Mopar is a mashup of the words “motor” and “parts.” It was first used around the 1920s as a short for Chrysler Motor Parts Corp. However, it gained popularity only in 1937 when Chrysler came out with their flagship product – Antifreeze. It might not seem like much today, but during the Great Depression, a product that would help poverty-stricken Americans travel hassle-free was something almost like a godsend. Now the brand boasts a complete range of motor parts, from engine parts to waxes cleaners, filters, and much more.
It is a subsidiary of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FAC) Global Service and Parts division which manufactures and distributes authentic replacement components, accessories, and parts for vehicles manufactured under the brand name Fiat, Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge.
What Is A Mopar Car?
The Mopar brand grew significantly by the 1960s and was a known name in drag race events. Direct Connection was founded by some Chrysler engineers and was later renamed Mopar Performance Parts. A complete catalog of performance parts allowed mail orders for the company’s vehicles to come through.
Mopar helped motorheads squeeze more power out of their vehicles. Mopar soon became synonymous with the cars manufactured under Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Fiat, and Ram. Therefore, despite being a brand that sells motor parts, it started to represent the wide range of classic cars from the Chrysler family, including Dodge and Plymouth.
However, you can still find that there are licensed restoration parts suppliers for owners of vintage cars under the Jeep, AMC, and Chrysler brands. The company still uses the brand and offers everything from badging to skirting to decals to carpeting and body trims. Mopar also provides manuals for Do-It-Yourself projects.
The Rarest Mopar Muscle Car
The jury is still out on the rarest Mopar of all time, but if we look at the most desirable of them, it’s the 1971 Plymouth Hemi’ Cuda four-speed convertible. Currently, the three A883-equipped four-speed cars are about 6 million dollars. The 1971 Plymouth Hemi’ Cuda still competes with the 1969 Dodge Daytona and 1970 Plymouth Superbird for first place.
Mopar Performance Parts
Mopar sells performance parts for Jeeps and other muscle cars. There are specialized performance packages that include Drag Paks and performance stage kits. There are various packages, including drag-ready wheels, tires, brakes, transmission, driveshaft, seats, unique graphics, rear axle, and more. These can be sold as kits or piecemeal. The performance stage kits are available in 3 levels, out of which stages 2 and 3 are not street-legal.
Chrysler doesn’t have a separate performance division like Ford, Toyota, and General Motors. However, the core parts of their OEM manufacturing are entirely different divisions. Mopar has an extensive catalog of non-performance parts, but its history of racing and muscle cars puts them in conversation like other performance kits.
Except for Maserati, the original-equipment replacement parts are sold through Mopar. The company also sells original-equipment parts and accessories for Alfa Romeo, Ram, Chrysler, Fiat, Dodge, and Jeep. These are sold through official Mopar Parts Channels and dealership service departments. These parts match or exceed the requirements of the vehicle. These are brand recommended and also keep the factory warranty intact, so you can clearly bank on the exceptional quality of the parts for use in vehicles manufactured under the brands mentioned above.
Summary
Mopar was the name Chrysler gave to their Motor Parts and Performance Parts line, but it later became synonymous with the muscle cars manufactured under the name Chrysler. There are various Mopar cars now, and there is a product line with the same word.
The recent trends show that the horsepower isn’t slowing down, and the current Mopar engines are pushing the boundary forward. It’s clear the the focus will be on hybrid and electric vehicles, and, the chances are, the brand will expand even further.
