Anyone who keeps up to date with automotive news knows that Mercedes-Benz wants to dump "the Chrysler Corporation". Walter Chrysler, who created the company in 1926 and watched it grow into one of the industry's largest and most successful, must be turning over in his grave. This is not the first time Chrysler's faced disaster, having been saved in the 1980's by Lee Iacocca's determination and the federal government's loan guarantees. The K-cars and the minivan were key to recovery but it was Bob Lutz, Renault F1 engineer Francois Chastaign, and a team of brilliant designers that created the best, and best-looking, Chrysler products of the modern age. It was all downhill after Mercedes took charge.

I've been chastised, even physically threatened on the Net, for suggesting that the current Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum, Dodge Challenger and their siblings are butt-ugly. Aerodynamic as a brick, with massive in-your-face grilles, I insist they're totally lacking in elegance. Along with too many trucks and unwanted SUV's, I submit that those faddish designs are equally responsible for Chrysler's troubles. As I write, the battle is coming down to bids from Canadian parts manufacturer Magna vs. investment arm Tracinda, whose leader is 90-year-old Kirk Kerkorian. Less than a year ago Mr. Kerkorian bought 10-percent of General Motors and attemped to broker an alliance between the automaker and Renault of France and Nissan of Japan. He reaped billions of dollars when Daimler-Benz bought Chrysler in 1998, then unsuccessfully sued the German company for not living up to its claim that the deal was a "merger of equals." I'm sorry Mr. K; you may be a brilliant financial manipulator but an automobile manufacturer is, to you, just another space on the Monopoly board.

The Magna people are "car guys." Frank Stronach, who created the company, became wealthy by producing parts the industry wanted, on time at the right price. His lovely daughter Belinda is now a figure in Canadian politics, albeit controversial. The guy knows cars, knows whose elbows need to be greased, has the right connections. If Magna becomes Chrysler's owner the fabled US company has a chance at survival. If KK takes over "it's just another investment gamble". I know who gets my votes and yes, as an enthusiast, my emotions are suspect. My first car was an old, unloved 1930 Chrysler, purchased for $75.00. My uncle Harvard was a tool-and-die designer for the Chrysler Imperial. And I thoroughly enjoyed testing the first Sebrings on Cape Breton Island.

[photo: Philip Powell at Sebring Media Launch]