Javier Costas
We can't talk about Talbot Horizon without doing it first Chrysler. In the mid-1970s, the American firm was a global manufacturer and had a strong presence in Europe. In less than 10 years, it acquired Rootes Group in the United Kingdom, Simca in France and Diesel Sweepers in Spain, consolidating itself as Chrysler Internacional S.A. (CISA) based in Geneva. It also had a plant in Antwerp (Belgium) until 1958 and the Frazer-Nash factory in Rotterdam (Netherlands) until its closure in 1970.
Meanwhile, in North America, during the “era of unrest” Major manufacturers were pressured on multiple fronts: increasing legislative pressure on safety and emissions, invasion of Japanese and European products in the medium and low range, and an unfavorable economic environment with the end of “infinite” and cheap oil.
In that context, Chrysler made the decision to develop a global model that could be sold on both sides of the Atlantic, only in North America it would be a utility vehicle, and in Europe a family car. Unlike its imported predecessors, Plymouth Cricket (Hillman Avenger) and Dodge/Plymouth Colt (Mitsubishi Lancer), it also had to be manufactured in North America.
DEVELOPMENT
Known as project C2, andWork on the development of the future Talbot Horizon began in 1976 with English design and French engineering, while American engineers devoted more attention to the interior. To a large extent, he departed from the architecture of the Simca 1100/1200 with a widening of tracks and the rear suspension of the Chrysler 150, also known as Simca 1307/1308. PSA was not involved in this phase.
The intelligent packaging concept, with front-wheel drive and transverse engine, had proven its worth in terms of space, dynamic characteristics and driving safety, but the packaging was what was beginning to fail in the Simca 1100/1200 due to its outdated nature. The new bodywork - it didn't have anything else - meant an important aesthetic leap in design, but without losing sight of the very important practical aspect. What's more, this last section was the predominant one. With its body semi-break could lead to five adults and 200 liters of luggage without folding seats.
CHRYSLER/SIMCA HORIZON
It was presented in Morocco in November 1977 and released in December as Simca Horizon -only in France- and Chrysler Horizon. It was not available for Spain immediately, but it was available in the United States, with the names Plymouth Horizon and Dodge Omni from 1978, and practically the same. Consequently, There are no national units with the Chrysler or Simca brands.
The dimensions of the European version were 3,96 meters long, 1,68 m wide and 1,41 m high, with a wheelbase of 2,52 m. This information does not change in the American version, but the length limit does change, 4,15 m, due to the bumpers required by NHTSA regulations. There are also differences in the architecture of the front suspension, overlapping double wishbones with torsion beam in Europe and similar to the McPherson in America. The rear is the same, independent wheels with longitudinal oscillating arms and a torsion bar with a stabilizing function. They also agreed regarding brakes, front discs and rear drums, with double circuit in X.
Chrysler's global model received very relevant awards, such as the 1978 Motor Trend Car of the Year in the United States, and Car of the Year 1979 in Europe - beating the Fiat Ritmo and the Audi 80-. The support of professional critics was clear. For example, its on-board computer (very primitive, but with digital numbers) was a revolution at that time.
NAME CHANGE: TALBOT HORIZON
Chrysler, which was in serious difficulties in Europe -especially because of the British subsidiary-, made two attempts to sell its European assets. He first tried it with Renault, but things didn't work out. Later he tried with Mitsubishi (in turn, Chrysler's partner since 1970), but the operation was watered down for political reasons.
The third time, it was achieved with PSA Peugeot-Citroen. The French put $230 million and 15% of their shares on the table in August 1978. PSA became - by general surprise - the first European manufacturer and the fifth in the world. Chrysler temporarily maintained control of European factories. PSA Peugeot-Citroën took over the European Chrysler in July 1979. Chrysler and Simca products were not directly integrated as Citroën or Peugeot, in fact, They couldn't even use the Chrysler brand..
Therefore, they resurrected an old brand, which had been standing since 1967, which was part of the Rootes and Simca heritage: Talbot. For its part, Chrysler removed 15% of PSA shares from its balance sheet after a few months, but maintained all acquired rights. Thus, the Chrysler and Simca were renamed Talbot in all European markets starting in August 1979. The Spanish division of Chrysler logically changed its name after the change of ownership, becoming known as Talbot Automobiles S.A. up to 1986.
“THE CAR THAT APPEARED IN MADEIRA”
The Talbot Horizon entered the Spanish market in October 1980 with two “Poissy” gasoline engines inherited from the 1200 range. They were 1.294 cm3 and 59 HP (1.3), with a simple carburetor for the Horizon LS, and the 1.442 cm3 and 83 HP (1.5) with two-body carburetor for the Horizon GLS. The smaller displacement engines that were in France did not arrive in Spain and they barely moved almost 1.000 kg of car.
Prices for the Horizon range started in 419.000 pesetas for the LS and 491.400 pesetas for the GLSBoth were equipped with a four-speed transmission. Its predecessor, the (Simca) Talbot 1200, briefly coexisted with it, although with a fairly reduced range. He Volkswagen Golf It didn't give him much trouble as it was much more expensive, not so the Citroen GSA, SEAT Ritmo and Renault 14 of national production, which had been advanced.
