Let’s face it; most cars hit their all-time lows during the mid-’70s to mid ’80s. Engineers struggled to make powerful reliable engines while meeting smog requirements and down-sizing to improve fuel economy. Given that landscape, though, style continued to evolve. This 1978 Chrysler LeBaron Medallion definitely brought some style. Thanks to Rocco B. who spotted this tuxedo black two-door on Jersey Shore Craigslist wearing shiny chrome with red pin stripes.
The name LeBaron harkens back to the glory days of American coach builders when LeBaron, Inc. built elegant bodies for Chrysler and others. LeBaron became part of Briggs Mfg. Co. which Chrysler purchased in 1953. Chrysler first used the name LeBaron as a model designation in 1958, and on this model beginning in 1977.
Plush leather and actual gauges in an era of Idiot Lights lends an air of luxury. This interior shows very well. You’ll notice the modern stereo, but the seller thoughtfully includes the original audio system with the sale. I never thought much about these cars until I rode in a New Yorker of this vintage; it impressed me with its smooth, quiet V8 and luxurious interior. This Chrysler has crank windows which seems ridiculous these days, but back in the day people didn’t trust little window motors in their doors. They would say something like “One day you’ll wish you had cranks when your fancy car plunges into a river! With this car, you can crank open the window and escape while Mr. Power Windows goes down with the ship.” As expected, this LeBaron’s motivation comes from the corporate standard LA 318 V8, making 140 HP (some details courtesy of automobile-catalog.com).
Many of Chrysler’s M-body cars hit the road as police cars and taxi cabs. Compliments to Chrysler for designing this elegant coupe when it could have merely drawn up a two-door sedan. Just about the time you write off a vehicle as being an unlikely foundation for anything sporty, Chip Foose will show up at SEMA with a slammed, Hemi-powered version on 35 series 22s. I couldn’t find such a beast so this is your chance! Or perhaps not. Still, park this at your local cruise-in and you might get plenty of attention from folks who have seen 9167 awesome ’69 Camaros. What do you think of this late ’70s luxo-coupe?
In June last year I bought All original 1980 Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue cream with beige leather interior. 15K original miles has 360 2B engine power windows , power front seats , tilt steering , factory AC , factory AM/FM radio , original wire wheels of course with all books & owners manual. I was never a Classic Chrysler fan but the R body New Yorker was top of line Chrysler in 1980. Asking price was 15K I paid 13.5K
My parents bought an ’80 Fifth Avenue, brand new. Black with gold metallic, and a creme 1/2 vinyl top, and ivory leather interior. It was my Dad’s pride & joy. Loved that car. However, after retiring to good ol’ Florida, the headliner took a dump in less than a year. Dang, it certainly was a comfortable car, and got good fuel economy.
Looks better than the blobs that pass as car design these days.
Amen !
Why are the original wire hubcaps missing? Those looked very nice.
I’m so glad the owner changed that PCV vale…LOL
From near my old neck of the woods. If you could pick this up for $4k or less that’s not a bad deal at all. Some nice wheels and breathe on that 318 a bit and you’ve got a cruiser. Surprised he does not have the QQ classic plates on it.
I liked these from day one along with the Diplomat.
The seller would do themselves a great service in removing those cheesy aftermarket plastic wire wheel covers.
They were out-of-round and looked like a rolling egg going down the road.
Find a set of OEM Chrysler wire wheel covers to round out the package. Very sharp car but i would stop by the local parts store and pick up a couple of porcelain ballast resistors to toss in the glovebox. I would certainly cruise this one !
It’s a shame that the seller is not entertaining trades. I would put up my mint, 40k 2004 LeSabre Ltd. or my 2001 26K Ltd. in a heartbeat.
I had a new 78 T-Bird, that was Fords twin to this car, big black, red leather and red stripes, with all the bells and whistles, just like this Chrysler. These cars were land yachts and drove like the luxury car, they were designed to be. Plus the gas crisis was in full scare mode, and the manufactures were scaling down and so these cars were cheap! Paid $7500 for the T-Bird, it was brand new, but technically a year old, it is the only time I felt like a car dealer, really wanted to make a deal! I don’t have any idea, what this seller thinks this car is worth, but if he is realistic, this could make a great driver.
