Car Spotlight-Dodge Dynasty (1988-1993)

The entire car industry (specifically the design departments) was flipped upside down when they got their first look at the 1986 Ford Taurus.  While the average 1980s car looked like a moving box with edges so sharp they can give you cuts, the Taurus was very aerodynamic and futuristic, with rounded edges, a comfortable interior, and even a digital dashboard to further give owners the impression they were driving "the car of the future."

Meanwhile, across town over at Chrysler, top executives and engineers were scoffing at the Taurus, claiming the car was "too radical" for the public to chew and swallow.  They assumed that consumers would continue to prefer traditional boxy cars that has been a standard for American cars since the late 70s.

To "compete" with the new Taurus, Chrysler took their "fail safe" K-platform, enlarged it to appear mid-sized, and slapped all these boxy panels on it. (perhaps as a middle finger to Ford)  The end result was the Dynasty sedan.


So what was the verdict?

Why don't you take a look at these two pictures...one is the Dynasty and the other is the Ford Taurus.  Both are the same model year and priced about the same.  






...Yeah, it seems that at arrival, the Dynasty already looked like a twenty year old car.  Despite it's inferiority design wise, the Dynasty still found it's group of buyers.  These people include:

• families who haven't exactly warmed up to the Taurus's aerodynamic design
• people who refuse to buy anything that isn't a Chrysler product
• OLD PEOPLE!

Now with that being said, the Dynasty wasn't really that bad of a car (although it does like to eat automatic transmissions for breakfast).  One thing I hear that owners like about the Dynasty is it's smooth ride, thanks to it's innovative front struts that reduced ride harshness, as well as seats that felt like the couch in your grandma's living room.  To be honest, I would consider the Dynasty as one of the last "land yachts" to be sold to the public.  

In the long run, Chrysler was dead wrong about aeronautical cars being a fad, as the Dynasty (as well as most of Chrysler's boxy cars) was phased out in 1993 and replaced by the super sleek Intrepid.  

Link to a bunch of old people explaining why they like their Dynasty 

Link to an incredibly hot chick selling Dodge Dynasty hubcaps

Link to a bunch of teenagers making a Dynasty fly!