Maybe somewhere in some long abandoned box of meeting minutes, there’s an explanation for Chrysler’s on-again/off-again relationship with the name “Royal.” It got a trial run in the early ’30s before taking hold as the lowest-priced Chrysler through the end of the 1950 model year. Then, inexplicably after 20-odd years, Chrysler brough it back in 1971 for two model years as the base Newport, the “Newport Royal.” This 1972 model represents the last of the Chrysler Royals as far as I know (not counting Dodge Ram trim variations), and if you’re going out, you might as well go out in style. Ted, our man in Ohio, found this one on Marketplace in Lagrange (wrong one, ZZ Top fans) with an asking price of $9,000. It has only 53,000 miles and a surprise under the hood.
In the 1970s, Meatloaf sang that two out of three ain’t bad. While I don’t love the song, he’s got a point in the case of this Newport. Both the seller and my Standard Catalog of Chrysler 1914-2000 say that the 360 small block was the Royal’s standard engine, yet the 1972 Chrysler brochure says it was the 400 big block. Majority rules! It doesn’t matter much, because this baseline Newport was ordered with the optional 225-horsepower 440 four barrel and single exhaust (the $35 dual-exhaust option gave the buyer 245 horsepower). The Royal also has the optional $34 electronic ignition system in its first year of availability (you can see the “box” on the passenger side of the firewall). With an 8.2:1 compression ratio, this 440 should run well on low-octane gas, and aside from a trip to the detailer or the spray wash, everything looks clean and original in here.
So does the interior, so much so that it’s staggering. The upholstery matches the pattern in the brochure, and there are no obvious tears in the seats or cracks in the dash pad. This car is full of mysteries: Someone bought a new bottom-of-the-line Chrysler sedan with the big 440 and proceeded to drive it sparingly and take immaculate care of it. Amazing.
It’s a good thing it was driven as little as it was; as an Ohio car, this would not be the image you’d see if it had 153,000 miles on it instead of 53,000. Although it’s a little grubby and “has a couple minor leaks,” in the seller’s words, it looks very solid underneath. The trunk floor alone proves how nice this car is; it’s practically a unicorn in the salt belt.
You can see the standard 727 Torqueflite, looking cleaner than I’d expect, and the seller says that the Newport “runs and drives great.” The gas gauge has, unfortunately, gone on strike.
Finally, there’s the color. In the earth tone 1970s, somebody ordered their 440 Newport in “Coral Turquoise Metallic” with a black vinyl top: Like I said, full of mysteries. This one has had a new paint job in the ten years that the current owner has been taking care of it, and it looks like a good buy. When I spend $9,000 on a car, it’s usually something that’s been sitting so long that it needs all kinds of work; this nice-looking Newport, on the other hand, is ready to go. It’s been sitting on Marketplace for three days, so you might end up with an amazing deal on a really uncommon old car (these days). And you can always tell gawkers that it’s the last of the Royals.
I reaIIy want a ’72 ImperiaI, but this Newp sure is nice!
Both beauties 😍 Rex. The black coupe is stunning. I like this basic one, w the 440 as Toth points out. Interesting car.
Thats a beautiful 2 door hartop Imperial Rex. Black with a white top looks sharp.
That is gorgeous, Aaron – nice write-up and nice find, Ted!
This is another incredible find. (Barnfinds is hitting it out of the park today) I’m kind of wondering if it was ordered with the 440 for perhaps towing? Its a very unique car, color and options. Makes me miss a time when you could truly ” order” a car the way you want without the ” packages” like they have now. I can seriously imagine more than a few people being surprised coming off a green traffic light on more than a few occasions with that 440!!!
Hiya! It has a tow package as an option, I have the window sticker!
You dont want a working gas gauge in these anyways,the shock at how fast it goes down would make you lose situational awareness while driving :P These were very pretty cars,i miss the days of loop chrome bumpers and curves galore.
The float was probably eaten but te ethanol gas. It will eat the metal arm that wraps around the float. I know–it happened to me. This is a nice car. The 440 tells why it was only driven 5,000 miles. Its a gas hog.
I stopped for gas 6 or 7 times on the drive home. It would register 7/8ths full. then 45 miles later it seemed to drop to less than 1/2 a tank. I would then fuel up. Since the fuel fillers behind the license plate and low, I have to watch the fill carefully or it’ll splash over if I’m not careful to quit before it tops.
