I was going to stay out of this whole conversation (even though my car is probably the biggest offender when it comes to having an automotive identy crisis thanks to me).
But I thought I'd ad my $.02 anyway.
Of course you're right Dave, there's no denying it. If Chrysler sold it, then it's a Chrysler. Plain and simple. But things are never really that simple, are they?
I mean to the average Joe on the street who doesn't have a clue as to what kind of car he's driving, where it came from, who built it, who designed it, and has no interest what so ever in finding out, yeah, it's a Chrysler.
But to the average "Crossfire Owner" (if there is such an animal) or for any "Car Guy/Girl", there's usually more to it than what Dealer Show Room you had to go to, just to sign on the bottom line.
Being a long time MoPAR guy, I've probably spent nearly $100k on "Chrysler" products in the last 46 years, so I have no poblem admitting to Chrysler ownership.
But personally, I don't feel the Crossfire is anymore a Chrysler than say a:
Chrysler Simca
Chrysler Sunbeam Tiger
Chrysler Roots Motors
Dodge Colt
Plymouth Sapporo
79 Dodge Challenger
Plymouth Arrow
Chrysler Coquest
Dodge Sprinter Van
Chrysler Fiat
Chrysler 4.0 litre Jeep
Or a Dodge Stealth, just to name a few.
Speaking of the "Dodge" Stealth, the 1991 INDY PACE CAR dibolical is a very good example of how much weight a cars "true" origin has in the automotive enthusiasts collective memory.
eBay Find of the Day: 1991 Dodge Stealth is the Indy 500 Pace Car that never was - Autoblog
The SRT-6 could have easily paced the 2005 Indy Car race with no mods what so ever. But just like the Dodge Stealth, Having a car built by a country that was once an Axis Power, being front and center on a Memorial Day Holiday Race probably would have been frowed upon. But one thing for sure, (if it had happened) EVERYBODY would have considered the Crossfire a Mercedes.
