Cars that rolled off the production lines of the 1980s have been largely overlooked when it comes to considering potential classics. New car production was at record levels during the “greed is good” era, and the motor vehicle was largely seen as a disposable item. The fact is that any car that was produced in that decade is now more than 30-years-old, and any examples that have survived to the present day, and especially if they have also remained in good condition into the bargain, are an increasingly rare commodity. This 1987 Chrysler Fifth Avenue has not only managed to achieve this but has done so whilst only accumulating 44,000 genuine miles on its odometer. The time has come for it to find a new home, so it has been listed for sale here on Craigslist. It is located in Holliston, Massachusetts, and the asking price has been set at $5,500. I have to say thank you to Barn Finder Pete B for spotting this beauty for us.
When it comes to color combinations, any car that is finished in black and silver has the potential to be a real winner in the presentation stakes. This Chrysler wears Serbia Black and Radiant Silver, and when this is combined with the padded vinyl landau-style vinyl top, it creates a car of distinctive appearance. The panels and paint look to be extremely nice, with no signs of any significant dings, dents, or rust. The vinyl top is in great condition, while the alloy wheels appear to be free from any form of damage or issues. The impression of luxury is further enhanced by the fact that not only does the vehicle feature tinted glass that is essentially flawless, but an electric sunroof should allow for a bit of “wind in the hair” motoring on those warmer days. There are certainly going to be people who aren’t taken with the styling of the Fifth Avenue, but it is well to remember that it is pretty typical of cars during the 1980s. I will admit that some offerings from that era did resemble a Lego block with a wheel on each corner, but there was a time not too long ago where the majority of the motoring public felt that fins were a pointless styling trend. You only have to look at the sorts of prices that cars with fins can achieve today to realize how tastes can shift markedly. The same will happen with cars from the 1980s, so perhaps the next owner of this Chrysler will be staying one step ahead of future trends.
The interior photos supplied by the owner continue to paint a very positive picture with this car. In a vehicle with pale grey upholstery the same as this one, the carpet is going to be one of the most vulnerable areas when it comes to wearing and stains. However, the plush carpeting in the Fifth Avenue has benefitted from the fitment of mats and remains in very nice condition. The seats are upholstered in the optional Corinthian Leather, and the combination of pillowing and deep buttons makes them look very sumptuous and inviting. Once again, the upholstery appears to all be in good condition, with no signs of significant wear or cracking. This is a luxury car, and in a 1980s context, it does come very nicely appointed. The next owner will find themselves enjoying air conditioning, power windows, power locks, 6-way power front seats, a power trunk release, a leather-wrapped tilt wheel, cruise, remote exterior mirrors, a rear defroster, and an AM/FM radio/cassette player.
There was only a single engine and transmission offering in the Fifth Avenue in 1987, which was the 318ci V8 backed by a 3-speed TorqueFlite transmission. Naturally, the vehicle also came equipped with power steering and power front disc brakes. None of this resulted in a particularly potent car, but then again, that wasn’t the name of the game with this model. The engine was only producing 150hp, but the healthy 265 ft/lbs of torque meant that it was an effortless car around town, off the lights, and cruising on the open road. The owner does claim that this car has a genuine 44,000 miles showing on the clock, but doesn’t mention whether he has any specific documentation to verify this. However, there is a fair collection of paperwork that will be included in the sale, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the evidence is there.
Will the 1987 Chrysler Fifth Avenue be destined to become a future classic? Unfortunately, I don’t own a crystal ball, so I can’t say so with any degree of certainty. However, cars from the 1980s are beginning to gain some traction in the classics market, and if you look across earlier decades, many of the luxury offerings from times past are now performing quite well in the market. That actually augers quite well for the Fifth Avenue but doesn’t make it a certainty. It comes down to a question of whether someone is going to be willing to “roll the dice” on this car in the hopes that it will appreciate in value. This is a car that has the potential to provide faithful service for many more years if properly maintained. Even if it doesn’t eventually become a classic, I can certainly think of plenty of cars that would be less enjoyable than this one when embarking on a journey. I’m sure that you can too.
I think these were great cars. Any car that’s used in law enforcement, has to be good. I think these were some of the first cars to be produced in Kenosha after Chrysler bought the plant. This era was just the epitome of strangled motors and pollution control bug a boos. It was a rough time for auto makers trying to comply with old designs. I think Chrysler was the worst. Still, here you have one of the last RWD family sedans, go cross country, no problem. Chrysler had great seats then, one of my minivans had great seats. Given what’s offered today in sedans, you simply can’t go wrong here.
AMC was producing, under contract, the Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth variant of these cars prior to the acquisition.
I worked at a place driving truck the yard foreman had a 88 fifth ave a twin to this car, he bought it with a seized 318 motor, cheap, he yanked the engine and put a warmed over 340 hp and a 727 automatic behind it and got rid of most of the pollution stuff, daul exhaust glass pack mufflers he ended up with a sweet fast car, he had it for years
With a sticker price of over $20,000 no wonder they are rare. That didn’t even include an overdrive transmission. By that point in time nobody wanted this body style, including the cops, which by and large had moved on to the Chevy Caprice and full sized Ford.
Steve R
There were approximately 1,000,000 M-body New Yorkers and Fifth Avenues built from 1982-1989. They weren’t rare or unpopular in their day. In 1986, they started under $15,000, at least $5000 less than the Cadillacs and Lincolns they were marketed against.
Correction: there were approximately 550,000 built, but the point remains.
