The Chrysler Fifth Avenue was a more luxurious version of the Dodge Diplomat and Plymouth Gran Fury in the 1980s. It rode on the aging M-body platform that relied on rear-wheel drive for part of its engineering. Across nine model years, more than 569,000 copies were produced, an indication that its style of sophistication still had a market (many of its buyers were older or retired citizens). This example from 1987 appears to be in great condition, has 70,000 miles, and has been treated to a variety of new parts and pieces.
In naming the car, Chrysler gave a nod to the upscale shops and attractions on the popular street in New York City (also, a candy bar carried that name). Fifth Avenue was originally an option on the New Yorker using the larger R-body platform, but the car was downsized in 1982 to proportions that would soon be thought of as full-size (mid-size before). By the time the 1987 models were built, there was only one engine choice, the venerable 318 cubic inch V8 also found in the seller’s car. An automatic transmission was the only way for the changing of gears.
More than 70,000 Fifth Avenues were built in 1987, making it the last year the nameplate would sell that well (43,000 in 1988 and 27,000 in 1989 when the car was discontinued). We don’t know the history of this Chrysler, but we suspect it was babied for much of its life. Everything seems to be in place and working as it should. The paint presents well, and the interior is most inviting and typical of luxury cars of this era.
The list of new or newer parts is long and includes a battery, tires, brakes, and shock absorbers. The fluids are all fresh and the seller is throwing in a new $200 car cover. If you like Mopars of this vintage, this one can be found in Shelby, Ohio, and is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $7,500. Go ahead and take the plunge – drive it yourself rather than hire a chauffeur! Our thanks to Barn Finder Jim Cormany for the tip!
Good job Russ. Nice car. Interesting how Chrysler was (more or less) able to reposition this car from intermediate to full-size. It has obviously had good care for a long time. As if to illustrate that point, check out the ashtray pics. The seats are not only comfortable, they look dramatic too. Recent maintenance items. And not expensive.
You could be the envy of the neighborhood….
And this is coming from a FORD guy!!! Just kidding Bob. I agree. I’ve had the pleasure to drive one of these years ago. I was very impressed with the ride and handling and comfort, and I owned an 82 Electra at the time. These were solid platforms at the time.
And Im going to add. Chrysler had some of the most comfortable, softest leather seats I’ve ever seen in these cars. I usually preffer cloth or crushed velour over leather, but I would go for the Fifth Ave leather seats if given the option.
“Fine Corinthian Leather” by Ricardo Montalban, never existed!
Beautiful color, and I have not seen it, interior too nice, but the 318 is smogged up , not sure if you could get more HP out of it. But comfortable class all the way.
My Fifth Avenues with 318 always provided more than enough power for my driving
Top end was very limited with the 2 barrel carb set up. On my 5th Ave I swapped in a Weiand dual plane intake and Holley 600cfm carb and it woke up the engine, top end was way better. I later swapped to an Tochester Quadrajet for the smaller primaries which were snappier off the line. Opened up the exhaust after the catalytic converter and had side exit exhaust. Sounded like a raspy IROC-Z. Before the swap I literally had the pedal on the floor. I don’t know the top speed but I remember a VW Rabbit buzzing by me. After the swap it could cruise comfortable over 100mph, as measured by a Trans Am I was with as the speedo in the 5th only went to 85mph but the needle kept moving past the 85mph mark. Great riding car and yes I agree about the seats. Like living room leather seats. Added an extra leaf out back to each side to help the handling. I miss that car. Was a lot of fun.
Ooopsey. Rochester Quadrajet! Where’s the edit button, hahaha!
IMO, These Fifth Avenues were the best revision of an existing platform. I had 83 and 85 Fifth Avenues both in silver with tufted velour seats and red pinstriping! Formal roof and overall Formal design made them favorites for Limo services in large cities. Having owned numerous upscale vehicles, my Fifth Avenues easily held their own in comfort, power, Luxury, CLASS and panache! Unfortunately Iacoca went loca when moving Fifth Avenues, New Yorkers, and Imperials to the Kcars. THESE are hard to find especially in this condition. Definitely a Bon marche that has my checkbook calling. BUT, as a Vintage Rolls Canardly (Roll down one hill and Can ardly get up the next), guess I’ll have to pass.😔 . Someone needs to give much TLC to this MONUMENT to an era unfortunately never to be seen again!
As you know, RICKW, I couldn’t agree with you more! Mine is a 1987 with only 43K miles on it, but I’ve upgraded the shocks (gas shocks) and a few other things but this car is a PLEASURE to drive! And yes, I get many admiring glances and comments, sometimes from people in other cars at red lights. My advice to anyone interested, to quote Mr. Iacocca, “if you can find a better car, buy it!”
