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54k Mile Survivor: 1970 Chrysler Newport Convertible

The Newport was Chrysler’s lowest-priced entry in the 1960s and 1970s. Along with the rest of the senior Chrysler automobiles, the Newport was redone in 1969-73 with a “fuselage” type of styling. The 1970 model year would be last for a Newport convertible, like the seller’s car, which was produced in small quantities compared to the rest of the product line. This one was part of a private collection for the last 40 years and stored indoors, helping to ensure the quality presentation of the car today. Located in Ballwin, Missouri, this large-scale drop-top is available here on craigslist for $15,900. This is another great tip sent our way from Barn Finder Pat L.!

In the early ’70s, Newport’s would share the big 124-inch wheelbase of Chrysler’s premium car, the New Yorker. 2,231 Newport convertibles were built in 1970, split roughly equally between the standard Newport model and the slightly dressier Newport Custom. Given these relatively small numbers, drop-top survivors are bound to be rare today and the seller’s car may be one of the nicest left.

With just 54,000 miles on the odometer, this Newport shows no rust, has excellent paint, and sports well-preserved bright work. If there has ever been any body or paintwork done to this car, it does not show. The contrasting top and matching interior also come across quite well. This Chrysler is equipped with a 383 cubic-inch V8, standard in the Newport, mated to a 4-barrel carburetor and TorqueFlite automatic transmission. The quality of its running condition is not mentioned. BTW, check out the early 1970s bumper sticker on the back!

According to Hagerty, extremely nice versions of this automobile should be worth between $12-16,000, thus the seller’s car is priced accordingly. Given what collector cars can trade for these days, this almost qualifies as a bargain for a convertible that wasn’t duplicated thousands of times over on the assembly line. But it’s a large car, so be sure you have a garage big enough to store it when you’re not showing it off.

Comments

  1. Avatar photo Rex Kahrs Member

    RUSS!!! The rules clearly state “No Politics”. I jest of course. Nice write-up on a nice solid old Mopar. I’d be happy to have it in my garage, perhaps with a Humphrey sticker though.

    Like 5
  2. Avatar photo sYc

    Nice car, but absolutely repainted. There is filler cracking at the base of the rear window (where the upper trunk seams used to be). Very common – Seemed to be uniform practice for many years that body shops would always be drawn into filling in those trunk seam lines when prepping a car for repainting.

    Like 0
  3. Avatar photo Joe Machado

    Added note: I have from several sources, that the 70 Newport Convertibles built, is 1,124. Plus the 70 300, came to a total of 1,077.
    Total: 2,201. No Newport Custom Convertible made. Can you check?

    Like 0
  4. Avatar photo Chris

    I got me a Chrysler as big as a Whale !!!!

    Like 9
  5. Avatar photo normadesmond

    I’m confused by the interior door pulls and the whiteness of parts of them. Would be nice if there were a photo of the dash. Why are the hubcaps so black?

    I love this car. We had a ’69 T&C wagon. One thing that always bothered me about these Chryslers was the dashboard. It couldn’t have seemed cheaper. So plastic.

    The Nixon bumper sticker is hysterical.

    Like 3
    • Avatar photo Tricky Dick Member

      “I an Not A Crook!!!!”

      They all are.

      A personalized license plate should be “TRKY-DK

      Like 4
  6. Avatar photo Billyray

    Those cars were designed as hardtops. As convertibles they look cobbled because of that stupid pointy thing behind the roof.

    Like 0
    • Avatar photo XMA0891

      Agreed on this Chrysler convert looking a little cobbled. I know they are basically the same car, but to my eye I always thought the ’70 Plymouth pulled it off much better.

      Like 0
  7. Avatar photo moosie

    This Newport convertible is a lot better looking than the Black one from a couple of day ago. Interior, exterior, this one is miles ahead appearance wise. The Black one looked rode hard & put away dripping wet , this one appears to be very well taken care of as I guess most private collection, stored indoors cars are. I like it, I’d buy it.

    Like 2
  8. Avatar photo Dave

    All this car needs is thicker front and rear sway bars, dual exhaust, and mopar mags

    Like 2
  9. Avatar photo Kenn

    Rear end looks awfully low. Weak springs?

    Like 0
  10. Avatar photo Scott Allred

    Wrong air cleaner. The one on this car is from a ’69. Headrests look incorrect too.

    Like 0
  11. Avatar photo Stevieg

    Very cool car! I wish I had the funds to buy it & a place to put it once bought. I have neither, so I guess it doesn’t matter.
    Wouldn’t these have color keyed floor mats? Just kidding. If even available, they would have been extra cost.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar photo Chuck

    Somebody please tell Russ Dixon: Right: Newports WRONG:Newport’s

    Like 0
  13. Avatar photo Rex Kahrs Member

    Somebody please tell Chuck: Relax, it’s surely a typo on Russ’ part. Russ is solid.

    Like 0
  14. Avatar photo R.Lee

    Another St.Louis Mopar

    With a reasonable starting price for a clean car. 13K and drive away.

    Put on some real rubber upgrade the brakes and detail the car, and change all fluids no matter the age. To bad there is not a 440 Commando. But is easy enough to plant one between the fenders. with very little trouble.

    Like 1
  15. Avatar photo R.Lee

    Another St.Louis Mopar

    With a reasonable starting price for a clean car. 13K and drive away.

    Put on some real rubber upgrade the brakes and detail the car, and change all fluids no matter the age. To bad there is not a 440 Commando. But is easy enough to plant one between the fenders. with very little trouble.

    Nice color blue, not Mopar green.

    Like 0
    • Avatar photo moosie

      Back in ’69 my Dad ordered a 1969 New Yorker , standard engine was a 440″ 350 horsepower which was more than sufficient to move that land barge. I read the owners manual and saw that a 440″ 375 horse was available . The difference being the exhaust.system, duals on the 375 versus 350 with single exhaust.

      Like 0
  16. Avatar photo Patrick

    Boy you guys are brutal. I just picked up a 70 Newport blue white top blue interior and in a garage for the last 14 years has 34,000 miles on it nice car factory air. I put a picture of it on here but man. When the lady parked at 14 years ago she was 70 her son gave her a set of mopar black thinned valve covers and air cleaner got forbid I put those on you would tell me the car was not a chrysler. Oh well I just stopped to look at that blue 70 nothing’s perfect in life.

    Like 0
    • Avatar photo Stevieg

      I really didn’t see anything real brutal here. Most comments made were people who liked the car. A couple guys nit-picked the finer details, but for the most part I thought it was positive. I know I sure like it!

      Like 0

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