Weekend Edition – A Time Capsule Plymouth Horizon TC-3, now on eBay!

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Continuing on with our Weekend Edition, and look at what we have here. When was the last time you saw an intact Plymouth TC-3 (or similar vintage Dodge 024), let alone one that looks like it came right out of a Reagan Era new car showroom? These cars were haphazardly built when new, and they lost their shine just sitting on the car lots during this time period. 30 odd years later, and one forgets those details when confronted with a machine like this, and what was once considered utter crap, turns into something that is quite desirable… or not…

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The Dodge 024 and Plymouth TC-3 were introduced for the 1979 model year as companion models to the Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon subcompacts. They shared everything under the body, but were quite rakish compared with the sedan versions. Engines were either a 1.7L Volkswagen designed four cylinder, producing 75hp, and 90 lb-ft of torque, or by 1981, the 2.2L Chrysler designed four cylinder, producing 81hp, and substantially more torque. This car has the Volkswagen derived 1.7L engine.

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This car is also equipped with the standard 4-speed manual. There were stories that when the Omni and Horizon models were in the planning stage, there was a lot of consideration given to offering a 3-speed manual as the base transmission, but the engineers won over the bean counters, and they took it one step further by designing enough room for a 5th gear within the transmission housing.

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The color scheme on this car is a two-tone Linen White over Ginger and is really attractive. I even like the period correct wide whitewall tires and the aftermarket vinyl splash guards. The interior is awash in a color called “Buckskin” and there isn’t much wear inside this car. There is a factory AM/FM radio, and basically nothing else. The only major missing options were Air Conditioning, an Automatic, and the 2.2L Engine.

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With over eight days to go until the auction ends, the top bid so far is $2,275, with no reserve. Tell me what you think about this piece of Chrysler History when you take a look at the listing here: [sc:ebay itemid=”321177504613″ linktext=”1981 Plymouth Horizon TC-3″ ]

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24 responses to “Weekend Edition – A Time Capsule Plymouth Horizon TC-3, now on eBay!”

  1. cruisintime Avatar
    cruisintime

    Easy to like this car. Those held up well if you did not beat them up.Uncomplicated simplicity.
    This one is a fine example. Take$5,000. and go car shopping,and you will find few cars this clean or well kept.
    Oh hell now I must go bid…..

    1. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar

      Happy bidding! Tell you what, I'll help you out by not placing a bid of my own.

  2. Rich Avatar
    Rich

    Absolutely no interest.

    1. Jim Brennan Avatar
      Jim Brennan

      Thank you for your interest here at Hooniverse… Come back some more, stay a spell, and drink in all the content we have here at Hooniverse. I'm sure you will find something you like as we have authors with a wide variety of interests. Maybe one of their postings will be more to your liking, and you can express your pleasure more eloquently. In the meantime, please keep all negative comments to yourself. Have a great weekend…

  3. Rich Avatar
    Rich

    "tell me what you think about this piece of Chrysler history…": So I did.

  4. faberferrum Avatar
    faberferrum

    Really conflicted over this one… That's astonishingly good shape for that car. I guess you'd use it as a show car, it's too nice to use much. I have no experience with that engine, but it certainly sounds gutless.

  5. mac350 Avatar
    mac350

    I had a friend who bought a Plymouth Horizon new off the lot back in the day. I drove it and was impressed with the handling and zip. And it seemed to have a lot of interior space for a sub-compact – sort of 125% of a Rabbit. I don't know how it aged and you sure don't see many on the road. So for this TC-3 to be around and in this shape is pretty cool. Did Chrysler make a pick-up truck version of the K platform with a similar front end or am I halucinating again?

    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      Yes, the Dodge Rampage and the Plymouth Scamp (on the L platform, like the Omni/Horizon).

    2. jeepjeff Avatar
      jeepjeff

      You are thinking of the Plymouth Scamp/Dodge Rampage twins:
      <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/1983_Dodge_Rampage.jpg/800px-1983_Dodge_Rampage.jpg&quot; width="500/">
      However, it looks so familiar to the TC-3 front end because the Scamp wasn't a K-car, it was an L-body, like the TC-3. (Picture is of the Dodge Rampage badged version.)

      1. mac350 Avatar
        mac350

        Absolutely – L platform – what was I thinking. Thanks, fellow Hoons.

      2. mark Avatar
        mark

        Still have a soft spot for these little utes…

    3. Felis_Concolor Avatar
      Felis_Concolor

      Regarding the interior space: among small cars, the Omni/Horizon twins were the big boys. You could seat 4 with no complaints from the rear and the 2.2 ensured it was more than capable of getting out of its own way.
      I just wish the US market versions featured rear glass which rolled down completely. I have an idea to create a couple of "full down" window assemblies by rolling back the 4" of gear wheel which were folded over at the factory.

  6. 98horn Avatar
    98horn

    my first car was a 1979 horizon TC3, and it was utter, utter crap. Easily the most sloppily built, poorly engineered vehicle I have ever owned.

  7. MVEilenstein Avatar
    MVEilenstein

    I'm going to need more information about the F-250 behind it.

    1. GTXcellent Avatar
      GTXcellent

      I'll take the '66 (or could be '64) C-10 custom cab myself

  8. joshwebster84 Avatar
    joshwebster84

    This car is like Nazi Germany. History best remembered, but never celebrated.

  9. Kris_01 Avatar
    Kris_01

    That's awesome. These were IMO absolutely one of the better small cars of the period and one of the most forgettable, sadly. They're pretty good handling if you install 15"rims and decent tires (4×100 bolt pattern so pretty common to find rims).
    Yeah, everyone knew someone that had one (these are NOT a K car, they are an L body car as has been mentioned), but they were certainly no worse than anything else of that time frame and when properly maintained, instead of duct taped and baling wired, decently reliable. With a manual you'll crack 30 MPG easy.
    The VW engine is decent for the time, remember this is the same engine that powered countless Golfs/Rabbits and the odd Iltis (Ze Chermans could turn out a good mill when they wanted to). The 4 speed manual did indeed gain a 5th gear for 1984 I believe, so if that's an issue, it's easy to swap in and maintain the stock looks.
    Loving the whitewall tires. That makes the car.

  10. Van_Sarockin Avatar
    Van_Sarockin

    Horrible wart. I'd far prefer a Vega. And I'd rather lose a hand than have a Vega.

  11. krazykarguy Avatar
    krazykarguy

    ROFL @ "Ginger" lower body color. It just needs some freckles now…

  12. Roberto G. Avatar
    Roberto G.

    I love it… too bad it's missing the AC. But the Pice is Nice.

  13. boxdin Avatar
    boxdin

    I"m told that these w the VW engines can easily accept a VW diesel. Perhaps another saving grace…

  14. FreeMan Avatar
    FreeMan

    The college girlfriend had a TC-3 handed down from her parents. It was bright orange (when new, quite faded by the time I met her), a 5 speed, and must have had the 2.2 since it was reasonably peppy. It served us well as we dated thought college, finally meeting its maker (while unoccupied) at the hands of a drunk driver shortly after we married.
    Based on our 1990 $750 insurance payout, I'm calling crack pipe on the price.

  15. Corvette_Poncho Avatar
    Corvette_Poncho

    Install 2.2 with 2.4 head, add turbo with hidden front mount cooler, add 568 trans and you're all set! The ultimate turbo dodge sleeper!

  16. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
    C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

    I'm glad it's not a Twin-Stik Dodge Colt from the same time-frame, and in this condition.