Aftermarket going crazy after PT Cruiser

[carman]

Chrysler’s PT Cruiser, introduced this past spring, took the automotive market by storm and already is widely regarded as one of the coolest production cars of all time.

It’s not often that a car becomes a classic the day it rolls into dealer showrooms, but that certainly is the case with the PT.

But the ones we see in those showrooms are just the beginning of what promises to be a long and inspired life for the PT Cruiser, complete with more customizations and variations than perhaps any car since the Volkswagen Beetle or the ‘32 Ford Coupe (the Deuce Coupe).

Already, aftermarket shops are hard at work turning everyday PT Cruisers into works of art, and some of the best of these efforts were shown off at the recent Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) annual show in Las Vegas.

The show favorites were the PT Woody Cruiser concepts, which are sure to be duplicated by customizers everywhere.

There were two at the show — the "Futuristic Woody Cruiser" produced by California Street Rods of Huntington Beach, Calif., and the "Indian Cruiser" by Canada’s Decoma International Inc.

Even Chrysler folks got involved, working with musician and custom-car fan Brian Setzer to "blend big band sound with hot rod attitude, an electric guitar and red hot flames" to create the Vavoom! Setzer Cruizer.

Setzer collaborated with DaimlerChrysler’s Pacifica Advanced Product Design Center in Carlsbad, Calif., to produce this one-of-a-kind PT.

"Brian’s musical style and the PT Cruiser can be described with the same words," said Tom Gale, DaimlerChrysler’s executive vice president for design. "Both have classic, nostalgic appeal.

He said the company is "already seeing a wide array of aftermarket products emerging to help people customize this vehicle into their individual definitions of PT, which stands for ‘personal transportation."’

Setzer said he was drawn to the classic appeal of the Chrysler PT Cruiser and proposed customizing one that he could take on tour to promote the Brian Setzer Orchestra’s new album, "Vavoom," a collection of classic swing, boogie, rock-a-billy and jump blues, Chrysler officials said.

The design of the vehicle reflects not only his latest album, but also the street-rod cruiser mystique, said Michael Castiglione, director of the DaimlerChrysler Pacifica studio. "The brilliant oriental blue color, highly stylized flames, and 18-inch wheel design that recalls the muscle cars of the ‘50s and ‘60s were all ‘must haves,’ according to Brian."

To create the Setzer Cruiser, the studio began with a modified Cruiser that I first saw in early October at the Miami auto show. Called the PT Panel Cruiser, this version looks like a classic 1930s panel truck, and was built by the Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters of Fountain Valley, Calif., a specialty house that builds concept vehicles for DaimlerChrysler.

Other exterior features designed by Castiglione for the Setzer Cruiser included a rear spoiler, a new front fascia with air dam, chromed horizontal grille bars, taillights that recall the cat’s-eye lenses of ‘50s-era cruisers, a Borla dual exhaust system and 18-inch five-spoke chromed aluminum wheels reminiscent of classic Torque Thrust muscle car wheels, DaimlerChrysler said.

In addition, the car was lowered 1 1/2 inches equipped with special Eibach springs. DaimlerChrysler said the flame pattern in the paint has traditional roots, but a modern twist.

"The front of the vehicle is painted silver with a unique technique that simulates the circular wheeled pattern of burnished aluminum," Castiglione said. "This flows into the orange and red flames on the hood, front fenders and along the sides.

"The interior reflects these themes with red leather flame inserts in the seats. The red seat inserts are designed to look like the sounding board of a classic Gretsch guitar — which Setzer plays. The seat beading — actually a flexible neon cable — lights when the doors are opened, a unique innovation from Metalcrafters."

The cargo area behind the front seats has been redesigned with a classic high-gloss bird’s eye maple wood truck bed flooring with chrome rub strips. "We call it the Setzer swing dance floor," Castiglione said.

As its popularity spreads, the PT continues to win awards.

Popular Mechanics magazine recently presented DaimlerChrysler with an award recognizing excellence in engineering, design and innovation in the PT Cruiser.

"The Chrysler PT Cruiser is just too darn cute," said Joe Oldham, the editor-in-chief of Popular Mechanics. "People like looking at it and it still draws crowds. Yes, it could have won on design alone, but the engineering is there too. Its happy little body is wrapped around a marvelous, innovative interior package."

The PT Cruiser, with prices beginning at $16,500, has done what no other car or truck has done for the Chrysler brand in recent years — bring big crowds to Chrysler showrooms.

Sales and orders still are outpacing production, which will total about 200,000 units for calendar year 2001. Chrysler says that all of those cars already are spoken for.

