I know, you are probably thinking: a Chrysler TC by Maserati as Pick of the Day?
Well, there are very different varieties of the Chrysler TC by Maserati. None are bad cars, but one of them is definitely more desirable.
The Pick is one of these special cars, a 1989 Chrysler TC by Maserati with a more-powerful engine built by the Italian company using superior components.
Of around 7,300 TCs built, most were powered by either a 2.2 liter Turbo inline-4 with 160 horsepower or by a Mitsubishi-sourced 3.0-liter V6 engine with 141 horsepower. Both of these cars were only available with automatic transmission.
But then there was another TC powered by a different, 16-valve version of the 2.2-liter four. This is often called the Maserati engine because it was actually assembled by the automaker in Italy, and it has a Maserati-branded cast valve cover.
It isn’t just a pretty valve cover, though, as this engine generates 200 horsepower and has a cylinder head cast in England by Cosworth, with pistons from Mahle and camshafts by Crane Cams.
This engine also used a specially made block along with an upgraded crankshaft and rods, and fed by an IHI turbocharger. Power is delivered to the wheels via a Getrag manual 5-speed transmission.
Also unlike the standard cars that were built in the thousands, there were only 500 of these TCs built with this drivetrain, making them quite rare and very different cars behind the wheel than the standard TC.
According to the St. Louis, Missouri, dealer advertising the Chrysler on ClassicCars.com, this car has had just one owner and has traveled only 13,831 miles.
The TC is said to be immaculate in every way and includes everything it came with when new, including its matching porthole hard top, all books, even its factory-delivered umbrella.
You rarely see these special-model TCs for sale, and when you do they are usually found in one of two extremes: immaculate like this one or completely used up.
The Chrysler TC has its own car club and these cars are welcome at any Italian event due to their lineage. Some people might make fun of you at these shows, but this type of TC would be an easy and inexpensive way to enter the world of Italian car ownership.
The asking price is $16,900, so you can laugh back at them when they tell you how much they spend on their Ferrari since this entire car likely costs less than a major service on a Testarossa. And unlike the Testarossa, it has a real trunk.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day
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