The Dodge Dynasty is an otherwise forgettable car from the 1990s, saddled with conservative styling and hum-drum driving dynamics. But finding one with just 19,000 miles is worth taking a look at, as this car is effectively showroom new. Almost certainly owned by an elderly person, the Dynasty shows excellent cosmetics and is said to have a smooth-running 3.3L V6 under the hood. Find it here on eBay where bidding is over $3K but the reserve remains unmet.
The Dynasty wasn’t dramatically different from its equally-boxy sibling, the Chrysler New Yorker. The upright rear window and squared-off profile was unusual in an era of automobiles moving to increasingly swoopy designs, and you can even see some inspiration from the Chrysler TC Maserati in both the nose and the rear end. Front-drivers with engines ranging from a four-cylinder to a Mitsubishi-built V6 to the 3.3L mill found here, they didn’t exactly offer an exotic cocktail of features.
This is partially why they remain forgettable today. The interior sure looks comfortable, but I can distinctly remember a childhood memory from when my Dad rented one on family vacation that indicated it was hard to see out the back window. The trunk was huge, though, a valuable feature in a rental car. The cloth seats are a surprise in a mid-tier vehicle like this; vinyl would seem like the norm. Regardless, the red plastics and cloth were typical for the era, and all looks to be in mint condition inside the cabin.
The engine sends 150 b.h.p. and 180 lb. ft. of torque to the front wheels, delivering yawn-inducing performance. While these C-bodies were effectively built for your grandparents, it was at least a vehicle segment Chrysler understood and could cater to with ease. The Dynasty and New Yorker were never going to appeal to a younger driver, so why pack it with features that won’t get used or a design that an older buyer would consider too busy? The straightforward styling, numb driving experience and comfortable seats were all you could ask for when trekking to an early bird dinner.
One of the last of the old style luxury vehicles, actually quite nice to ride in.
Someone buy it to then crush it.
It’s s reminder if K cars and sloppy builds …
Someone buy it to then crush it.
It’s s reminder if K cars and sloppy builds .
Seriously this just a car of the copy everyone’s design of boring boxes..
A classic is a design that was different and not the looks like everyone else.
I remember this car looks like my in laws in blue that faded off in three years. The door handles broke and the vinyl top fell apart. This one was saved as it was hidden and not driven and testament to seal it up and they hold up.
Had one of these as our family car. Very reliable except never could keep the a\c working. Had well over 250,000 miles on it. Ex-wife drove the dog out it and then some. Never used any oil nor did that famous tranny give any problems.
I had one just like this as a company car. Loved it. It was really comfortable for the many hours a day I spent in it. It had a shape similar to my wife’s Volvo 740
I had two of them, an 88 with the 3.0 and a 93 with the 3.3 they both had problems but the 93 was much better. what other car could you buy back then without bucket seats, a V6 and front wheel drive? they were a good family car.
A good friend of mine is a certified Dodge Boy, would never drive any other brand even though he came from money. He got a 1989 Dynasty new while in college as his daily driver. Comfy, hauled lots of people, and was the only Dodge with ABS when he got it.
Ive had several from the imperial to the new yorker and one of these and they are a delight to drive and low cost to maintain if you care for them as with any car. It is definitely a time capsule and i would be proud to own it
I don’t know Jeff. “Saddled with conservative styling” is a not a bad thing.
Especially after some of the eye warts out there today.
The current pre-wrecked styling of the Civic comes to mind.
This was an example of what sedans used to mean before they got “coupe like styling” and interiors, short side windows and fastback roof lines.
All the look of a hatchback with none of the utility.
No wonder people have moved on to CUVs.
I’ll take my Dynasty in Blue Rinse Metallic.
My grandmother had one of these in the form of the Plymouth Acclaim, not stylish at all but for how small this car is the back seat and trunk have tons of space! My brothers and I are over 6 foot and this has more legroom than most modern full-size cars even more than my 95 Buick Roadmaster. But otherwise yes this is a forgettable car.
The Acclaim was a different car. It used the Spirit body.
Gotta be the best one left
I had the New Yourker! Trannys stunk ! During those years Chrysler couldn’t make a tranny took them a few years to get it right! The digital cluster on the dash blacked out one day, was very expensive to get that fixed! Never did get the tranny fixed on it! I got lucky and sold it!
I drove several Chrysler products during these years, both cars and trucks. Everyone kept telling me how bad the transmissions were, but I put over 200k on my New Yorker ( 1988 ) and over 300k on my Ram 1500 ( 1986 ) and neither ever had tranny problems. I did change filters and fluid at around 60k intervals. This is a fine example.
Your New Yorker had the 3-speed automatic which never gave any trouble. Chrysler introduced the 4-speed in 1989 which was prone to failure at about 100k miles. I had a 1989 and 1991 Dynasty with the 4-speed and both failed at 110k and 117k miles. But, I loved both cars and replaced both trannys and kept driving them.
My oldest brother bought one of these new. He towed it behind his diesel pusher motorhome all over the USA. His wife totaled it when she hit a deer in West Texas at 60 MPH. She was unhurt, the car was ruined.
Most tranny problems involved the “Ultradrive” 4 speed from 89-90..
A604 transaxles- I remember ChryCo hyping how they had created an adaptive trans with this.
If adaptive was a synonym for “It’ll engage low & reverse together.” Many of these blew the cases apart in ’88 & ’89.
Wrong way is right about the tranny’s they don’t last especially on the coast with all the hills.
My old man had one of these and the trick is tranny cooler!
Apparently from what I’ve heard ‘for every 10 degrees cooler they run it doubles the life’
My old man always puta cooler in all his autos and he drives them to the ground but never blew a transmission.
Maybe a rental company forgot this car was in their back lot.
Last “classic” Dodge. Great looking, roomy, simple, reliable.. what’s not to like? Far more appealing than the Intrepid that replaced it. Surprised it doesn’t have vinyl seats? What are you talking about? No Dynasty was ever offered with vinyl seats. Fabric was standard and leather was optional. I will admit these cars had dated styling by the time they got on the market. They should have been introduced in ’85-’86 time frame. But they still looked great in ’88 (and ’93, and ’18) and sold like hotcakes. A local dealer around me was still selling base Dynastys for 11-12K in ’93. That was a verifitable bargain. A nearly full size family sedan for the price of an average compact.
My aunt had a 1989 Chrysler New Yorker same color has this one. Her car was extremely comfortable good power good on gas reliable and when she sold it after 8 years with 238,000 miles she almost cried when she sold it. The only thing I didn’t like about the car it talked to you when gas would get at a level