Chrysler Bids Farewell to Iconic PT Cruiser, Last Model Rolls Off Assembly Line in Mexico

Only a week after the last Dodge Viper rolled off the line at the Conner Avenue plant in Detroit, production of another iconic Chrysler LLC group model, the PT Cruiser, is coming to an end today at the Toluca plant in Mexico. But unlike with the Viper, Chrysler isn't making much of a big deal about the PT Cruiser's end as the company hasn't even bothered to issue an official press release - or at least it hasn't done so up until now.

Originally conceived as a Plymouth model, the retro-shaped and styled compact crossover ended up in the market in 2000 with the Chrysler badge. Its love-it-or-loathe-it design was the work of Brian Nesbit who later on joined GM creating the very-PT Cruiser-like, Chevrolet HHR.

Even though the PT Cruiser was conceived more as an attention-grabber than a high-volume seller, the surprisingly practical crossover turned out to be so successful that buyers were kept on waiting lists. For a while it was the best-selling Chrysler-brand vehicle," Jim Hall, managing director of consultancy 2953 Analytics, told the L.A. Times.

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Chrysler Groozer: Customized PT-Cruiser with Suicide Doors and Split Rear Window

Over the years we've seen all sorts of customized Chrysler PT-Cruisers but admittedly, this 'old school' ride managed to capture our attention. The owner of the PT-Cruiser has put a serious amount of (body) work into the car that has been renamed to 'Groozer'.

Among many other mods, the owner fitted a pair of suicide rear doors, a custom made rear end with split rear window and unique LED tail lamps, and reworked fascia, hood and C-column.

The PT-Cruiser also features an air suspension system and a sliding canvas ragtop while it rides on 18-inch front and 20-inch rear 'wire' wheels.

As you can see in the photo gallery below, the project is still in the works with the owner of the car noting that in the next phase he will concentrate on the Groozer's interior.

Via: Cardomain

Chrysler Debuts 2009 PT Dream Cruiser Series 5 at Woodward Cruise

Not that we’re surprised or anything, but Chrysler’s “all-new limited production model” that we told you about yesterday is nothing more than a factory-customized PT Cruiser. Announced in conjunction with Detroit’s Woodward Dream Cruise, the PT Dream Cruiser Series 5 will be available this fall with prices starting from $22,700. Production will be limited to 1,750 units for the U.S. market.

So what’s so special about Chrysler’s 14th factory-customized limited-edition PT Cruiser? Well, aside from the contrasting two-tone theme with a Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl painted roof and hoop spoiler, the Dream Cruiser Series 5 also gets cross-hatched, solid billet aluminum grilles, 17-inch SRT alloys, chromed body-side trim moldings and new badges. -Continued

The contrasting paint theme continues inside the vehicle’s Pastel Slate Gray interior while there’s also new seat fabrics, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with bright silver accents, satin-silver finished gauge cluster with chromed rings and premium floor mats and door-entry sill plates add a final touch to this special-edition Chrysler PT Cruiser.

The Dream Cruiser Series 5 is available with a choice of two powertrains, a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated engine producing 150 HP and a 180 HP turbo-charged 2.4-liter unit.