UPDATE 05/30/3023: We’ve recently seen a few owners who have struck out when attempting to sell their treasured classic, and the owner of this 1968 Chrysler Newport is another who is taking a second shot at finding it a new home. Nothing has changed with the car or circumstances, with the price remaining at $7,700. It is listed here on Craigslist, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Rocco B for spotting it.
04/24/2023: How much power is too much? If you ask most enthusiasts, they will tell you the question is irrelevant because there is no such thing as too much power. That makes this 1968 Chrysler Newport an interesting classic. It will comfortably seat six, has a 383ci V8 under the hood, and has accumulated 58,000 miles in fifty-five years. It has some minor cosmetic needs, but its most pressing need is to find a new home. The seller listed it here on Craigslist in Lake St. Croix Beach, Minnesota.
The Chrysler Newport had been around in one form or another since the 1940s, undergoing numerous model upgrades to reflect current design and styling trends. It received a significant upgrade with the new model in 1965, and our feature car is part of that generation. It presents well as a survivor in Frost Green, although a close inspection reveals it isn’t perfect. The paint has a few marks and defects, and there is a significant dent in the passenger-side rear quarter panel. The repair should be straightforward without the need for panel replacement. The rest of the exterior is okay, and the only visible rust is this small section in the lower front fender. The floors and frame wear dry surface corrosion, but there are no signs of impending steel penetration. The trim and damage-prone hubcaps are in good order, and there are no glass issues.
If this Newport has a genuine highlight, that honor falls to its interior. I struggle to find anything of which to be critical. The upholstered surfaces are perfect, with no wear or damage. Close inspection leads me to believe the back seat has been rarely used, while even the front seat doesn’t sport the outer edge wear you might expect from a vehicle of this vintage. The dash and pad are spotless, but the carpet shows wear and itear under the driver’s feet. If the new owner seeks perfection, spending $260 on a new carpet set would bring them close. There are no aftermarket additions, and although it isn’t dripping with optional extras, the factory radio should relieve boredom on long journeys.
Okay, let’s talk about horsepower. This Newport features its numbers-matching 383ci V8 that sends 290hp to the road via a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission. The car is relatively hefty at 4,078 lbs, but that 383 should launch it through the ¼-mile in 16.8 seconds. That isn’t fast by modern standards, but the figure was respectable for a six-seat sedan produced in 1968. Besides, it would take little effort to squeeze considerably more power from that V8 without breaking the bank. Considering the affordability of this classic, splashing some cash on the engine to extract extra power might be worth it if the new owner isn’t concerned about originality. There are bolt-on options that could be reversed at any time, and these might be the best alternative. The seller claims this Newport has 58,000 genuine miles on the clock, but they don’t mention supporting evidence. However, it is a turnkey classic ready for summer adventures with the entire family on board.
Undeniably, two-door models will command the most interest and attention in the classic world, and many people look past four-door vehicles. That is a shame because they offer excellent versatility. This is especially true for an enthusiast with a young family. If you’ve ever tried to maneuver a two-year-old into the back seat of a two-door car, you will know that it is possible to feel exhausted before you’ve left the driveway. Enthusiasts with families will sometimes find themselves with limited funds to purchase a classic, and some will throw the entire idea into the “too-hard” basket. This 1968 Chrysler Newport removes some of the obstacles, which is why it deserves more than a passing glance.
Exact duplicate of the one my father bought new in 1968 right down to the exterior colour & interior. One of the best cars we ever owned.
I love it and would buy it in an instant if it were within 250 miles of the Gulf Coast. Big sedans are one of my favorite long-lost body styles, and it’s my favorite color too! One of my grandfather’s WWII buddies opened a Chrysler-Plymouth dealership after they got back from the war and he would get himself a new New Yorker every October, so that side of the family remained Chrysler loyalists until the aero/cloud looking ones in the 1990s. Plenty of room in this one for friends, it’s under $10,000, and you can relive what the 1960s were really like for the majority of Americans. What’s not to like?
Back in 72 when I was 6 I had a Stingray jr. and was still a little wobbly on a bike and the neighbor down the block had one of these a 67-8 in dark blue that he was washing it and blocking the sidewalk so the water would run down the driveway curtain on an angle into the sewer..I tried to maneuver around it and ended up plowing into the corner of it.I was on the ground bruised up and scraped and he was screaming and mf ing me while I laid there.His wife came out and helped me up , brushed me off and started yelling at him. I took off told the guy I was sorry but he didn’t care.Ahhh good old memories this car brought back. This is a pretty nice more door for the price I like it as well as 4 doors in general.Dial it in , duals & cherry bombs go thru everything to make it safe and dependable and I’d cruise it no problem.Neat body style.
