Dare To Be Different

The PT Cruiser incorporates ‘hot rod’ inspired styling from the Thirties matched to modern multi-purpose vehicle practicality and affordability.

- Iain Wakefield

Love it or loath it, the Chrysler PT Cruiser is a modern classic that certainly stands out from the crowd. When it went on sale for the 2001 model year, nearly-new PTs were changing hands in the US for almost twice the car’s original selling price. The PT Cruiser was going to be sold under the Plymouth brand but as this well-known marque was withdrawn around the time Chrysler merged with Daimler Benz, the Cruiser ended up being sold as a Chrysler.

What eventually ended up as the PT Cruiser started off as a concept that took its design cues from the Plymouth Prowler Fifties styled ‘hot rod’. An initial concept was shown off in 1997 badged as the Plymouth Pronto and the design was later refined and displayed as the Pronto Cruiser concept.

Although this unusual retro styled concept received a huge amount of public acclaim, North American motoring journalists panned the car’s hot-rod style forward leaning design. However, it got a much better reception in the motoring press on this side of the Atlantic.

Bryan Nesbitt, one of Chrysler’s talented young stylists, was responsible for the PT Cruiser’s final design, which blended elements of the Prowler with the looks of a 1934-37 Chrysler Airflow. This unconventional looking modern Chrysler was built on a heavily modified version of the Neon’s floorpan and the retro styled PT Cruiser became an instant hit with customers looking for something a little different from the range of mainstream hatchbacks on sale at the time.