It's not over until the fat lady sings: Chrysler Heir Sends Proposal To Stellantis For Brands
Frank B. Rhodes plans for Chrysler.
- Thread starter crv
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71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
Id love to see it. Make Mopars American Again.
Chinese investors (BYD) circling around Chrysler like vultures is not a good sign, I hope he can pull it off.
He's not pulling any punches in his letter to Stellantis: https://moparinsiders.com/wp-conten...r-to-Carlos-Tavares-CEO-of-Stellantis-N.V.pdf
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cbarge
World Famous Barge in a Budget
Stellantis are not car people..
IT is sad that the Chrysler brand will be part of history.
The Jeep brand has always been a cash cow for every corporation since the 60's..AMC, Chrysler, Daimler- Chrysler, and so forth.
THe majority of the iconic Mopars were built in plants now closed.
Last year I wanted to do a photo op with Grace at the Windsor plant where she was born December 1966.
I was denied access by security.
Even a plant worker at the gate gave the security guard crap ." Hey! We built that car here! Let him in!"
But to no avail.
SO I shot this outside instead..
IT is sad that the Chrysler brand will be part of history.
The Jeep brand has always been a cash cow for every corporation since the 60's..AMC, Chrysler, Daimler- Chrysler, and so forth.
THe majority of the iconic Mopars were built in plants now closed.
Last year I wanted to do a photo op with Grace at the Windsor plant where she was born December 1966.
I was denied access by security.
Even a plant worker at the gate gave the security guard crap ." Hey! We built that car here! Let him in!"
But to no avail.
SO I shot this outside instead..
71Polara383
Kid with ballcap
I've been harassed by Security at the Belvidere plant too.
Bottom line. Mopar doesn't care about us because Mopar is dead.
Dont personally know Frank Rhodes or any of the folks he could assemble to try to do what he is writing about.
Reading his letter to Stellantis I can feel his passion/belief in what he is writing. It's gotta be terrible to him/others to see what's (apparently) happening -- a slow motion train wreck for iconic, American-born, company.
It took 100 years -- most companies NEVER last long, let alone a car company (needs TONS of cash, TONS of unit sales volume -- always have, seems to always will) - but I don't see a future for these venerable (Ram/Jeep maybe yes, but pass. cars no) Chrysler brands.
It still takes MILLIONS of sales units a year to support a mass market vehicle (in the middle of a populsion transition to boot) company. Enough for scale economies to kick in.
That said, putting it down on paper is MILES from actually doing it successfully.
Everything Frank says (heritage, innovation, attitude, etc) DID happen. I dont see anything, going forward however, that can change Chrysler's fortunes. That glorious, somewhat enviable past is of limited value in support of continued investment.
Did Stellantis **** it all up? Dunno that answer either, but I think Chrysler "died" long before they got it (thats another thread). Whenever Chrysler's corporate epitaph is written, that observation can be debated ad nauseum -- and to what end? It would still be gone.
Could Stellantis save it (the Chrysler brands)? Unsure. But IMHO, doubtful. A bit "unfair" to lay it (i.e., Chrysler's inevitable demise) at Tavares's, Feuell's, et al's. feet alone.
Though, it might be - analogously - like one of us average citizens looking at a complex resto (e.g., needs a buncha time, money, and some unobtanium) of a once cherry, classic sled but now is a "rust bucket".
Right at that tipping point of ''too far gone" to try to bring it back perhaps? Lamenting how it got that bad is a waste of time. It is what it is right now. You just might decide to "punt, pass, or kick" or maybe even sit this one out.
Except, when dealing with BILLIONS of dollars of OPM (other peoples' money) trying to run a global car company, nothing short of making the right money (ROI) will do. It's an overused cliche, but "its rough out there".
Sentimental value of past accomplishments usually aint nearly enough. Still hope something valuable comes out of Mr. Rhodes' efforts.
Reading his letter to Stellantis I can feel his passion/belief in what he is writing. It's gotta be terrible to him/others to see what's (apparently) happening -- a slow motion train wreck for iconic, American-born, company.
