First introduced in 1987 as the 1988 model, the Dodge Dynasty was a full sized front wheel drive sedan. The Dynasty was produced to replace the aging
Dodge Diplomat and was a twin to the Chrysler New Yorker, which were both built on the Chrysler C platform. The Dodge Dynasty was also sold in the Canadian market as the Chrysler Dynasty. Dodge manufactured the Dynasty in Belvidere, Illinois.
Dodge equipped with Dynasty with a 2.5 liter four cylinder engine with an optional 3.0-liter V6. By 1990 the Dynasty was offered with a 3.3-liter engine and a electronically controlled four speed automatic transmission. Dodge came up with the Dynasty name as a reference to the very popular television show Dynasty, which brought in more consumers than the engine or transmission did!
The Dynasty sold quite well, but the design was conservative and just didn't play in the same league as the more aerodynamic and contemporary vehicles such as the Ford Taurus. Production of the Dynasty finally ended in May of 1993, and was replaced by the Dodge Intrepid. Many sight the design as the downfall of the Dynasty, though Dodge maintains that the Dynasty was simply ready for retirement to make room in their lineup for bigger and better things such as the Intrepid and the Neon.