This is Chrysler is the only one I like, it is special and different, but in a good way. :smoker:

[GTO-TT/Chev57]

Gee your lucky we have to pay 45k for the base
We get a 2litre 4 cylinder what do they have in the states.

[MBTN]

I'd rather vomit in an old shoe, then drink/eat out of it, then look at the PT Cruiser. It's uglier then sin.

I don't care if it has 654^92 seat positions, and can hold a 80 foot ladder, it's still ugly.

[Bean Bandit]

They made trash out of something good. I liked the yellowish concept but that shit they are selling now is ugly ugly and you know ugly JMO:bandit:

[enzo@af]

yeah, I saw one with a body kit today.

[John98R/T]

Yeah PT Cruisers are ugly as hell to begin with, not to mention that a base line model of a cavalier could blow it away. If the PT Cruiser had lets say a bigger engine or perhaps a supercharger, then it would just be ugly. instead on ugly and weak! And the whole Setzer edition is just a dumb idea to begin with, who gives a shit if the seats have flames or it has neon on the inside, big whoop. Why not spend some of the money they did on the inside and slap a supercharger or here is an idea, how about just stop making the ugly ass things in the first place!
Peace....
:frog:

[enzo@af]

When I saw concepts of it I liked it. I think the styling is okay, but once I found out that it has a 4-cyl I was turned away. Just reminds me of a shrunk-down minivan. I thought it should have either a 6-cyl or V8, personally.

[i_rebel]

This truck is something . . .

There are very few vehicles on the road that can produce such strong feelings by on-lookers . . . It seems that Chrysler has stumbled onto something that may be their last hurrah . . . a final word to the auto market, but what that final word is actually meant to say will be pondered for years to come. It's definately one of those things where you hate it or love it . . . EVERYBODY has an opinion about the PT Cruiser . . .

I first realized it when on a day spent with my mother and my girlfriend (an uncomfortable mix in itself sometimes), they both comment about one that we saw pass in oncoming traffic. My mother who has owned cars that say very little in the styling department (two of her last cars were Volvo's of the 240 variety) LOVES it. My girlfriend on the other hand can't stand it . . . this coming from the same person whose nost notable reflection on anything automotive was: "What kind of car do I have again (about her Nissan Pulsar NX)?" . . .

The PT Cruiser is destined to have a cult following

[GT-R V-Spec]

this is what should happen to pt cruisers :monkeypis

[Euro19]

Originally posted by GTO-TT/Chev57
Gee your lucky we have to pay 45k for the base
We get a 2litre 4 cylinder what do they have in the states.

Are you kidding me? The PT Cruiser is expensive in Europe too, but 40K? That´s way too much.
I don´t know about the styling, sometimes I like it and sometimes I don´t, I guess it depends how you see it. I guess I like it but not love it. I just don´t agree with the trunk, it looks like the car is replacing the Chevrolet Caprice Wagon for funeral purposes!!

[katstx]

I love the looks of the PT but I noticed that on ALL of them I've ever seen, none of them have a chrome grill. Whenever I see one the thought comes to me that a chrome grill would really make that car. Is there any plans for that to happen? Or offer it as an option from the factory or dealer?

Here's hoping! :ylsuper

By the way, the 2001s may be spoken for but there are plenty used PTs at the dealers here in Tulsa. What's up with that?

[SEDONA]

You can always tell the people who've never driven a Cruiser while blasting a good CD and having all the windows open... including the sunroof. They are a freakin' ball!!! Best of all, they have the ability to be souped-up easily. Try that with a daggum Daewoo.

These are a "Cruiser". If you don't know what a TRUE cruise is... don't comment on the power of the engine since it doesn't make the least bit of difference.

The Cruiser is about attitude, beach cruising, "submarine races" and getting out of the ordinary cr_p that's all over the place. One more 4-door boring hunk of plastic on the road, and I'm gonna scream.

The reason there is such a HUGE aftermarket for the Cruiser, is that they know the individual tastes and unique images that Cruiser owners have. Flames? Chrome? Lowering kits? They're all there. Hit http://www.ptenthusiasts.com to see for yourself.

[rayspt]

can i say.. pt's are only the top selling car last year. I love my pt
Anyone with work done... let's chat...

[jester4666]

gotta love reviving old posts


i'm getting a PT Cruiser soon and i can't wait. i love the retro-styling and the aftermarket is just f'n huge. you can get a Whipple Supercharger kit for $5,000.

[DMC12]

Originally posted by jester4666
i'm getting a PT Cruiser soon and i can't wait. i love the retro-styling and the aftermarket is just f'n huge. you can get a Whipple Supercharger kit for $5,000.

I liked the concept, but when I rented one I was disappointed! $25,000 for a solid rear axle & drum brakes?