Flashback to PT Cruiser

The 2001 PT Cruiser (Personal Transport) traces its roots to 1996 when Chrysler VP of Product Development Tom Gale tasked 27-year-old Bryan Nesbitt with designing a “retro-modern hot rod.” Originally intended for the Plymouth brand, the PT Cruiser shifted to Chrysler when Plymouth was discontinued.

The vehicle was designed with a distinctly American, iconic look and built on a modified Neon platform. It featured front-wheel drive, a 2.4L DOHC four-cylinder engine and four doors. Classified by the EPA as a light truck, the PT Cruiser boasted a versatile interior with 64 cubic feet of cargo space when the rear seats were removed. With a bold style and practical utility, it generated buzz at launch. Base price: $15,935.

Production ended in July 2010 at the Toluca, Mexico plant, with 1.4 million units built – 1.05 million sold in the U.S. and 300,000 exported. The PT Cruiser is remembered as a commercial hit and a standout in nostalgic design.

Launched in spring 2000 as a 2001 model, the PT Cruiser was seen as a “segment buster.” Built on a 103-inch wheelbase and standing 63 inches tall, it seated five and earned Motor Trend’s 2001 “Car of the Year,” topping 20 competitors.

ENTER THE PT BRUIZER

Built as a “SEMA promotional car” by Performance West Group in Vista, California, the PT Bruizer was designed to capture major media attention. Tapping into the rising influence of the youth market, here’s how the company described the project’s mission:
“The PT Bruizer was created to challenge conventional thinking around the fast-growing import tuner scene and to prove that domestic vehicles can hold their own in today’s youth automotive culture.”

SUPERCHARGED POWER

To boost the stock 150-hp engine, Kenne Bell installed a “SuperScrew” twin-screw supercharger with an air-to-air intercooler, managed by a K-B Optimizer Computer. The result? With the addition of a ZEX nitrous system, dyno testing confirmed 325 horsepower – a 115% increase. Power hits the pavement through a Centerforce clutch, while a Dynomax exhaust handles the flow.

TUNER MARKET

Above the beltline, the dark-tinted greenhouse contrasts sharply with the bright body paint. In back, a high-mount wing, oversized polished stainless steel exhaust megs and a smooth rear roll pan reinforce the tuner aesthetic. A Chrysler winged emblem on the trunk lid adds a final touch of brand identity and loyalty.

CUSTOM GRILLE

Part of the front end treatment included the fitting of a custom mesh grille, giving it a unique flavor.

NEW FRONT FASCIA

Designed specifically for the PT Bruizer, a custom one-piece polyurethane front replacement bumper (incorporating 5.5-inch openings for auxiliary lighting) was added, low to the ground and featuring the trendy “tuner” styling influence. The builder lowered it with Eibach lowering springs (with specially calibrated spring rates) for enhanced cornering ability. In addition, Koni calibrated struts and shocks were fitted.

INSIDE THE CABIN

Numerous aftermarket items were incorporated in the interior layout, with carbon fiber race buckets from Sparco (fitted with Sabelt 5-point Racing belts), a three-spoke Sparco steering wheel and loads of Autometer gauges. A one-off DeeZee custom roll cage was created and out back, the relocation of the battery (Optima dry cell), on-board fire-retardant system, plus ZEX 5-pound nitrous bottle. Sounds courtesy MECIS sound systems.

ROLLING STOCK

18-inch diameter BBS RW II 8-spoke spoke wheels wrapped with Continental General low profile rubber (sized 255/35ZR18).

COLOR SHIFT PAINT

In the Sport Compact scene, it was also about visuals, and the latest rage at the time was color-shift paint – in this case, ChromaFlair – and it provided a shifting hue depending on how the sun hit it. At different angles, the pigments of the paint delivered enhancing visual appear, red to gold from the custom blend. Eye-catching!

THE BOOK

Journalist Alan Paradise authored a 112-page book titled PT Cruiser Performance Projects, featuring 30 how-to guides on turbocharging, supercharging, suspension upgrades and wheel/tire setups. At the time of its 2003 release, Paradise was a recognized expert in the Sport Compact scene. ISBN: 0760316112.

Though long out of production, the PT Cruiser still makes for an exciting project car. Affordable and packed with nostalgic charm, some builds over the years have gone wild – with Gen III HEMI^® engine swaps, rear-wheel-drive conversions and even SRT^® Hellcat-powered monsters that push the limits of cool.

Author: James Maxwell