Entering the market right after the 1973 gas crisis nightmare, the sixth-generation Chrysler Newport was still a big, heavy, thirsty car despite market conditions at the time. This 1976 Chrysler Newport Custom looks like it may be the nicest one left and it’s loaded with power features, something we don’t often see on 1970s luxury cars, let alone 1970s mid-level cars. Thanks to numskal for the tip!
Chrysler offered the base Newport and Newport Custom as seen here, and there was a two-door hardtop, a four-door hardtop, and a four-door sedan as with this example. At around 4,800 pounds, they were very heavy, which meant a nice ride but not nice in the MPG department. Expect around 11 mpg with this one, but as a wise commenter said recently, if you’re worried about MPG with your vintage vehicles, you may be in the wrong hobby. It’s more about enjoying life and reliving bygone eras, or it is for me.
The sixth-generation Newport line was made from late 1973 for the 1974 model year until the end of the 1978 model year and at a touch below 19 feet in length, expect to take up a lot of room on the road and in your garage. But also expect a crowd around it every time you stop for gas or at a grocery store. The tail lights were changed to horizontal for the 1976 model year and I have to wonder what it would have looked like if Chrysler had combined a vertical and horizontal tail light scheme. I like it, if I do say so myself.
Gorgeous brocade fabric seats that look like new? Yes, please. We don’t know what the top of the dash looks like under that cover, unfortunately, and as a southern California car, I’m hoping it’s there to save a perfect dash rather than cover a cracked one, but we don’t get to see it. The voluminous back seat looks perfect, as does the six-person, drive-in-friendly trunk, and this car has a power front seat and power windows, very nice. This car also has new shocks and new tires so scratch those off the to-do list.
We don’t know what engine this is, but the standard engine was Chrysler’s 400-cu.in. OHV V8 with 175 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque. It sends power through a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission to the rear wheels and the seller says it’s “like new condition” and “always kept indoors.” They have it posted here on craigslist in beautiful Solvang, California and they’re asking $8,500. Here is the original listing. Have any of you owned a sixth-generation Newport?
This is a great car at a great price. I hope the dash is OK, that would just make the car. My uncle was an Oldsmobile man, and in the 1970’s, he’d get the 98s. He had a 1976, and the salesman told him “This is the end of the line for cars this size”. Now, everyone gets a truck to get what they used to have in a sedan…
Amen and Hallelujah to that! New SUVS,crossovers and melted jelly beans now clutter the roads! AND the Chrysler name is gone, along with so many storied marques.
Attention Officer 👮♂️ Jim Lahey and deputy 🥴 Bobandy 🚨 🚔 🍻 🥃
When the ’75 Imperial became the ’76 New Yorker, the Newport Custom picked up a lot of the ’75 New Yorker’s styling cues, including the grille and the horizontal taillights. The base Newport, however, retained the ’75 Newport grille and “exclamation point” taillights.
This was my dream car in 1978. Price then was $4500. Bought instead a 1975 Plymouth Fury Custom sedan with same color/trim with a 360 engine for $2300. Had it for fifteen years.
Nice Chrysler. With fender skirts, it would be a real cruiser.
Great car. Great price.
Smog test are up to date,and has passed since 1997.
The decline of popularity/value for big 4 doors and other cars without a dedicated following is beginning to become readily apparent. Until recently this would have already sold, it’s a nice car and until now would have been considered reasonably priced. It’s been listed for a week within a 2 hour drive of Los Angeles and it’s millions of people that has long been a prime exporter of special interest cars to the rest of the world. Cars like this are becoming a commodity where price is the prime consideration of potential buyers. People vote with their wallets, so far nobody has taken action beyond praising what a good deal it is.
Steve R
I owned one of these, but it was a 77 Newport. There was no Newport Custom in 1977, just the Newport and the New Yorker. The 1977 Newport got the 1976 Newport Custom’s tail lights and grille, which had in turn been on the 75 New Yorker. They just kept migrating to the lower cost model. I liked owning and driving the car a lot! It had the 400 V8. I got 12 mpg around town and 15 mpg on the highway. At the time it cost $35 to fill the tank, and I thought it was insane. It cost only $20 to fill my other cars then. How perspective changes! I guess it would cost $80 or $90 now if the tank was empty (26 gallon tank). I could go 230 – 250 miles between fill ups. It was the best riding car I have ever owned. It had surprisingly good handling. Despite its size, I could easily see the front and rear corners of the car because the hood and trunk did not slope off the way they do on newer cars, and the glass area was large so it was easy to see out of. No need for a backup camera. So I could park easily because I could get close to things because the visibility was so good. The car had full instrumentation – very useful. But it also had very small LED lights if the gas gauge was on E, the temp gauge indicated overheating, or the ammeter indicated a discharge or overcharge condition. To me that was very useful but also very advanced for the mid 70s. The only thing I didn’t like was the Lean Burn system, which reduced off the line acceleration. Lean Burn debuted on the 1976 400 V8, and was expanded to other engines for 1977. This car doesn’t have it – I don’t see the computer box on the side of the air cleaner. The ad does not say which engine it has, so I assume it has the 360 or the 440. If it’s a 440, that’s even more of a reason to buy it!
This car has the 400 or the 440. If it had the 360 the distributor would be at the rear of the block.
400-2 most likely in this ride. I seen the vacuum on the distributor out front. I drove one of these back then with the 400 2 barrel. I always felt the 4 barrel would helped it move along a lot better. The two barrel make the car feel like a slob. Otherwise it’s really a nice car and it rides really good. as long as you don’t mind the poor gas mileage it gets. Good luck to the next owner..🐻🇺🇸