Mopar
TypeDivision
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1937 (1937)
Headquarters
United States
Area served
North America
ProductsAutomotive parts
BrandsChrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and formerly Plymouth (Defunct)
OwnerStellantis
ParentStellantis North America
Websitemopar.com

Mopar[1] is the parts, service, and customer care division of the former Chrysler Corporation, now owned by Netherlands-based automobile manufacturer Stellantis. It serves as a primary OEM accessory seller for Stellantis brands under the Mopar brand. The name is a portmanteau of the words "MOtor" and "PARts".[1] "Mopar" is also used as a nickname by enthusiasts of Chrysler-built products to refer to any product built by the company.

Mopar also designs and builds a small number of customized vehicles.

History

1954 illustrated Mopar advertisement

The term was created by an internal activities council and was first used by Chrysler in 1937 as a product name to put on cans of Chrysler Motor Parts Antifreeze.[1] This new branded product became known as "MoPar antifreeze" a portmanteau of the terms "motor" and "parts".[2]

Mopar parts are original equipment manufactured parts for FCA US LLC vehicles. The term "Mopar" has passed into broader usage among car enthusiasts as an unambiguous reference to vehicles produced by former parent company Chrysler Corporation/Chrysler Group LLC/FCA US LLC, now known as Stellantis. [3][4]

The term has thus become an inclusive word for any Chrysler-built vehicle—most any Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth, Imperial, DeSoto, Fargo (Canada-only in later years) or Dodge Trucks/Ram. By extension, it is also used for Jeep and AMC vehicles built after Chrysler's 1987 buyout of American Motors Corporation, including the short-lived Eagle brand.[5][6]

In Canada, Chrysler parts were sold under the "Chryco" and "AutoPar" brands until the Mopar brand was introduced into that nation's market, starting in the late 1970s.

Custom cars

Mopar does not have dedicated assembly lines. There are 13 Mopar Custom Shops that install customer-chosen accessories on their vehicles prior to delivery.

There are also limited-edition Mopar versions of FCA vehicles. These are marketed featuring custom paint and equipped with numerous Mopar performance and cosmetic modifications.[7]

An example was the 2013 Dodge Dart finished in black with an offset Mopar Blue racing stripe and featuring sport-tuned steering, exhaust, premium brakes with slotted rotors, lowered sport suspension, and gloss black 18-inch aluminum wheels with low profile performance tires. The Dart had production plans for 500 units.[8]

A special edition Mopar 2017 Dodge Challenger was introduced at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show as part of 80th anniversary of the Mopar brand.[9] A total of 160 were built: half were finished in contusion blue with pitch black effects and the second half in billet silver with pitch black accents.[9]

Sponsorship

Two sponsorships of Mopar (top): sprint car racing and (bottom) drag racing car

Over its 80 years, Mopar has sponsored a number of racers in a variety of motorsports series.

In 1996, Mopar sponsored the No. 30 car of Jimmy Hensley in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. From 2004 to 2007 Mopar sponsored the No. 9 car driven by Kasey Kahne in the Nextel Cup Series for the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. They also sponsored his sprint car.

In the United States and Canada, Mopar participates in Formula D. Formula Drift drivers are Samuel Hübinette, and in Canadian Drift Championship Vanessa Ozawa, Kevin Huynh, and John Yakomoto. Mopar had sponsored NHRA drag racer Allen Johnson in that series' Pro Stock division for 20 years, but for 2016 season they sponsored Jegs Coughlin Jr. and Erica Enders-Stevens.[10]

Mopar remains active in drag racing events. It sponsors Don Schumacher Racing drivers, such as Tony Schumacher, in the Funny Car and Top Fuel classes of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series.[11] Drivers of the Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak are eligible for a variety of Mopar contingency awards and benefits.[12]

Mopar sponsors the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals held each July in Denver.[13] It is the longest-running sponsorship in all of drag racing.[14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Evolution of a Trademark". 13 February 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  2. ↑ Hunkins, Johnny (26 August 2021). "What's a Mopar? Here's the History of One Hugely Misunderstood Brand". MotorTrend. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  3. ↑ Glatch, Tom; Loeser, Tom (2017). The Art of Mopar: Chrysler, Dodge, and Plymouth Muscle Cars. Motorbooks. ISBN 9780760359716. OCLC 992780613.
  4. ↑ Genat, Robert (2004). Mopar Muscle: fifty years: Dodge, Plymouth, & Chrysler performance. Motorbooks International. ISBN 9780760320167.
  5. ↑ "Mopar books". Car Tech Books. Archived from the original on 22 May 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  6. ↑ Bolig, Randy (9 January 2008). "2007 Mopar/AMC In The Park Car Show - Mopar Muscle Magazine". Hot Rod Network. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  7. ↑ McCausland, Evan (25 October 2010). "Much More Mopar: Chrysler Bringing 35 Custom Cars to 2010 SEMA Show". Motor Trend. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  8. ↑ Youngs, Jeff (4 February 2013). "Mopar '13 Dodge Dart Brings Dart Model Count to Seven". J.D. Power Cars. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  9. 1 2 "Dodge to Honor 80 Years of Muscle Car Heritage with Mopar '17 Dodge Challenger". J.D. Power Cars. 10 February 2017. Archived from the original on 12 February 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  10. ↑ Cawthon, Bill (8 December 2015). "Mopar: Enders and Coughlin in NHRA". Allpar News. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  11. ↑ "On the Throttle with … Tony Schumacher". Mopar Magazine. 2017. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  12. ↑ McEachern, Sam (21 December 2016). "Challenger Drag Pak Teams Get Factory Support For 2017". Fiat Chrysler Authority. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  13. ↑ "Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals". NHRA. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  14. ↑ Connolly, Eoin (21 July 2014). "Mopar extends longest-running deal in NHRA". sportspromedia.com. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
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