In our country, The Talbot Horizon was also a success for media purposes. It was named Best Car of 1980 by ABC, beating both the Peugeot 505 Diesel and the SEAT Ritmo Diesel by less than 100 points. It was the closest election of the nine calls for the award.
The motor press this time spoke well of its construction quality, since he had been criticizing Villaverde workers for a few years for their adjustments compared to other national factories. Let us remember that, at that time, the majority of what was sold in Spain was manufactured locally or came from countries of the European Economic Community (EEC). The First tests were done on the Portuguese island of Madeira, which didn't exactly have the best road network.
Coming from where I came from, Its dynamic characteristics were also a source of praise, it was an easy car to drive and could withstand practically everything, with the exception that its “resistant” steering had too much gear ratio (25:1) and between slow corners the work in the hands and effort in the arms accumulated due to its hardness. Arthur of Andrew he said in Speed what was it how to move the wheel of a grinder to grind coffee.
MORE RANGE FOR THE TALBOT HORIZON
In 1981, The GL version was added to the range, both with manual transmission and with a three-speed automatic from Chrysler (Torqueflite) that cost 52.500 pesetas more. The engine was the 1.442 cm block3 but with a single-body carburetor and 65 HP. In addition, the limited edition Horizon S-1 added sporty details to the range-topping GLS. In 1982, that version was replaced by the Horizon S-2, which paired the 1.442 cc engine with a five-speed transmission. Besides, Some aesthetic touches were made and habitability improved and trunk capacity -10% more-.
The 1983 Talbot Horizon range was enriched with the 1.905 cm diesel engine3 and transmission of Peugeot origin. Its power of 65 HP was enough to exceed 150 km/h, it was the best on the market without resorting to the turbo, but it also took its almost 18 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h. The first diesel versions were LD and GLD, with four and five speeds, later the EXD was added, with a higher range, with power steering and five-speed transmission. Both the GLD and the EXD had a spoiler front and wheels with central trim.
Two months after the EXD, in May 1983, the Horizon GT with 1.592 cm engine3 and 90 hp, with a two-body carburetor and the best features in the range: it was capable of reaching 175 km/h, which at the time was a lot, since there were very few highways. As a curiosity, it had a “digital” diode tachometer on the steering wheel, although it was not very useful. Given the performance of the Horizon GT, it is not surprising that the National Police ordered 1.600 units from the Villaverde factory, which were dressed in brown and retired the 65 HP SEAT Ritmo built in 1981.
Since it did not have FIA homologation, well Peugeot canceled the Group B program with Lotus in 1982, his participation in rallies was reduced to the scope amateur. Too bad, as we missed out on a rear-wheel-drive Lotus mid-engined beast, but we were adequately satisfied with the Peugeot 205 T16 all-wheel drive.
VAN AND CESSATION OF PRODUCTION
At the end of its commercial life In Spain there was a van derived from the Talbot Horizon made by the coachbuilder Emelba, logically with the diesel engine and a reinforced suspension, in closed, mixed and isothermal versions. They were marketed on the Talbot network as another model.
Production ended in Spain in 1987, after 167.642 units have been completed, and was replaced by the Peugeot 309. Curiously, that model was almost the Talbot Arizona, but Peugeot decided to “charge” the brand again and the Talbots were replaced by models from Citroën and Peugeot. In addition to Spain, it was produced from the beginning of its existence in Poissy (France). It was also assembled at the PSA factory in Ryton (United Kingdom) from January 1982, as well as in Uusikaupunki (Finland) in collaboration with Saab and Valmet, Were it was made the only seven doors of the Horizon.
DODGE OMNI AND PLYMOUTH HORIZON
On the other side of the Atlantic, Chrysler controlled by Lee Iacocca introduced the Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon in the 1978 range. In an initial phase, they mounted a 1.7 engine from Volkswagen that produced 75 HP under the SAE Net standard in almost the entire United States, or 70 HP in the State of California. The Simca engines were discarded due to their lack of bellows and ridiculous displacements by local standards.
They competed against the Ford Pinto and Fiesta, Chevrolet Chevette, Honda Civic, Volkswagen Golf/Rabbit, etc. Although they are very similar to the European ones, the body panels, engines, front suspension, and optics, among other things, do not match. The American models were, furthermore, a little better equipped and with a more complete appearance.
These cars were produced in large numbers until 1990 as the base models of Plymouth and Dodge. Besides of hatchback, There were several coupe derivatives, pickup and even sports, which we told you about in a previous article. They contributed significantly to the recovery of Chrysler, which was close to bankruptcy and had to request a government bailout in 1979.
And the key to this impact is due to the front-wheel drive architecture with transverse engine, the L platform, the first of its kind mass produced in the United States. Most of Chrysler's new models in the 80s were derived from this, progressively replacing the old platforms until few models maintained the classic architecture entering the 1990s.
The American production of the Horizon in the three American factories (depending on the year, in Belvidere, Kenosha and Detroit), not counting other derivatives of the L platform, exceeded two million units, so we can say that they sold like hot cakes. Furthermore, the Chrysler's premature move in favor of front-wheel drive It ended up dragging down its main competitors, Ford and General Motors, which launched a multitude of models with similar mechanical configuration.
