18k Mile Survivor: 1966 Chrysler New Yorker

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The New Yorker was one of Chrysler’s longest-running nameplates (1940-96) and was the finest automobile they built except for the Imperial. If you wanted luxury and performance but didn’t quite have the resources for the latter, this is the car you bought. This 1966 edition is an unmolested survivor that has been lightly used over the past 56 years, accounting for an incredible 18,000 miles on the odometer. Hailing from Ogilvie, Minnesota, this cruiser is available here on eBay where the seller has set no reserve and the bids have reached $10,430 so far.

By 1965, the New Yorker was in its seventh generation and the latest design was more Lincoln-like than before. Its all-new C-body was a unibody platform that featured a bolt-on, rubber-isolated front subframe. Styling for 1966 was an evolution of the 1965 themes, with minor changes to the grille, tail lamps, and trim. The “Firepower” 440 cubic-inch V8 engine was good for at least 350 hp. The cars would only be offered in three body styles: a 4-door sedan (13,205 copies for 1966), a 2-door hardtop (7,955 units), and the 4-door hardtop, like the seller’s car, which saw a production of 26,599 automobiles, the most popular choice.

This New Yorker may be one of the nicest ones out there without having been restored. The Ivory White paint is flanked by a Tiffany Green vinyl top and matching interior, Things look nearly flawless in the photos, although none of them show the entire automobile at one time. No body damage or rust has ever been recorded on this garage queen. The only noteworthy issue is that both rear windows roll up and down, but are stiff, likely from lack of use. For the passenger compartment, everything is nice and tidy with maybe only the carpeting in need of a refresh to be close to perfect.

The big-block V8 engine fires right up and the seller says it and the TorqueFLite automatic perform flawlessly. There seems to be a minor exhaust leak to track down, but that’s about it. The tires and brakes are said to be excellent, but we assume the rubber donuts are not from 1966. If you’re a Mopar fan and looking for something different than the muscle cars of the era, this automobile should impress nicely at the car show of your choice.

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Comments

  1. Rex Kahrs Rex KahrsMember

    Oh man, this thing is super cool. Glad to see it’s getting some bidding. Here’s my ’65 NYer 6-window Town Sedan. Not quite as cool as the subject car, but I only paid $3600 for it last year. Great cars.

    Like 41
    • Steve Clinton

      In 1965, my dad wanted to buy a 6-window Dodge Custom 880 because 4 doors weren’t cool. I talked him out of it and into a Monaco.

      Like 1
      • Steve Clinton

        *It should have read “Because 4 doors weren’t cool, I talked him out of it…”

        Like 1
    • matthew grant

      I actually think the 6 window version is much cooler than the sedan. nice car, enjoy it. (my stepfather was a Chrysler dealer during this time period so my mom was always driving Chryslers or imperials (or studebakers if they were not getting along). we had one of these, in a metallic blue for a few mos.

      Like 3
    • Karl

      Rex, your car is WAY cooler than that ’66.
      ’65 was the best looking Chrysler ever.
      Would like to know what options she has.

      Like 1
      • Rex Kahrs Rex KahrsMember

        Thanks Karl for your kind words. I like the hardtop, and I like vinyl roofs, so that’s why the subject car appeals to me. But the 6-window Town Sedan is also cool with that C-pillar window, I get a lot of comments on that.

        My interior is almost identical to the subject car, lots of turquoise. Mine is pretty low-spec. Besides power steering and brakes, the only option mine has is a 6- way power bench seat…and it works! Even the original AM radio works great, but the only thing you get is talk radio and Mariachi music, neither of which I care to listen to.

        The 413 4-bbl is one smooth-cruising brute. The torsion bar ride is second to none.

        Chuck, sorry to correct you, but check out my first post on this car. That’s my 6-window Town Sedan, with no vinyl C-pillar as it came from the factory. Cheers all!

        Like 0
      • Bill McCoskey Bill McCoskeyMember

        Rex, My first ’66 NY was a triple black version with every possible option including the TNT Hi-Po 440. It was ordered new by P. Landon Banfield, the founder of Landon School in Maryland, one of the country’s most expensive college prep schools. Banfield was quite wealthy, and had a new Chrysler every year. My car had full leather interior with bucket seats [no console, wasn’t available], and even had dual A/C. Also had a Mono AM/FM radio.

