1991 Chrysler TC by Maserati Full In Depth Review Test Drive 

Excellent video. It’s so nice to see an objective review by someone who has done their homework. Bad-mouthing these cars has become something of a pastime for people who have never seen one and don’t have the slightest idea what they’re talking about in regard to them. Well done indeed.

the "I can't believe there is still one in such good shape" detective strikes again.

It's basically the luxury roadster version of the Daytona's and Le Baron's of the day. I like it.

You've done an excellent video here I wanted to thank you for taking the time to do so as I've been looking for a Chrysler TC for the past few months and after watching your very complete and non-biased straightforward video I definitely want to buy one! It's ironic how people don't understand that when Vehicles come out it's the greatest thing since sliced bread and then very shortly after they start Nick picking it to death. These cars were marvelous in their own right for the time. It's unfortunate that they've gotten a bad reputation because they're very good cars but they're very rare as they were completely handmade and hand assembled in Italy. Paint and all! But they did not thinking through enough and it was schedule to come back years before it actually debuted.. Well after the LeBaron. Yes the blaring is half the price and yes they share similar mechanics. What's a Chrysler TC was originally a halo car to get people into the dealerships so when the little Baron came out they could realize what a good car the LeBaron was at half the price as the Maserati TC but without all the goodies and bragging rights. Thank you so much for taking the time to do such a thorough video and have a good day! Appreciatively, Rob Mayer Clemmons North Carolina

These show up on Craigslist now and then, usually for less than $6,000.00, and with less than 100,000 miles on them. Back in the 1990s, they may have been overpriced. But now, if you can get a relatively simple and and easy to maintain fuel injected Chrysler with ABS and an air bag from this period with a beautiful, comfortable leather interior and removable top, why not?

Very cool. Thnx for doing this vid. I got an 89 version. I love it.

These always reminded me so much of a LeBaron 😂

As I said, this is a really excellent video, but he does repeat one thing that you often hear about the TC that I’ve never understood. I think it originated in a magazine article but I’m not sure. The notion that the TC combined the worst of Maserati with the worst of Chrysler. That really makes no sense. The late 80s and early 90s Chrysler vehicles are not famous for their awesome fit and finish, high-end full leather interiors, or nice body work and paint. Their 2.2 L family of four-cylinder engines on the other hand, which were the foundation of most of the TC engine options, are pretty much bulletproof and are outstanding producers of power. To this day there are guys in a little front wheel drive four-cylinder Shelbys running in the tens. Maserati on the other hand was producing beautiful cars with engines, like the ones in the early Biturbo, which definitely had their reliability issues. If anything, the TC combined the best of both Maserati and Chrysler.

Thats gold .....love it

Looks good for what it is

I've been quite excited waiting for this review ever since you teased it. I've always had a bit of a soft spot for the TC- a friend in High school's father had one, and I always found it cool... even though it was in really rather poor condition! To no surprise, this was a fantastic showcase of a particularly clean example of what has to surely be one of the rarest cars out on the road today! What I find fascinating is that Chrysler and GM both had the idea to make an Italian GT/Sports Car in the same era and both were quite unsuccessful, and for many of the same reasons. Even the Reatta, which wasn't nearly as expensive and a bit more conventional, also fits into this same sort of mold. I wonder if these manufacturers had gone for a more American-themed GT convertibles, with full back seats, a lower price, and exclude the Italian production hassles, if they could've made these cars better sellers. I imagine a four seat Chrysler Cordoba convertible could've fared better than the TC if it was priced more reasonably, to appeal to more average customers instead of being aimed at Mercedes. Halo cars for American brands have rarely been successful, and by the late 80s almost all American makes were facing brand image issues already- trying to move up market seems almost comically stupid in hindsight. I'd love to have been in those management meetings when they brainstormed these cars! In my experience, these expensive roadsters, despite initial appearances and some quality aspects like leather seating, were worse built than an existing higher-end model like a 5th Ave or New Yorker from Chrysler. (Not that any were exceptionally well made, but the TC is known for lots of problems when the cars were still new). Another contributing aspect while seeing this vehicle is that it's really sorta small and stubby and looks very similar to the cheaper LeBaron. GM was having this exact issue around the same time, and in the late 80s extended the bodies on some cars (Cadillac DeVille and Buick Riviera come to mind) to make the cars look more substantial while also differentiating them from cheaper cars built on the same platform. I almost wonder if in the TC's case, if building the car larger (and as I mentioned earlier, even including a back seat) might have really made a difference. I can't imagine many people went to a Chrysler dealer and saw the TC parked next to a LeBaron and thought it was worth the price difference. Sometimes the niceties on the interior don't matter if the exterior can't get people interested in the first place. It's a handsome car, but they probably could've done more and perhaps ingratiated a few more customers. Then again, with Chrysler losing money on every copy sold, perhaps they never really intended to have that many sales- just producing the car to boost brand image as much as they could, and considering development and production costs like a form of marketing. I sure don't know!

