Chrysler Saratoga Overview
The Chrysler Saratoga was a full-sized automobile produced by the Chrysler Corporation. Chrysler first used the Saratoga nameplate on its 1939 models and continued to use the name through to 1952. The name was used again by Chrysler from 1957 until 1960 when it retired the product name from the US market. The Saratoga name, though, continued for the Canadian market through to 1965 replacing the Sport 300 moniker. The name reappeared again in 1989 for the European version of the Dodge Spirit. For 1958, all Windsors were shifted to the 122 inch chassis, and used a modified front end design based in part on Dodge's front clip - this was especially evident around the Windsor's headlights. Saratogas continued to be based on the longer 126 inch wheelbase using the New Yorker body and was again available in three body styles - 4-door sedan, 4-door hardtop, and 2 door hardtop coupe.
In Canada, the 1957-1958 Saratoga was sold as the Windsor. The American Windsor was not sold in Canada although Windsor station wagons were imported. In 1959, the Saratoga remained on the longer Chrysler wheelbase and in the same three models. The Saratoga was sold as the Saratoga in Canada this year, sharing its interior with the Canadian-built DeSoto Firedome. For 1959 the Saratoga got the new RB V8 engine, although it was the Chrysler-only 383-cid in 1959 and 1960. Canadian-built 1959-1960 Saratogas used the B block 383 as used by Dodge and DeSoto. In its final year in the U.S., the 1960 Chrysler Saratoga was based wholly on the New Yorker body shell, less New Yorker trimmings, and again offered in three body styles - four-door sedan, four-door hardtop, and two-door hardtop coupe. Some 15,525 1960 Chrysler Saratogas rolled off the assembly line.
In 1961, Chrysler decided to release a new low-price entry-level model called the Chrysler Newport for the American market, a name which in 1961 was commonly associated with Chrysler's expensive hardtops in the early and mid 1950s. While the Newport took the place of the Windsor in the lineup, the company cancelled the mid-range Saratoga, and elevated the Windsor name to the mid-level position. In Canada the Saratoga continued on through to 1965 with the Windsor line remaining on the bottom. Windsor with Saratoga nameplates on the 122 inch wheelbase. For 1962 Canadians did not get the new Sport 300, but instead got the Saratoga. The grille was shared with the Newport/Windsor while the side trim was from the American Newport. The trunk lid sported New Yorker trim. Model offering remained 4 door sedan and hardtop plus 2 door hardtop.
New bodies appeared for 1963 with the Canadian Saratoga using the same grille and trim as the U.S. 300, only with "Saratoga 300" nameplates, as the series was now called. Body styles remained the same and this year the 300 convertible was imported. Although the American 1964 300 continued to used the 1963 headlamp rings, the Canadian Saratoga 300 used the headlamp treatment of the Newport/Windsor. The American 300 convertible continued as an import. 1965 brought completely new bodies on a 124 inch wheelbase. Again, the Canadian Saratoga 300 was identical to the U.S. 300. This was the last year for a Saratoga sold in North America. For 1966 the mid-range Chrysler series in Canada was sold as the 300, except it used Newport/Windsor taillamps. The three models continued, but this year the American 300 convertible and 2 door hardtop were marketed as the Sport 300.
IThe Saratoga name was revived in 1989 when Chrysler rebadged its Dodge Spirit sedan for export to Europe. Marketing of this Saratoga was officially discontinued in 1993, but the Saratoga continued being built and exported, and parts unique to it continued being catalogued through the 1995 end of A-body production. These export-market Saratogas were not simply Dodge Spirits with different nameplates. Differing vehicle safety regulations in the rest of the world versus North America required the Saratoga to have different headlamps and front, side, and rear lights and reflectors, chrome trim, glass, mirrors, seat belts, instrument clusters and radios. All Saratogas featured front bucket seats, the front split-bench seat that was an available option in the US for the Spirit and its derivates has never been offered on European markets.
Popular Saratoga combinations were the base models with a 2.5 L TBI I4 engine and a 5-speed manual transmission. Starting in 1993, the Saratoga was available with leather seats and other luxury touches not provided in the North American market. Most 1993 and later Saratogas were eqipped with the 3.0 L MPI Mitsubishi-built V6 and the A604 "Ultradrive" 4-speed automatic transmission. A small number of models equipped with the turbocharged version of the 2.5 L engine were also sold. All Saratogas were equipped with the highest-specification suspension and brake systems made by Chrysler for the A-body. The last Saratogas, sold in small numbers in Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium in 1994 and 1995, were actually based on the US-market Chrysler LeBaron Sedan. They can be identified by additional fender chrome and an "LE" badge on the trunklid.
