Photo 6 -- PT Cruiser

Few cars have had the impact the Chrysler PT Cruiser did when it first hit the market. The design was a smash hit. Dealers couldn’t get enough stock and Chrysler was not prepared for the onslaught of orders. Those buyers willing to pay the high dealer markup were envied by those that had to wait. Not since the Volkswagen New Beetle had a retro vehicle captured the hearts of the American public the way this new Chrysler did. According to Bryan Nesbitt, the PT Cruiser’s designer (and, incidentally, the stylist behind the Chevrolet HHR), the retro Chrysler’s design was derived from sedan delivery vehicles of the late 30’s and early 40’s. The PT Cruiser’s appeal lay in its unique design combined with modern mechanicals and a truly useful interior. There was nothing else on the road like it. But once the market was saturated with PT Cruisers, its appeal faded despite the addition of a turbocharged GT model and a roomy convertible, and to keep the factories running, Chrysler had to sell them to rental fleets and offer large rebates.