330dTA
Senior Member
I read in the 2005 Charles K. Hyde book "Riding the Roller Coaster" (p. 211/389) that the "all the 1969 full sized Chrysler products did poorly because of poor quality. A rushed and rocky launch of new models resulted in dozens of design defects that went unnoticed until they reached the customer." - Mr. Hyde is here referring to an April 1970 issue of Fortune magazine, which told the same story (pp.102-105 and pp. 146-152). - Supposedly, the quality problems were so bad, that Chrysler established an office of consumer affairs in mid-February 1971, with president Byron J. Nichols in charge. "Customers could pass on their complaints about Chrysler products to Nichols..." who, of course, was impossible to reach.
Now I'm curious: Would some of you, who were there at the time, or are in the know, have memories of what exactly were these "ill designed pieces"? I for one, know for sure of only two. They were present in my old man's car.
1) The (dark Chrysler brownish green) dash pad had a blemish on top of it, square in the middle, from the day one. It grew ever more pronounced with the ultra-violet rays of the sun. What is more, I have seen the same blemish on all cars, whose dash pad wasn't black. My old man reclaimed it to the importer when the car was new, but they didn't reply. - I've concluded that it had something to do with the way the dash pads were installed. Any period info on this?
2) My old man's '70 New Yorker leaked from new. Whenever it rained (and it rains a lot in Finland in the summer) the heater core seemed to store some of the rainwater in it. I would flush the front passengers' feet with perhaps a quarter of a pint of water every time you took a turn to left. Enough to get your shoes, and the carpet soaked wet. My old man reclaimed this to the importing company, who of course found nothing wrong with the car. Grinding his teeth, he put the car in a garage, and kept it there every time it rained. Drove his German, non-leaking Opel instead. Not driving in the rain - and therefore not driving very much at all - obviously helped in preserving the car in immaculate condition for 18 years.
I'm not trying to raise negative feelings here. Sorry if I sound like it. I'm only trying to find out the true history of these cars. And the possible solutions to the claimed design defects.
Now I'm curious: Would some of you, who were there at the time, or are in the know, have memories of what exactly were these "ill designed pieces"? I for one, know for sure of only two. They were present in my old man's car.
1) The (dark Chrysler brownish green) dash pad had a blemish on top of it, square in the middle, from the day one. It grew ever more pronounced with the ultra-violet rays of the sun. What is more, I have seen the same blemish on all cars, whose dash pad wasn't black. My old man reclaimed it to the importer when the car was new, but they didn't reply. - I've concluded that it had something to do with the way the dash pads were installed. Any period info on this?
2) My old man's '70 New Yorker leaked from new. Whenever it rained (and it rains a lot in Finland in the summer) the heater core seemed to store some of the rainwater in it. I would flush the front passengers' feet with perhaps a quarter of a pint of water every time you took a turn to left. Enough to get your shoes, and the carpet soaked wet. My old man reclaimed this to the importing company, who of course found nothing wrong with the car. Grinding his teeth, he put the car in a garage, and kept it there every time it rained. Drove his German, non-leaking Opel instead. Not driving in the rain - and therefore not driving very much at all - obviously helped in preserving the car in immaculate condition for 18 years.
I'm not trying to raise negative feelings here. Sorry if I sound like it. I'm only trying to find out the true history of these cars. And the possible solutions to the claimed design defects.