It took 100 years -- most companies NEVER last long, let alone a car company (needs TONS of cash, TONS of unit sales volume -- always have, seems to always will) - but I don't see a future for these venerable (Ram/Jeep maybe yes, but pass. cars no) Chrysler brands.
It still takes MILLIONS of sales units a year to support a mass market vehicle (in the middle of a populsion transition to boot) company. Enough for scale economies to kick in.
That said, putting it down on paper is MILES from actually doing it successfully.
Everything Frank says (heritage, innovation, attitude, etc) DID happen. I dont see anything, going forward however, that can change Chrysler's fortunes. That glorious, somewhat enviable past is of limited value in support of continued investment.
Did Stellantis **** it all up? Dunno that answer either, but I think Chrysler "died" long before they got it (thats another thread). Whenever Chrysler's corporate epitaph is written, that observation can be debated ad nauseum -- and to what end? It would still be gone.
Could Stellantis save it (the Chrysler brands)? Unsure. But IMHO, doubtful. A bit "unfair" to lay it (i.e., Chrysler's inevitable demise) at Tavares's, Feuell's, et al's. feet alone.
Though, it might be - analogously - like one of us average citizens looking at a complex resto (e.g., needs a buncha time, money, and some unobtanium) of a once cherry, classic sled but now is a "rust bucket".
Right at that tipping point of ''too far gone" to try to bring it back perhaps? Lamenting how it got that bad is a waste of time. It is what it is right now. You just might decide to "punt, pass, or kick" or maybe even sit this one out.
Except, when dealing with BILLIONS of dollars of OPM (other peoples' money) trying to run a global car company, nothing short of making the right money (ROI) will do. It's an overused cliche, but "its rough out there".
Sentimental value of past accomplishments usually aint nearly enough. Still hope something valuable comes out of Mr. Rhodes' efforts.
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cbarge
World Famous Barge in a Budget
Heritage is one thing..but current sales is another.
The Chrysler brand name gas fallen the same way as Mercury and Oldsmobile--- the customers have died off.
I own a 2008 300C and love it.
I bought it from a retired dentist 6 years ago.
It repkaced the 2006 300C I had.
Yes I know it is based on a Mercedes platform but has the all American V8
Not many on the road nor on used car lots.
Stellantis did not push to advertise the 300 for a long time
The dealerships here I had not seen the new Hornet either.
Just Jeeps and Rams with 1 or 2 Challengers thrown into the mix.
The Chrysler brand name gas fallen the same way as Mercury and Oldsmobile--- the customers have died off.
I own a 2008 300C and love it.
I bought it from a retired dentist 6 years ago.
It repkaced the 2006 300C I had.
Yes I know it is based on a Mercedes platform but has the all American V8
Not many on the road nor on used car lots.
Stellantis did not push to advertise the 300 for a long time
The dealerships here I had not seen the new Hornet either.
Just Jeeps and Rams with 1 or 2 Challengers thrown into the mix.
IMHO:
Guys... This guy is not going to take Chrysler anywhere. His only claim to fame is he's Walter P's great grandson. His business experience is in custom wood furniture and not in manufacturing. He's also 64 years old.
I read the letter and it doesn't show any real business plan, seems to trash Christine Feuell and remind them that they (Stellantis) only keep him around because he's Walter P's grandson.
It would take a team of qualified people and then truckloads of money to bring it back. This guy doesn't have that.
Of all the rumors I've heard, the best one is Elon Musk buying the company and doing something with it... I'm not sure what though.
Chrysler died when Daimler Benz bought them. They are just getting around to falling down.
Guys... This guy is not going to take Chrysler anywhere. His only claim to fame is he's Walter P's great grandson. His business experience is in custom wood furniture and not in manufacturing. He's also 64 years old.
I read the letter and it doesn't show any real business plan, seems to trash Christine Feuell and remind them that they (Stellantis) only keep him around because he's Walter P's grandson.
It would take a team of qualified people and then truckloads of money to bring it back. This guy doesn't have that.