Compared to the contemporary Maseratis at the time (the Biturbo) this was a far better car. The only thing missing is the traditional Maserati clock in the dash.

For the uninitiated, the car has an Italian VIN, because they were manufactured by Maserati. The VIN plate has the older Officiene Maserati company name.

Great methodical review..Scotty Kilmer stated he believes this is one of the worse cars ever made ....laughingly he states he looked under neath the rear end and saw a fake dual exhaust trumpet pipe tip!!! thank you for posting

It's a nice-looking car, but so was the LeBaron. The TC has the opera windows which are a nice touch, and of course the Maserati badge, but otherwise they're almost identical stylistically. So, for twice the price, you lose a backseat, get a nice, leather-appointed interior, and the dubious prestige of a Maserati badge. I'm sure there are other niceties with the TC, but nothing to justify the price. Maybe 1.5X the price of a loaded LeBaron, but not 2X. I'd still buy one in good condition, simply because it's different and I dig the styling.

During the time in which the tc was marketed here I don't know of any other vehicle available in the US by any other automaker short of Rolls Royce or Aston Martin or Ferarri or Bentley or....You get the idea: all the uber expensive hand made imports, that could be had with all those completely hand-stitched swaths of expensive Italian leather covering EVERYTHING. All those many panels and other areas that everyone, including Mercedes, Cadillac, Lincoln et al tried to color match with extremely unconvincing cheap ass vinyl were lovingly wrapped with acres of the stuff. I don't even think Maserati's own US lineup could be had sans plastic somewhere in their interiors. So, yes the mechanicals were awful. Inexcusable, really, but I'm pretty sure Maserati were just hanging on by a thread at that moment and they had to bite the bullet and deliver something they could still do better than those others: handcrafted full leather interiors. That shit cost a whole lot then; as it does now. It bugs me car mags and buyers had such a tough time getting it through their stupid heads that the reason the otherwise POS TC cost so much more was because of all the time and effort and price of materials. And I ain't so sure that 'wood' trim was plastic, either. The 'grain' or 'burl' doesn't match anything else Chrysler offered then and those shapes were bespoke to the TC. Terrible car, for sure, but that price tag was so high for good reason. NO ONE offered such a special place to spend time. Just don't plan to get anywhere on time.

Didn’t you have that video out a while ago?

Which engine/model of this car is the best to buy. I will wait for your reply. Thanks

Yikes! My older brother bought one new. It had more leaks then the Watergate Hotel. As many electronic problems as a Mini Cooper. Worse reliability than a Triumph. I'd rather drive a Ford Pinto without the retrofitted rear bumper than a TC. Otherwise, it's a decent car.

Cool to see now but In 1990 for 35k I’m buying a 325i convertible every time

I loved mine, but not the smell of mice droppings and urine.

It'a a LeBaron

Hi everybody I have one red color, 1989 Anybody interested?