The sticker price on this car was $20,061, which in my opinion is overpriced for what you were getting. By that time it was an outdated platform with better alternatives in the luxury end of the market.
Steve R
Even with the few they sold, they were a cash machine for Chrylser, they were basically selling you a taxi cab Valiant with a 1978 body with pimpmobile trim added, ka-ching!
They actually sold a TON of them. It was a lot of car for the money and they were quite reliable. With lock up torque converter on the highway at 60 – 65 MPH it would return 22 to 23 MPG consistently. I know this for a fact, I owned a 1985, bought it when it was a year old.
Great post Adam
I drove one for awhile in 1992. Worked for a guy who owned one.
You do not want to have the rear window vandalized. Go to glass shop. They send it to upholstery shop to remove padded top. Replace glass. Back to upholstery shop for new top. Expen$ive.
Great running car. Triple black. I put about 10,000 miles on it.
That is absolutely correct, Mark. I worked in auto glass for 27 years. That landau top was like a shell that had to be lifted off. Thank god comprehensive insurance covers the cost of it.
Second time it got vandalized. First time someone keyed it down to the metal. Knife. Black is a hard color. Shows all its faults.
Body shop finally got it like the owner wanted it
Lovely looking car. I remember when cars like this, the Dodge Diplomat, and the Plymouth Gran Fury were on the market. I find these more attractive than the cars that replaced them later. I’d buy an 87 Diplomat if I could find a nice original survivor. :)
well if you want one go to vanderbrink auctions she is selling 60 classic cars for jim gesswein motors in millbank south dakota in july there is 2 mint diplomatsin this sale low milage cars in beautiful shape 4 imperial ragtops too!
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe a TRUE classic is a car that is desirable regardless of what condition it’s in. The difference is, if it’s in unrestorable condition, people would still want them for parts cars or possibly to make a rat rod. And it would have to be REAL BAD, for it to be called “unrestorable. Ex: ‘57 Chevys.
I owned a twin to this car about 10 years ago. Same options and just as clean. I sold it to my friend who sold it about a year later. Next time I got a letter from a California P.D. saying the car was towed and still in my name. The new owner did pay the tow bill and must of got it titled. I think this car is worth $4500 maximum.
This was a full frame car, unusual for Mopar since most of their cars were unibody.
Nope, this is a unibody just like the F-body Aspen and Volares that it and the rest of the M-body cars based off of. Chrysler continued to produce these cars to the late 80’s because they sold so well.
We had and fixed many of these in the day they were excellent not roomey low tech cars are a real good wheels today for a low maintenance driver. The City of Philadelphia had Plymouth Gand Furys (same car less schmaltz) last were 89s held many for 12 years their shop forman told me “They just don’t break”.MOM need a new car?
I had an 87 5th Ave Until about 10 years ago. It was dark blue with blue velour interior and was a sweet ride. The late eighties 318 engines had roller cams and were good for a lot of miles. They had lock up converters but no overdrive. These cars are bringing fairly good money now if low mileage and no rust.
My parents had an ’85 they bought new. It was a good car, if a bit thirsty.
This is a beautiful one. I’d love to have it.
Those seats are every bit as comfortable as they look. In the mid nineties these still felt like a Luxury car to me.
Back in the 80s my boss at the time got a new one of these yearly. A Chrysler dealer gave her one for advertising purposes. She did not put many miles on them, but I did get to drive them from time to time. Nice cars all around for the time and the memories flood back with this beauty. The Imperial rims set it off nicely. Would love to have this, but COVID impacts (-$) give me pause. Price is reasonable, therefore a good entry into the hobby. Never see these anymore.
While I am “lost in the 50’s”, these to me were the best of everything. Traditional styling (hate the eggs of today). Tried and true 318 and torqueflite and RWD. Very comfortable on a long trip! wish I had my 87 back. If this one wasn’t so far away, I would on it like flies on stink!
I am a hopelessly prejudiced Moparite, but I loved this stunning classical design. It was right for the time and it seems that a lot of people still agree. Some designs were timeless and I propose that this is one of them. I had two of them: a ’79 LeBaron station wagon and later an ’85 Plymouth Fury III. Given what these cars were designed for, what more could you possibly want? Both of them got ~25 mpg on the highway. And the 318s were indestructible – just as they were on my ’66 Coronet and my ’99 Dakota.
my grandfather in 1984 surprised my grandmother with a new Chrysler Fifth Avenue beautiful red car. It was a great car after he bought it for her passed away she wouldn’t think of getting rid of that car she passed away in 2002 and would still ask about her car my cousin bought it still has it so many memories
My uncle married a woman who had one of these. It was dark blue with matching cloth interior.
I bought it from her when she upgraded to a newer car, and I really liked everything about it except the Lean Burn system.
It was a beater by the time I got it, but it still made me feel like royalty when I drove it.
Why in the world is this listing still up?
Worth. Every. Penny.
Back when cops drove Diplomats one local cop 6 foot 5 inches tall had back trouble and was in misery from the Diplomat seat. The Chief called our Salvage yard to ask if we could help we had a 5th Ave. in the yard so out with the seat and in the cruiser. The Cop came by a few days later praising the 5th Ave seat end of back trouble. Another cop story was a State Trooper came by with a Diplomat asked what he thought of it “Good car except when you pass 100 mph there is angel on the PentaStar hood ornament with a Hyme Book singing “Nearer My God To Thee”
I’m driving an 88 with about 140 k original miles. I drive it regularly to Alabama and Georgia with no problems. This is my 4th one. I’ll have one until they quit making gas. You can’t destroy them I could tell countless stories about them none of them bad!