        In 1979 I drove the car to Atlantic City for a big antique car auction, and while attending the auction, someone broke into the Chrysler and tried to hotwire it, the wiring harness fried & the car ended up with a big under hood fire. Flat towed it home behind my ramp truck. Parted it out and sold the engine/trans to a guy who stuck it in a GTX.

        Like 2
    • Ten50boy

      Beautiful ride! Looks like you got a great deal!

      Like 2
  2. George Mattar

    Why buy a rotted to the windows 69 Charger for $40,000 when you can have this? But idiots do.

    Like 19
    • bone

      Why always complain about Chargers and what people pay for them ? But you do

      Like 0
  3. normadesmond

    Can’t say I recall seeing that small vinyl panel on a roof like that.
    Really sharp.

    Like 3
    • greg v

      Looks like there’s some bubbling under that cool panel as well, at least on the passenger side. Bummer. Wonder if that material is available? Cool car.

      Like 1
    • Chuck Dickinson

      ALL 65/66 NYers came with that small vinyl roof panel on the C pillar.

      Like 0
  4. BoatmanMember

    Imperial was not a Chrysler.

    Like 2
    • Rex Kahrs Rex KahrsMember

      I never understood the whole Imperial is not a Chrysler thing. Of course Imperial was a Chrysler, built by the Chrysler Corporation. . That’s like saying Cadillac was not a General Motors, of course it was.

      Sure, nobody said “Check out my GM Cadillac”. Or, “How do you like my Ford Lincoln?”. Somehow the term Chrysler Imperial seemed to stick. Either way, Lincolns are Fords, Cadillacs are GMs, and Imperials are Chryslers.

      Like 27
    • Paolo

      It was, then it wasn’t and then it was. Imperial was born a Chrysler and then struck out on it’s own in 1955 and then returned to Chrysler in1972 and resided there quietly until it faded away in 1982. (dates are approximate)

      Like 7
      • S

        Imperials were produced until 1975, after which time the 1975 Imperial LeBaron became the 1976 Chrysler New Yorker. The imperial name was revived in 1981 – 1983 briefly as a 2 door ultra-luxury car (remember Frank Sinatra doing the ads for this car?) Then after 1983, there were no more Imperials. Imperials had their own unique body styles until 1968. Starting in 1969 they began using the fuselage style full size body of the Chrysler New Yorker – which made them less distinct. I think this is what led to them ultimately being discontinued – lack of distinctiveness from what Chrysler offered.

        Like 1
      • theGasHole

        Let us not forget the confusingly badged 1990-1993 “Chrysler Imperial” as well.

        Like 0
  5. Caprice

    Sold for $10950. Probably a good buy for what it was.

    Like 2
  6. Steve Clinton

    Winning bid:US $10,950.00 [ 30 bids ]
    Someone got a bargain. The value of this land yacht will do nothing but increase.

    Like 2
  7. S

    What an absolutely gorgeous, awesome car! Chrysler really got it right with this generation of the C body!

    Like 6
  8. HCMember

    What a beauty! And to think that there are still survivors out there like this. I got ahold of a Mercury awhile back, same year and in a similar survivor state as this. Wish I had room for another Land Yacht.

    Like 5
  9. George Louis

    I always thought that for 1965 and 1966 model years Chrysler used the front frame rails welded to the floor pan similar to the “A” body suspension set up. They went to the isolated SUB FRAME Set Up for the 1969 Model year and following years. These stub frames were made at Detroit’s Mack Avenue Stamping Plant. I used to work making these frames in 1970 when I worked the summer of 1970 at Mack Anenue. As far as Imperial Production they made the “K” Car Frame and Body Front Wheel Drive version in 1992. These were made at the Chrysler Belvidere Assembly Plant in Belvidere , Illinois

    Like 0
  10. Lew

    Beautiful car that has been carefully preserved. But surprised that this mid-’60s luxury car does not have air conditioning.

    Like 3
  11. HCMember

    I’m also surprised about having no AC on a luxury car like this. There was a 59 New Yorker recently that also didn’t come with factory air. There weren’t many pics of this one and no engine bay pic either.