Provided it is “sound” structurally, this is indeed a deal. I had a ’67 Newport with the 383ci many years ago, and it still brings fond memories of being a very fine and unfailing machine that could “rip up” a highway!
I worked where this car was built.
It might have my fingerprints somewhere inside it.
I had several different jobs that year, who knows where they might be.
I love the old boats as anybody, I was born in 57, grew up in the 60s and 70s, but I don’t see many of “today’s people” taking a Lampoons vacation in anything “more” than a prius, unfortunately that’s what the good ole USofA has become. And what new gen wants to be bothered with lead substitute, and octane boost, much less trying to figure out how to drive a real car. But maybe jumped ahead of myself, maybe an old timer like myself, but with grandkids, sure as hell not kids lol
No, the new generation knows about hardened valve seats. Then they don’t worry about the lead.
Dad had the Newport coupe, the same color (a metallic green w/red flake), and blk vinyl roof. I was a young teen and would sit in it and if you turned on the flashers, turn signal, and step on the brake, the radio would play.
He traded it on a beautiful triple white 72 NYB coupe..it was such a lemon it was his last of 5 Chryslers.
flashers, turn signal, brake played the radio in our Dodge, too. how did we figure that out?!
Much rather have this 383 4 door than that ’70 Satellite 2 door. That heap is up over 3K already and it take more than 4K to get it in any sort of presentable shape.
Very cool Newport sedan.
The Torq-flite and 383 combo is a match made in hwy heaven w this 2.73 gear ⚙️
This looks like a car that a man who’d been driving Plymouths since he first “tried all three” 35 years before bought new, to treat himself for once, and then he always drove “the good Chrysler” sparingly.
Was true for my Dad. 55 Dodge Lancer, 64 Polara, then his 68 Newport coupe. That 383 was powerful. Then he traded for a 72 New Yorker Brougham coupe, the most $ he ever paid for a car, and sadly turned out to be a lemon.
I come from a Chrysler family. My mom’s side all drove Chryslers, I guess living in Detroit had a lot to do with it. They drove Chryslers until the early 70s. The last Chryslers were a couple of Cordobas, the last one was a 76. It was white with a blue vinyl top and interior. As I remember it had engine electrical problems right from the start. They really liked the Cordova but due to its unreliability they had to get rid of it in less than two years. I was young in the 60s, the Chryslers we had were strong and reliable. The last Chrysler my dad bought was a 69 300. It was a 4 door hardtop, with a 440 under the hood, it was white with a blue vinyl top and interior. It was a nice car, it was used to tow a 17 foot travel trailer, it did so with power to spare. The 440 could handle whatever driving conditions we exposed it to. I do remember it had issues when we drove it in the High Sierras, starting it on cold mornings at elevations above 8,000 feet involved multiple trys, a lot of black smoke and very rough idling. But I’m sure carburetor adjustments could have solved all that. I was a big fan of the fuelsage styling introduced in 1969, The 300 with it’s 4 door hardtop and hidden headlights with taillights that stretched across the entire rear of the car made it a very good looking car. I really liked it, it was fast for its full-size and weight. I loved the sound of its exhaust and the way the transmission sounded as it shifted through the gear pattern. And of course the sound the Chrysler starters made starting the engine, AKA the Highland Park Hummingbird. My dad wasn’t much on working on cars, or even regular maintenance, in 1976, he replaced the 300 with a new Lincoln Town Car, and that was the end for Chryslers in our family. From then on we have been a Ford family, and still are today. I have a big soft spot for the original Chrysler Corporation.
This Chrysler is a great entry car in the hobby. Great price and Newport is in good shape. Three things can be done to wake up the 383. As long the engine is in good shape…. After cleaning the engine.. replace the intake with a 4bbl setup. Nice Edelbrock street performer with a 650cfm carb. If the distributor is still stock with points. Get a Mopar electronic set up kit. Last put in full duel exhaust system. Performance muffler’s helps. Then this old girl will feel young again. Good luck to the next owner…🐻🇺🇸