The first and only new car I ever bought was a 78 Lebanon 4 door sedan. I was stationed in Germany and my wife was upset about how many times I would sell her car and trade it for another one. I was upset too…..I went down to AAFES, looked over there new car inventory and wrote a check for it……..prompting a new OSI investigation into how I made my money……… anyway. It was a good car, dark grey metallic with a black vinyl roof and black leather interior. Got great mileage and had adaquate power with the 318 engine. We brought it home with the 6 other cars we imported. Sold it with 150K or so on it. Was a good car but a learning experiance for depreciation on a new vehicle. Every other car I brought back made money…….some a lot of money.
I brought my 66 VW Type I home from Germany while stationed there as well as being born there as an Army brat….the stories I could tell. Maybe you and I should chew the fat.
Absolutely……….I am in southwest Idaho but get to California and other western destinations often. I will buy dinner.
Nice car, plenty of pictures, but why cant they take pictures of it oout in full sunshine instead of in the shadows of trees?
I bought a used 77 back in 1980, it was a 4 door in a two tone red/maroon, same red leather interior as this one ( boy do I wish they still made that ). It was one of the best cars I ever owned. The car lasted through 3 family members, and well over 200k miles before tin worm destroy it.
Had a 79 Diplomat with the slant six. Was a great freeway cruiser but only got 17mpg uphill, downhill or on the flat. Was my wife’s car until 84 when she got a Chevy conversion van to haul the boys around, became my airport car. Served admirably for the next 12 years in that capacity. Was rear ended 3 times, destroying two Hondas and a Toyota. That huge chrome bumper with the pistons took the hits in stride, like armor plate in a Hellcat vs the lightweight Mitsubishi Zero. Two more and I would have been an ace!
I love it……..
I purchased an 82 Diplomat 4 door from a fellow that bought it from General Electric. It was his company car and purchased it when he retired.
White with the dark blue cloth interior, 225 Slant.
I found a set of police pursuit rims and caps and put the correct size tires for the rims on it. At the time, a lot of municipalities were using them as detective vehicles and as i would ride down the street, folks would slow down if they were speeding.
I once stopped at an intersection and a bunch of teenagers scattered, lol….
That was you…! I told them you weren’t a cop
I had one in the mid 80s as a winter car. They sure did rust bad here but I think I paid 600 and used it 3 winters.Fairly reliable driving I recall.
I also owned one – bought it new in 1978 when I was 25 years old. Yeah, I know. Weird, right? Well, I’d lived through a major accident in a Toyota and wanted something with some heft around me. It was the LeBaron sedan – blue everything – even the leather interior (+ exterior and the all important vinyl top). 318 engine and power everything. Kept it 3 years and enjoyed the experience.
My Dad salvaged a 1978 Diplomat that was the sister car. An idiot that had rented his Body Shop totaled it. It was a friends car and the insurance was only gonna pay them what they owed on it. So they had no money to replace it. My Dad was able to get a rear section from a salvage yard . He cut the car in half and welded the new rear section on. When he was done that car looked it was out of the showroom with a new paint job. The total was probably about 2000. And back then you clip a car and didn’t have a salvage title. If my Dad repaired it you know it was done right. His friend were grateful to keep their car. Then that idiot who rented the shop took customers out and showed the the damaged rear section and take credit for it.
‘ Had a ’79 LeBaron wagon, and an ’85 Plymouth Fury. Both 318s, both purchased more than 10 years after their sell-by dates, and both served strenuous daily-driver and very long-distance duties flawlessly. The Fury was the corporate twin of the Fifth Avenue. These were really good cars – from Detroit’s supposedly darkest hours. ‘ Loved ’em both!
Why take pictures in the shadows?
This basic platform hung on until 1989 in Fifth Avenue form. It was a success because tooling for it was long amortized, thus keeping costs down. Although dated by then, it was a bargain luxury car.
These were fairly appealing cars when new. They were snazzy and captured the glitzy spirit of the disco era. Picture a t-top with funky alloy disc wheels and extra accent striping.
I had the Dodge equivalent in the same colors but cloth interior. However mine was a stripper with a slant six and a four speed manual…no air and not even a radio! I too sourced a set of the police car hubcaps. I also found a funky four spoke, thick rim Mopar steering wheel.
I’m pretty sure the guy I sold it to derbied it. It deserved better.
Is this care for sale?
Looking for the same kind of car 1977-1979 with power windows. Original paint but not brown color please.
Ed in North Jersey
Thanks for the help.
Ed-
Love these many don’t like 70’s cars but I do and I think these were quite pretty. Love the red interior.