The Chrysler M Platform (or "M-Body") was an intermediate-sized

automobile platform A car platform is a shared set of common design, engineering, and production efforts, as well as major components, over a number of outwardly distinct models and even types of cars, often from different, but somewhat related, marques. It is prac ...

used by

Chrysler FCA US, LLC, Trade name, doing business as Stellantis North America and known historically as Chrysler ( ), is one of the "Big Three (automobile manufacturers), Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States, headquartered in Auburn H ...

motors from 1977 to 1989. It was a successor to the F-body, as used on the Dodge Aspen/ Plymouth Volare. The M-body was also the successor to the short-lived R-body, as the

Chrysler New Yorker The Chrysler New Yorker is an automobile model produced by Chrysler (division), Chrysler from 1940 until 1996, serving for several decades as either the brand's flagship model or as a junior sedan to the Chrysler Imperial, the latter during the y ...

and

Plymouth Gran Fury The Plymouth Gran Fury is a full-sized automobile that was manufactured by Plymouth (automobile), Plymouth from 1975 to 1989. The nameplate would be used on successive Downsize (automobile), downsizings, first in 1980, and again in 1982, through ...

moved to it following the R-body's demise in 1981. The M platform was the final production passenger car with a solid rear axle mounted on Hotchkiss-style, parallel semi-elliptical leaf springs sold in the U.S. The M-cars were built at

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Miss ...

, and

Newark, Delaware Newark ( )Not as in Newark, New Jersey. is a city in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. It is located west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 31,454. The University of Delaware is ...

, with initial debut (LeBaron/Diplomat series) in spring 1977 as 1977 1/2 models, with production shifting to

Windsor, Ontario Windsor ( ) is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada. It is situated on the south bank of the Detroit River directly across from the U.S city of Detroit, Detroit, Michigan. Geographically located within but administratively independent of Esse ...

, through 1983, then moving to Fenton, Missouri. Beginning in February 1987 and ending with 1989 model year, the

American Motors American Motors Corporation (AMC; commonly referred to as American Motors) was an American automobile manufacturing company formed by the mergers and acquisitions, merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company on May 1, 19 ...

Main plant in

Kenosha, Wisconsin Kenosha () is a city in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of cities in Wisconsin, fourth-most populous city in Wisconsin, with a population of 99,986 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. S ...

, was utilized for assembly. By 1983–84, it became clear that most private buyers preferred the equally roomy but cheaper and more fuel-efficient K-cars; however, the M's long-proven traditional engineering, handling, and V8 engine availability appealed to

police The police are Law enforcement organization, a constituted body of Law enforcement officer, people empowered by a State (polity), state with the aim of Law enforcement, enforcing the law and protecting the Public order policing, public order ...

and

taxi A taxi, also known as a taxicab or simply a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a Driving, driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of thei ...

fleets, allowing the car's continued existence until the end of the decade. In mid-1988, the Chrysler M-bodies received a driver side air bag. After the M-bodies were discontinued in mid-1989, Chrysler Corporation didn't build a rear wheel drive car outside of trucks and specialty models until LX based cars. Vehicles on this platform include: * 1977–1989 Dodge Diplomat * 1977–1981 Chrysler LeBaron * 1978–1981 Chrysler Town & Country station wagon * 1978–1979 Dodge Coronet (South America) * 1978–1982 Plymouth Caravelle (Canada) * 1980–1981

Dodge Dart The Dodge Dart is a line of passenger cars produced by Dodge from the 1959 to 1976 model years in North America, with production extended to later years in various other markets. The production Dodge Dart was introduced as a lower-priced full-si ...

(Mexico) * 1981–1982 Dodge Magnum 5.9L (Mexico) * 1982–1989

* 1982

* 1983

Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue The Chrysler Fifth Avenue was a trim level/option package or model name used by Chrysler (division), Chrysler for its larger sedans from 1979 to 1993. The Fifth Avenue name was no longer used after 1993 when Chrysler introduced its new LH-platform ...

* 1983–1989 Plymouth Caravelle Salon (Canada) * 1984–1989 Chrysler Fifth Avenue *1979–1980

Monteverdi Sierra The Monteverdi Sierra is a Swiss luxury car produced by Monteverdi based on the underpinnings of the Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volare. From 1977 to 1980, around 20 cars were built. History The Sierras were essentially reskinned Dodge Aspens an ...

Convertible Three body styles offered:https://www.xr793.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1980-Chrysler-Lebaron.pdf * 2-door

coupe A coupe or coupé (, ) is a passenger car with a sloping or truncated rear roofline and typically with two doors. The term ''coupé'' was first applied to horse-drawn carriages for two passengers without rear-facing seats. It comes from the Fr ...

– 1977–1981 * 4-door sedan – 1977–1989 * 4-door

station wagon A station wagon (American English, US, also wagon) or estate car (British English, UK, also estate) is an automotive Car body style, body-style variant of a Sedan (automobile), sedan with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo ...

– 1978–1981 Two wheelbases used: * 108.7 in – 1980–1981 2-door * 112.7 in – 1977–1979 2-door, 1978–1981 Station Wagon and 1977–1989 4-doorhttps://www.xr793.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/1981-Chrysler-Lebaron.pdf Engines used with this platform include: * 225 Slant 6 (1977–1983) * 318 V8 (1977–1989) * 360 V8 (1977–1979)

References

;Inline {{Reflist ;General
Allpar Forums

Dodge Diplomat, Plymouth Gran Fury / Caravelle, and Chrysler LeBaron, New Yorker and Fifth
(''By Ed Hennessy and by Frank Billington'')

(''Mopar Body Types By Ed Hennessy Date 1998'')

(''Chrysler M-body LPG – Blast from the Past By Robert Markowski Date 2-13-2013'')

**http://www.policecarwebsite.net/policepackage/mbody.html
Goodbye Gran Fifthlomat: The Chrysler M-Body Cars of 1989
(''By Tom Appel Date 4-29-2014'') M

See also

References