Chrysler 180

Car model built by Chrysler

| related = Chrysler Centura
| designer = Roy Axe Curt Gwinn

The Chrysler 180 was the base name for a series of large saloon cars produced by Chrysler Europe. Resulting from joining the development efforts of Rootes Group and Simca, the car was produced from 1970 to 1975 in Poissy, France, and later in Chrysler's subsidiary Barreiros' factory in Spain. The Chrysler 180 was also the base for the medium sized model built by Chrysler Australia, the Chrysler Centura. Depending on the engine, the cars were marketed as Chrysler 160/180/2 litre, and since 1977 in France and rest of continental Europe as Chrysler Simca 1609/1610/2 litres. After the takeover of Chrysler Europe by PSA Peugeot Citroën, the continental Europe models were renamed Talbot 1610/2 litres for 1979 and 1980 model years, after which the model was discontinued in Europe with the exception of Spain, where a diesel model was sold until 1982. The large, American inspired Chrysler fared quite poorly in the principal European markets. The replacement for the car was developed by Chrysler Europe under the codename C9 and was finally launched by PSA as the even more ill fated Talbot Tagora.

Although Chrysler gradually took financial control of both Simca and Rootes Group during the 1960s, there was little effort to coordinate the operations of both automakers. Therefore, the first common European Chrysler car was actually a result of two separate development programs.

In 1966, under the direction of Roy Axe, the Head of Design, the Rootes Group team started working on what was internally named the "C Car" (in reference to the smaller "B car", which became the Hillman Avenger), a new large car for Rootes to replace the Humber Hawk (and the imported Australian Chrysler Valiant, which served as a placeholder in Rootes' lineup after the Hawk's demise in 1967). The plan was to market the car under three brands the base version as Hillman, a 2.0 litre as Sunbeam 2000, and atop the range a Humber Hawk with a 2.5 L engine. A further development of the C Car with a stretched platform was planned, a "D Car", which was to replace the Humber Super Snipe.

At the same time, in France, Simca was working on Projet 929, which would be Simca's first large car since the Vedette was discontinued in 1961, and also partially replace the Simca 1501 in its role of the range topping Simca. The car would not use a V6 engine, as the displacement based puissance fiscale tax system in France would make the costs prohibitive, but rather four cylinder units of more modest specifications. There were three styling propositions prepared for the new car. The 929 XA was styled by Simca's design team, featuring angular design and rather top heavy proportions. Bertone designed the 929 XB, which was much more rounded and somewhat reminiscent of contemporary BMWs. Finally, the 929 XC was sent from Chrysler's Detroit design studios, and was very American in style, resembling a smaller version of what then became the Australian VE Series Chrysler Valiant.

In early 1969, Chrysler realized that there were actually two potentially competing cars being developed and called for both the British and the French proposition to be presented before the general management of Chrysler Europe. The decision was taken to go ahead with the British C Car program, but to develop two versions for both the UK and the French part of the concern. Chrysler funded a new plant along with a development centre for the Rootes Group at the Whitley plant, Coventry, where the development was continued. Roy Axe employed former Chrysler USA designer Curt Gwinn as project designer, and the C Car took a shape very similar to an enlarged version of the Hillman Avenger. Initial designs were inspired by contemporary American Chryslers, with twin headlamps and a light bar in the rear.

Chrysler decided to move the assembly lines from the Poissy factory to the Villaverde plant of its Spanish subsidiary, Barreiros. Barreiros had been assembling many Simca and Chrysler models previously for the protected Spanish market, but for the first time, it would become the sole supplier of the entire model line for all markets. The vehicle became popular in its new home market, and local coachbuilders even created estate and stretched versions of the car. The lineup remained mostly unchanged in most markets, although the 160 was not offered in Spain, which in turn received a new diesel model, powered by the Barreiros 2.0 L diesel engine (not offered in other European markets).

The four cylinder diesel featured with indirect injection. It was mated to the four speed manual transmission and delivered 48 kilowatts (65 hp). The diesel model came with the most basic 160 dashboard. A change to the Spanish lineup was forced by the November 1978 introduction of the Spanish taxation system, similar to France's puissance fiscale. The new 13 CV tax band imposed a rate of 35% and encompassed both the petroleum and diesel 2.0 L models. While the petroleum 2.0 Litre model was replaced by a 180 automatic version, the diesel engine had to be modified for 1978 to avoid increased taxation. The displacement was decreased from 2007 cc to 1917 cc (without a drop in actual maximum power or speed), just below the border of the 13 CV tax band, which stood at 1920 cc. The production of petrol engine Talbot 1610 stopped at the Barreiros plant, but diesel versions continued under the Talbot badge until 1982 for the Spanish market. In France, the sales of the Chrysler were so disappointing that the old Simca 1501 was offered again for 1974 (it had been kept in production after Chrysler's launch, mainly for export markets, to use up the remaining parts). In the British market the car's chances against rivals, such as the successful Rover SD1, were also hampered by the lack of engines larger than the 2.0 L, as the competitors offered six or even eight cylinder units, being unhampered by the French tax regulations. Moreover, Chrysler seemed not to support the model after its launch. Advertising was limited and updates scarce and insignificant. Chrysler did not make available an upmarket model with features as power windows or central locking, even though they were all available in the smaller Simca 1307, launched around the time when the 180 was in mid cycle. It did receive a low fuel warning lamp which would come on when a couple of gallons of fuel was left in the tank, a then unusual feature.

A variant of the Chrysler 180 was produced in Australia from 1975 to 1978 by Chrysler Australia as the Chrysler Centura. The Centura was offered with a choice of 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder engines mated to a manual or automatic transmission and was fitted with a modified front radiator grille to allow more airflow to the radiator, and four round headlamps to complete the makeover.