The final assembly line of this Plymouth plant in Detroit, seen on Aug. 13, 1954, is so vast that a visitor can walk about a half a mile without stepping outdoors. A division of Chrysler Corp., the Plymouth plant has twin assembly lines and is built entirely on one level covering 28 acres of floor space. It is capable of producing more automobiles in one day than any other plant in the world. (AP Photo/Chrysler Corporation)
Updated: Thursday, 30 Apr 2009, 3:34 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 30 Apr 2009, 10:44 AM EDT
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The Timeline of Chrysler
1925 -- Company founded by Walter P. Chrysler on June 6 when the Maxwell Motor Company was reorganized into the Chrysler Corporation.
1928 - Plymouth introduced, as well as the DeSoto. Chrysler bought the Dodge Brothers auto and truck company.
1930s - MoPar created, a formal vehicle parts division of Chrysler.
1934 - Chrysler introduces AirFlow models, designed using aerodynamic principles. Buyers rejected them.
1936 - Chrysler becomes the #2 US automaker. Remains #2 through 1949.
1942 - Hidden headlights introduced on DeSoto for a brief time.
1951 - Hemi V8s introduced.
1955 - Imperial spun off from Chrysler to a marquee of its own.
1957 - Torsion-Aire suspension introduced, produced a smoother ride and improved handling.
1960 - Chrysler built all their passenger cars with Unibody construction, the only automaker to do so at the time.
1960 - Valiant spun off from Chrysler, became a model in the Plymouth line in 1961. Valiant is the first production car with an alternator.
1961 - DeSoto discontinued.
1964 -- Chrysler Europe formed
1964 - Plymouth Barracuda introduced, weeks before the Ford Mustang. The Mustang outsold it 10-1.
1970s - The muscle cars Plymouth GTX, Plymouth Road Runner and Dodge Charger introduced, all featuring a street version of the Hemi engine.
1971 - Chrysler buys 15% stake of Japan's Mitsubishi Motors
1974 - Plymouth Barracuda and Dodge Challenger discontinued.
1975 - Chrysler Cordoba introduced.
1977 - Chrysler Europe collapsed, offloaded to Peugeot the next year.
1978 - Chrysler Australia sold to Mitsubishi Motors.
1979 - Chrysler asks US government for $1.5 billion in loans, brings in Lee Iacocca as CEO. Congress gave them the loan on December 20.
1982 - Chrysler sold Chrysler Defense to General Dynamics.
1983 - Chrysler finishes repaying US government.
1987 - Chrysler buys AMC, creates Eagle to be sold at existing AMC-Jeep dealers
1998 - Chrysler and its subsidiaries became part of German-base Daimler, becoming DaimlerChrysler AG. Chrysler Corporation became DaimlerChrysler Motors Company LLC.
2001 - Plymouth discontinued.
2004 - Chrysler 300 introduced.
2007 - DaimlerChrysler sold 80.1% of the Chrysler Group to Cerberus Capital Management
2007 - The New Chrysler unveiled a new logo and website, with a variation of the Pentastar logo.
2008 - February, Chrysler announced its product line would be reduced from 30 models to 15 models.
2008 - August, Chrysler reportedly in talks with Fiat.
2008 - December, Chrysler announced the company was almost out of cash. Soon, the company received a portion of the $13.4 billion rescue loan for American automakers, announced by President George W. Bush.
2009 - At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Chrysler unveils the Chrysler 200C EV Concept sports sedan, with an all electric range of 40 miles
2009 - April 30, Chrysler to enter bankruptcy, reaches deal with partnership with Fiat.
Information from: The History of Cars
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