The cars : Dodge 1500/Volkswagen 1500

In Argentina, the Hillman Avenger carved itself a solid image as a reliable car for the middle classes. There were some interesting differences between European and South American models.

It also went on to have an interesting afterlife, thanks to the Volkswagen Group’s takeover of Chrysler’s assets in the country. Here’s what we know…


Dodge 1500: Avenger with a dash more style…

Dodge 1500 GT-90

Five years after being conceived in 1966 as part of the Hillman Avenger programme, South American production of this model began in Argentina in August 1971 as the Dodge 1500. Made by Chrysler-Fevre Argentina S.A.

Chrysler Argentina announced the new car with a peculiar pre-launch advertising campaign, in which the car and its name remained hidden until the car finally went on sale.

With its relatively compact dimensions (4.2 meters long and 1.6 wide) the new car was remarkably agile, especially when compared to the enormous models which had, until then, dominated the local market (the Ford Falcon and Fairlane and the big American-based Chevrolet and Dodge saloons).

Dodge 1500 rear view

European and South American differences

The most visible difference between the Avenger and the 1500 was the back lights – the British hockey stick style was replaced by a more conventional horizontal approach. In England, the Avenger was sold with three different bodies: two doors, four doors and estate. However, in Argentina only the four door and later the estate models were offered.

Initially, three models were available to customers in Argentina, all four-door saloons. At the bottom of the range was the standard Dodge 1500 with 72bhp engine. Next up was the Dodge 1500 SPL, with the same mechanical bits, but more luxurious trim. Both models had the same 1498cc (86.1mm x 64.3mm) engine. Completing the range was the Dodge GT-90 (top of page).

In 1974, the 1500 SPL Automatic with automatic gearbox was announced along with the Dodge 1500 1.8 which boasted a 92bhp 1798cc version of the basic engine.

Dodge 1500 (World Cars 1980)
Dodge 1500 (World Cars 1980)

Revisions for 1977

In 1977, all received their first major restyling (above) which was pretty much the same as that applied to the European Avengers. Bigger headlamps and a different grille were the main changes. Also in 1977, the Dodge 1500 GT-100 producing 105bhp was introduced. It had the 1800 engine, two Stromberg carburettors, a 215mm (8.5-inch) diameter clutch and a high performance manifold. This model could be had only in blue dark or black with obligatory sports stripes.

In 1978, the first estate models – called Rural – were announced.

The model was a success, with an average annual production rate of between 14,000 and 15,000 units. The best years were 1979 and 1980 – 26,148 and 27,627 units, respectively.

Second life… as a Volkswagen

Although UK production of the Chrysler Avenger ended in 1981, the car was made in Argentina by the Volkswagen Group until 1990-1991. In the middle of 1980, Chrysler sold its Argentine subsidiary to Volkswagen. The main changes made to the Dodge 1500 at this time were a restyled grille, front and rear lights, door windows without their quarter lights and a completely new interior with revised dashboard and steering wheel.

The car was called ‘Dodge 1500, made by Volkswagen Argentina’. The last four words were shown on a sticker on the back window but later in a metal plate on the front. Mechanically, the car was unchanged.

In 1982, the car received another mild restyling to include new back lights, plastic bumpers and other decorative bits which were aimed at giving the car more of a Volkswagen identity. The name was also changed to Volkswagen 1500. It was the first non-Volkswagen design to which the German company gave its name in Argentina.

Volkswagen 1500

The new range was made up of the Volkswagen 1500, 1500 Full, 1500 1.8, 1500 1.8 Full and 1500 1.8 WRural Full. This latter was a Station Wagon equipped with the 1800cc engine and air conditioning. During 1987-88 a basic Volkswagen 1500 was announced, being essentially a stripped-down economy model.

In 1988, a five-speed gearbox became available and air conditioning could be ordered on more models in the range.

The car’s mechanical robustness was its main selling point. This inspired the advertising slogan ‘It runs, it runs and it runs…’ A total of 262,668 units were sold until the car was axed in 1990 when it was near to celebrating its 20th birthday. It was a ‘durito’ that knew how to gain the Argentine heart by being a trusty and worthy tool of the middle classes.