Of all the rumors I've heard, the best one is Elon Musk buying the company and doing something with it... I'm not sure what though.
Chrysler died when Daimler Benz bought them. They are just getting around to falling down.
6PKRTSE
Active Member
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I have a $100 to help Rhodes make it happen.....
That's seems to be what he, Chrysler's great grandson, is attempting to achieve; get people with money behind him. Big task, but who knows.
The_Eagles’_Nest
Well-Known Member
It could be a great opportunity. Imperial could come back with LeBaron an make an SUV to compete with Navigator and Escalade. Then Chrysler should have a New Yorker and 300 plus a mid-size SUV like Aviator. Make Dodge a Charger, Challenger, Coronet and keep the Durango. Make the trucks Dodge again and call them D/W like they were. They also knew their own van. Plymouth would be a budget make like they were with Valiant and a Belvedere.
All new styling to make them look like fresh versions of the classic cars we own, and bring back the Magnum engines with fresh technology. Next, make one Hemi and make it exclusive to the performance cars.
Basically pickup like it were 1968 again and keep it going.
All new styling to make them look like fresh versions of the classic cars we own, and bring back the Magnum engines with fresh technology. Next, make one Hemi and make it exclusive to the performance cars.
Basically pickup like it were 1968 again and keep it going.
73Coupe
Senior Member
Time to start a "go fund me" campaign....
Wonderwagon
Well-Known Member
Where did the hemi powered car profits go? Maserati, Fiat to name and few
commando1
Old Man with a Hat
I don't know how any Chrysler Corp. vehicle after 1980 can be called a Mopar.
Stellantis reply to Frank Rhodes' "proposal":" uh, no thank you".
Why did Stellantis respond?
Maybe they had to as a public company looking out for its shareholders? Since Rhodes gave Free Press his first letter (bush move IMO -- credible buyer would never have done that) other things started happening. Maybe its was in fact mildly interesting as an idea to Stellantis, but Frank aint got the $25 Billion (i just made that number up -- dunno what it would be but it's $$$ would likely start with a "B") Stellantis would want for those brands?
IMO, purely based on business economics, that proposed Rhodes deal would NEVER get funded. As gloomy as the future may be for the old Chrysler, its best chance to live on (even if "Chrysler" and "Dodge" brands soon go udders up) is right where it is inside a much bigger company with scale.
Walter Chrysler's great-grandson wants to buy Chrysler, Dodge; Stellantis says no thanks
Why did Stellantis respond?
Maybe they had to as a public company looking out for its shareholders? Since Rhodes gave Free Press his first letter (bush move IMO -- credible buyer would never have done that) other things started happening. Maybe its was in fact mildly interesting as an idea to Stellantis, but Frank aint got the $25 Billion (i just made that number up -- dunno what it would be but it's $$$ would likely start with a "B") Stellantis would want for those brands?
IMO, purely based on business economics, that proposed Rhodes deal would NEVER get funded. As gloomy as the future may be for the old Chrysler, its best chance to live on (even if "Chrysler" and "Dodge" brands soon go udders up) is right where it is inside a much bigger company with scale.
Walter Chrysler's great-grandson wants to buy Chrysler, Dodge; Stellantis says no thanks
The_Eagles’_Nest
Well-Known Member
In the end Chrysler already made the cars I enjoy and I love them for what they are and the company for what it was when they made my cars. They will carry the legacy of Chrysler and the hard working men and women who made it possible more than any feel-good rhetoric tossed out by those who act far too late and worry about how they can be reactive instead of proactive…
I mean if the legacy of the Chrysler name and brand was so important, why not act 25 years ago when the Germans were ready to dump it after raping the company for all they had.
Sadly IMO, as fun and as warm and fuzzy as you can get about bringing Chrysler back to glory it may be better to just appreciate it for what it was and let it go.
I mean if the legacy of the Chrysler name and brand was so important, why not act 25 years ago when the Germans were ready to dump it after raping the company for all they had.
Sadly IMO, as fun and as warm and fuzzy as you can get about bringing Chrysler back to glory it may be better to just appreciate it for what it was and let it go.
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