2006 Chrysler Crossfire Limited 2-Door Coupe
2023.0057.0001, Savoy Collection
Engine: 195 cu. in. (3.2L) SOHC, V-6
Output: 215 HP @ 5700 RPM
Transmission: Automatic
Wheelbase: 94 in.
Overall Length: 159 in.
Weight: 3,061 lbs.
Top Speed: 155 mph
No. Produced: 2,293 Limited; 80,000 units for Crossfire overall
Original Price: $35,570
Manufacturer: Chrysler
Daimler’s chairman Jürgen Schrempp described the merger of Chrysler and Daimler as a “marriage made in heaven.” However, for the first five years, nothing was created. Where were the vehicles this union should have produced? In 2003 a 3,000-plus-pound baby named the Crossfire hit the streets of America and turned heads everywhere it went. Built on the Mercedes-Benz SLK platform, Chrysler claimed it was only 40 percent Mercedes.
The styling was the handiwork of designer Eric Stoddard. Originally designed for the 2001 Detroit Auto Show, the Crossfire, although now a bit toned down, was true to Stoddard’s vision. This was Chrysler’s first sports car, but like the SLK roadster, it is more about cruising than performance. Even the Honda Accord had more horsepower. Chrysler considered themselves a premium brand and took a more refined approach and thanks to the Mercedes underpinnings, Crossfire enthusiasts remember their experiences with the fervor normally reserved for their favorite family pet.