Continuing on with our Weekend Edition, and look at what we have here. When was the last time you saw an intact Plymouth TC-3 (or similar vintage Dodge 024), let alone one that looks like it came right out of a Reagan Era new car showroom? These cars were haphazardly built when new, and they lost their shine just sitting on the car lots during this time period. 30 odd years later, and one forgets those details when confronted with a machine like this, and what was once considered utter crap, turns into something that is quite desirable… or not…
The Dodge 024 and Plymouth TC-3 were introduced for the 1979 model year as companion models to the Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon subcompacts. They shared everything under the body, but were quite rakish compared with the sedan versions. Engines were either a 1.7L Volkswagen designed four cylinder, producing 75hp, and 90 lb-ft of torque, or by 1981, the 2.2L Chrysler designed four cylinder, producing 81hp, and substantially more torque. This car has the Volkswagen derived 1.7L engine.
This car is also equipped with the standard 4-speed manual. There were stories that when the Omni and Horizon models were in the planning stage, there was a lot of consideration given to offering a 3-speed manual as the base transmission, but the engineers won over the bean counters, and they took it one step further by designing enough room for a 5th gear within the transmission housing.
The color scheme on this car is a two-tone Linen White over Ginger and is really attractive. I even like the period correct wide whitewall tires and the aftermarket vinyl splash guards. The interior is awash in a color called “Buckskin” and there isn’t much wear inside this car. There is a factory AM/FM radio, and basically nothing else. The only major missing options were Air Conditioning, an Automatic, and the 2.2L Engine.
With over eight days to go until the auction ends, the top bid so far is $2,275, with no reserve. Tell me what you think about this piece of Chrysler History when you take a look at the listing here: [sc:ebay itemid=”321177504613″ linktext=”1981 Plymouth Horizon TC-3″ ]
![http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/1983_Dodge_Rampage.jpg/800px-1983_Dodge_Rampage.jpg"](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/1983_Dodge_Rampage.jpg/800px-1983_Dodge_Rampage.jpg"){kind=link}
Leave a Reply