There is always something to say about the 80’s r.w.d. luxoboats. they might have not been fleet on their foots but you were assured of a comfy ride and usually good reliability. this one is nice and them seats looks awesome. it could be a good investment
Those seats are as cushy as they look. Like a soft sofa. I never rode in one of these, but I have sat in them. They were everywhere in the 1980s when I was a teen. Now, “luxury cars” come with hard bucket seats. Forget about the back seats in any car of today, you feel like you’re on a toy.
CARS? Today we have SUVS (glorified trucks),crossovers and melted jelly beans 🤮 IMO uncomfortable, annoying POS! None begin to compare with the great CARS we frequently FIND in this BARN.
Went back to first photo. Whatever is in the background, proves my point!
My dad bought a used Chrysler LeBaron in about 1984 and drove it for a few years. Same body and same basic car as the Fifth Avenue, though not as luxurious.
I love these and this one has a unique color. Not the same old silver, red or blue. I have a feeling these, like 82-87 LeSabres are going to be popular collectables soon.
Those seats of fine Corinthian leather. The finest seats granfather ever sat in.
Google Corinthian Leather. It’s just regular leather
Thanks for rerunning this comment. So, I will rerun mine.
In the late 60s and thru the 70s Chrysler rocked people’s boats by using scandalous names like Demon and Swinger. Even the HIP colors were packed with innuendo. Then, after things had quieted down, along comes the new Cordoba with “rich Corinthian leather”. Buried in the play of words was the story of St Paul and his visits to convert the hedonistic town of Corinth. This, Corinthian leather was an indulgence unlike that of any other. Ricardo Montalban delivered it so well that the reference went right over the public’s collective heads. Truly the most genius marketing move in automotive history.
Nope, its Rich Corinthian leather ;-)
My wife and I had a 1986, built to her request, and loved every minute of driving it. True, she loaned it to a doctors’ wife ‘for a week or so’ when he retired from the army and she refused to give it back! She told my wife ‘name your price.’ She liked it that much. So, we sold it to her and my wife got a new ‘89 Town Car. Re: this car-buy it! You will love it!
I had an 89 Town Car Signature Series.👍. After my 85 Fifth Avenue. Another great luxury liner !
This Chrysler is in great shape. Love the interior sat in many of them and driven them working at a Chrysler dealership. It was easy to fall asleep while driving!! 😂 Best seats around. Good luck to the next owne🐻🇺🇸
The LeBaron-based New Yorker/Fifth Avenue was previewed, in a way, by the 1980 LeBaron Fifth Avenue. Chrysler quietly introduced the LeBaron Fifth Avenue, with its formal roofline (created via fiberglass cap) and overstuffed interior, as a companion to the New Yorker Fifth Avenue. Only 654 were built when Chrysler pulled the plug. The car returned for 1982, with a more formal grille and full-width taillights derived from the Diplomat, wearing the New Yorker badge, complete with a Fifth Avenue package.
It’s not hard to see why these were so popular with the Boca Raton crowd. They offered old-school, high-style luxury in a manageable package.
I am actually thinking of buying this car to add to the collection. I love them but don’t know a lot about them. Any known issues? Things to be aware of?
Please see my original post from June 15 as well as others. The 318 engine was proven from many years in Chrysler Corp vehicles. The only issue I know of is my 83, which I bought used, had minor transmission issues. As stated, if I were younger, I would be buying now. You will note other posts praise the Fifth Avenues. Oh, one other thing. The interior center posts were covered in fabric. On some, the fabric has worn, revealing the post. I would like to see this Fifth Avenue go to a collector who will give it the TLC it deserves! 👍
If you look closely at the interior photo, you can see a dark spot on the driver’s door post. Doesn’t look like it’s worn through. Believe this could be an easy repair for a trim shop.
The b-pillar was covered with a very thin felt-like cloth that was notorious for wearing out as the driver got in and out of the vehicle.
Great solid car…simple design. It’s a shame we got away from those designs
These vehicles were certainly an “all American” luxury car. I would venture if one of the Detroit automakers came out with such a vehicle today they would sell a lot.
My dad had a 1985 in the exact color combination. The color was beautiful especially when waxed. The car rode a lot larger than it was.