    Like 3
    • Bill McCoskey Bill McCoskeyMember

      Lew & HC,

      I’ve worked on many 1965-66 New Yorkers, and this is one of only a couple I’ve seen without A/C. However it’s a Minnesota car, and many luxury cars of the time period didn’t have A/C in the northern states.

      It’s more of a surprise to me the car doesn’t have power windows, I always assumed the New Yorker came standard with power windows and seat.

      Like 1
      • theGasHole

        This is one oddly configured 66 New Yorker! Mine had power windows, A/C, power bucket seats, etc. I just assumed they all had power windows and A/C, too.

        Like 0
  12. Chris R.Member

    Wow! Already sold at just under 11k. Whomever won the bid, you got one hell of a sweet ride!! Best of luck to you and drive it with pride!!

    Like 2
  13. CarbobMember

    Sold for $10,500. Well bought. Beautiful car. Bit unusual though with wind up windows and no A/C. Same as my 66 Newport two door. I bought it to carry my carpentry tools in the trunk. Out of sight out of mind. Biggest trunk ever. I’m six feet and I could lay down inside the trunk without bending my legs! I hauled a full size washing machine in the trunk. Mine had the 383 two barrel. Decent performance and gas mileage. Drove the heck out of it for three years and then sold it for more than I paid for it! Yes the eighties were a good decade in my book.

    Like 4
  14. andrew

    l think all the comments are by the same contributor—-same writing style

    Like 0
  15. Roseland Pete

    I had a neighbor who was a Chrysler guy and he bought one of these. Two weeks later it was gone. It must have been a piece of crap.

    Like 1
  16. TinCanSailor

    Sold for $10,950… a steal at that price! This is a beautiful car… I’d be tempted to swap a gen 3 Hemi into it (keeping the original drivetrain, of course) and make it a reliable, (relatively) fuel-efficient, very comfortable highway cruiser. I’d love to take this beast on a cross-country trip with the family.

    Another thought – FCA should revive the Imperial nameplate with a flagship luxury car, or a spin-off company like Lexus, Acura, etc. Make it an EV or Hybrid to boot…

    Like 1
  17. Rex Kahrs Rex KahrsMember

    Thanks Bill M., you’ve got the best stories. Are you in FL? I’m in Tampa.

    Like 0
    • Bill McCoskey Bill McCoskeyMember

      Rex,

      I’m in Annapolis, on the bay, not far from the Chesapeake bay bridge.

      As for the stories, I’ve owned over 1,500 unusual, antique, and classic cars, starting in 1966 when I was 14. By the time I legally had a driver’s permit, I had 4 Packards. When one has owned so many crazy vehicles, it’s only natural one will have so many interesting stories. Plus being single with no kids allowed me to do a lot more.

      Like 1
  18. Wayne

    My ex’s uncle had 4 door hard top 1966 like this that he bought brand new. He drove it until he retired in about 1975. Being a thrifty kind of guy he bought a V6 intermediate car and parked the Chrysler to save money on fuel. I kept giving him a hard time about the car going to waste. One day he called me up and said come get it you are the only one in the family that cares about it. The car had now been sitting about 17 years under a car cover under a carport in a very wooded area in the Placerville CA area. It took 2 separate trips to get it running so that I could drive it back to Reno NV. About 10 miles out the ignition condenser quit. At the top of the mountain (South Lake Tahoe) a tire went flat. and as I started down the mountain the brakes gave out. Got it back to Reno with no further incidents. After a complete hydraulic brake rebuild, 4 new tires,new shocks and a full tune up, it drove great! 3832 barrel, power windows, power door locks power seats and the A/C would still freeze you out. Once I had gotten it home I had to park it out in the sun for the first time in it’s life so that the beautiful metallic lavender ( I don’t know the official color name) would harden back up. The paint from sitting undercover and no air circulation and the humidity had gotten so soft you could easily make dent with you fingernail. Which made it impossible to buff. Once the paint was buffed it was a beautiful 88,000 mile cruiser. I received many compliments on the car over the years I had it.

    Like 3
  19. bone

    Why always complain about Chargers and what people pay for them ? But you do

    Like 0

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