Chrysler TC by Maserati Turbo Maserati Head
The Chrysler TC by Maserati is one of the most fascinating and misunderstood cars of the late 1980s. Born from a personal friendship between Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca and Maserati's Alejandro de Tomaso, the TC was intended to be a world-class luxury roadster that would showcase the best of both American and Italian automotive traditions. The reality was more complex.
The TC was based on a modified version of Chrysler's K-car platform, which immediately undermined its aspirations to compete with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz SL. However, significant modifications were made. Maserati developed a unique 16-valve cylinder head for Chrysler's 2.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, producing 200 horsepower — a significant improvement over the standard Turbo II's 174 horsepower. The hand-finished cylinder head was cast in Italy and featured larger valves, revised port geometry, and individual throttle bodies.
The body was assembled by Maserati at their Milan facility, where Italian craftsmen hand-finished the body panels and installed the interior. The result was a car with tighter panel gaps and better paint quality than anything Chrysler produced in its American plants. The hardtop featured a distinctive porthole rear window, and a removable hard top was standard alongside the cloth convertible top.
Interior appointments were genuinely luxurious. Connolly leather seats, real wood trim, and Italian-sourced switchgear elevated the TC well above typical Chrysler standards. The Getrag five-speed manual transmission (available on the Maserati-head model) was a rare touch in an American luxury car.
The TC's downfall was timing and perception. Development delays pushed the launch from 1987 to 1989, by which time the LeBaron convertible had been restyled to closely resemble the TC — destroying the TC's visual exclusivity. At $33,000 (nearly $80,000 in 2024 dollars), the TC cost twice as much as a LeBaron convertible and looked embarrassingly similar. The K-car platform associations were impossible to overcome in the minds of automotive journalists and potential buyers.
Approximately 7,300 TCs were built across three model years. Only the first 500 received the Maserati-head engine; later cars used standard Chrysler Turbo II and eventually Mitsubishi 3.0L V6 engines. Today, the Maserati-head manual cars are the most collectible, representing the full realization of the original concept.
The Maserati-head cars (first 500 units) are the most desirable and most collectible. Verify the engine by checking for the Maserati casting marks on the cylinder head. The Maserati head is extremely difficult to source if it needs replacement. Standard Turbo II cars are more practical as the engine parts are widely available. Body rust is a concern in the usual K-car locations: floor pans, rocker panels, and around the convertible top well. The hardtop with porthole window is unique to the TC and irreplaceable if damaged. Italian electrical components can be troublesome. The Getrag manual transmission is the enthusiast's choice. Check the convertible top mechanism carefully — repairs are expensive.
1989: approximately 3,000 units. 1990: approximately 2,500. 1991: approximately 1,800. Total production approximately 7,300 units. Only the first 500 cars received the Maserati-developed 16-valve head. Later cars used the standard Chrysler Turbo II (174 hp) or the Mitsubishi 3.0L V6 (141 hp). The body was assembled by Maserati in Milan and shipped to Mexico for final assembly with the powertrain and interior.