Give Chrysler credit, when they’re back was against the call, they could always hit a solid infield double, occasionally an home run like the minivan. Chrysler didn’t have the resources to compete with Lincoln and Cadillac at that point, but dressing up their police car with chrome, leather and as many power assists as they could muster was a decent effort. After all. A Town Car was just a Crown Vic underneath and the deVille an Oldsmobile 98 in a tux. My in-laws had a white 5th Ave over navy leather, I was chauffeured to dinner and church in its back seat many times. Back then I thought it was a grotesque dinosaur and they should have bought a Legend or Volvo. A retired Air Force colonel, Bob would have ridden a Schwinn before he’d deviate from Detroit’s finest. Now, I appreciate the Chrysler and competitors for what they were. A just reward for a generation of American’s who still prized comfort, silence and isolation from the road as their reward for a life well lived.
I had an 87 Fifth Ave and enjoyed it for 140K miles. Never any engine troubles but did have to rebuild the transmission at about 115K miles. I’m not sure I have ever seen one in this color but I like it. A lot of car for the price.
I was a Chrysler Plymouth Salesman in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1984-1987. We could count on selling 15-20 of these every month. Chrysler did a good job tarting up the M body LeBaron/Gran Fury. They sure knew their target demographic. Unfortunately that demographic was growing smaller in numbers as it tended to skew older. These cars weren’t growing the Chrysler brand because younger people weren’t buying these. There was no opportunity to create brand loyalty and repeat customers. Despite having an “old folks car” image I really liked them and was 25 years old. They were the last of the V8 RWD cars from MoPar. They say it’s more fun to drive a slow car fast than drive a fast car slow. The venerable LA 318 is low compression and smogged to death but reliable and long lived. They also are easy to modify for more performance.You won’t get any wheel spin off the line but they get up to speed with no problems. They have fairly stiff suspensions (for a Detroit sedan) and thick sway bars which gave fairly neutral handling so you can throw them around corners with confidence. They are a pleasure to drive, the visibility is excellent all around and you sit up high on these overstuffed seats. Chrysler quality control could be inconsistent at that time on some models but the 5th Avenues gave me the impression that they were built by people who liked their jobs and took pride in their work.
One critique… maybe it’s an optical illusion but it looks like the tires are the wrong size, too low profile. I recall them being taller and plumper. Otherwise this car looks almost brand new. Very nice and realistically priced.
What RICK W said. Today it is a joke. All useless ugly SUVs with seats akin to sitting on a pizza box. I daily drive drive a 1997 Chrysler product. Never selling it.
This was one of the best products to come from Chrysler in the 80’s and the last truly good luxury cars from Chrysler all around for a while. Funny you can still find a nice one today that’s reasonably priced
Gary C., fine Corinthian Leather did exist, in the minds of the Mopar executives. And of course with what they were paying Mr. Montelban, I’m sure he’d believe in anything.
Real or not, it was fine leather and very comfortable.
Now, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, just about any American car from the late 70s although the 80s were horrible. Boxy, slab sided, uninspired, small pieces of crap. The bumpers were bigger than the cars. They stuck out 6 inches and were 4 inches wider. Add the “formal roofline” and it got even boxer. These Chryslers were great cars, comfortable and decent power (I worked at the biggest Dodge dealer in NJ in 82) but as with all 80s cars, uglier than sin.
Rick W., the truck in the background of the first picture is a Jeep pickup truck (2022-2024) or somewhere abouts.
At least Stalantis brought back the Jeep pickup truck..
Angel, your opinion about the quality of 70’s and 80’s vehicles is not entirely different than mine, but I have some differences of opinion regarding a few of those cars. Specifically, the late 80’s Chrysler full size cars like the one in the post. I had an 87 5th Ave and also an 87 Diplomat in the nineties, both had most every option available, and were great solid cars. I must put in a favorable word for those bumpers on those cars. The bumpers had shock absorbers that did make them protrude some but were wonderful in protecting the integrity of the body and frame of the car. They did what they were designed to do, and living in Atlanta mine were tested several times, with no damage to the car or occupants. I would trade big bumpers to no bumpers like we have now..
Agree on the bumpers. Though there is steel under the plastic to sort-of protect the rest of the car, repairing the plastic is an expensive proposition. Mine in front is held on with four screws rather than paying a couple thousand to get it replaced.
@ Kenn
I understand about the bumpers. Someone said there are shock absorbers behind them, which I remember, and I understand they actually do protect the car, but they are hideous!
Cars of the late 40s early 50s had huge bumpers that worked and they aren’t half as hideous. Maybe because cars of the fifties looked and were masculine tanks. Putting those bumpers on a fragile looking 80s car just makes it look weird.