I don’t ever recall seeing fender skirts on a Newport; I wonder if this was an option for the Royal?? Looks very good, though! GLWTS!! :-)
The fender skirts were an option on all Chrysler sedans and coupes that year.
Very nice Chrysler. It looks to be in great shape. A true survivor! Chrysler used to build great cars. Not anymore. WHAT HAPPENED!
Like all the other makes. The CEO,s wanted more money for themselves and started making cars with cheaper material.This 72 Chrysler is a well made car—NOT like the way OVER PRICE JUNK they make today
I believe Chrysler dropped the Newport “Custom” badge for the “Royal.”
I also believe electronic ignition was standard across the line.
My Dad had a 72 NYB coupe, big, heavy car, but that 440 is more than enough power to bury that speedo.
The Royal was the base Newport in ’72. The Newport Custom was still offered.
My question is do you pronounce it Royal or Roy-Al? (I really hate how AL now looks like A.I.).
My love of the fuselage cars mostly ends in ’72 with the demise of the loop bumper in ’73. Gorgeous Newport. One wonders why after poning up for the 440 he didn’t buy the dual exhaust. I would have.
Lastly, here’s an example of why you don’t see many three color cars. It messes with your brain. I once ordered a 200 convertible for inventory in same blue-black-beige and it took forever to find a new address.
Well, the exhaust work looks fairly recent, less than 10 years old and rarely used in the interim, but, I’m gonna see if my budget can allow for a dual exhaust upgrade, gaining 20 more horses possibly sounds very tempting! About 73 styling, man what a face, you have to love it or hate it, I think it is majestic but all wrong for the fuselage look. LIke a wearing pair of chunky rectangular glasses. On Facebook someone has a 73 Newport Royal for sale that has a 6 cyl Mitsu Turbodiesel swapped in mated to the Torqueflite going for less than 2.5k in PA!
A great uncle of mine had a Newport with 440 they towed an Air Stream around the South West and Mexico for many yrs.
A major contributor to this car’s immaculate condition is evidenced by all those yellow Ziebart plugs.
They are literally all over the periphery of the car, like some kind of force field! I have the receipt for the treatment dated Nov 22,1971 (significant day) for $79.95 and it came with a 5 year warranty! Car had only 20 miles on the clock at the time!
Ad says $9,000 pending. Seems like a good deal for both parties.
The Royal was the base Newport in ’72. The Newport Custom was still offered.
The sales brochure said something to the effect, “this may be our lowest priced Chrysler, but it is all Chrysler! And later added “This is no junior edition Chrysler!”
1975-1977 dodge royal monaco?
Very nice clean Chrysler. Add the dual exhaust and drive it!
Hi, folks! I bought the Newport on Friday the 18th and drove it home from La Grange, Ohio to York, Pa. The seller, Michael, a helluva great guy, met me at the airport in Cleveland, went over the car with me, made sure it was prepped for the journey, and couldn’t ask for a smoother buying experience! This car is an incredible ride! Had no issues whatsoever keeping up a solid 70-80 mph all the way home about 370 miles, I, however, insisted on stopping at every other service area for breaks. Driving the Newport on the two turnpikes was like piloting a living room couch from a 70’s down the highway at times, the bench seat was firm and springy. Not an A/C car, but after I get an underdash unit installed, the Newport will be making roadtrips! Don’t ask about the mileage, I guessing 8-12 mpg highway, I stopped for gas 6 times, couldn’t quite get a full tank in, the 440 ran very smooth.
Hi Folks,
I am the new owner of the Newport. I drove it home from La Grange, Ohio to York, Pa last Friday, 370 miles, no issues. Props to Michael the seller, great guy! What a find! Driving home on the Ohio and Pennsylvania Turnpikes I had the sensation of piloting a mentholated magic Mopar flying carpet!
Congrats megalomotors! Looks like a really nice car.
She sure looks good in your garage
Large, In-Charge, fits in da Garage!
@megalomotors On filling the tank, I had a hard time getting the gauge to read “full” on my Dad’s 72 NYB also. You’re right, the fuel fill pipe placement is too low.
Yup, but twas the fashion of the times. Hidden wipers, hidden fuel door. Nice not having to choose how to orient car depending on if I pulled up to left or right side of pump! :)