One of the most unique shapes on the road is no more. Chrysler has formally announced the death of the ultimate retro-wagon, the PT Cruiser.
Chrysler President Tom LaSorda told Bloomberg that production of the model "ends this summer."
A sensation when it first appeared in 2000, complete with faux-wood-sided editions and models with whitewall tires that called to mind Al Capone's ride, the car essentially withered away - Autoblog notes that "Sales of the PT dropped by 49% last year, with only 50,910 vehicles leaving dealer lots. That's down from the PT's peak when Chrysler was able to offload 144,717 models in 2001."
Some dealers, near the end, were nearly giving the cars away as a free gift to those who bought other cars.
The plant that produces the Cruiser has been shut down for a month, and Reuters is reporting that the company has quietly "extended those shutdowns by a week."
The Detroit Free Press reports that "LaSorda... said Chrysler would be interested in selling the PT Cruiser" to another automaker, but "does not have any offers on the model."
For those keeping score at home, the end of the Cruiser leaves Chrysler dealers with just three models to sell -- the 300 fullsize sedan, the Town & Country minivan and the disappointing Sebring midsize sedan. It's not a lineup that inspires much confidence in the future of a company on government-sponsored life-support.
If you have ever wanted a PT cruiser, this is your last chance to buy one - however, the announcement of the models' imminent death will most likely drive down already low prices. Research the best car deals with U.S. News' car rankings and reviews
