatest assortment of near-Chrysler products that you could ever imagine. (Forgetting the Rinspeed Veleno, Felber’s 365 GTB/4 ’beach car’, or the Horlacher Sport I exists.)
We're going to be knee-deep in the Malaise Era today, as we drag these Swiss-American mutts into the sunlight. These Euro-barges will melt your inbox, not your hands.
To my North American friends, however, as you read this story these old Chrysler Co. products are surely melting in an abandoned lot near you:
Look at this goofy-lookin’ Plymouth! Coupé, wagon, ‘Road Runner’, and sedan…a motley crew of ugly machines • Chrysler
Those of you old enough to remember the Plymouth Volaré are no doubt aware of the car's shortcomings, issues so serious that the Volaré and its sister car, the Dodge Aspen, could have killed Chrysler, had Chrysler not ditched these poorly designed and build cars.
First, these cars were prone to rust, often within years of going on sale. Second, thanks to fallout from the Arab Oil Embargo, the Volaré (and many other cars on sale at the time) weren’t exactly thoroughbreads in the engine department: one of the most powerful standard options, in the Volaré Road Runner, was a 5.7-litre V8 engine with 4-barrel carburetor that returned a tall glass of roughly 170 net horsepower. Not great.
In the looks department, the Volaré is as edgy as a dish rag that’s air dried itself over a crease in the sink.
And yet…how’s this for a glow up?
Monteverdi Sierra sedan — a much more taut, ‘European’ approach to styling a 1970s car! • Monteverdi
Now, while the Volaré was just one of many sedans available in America with a big V8 engine and plush interior, in Europe, six cylinders were all most luxury car buyers could hope for — unless, of course, they wanted to pay to get themselves into a top-of-the-line Mercedes-Benz, Bentley, or Rolls-Royce.
Entrepreneur Peter Monteverdi saw an opening in the market to melt his Swiss car building business into: Monteverdi would use mechanical components from a well-respected American car and sell the new luxurious, coachbuilt machine to well-to-do Europeans.
Did he read about the car’s quality problems, thinking, “Great! We’ll chuck out the bodywork!” but with the Chrysler’s launch in 1976 and Monteverdi’s in 1977-78, there wasn't much time for their designers of choice, Carrozzeria Fissore, to execute a European Plymouth.
Once completed, Monteverdi Sierras were fitted as standard with Chrysler's 5.2-litre V8 engine, giving respectable performance for the time: zero-to-100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 10 seconds and a top speed in excess of 200 km/h (120 mph).
Many Volaré-sourced components were ditched, and Monteverdi is said to have strengthened its body, adding upper and lower wishbones, coil springs, and adjustable shocks to complete the revised front suspension. Better brakes, tires, and a limited-slip rear differential completed the major changes to the car.
These were from an auction listing, if you know the original source please drop it in the comments thx • source unknown
As far as spec sheets are concerned, it would have been the near-equal of almost any European high-end luxury sedan on the market at that time. Think S-Class Mercedes or Rolls-Royce Corn-Quiche.
Inside, a revamped leather interior now placed plush materials everywhere, as well as an adjustable steering wheel, cruise control, air conditioning, and power everything.
