Plymouth Conquest
The Plymouth Conquest was a sports coupe sold by Plymouth, a division of Chrysler, during the 1980s. Like several other models under the Plymouth nameplate during this era, the Conquest was not an original Chrysler design but was a result of Chrysler’s partnership with Mitsubishi Motors. The Conquest was a rebadged version of the Mitsubishi Starion. The Conquest was replaced in 1989 by the Plymouth Laser. Today, the Plymouth Conquest, like the Mitsubishi Starion, is considered a classic of 1980s car design and is appreciated by car enthusiasts, especially those fond of 1980s turbocharged performance cars.
Plymouth Conquest Overview
The Plymouth Conquest was introduced to the U.S. market in the early 1980s as a counterpart to the Mitsubishi Starion. It was part of an effort by Chrysler to offer a performance-oriented, rear-wheel-drive sports coupe without developing a new model from scratch. In addition to being sold as the Plymouth Conquest, the car was also marketed as the Dodge Conquest. The primary difference between the Plymouth and Dodge versions was the badging and certain trim specifics.
The Conquest/Starion was notable for its wide-bodied, flared-fender design, which gave it an aggressive stance. It also featured pop-up headlights, a common stylistic choice for sports cars of the 1980s. Under the hood, the Conquest was powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Over its lifespan, there were different displacements and configurations, but all were designed to offer spirited performance. The car utilized a rear-wheel-drive layout, providing a more traditional sports car driving dynamic.
The Conquest came with a range of features that made it relatively upscale for its time, including electronic fuel injection, a limited-slip differential (in certain models), and a sophisticated (for its era) suspension system. Inside, the vehicle was equipped with amenities that aimed at making it more luxurious, including power windows, power locks, and air conditioning in most models.
The Plymouth Conquest, along with the Mitsubishi Starion, was sold until the end of the 1980s. As the 1990s began, the market for sports coupes started to change, and both Chrysler and Mitsubishi shifted their focus to other models.
Plymouth Conquest Sales Figures
The Conquest, like its Mitsubishi Starion twin, was generally well-received for its performance, styling, and features. It was competitive with other sports coupes of the time, both from Japanese and American manufacturers. However, it faced stiff competition in a market segment that included cars like the Nissan 300ZX, Mazda RX-7, and Toyota Supra.
Plymouth Conquest U.S Sales Data & Charts
US Annual Sales
| Year | Sales Units |
|---|---|
| 1983 | 805 |
| 1984 | 3,013 |
| 1985 | 2,671 |
| 1986 | 2,181 |
| 1987 | 139 |
