During the conversation, he said he learned that the dealer sold Jeeps, and that he later talked to a salesman about buying one.

Chrysler might sell minivans and Jeeps in Europe through Fiat dealers, vastly reducing costs.

Afterward he came back and worked as salesman trying to sell Jeeps to farmers.

The multinational company that may face the biggest burden from the taxes is likely to be DaimlerChrysler, which sells Jeeps and big Mercedes sedans in China.

Those dealers were used to selling cars as well as Jeeps, and most still needed cars to sustain their business despite rising Jeep sales.

Honda said Chrysler had asked it to sell Jeeps in Japan, and some Honda officials hinted that they were likely to agree.

Edward Smeriglio, manager of fleet operations in New Haven, began selling used vans and Jeeps two months ago.

Chrysler expects to be selling cars and Jeeps in Europe at the rate of 25,000 a year by the end of 1988.

And Chrysler hopes to do more than sell Jeeps.

Neither Chrysler executives nor automotive analysts can quite prove that this strategy sells more cars, trucks or Jeeps.