Gallery: Dodge 1500 and 1800

 

Dodge 1500 (World Cars 1975)
Dodge 1500 (World Cars 1975)
Dodge 1500 GT 100 (World Cars 1977)
Dodge 1500 GT 100 (World Cars 1977)
Dodge 1500 M 1.8 Rural (World Cars 1980)
Dodge 1500 M 1.8 Rural (World Cars 1980)

Gallery: Volkswagen 1500 and 1800

Volkswagen Dodge 1500 M 1.8 W (World Cars 1981)
Volkswagen Dodge 1500 M 1.8 W (World Cars 1981)
Volkswagen Dodge 1500 M 1.8 Rural W (World Cars 1981)
Volkswagen Dodge 1500 M 1.8 Rural W (World Cars 1981)
Volkswagen Dodge 1500 W (World Cars 1982)
Volkswagen Dodge 1500 W (World Cars 1982)
Volkswagen Dodge 1500 M 1.8 Rural W (World Cars 1982)
Volkswagen Dodge 1500 M 1.8 Rural W (World Cars 1982)
Volkswagen 1500W
Volkswagen 1500W
Volkswagen 1500 M 1.8 Rural W (World Cars 1984)
Volkswagen 1500 M 1.8 Rural W (World Cars 1984)
Keith Adams

19 Comments

  1. Well, looking at the last two pictures, I guess VW must have taken some design inspiration from the Morris Ital!

  2. whoaw!!! Hillman, Sunbeam, Chrysler, Talbot and then VW! Was this a “world car” premiere, a decade before the Escort FWD? I remember, in France one of my dad’s friend had a Sunbeam 1250 TC, yellow-ish with a black vinyl roof…I was young, but it was noisy, not comfy at the back compared to dad’s GS and slow compared to the Taunus 1600 XL.

  3. Wonderfull website compliments !!! By the way in Argentina these Avengers made both by Chrysler and Volkswagen proven to be the most dependable cars over this ground. Infact more tan 300000 units were produced until the last 1991 year, still half of them are riding on the streets.

  4. The car towards the top of the article (pictured) appears to be a Brazilian market example given it’s a two door.
    Interestingly the Brazilian market cars didn’t have a Coke bottle rear unlike Avengers/Crickets etc elsewhere.

  5. Brings back memories of a 1972 Avenger Estate 1500DL that my company had. Very basic inside, vinyl seats, rubber flooring, chrome hubcaps. However its acceleration and motorway speeds were quite good if noisy! Nice colour (light green metallic)

  6. Interesting how, as in Iran, Rootes designs lived on in other countries long after they’d been discarded in the UK. Perhaps the simplicity of the design and mechanicals had a lot to do with the Dodge 1500’s longevity, important as Argentina slipped into a period of hyper inflation and collapsing living standards.

  7. Amacing how the last two Rootes cars had a long life in other countries and another way of burying the myth about seventies British cars being unreliable and undesirable. Both the Avenger and Hunter were designed to be simple, honest transport for families, sales reps and taxi drivers and lacked features like Hydragas suspension and transmission in sump drivetrains that could prove complicated to maintain in countries like Iran. Also another car that sold on its ease of maintenance and low running costs, the Morris Marina, proved to be a hit in Portugal.

    • Similarly the Morris Oxford was made in India for decades as the Hindustan Ambassador.

      The early 1960s Fiat 1100 was also made in India for a long time.

  8. Argentinian Avenger bodies were also more robust and pressed with thicker sheetmetal than the UK design. When Chrysler South Africa decided to manufacture the Avenger, it chose the sturdier Argentinian body, but used UK Avenger front styling. The 1975 models (in basic and GL guises) used the local 1600 cc Peugeot engine, but the following year switched to the 1600 cc Rootes engine and added GLS and twin-carb Sport models. The Avenger sold poorly and along with the Vogue (Hunter), was gone by mid-1977, after the formation of SIGMA and the introduction of the sedan versions of the Mitsubishi Colt.

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