For a car that is 45-years-old, this 1974 Chrysler Newport presents extremely well. The owner refers to it as a show car, and while it may not be showroom fresh, it seems to present well enough to justify being shown as an original survivor. I have to really thank Barn Finder Pat L for spotting the Chrysler for us. It is located in West Plains. Missouri, and is listed for sale here on Craigslist. You could be parking this Newport in your driveway for a mere $5,500.
The Powder Blue paintwork on the Newport is nicely contrasted by Dark Blue vinyl top. It looks like the center section of the vinyl top might be a bit faded, and if this is the case, then it’s nothing particularly unusual. The rest of the car’s exterior presents very nicely. There are a couple of minor marks visible on the paint, but there’s nothing major. I like the protector fitted to the front of the car to stop the panel in front of the hood getting peppered with stones and gravel. That’s a pretty smart move on a car with an area as prone as that is.
Under the hood, you get what I believe is a 400ci V8 engine and a 3-speed TorqueFlite transmission. The owner claims that the car has traveled a mere 61,900 miles, but doesn’t indicate whether he holds any documentation to verify this. He also doesn’t indicate how well the car runs and drives, but he does say that the car has been fitted with new brakes and tires. They say that timing is everything, and Chrysler didn’t really have that when they released the all-new Newport in 1974. The world was experiencing an oil crisis, fuel was in short supply, and the Newport was a big, heavy car that would only average around 10mpg. This hurt sales badly, and Chrysler persevered with this Newport until 1978, when its significantly smaller replacement was announced.
Life inside a Newport of this era could never be described as harsh. There are a multitude of little touches there to remind you that you were in a pretty special car. Things like the material used on the seats, through to the padded dash fascia. It was all there to convey that feeling of luxury. The interior of this Newport is quite hard to fault, with everything appearing to be in first-class condition. The dark blue upholstery once again provides a nice contrast to that Powder Blue paint and would make for a pretty relaxing place to pass the miles. The only real deviation that I can see from standard is the fitting of an aftermarket radio/cassette player. Personally, I would probably try to source an original to put in its place, but that’s a matter of taste.
When a car is 124″ long, 80″ wide, and weighs 4,550lbs, it has earned the right to say that it has a presence. That sums this Newport up in a nut-shell. The condition is well above average for a Newport of this vintage, and you would have to look long and hard to find a much better example. Having said that, they do exist and can achieve sale prices of $14,000 or more. With the price set at $5,500 for this car, it represents a lot of metal for your money, and also a pretty decent buy.
Not bad $1.20 per pound !! REALLY beautiful automobile tho.
I believe 124″ represents the wheelbase and not the overall length.
I do agree that the price represents a bargain. I always like this body style in all of its 2 door configurations and regret that I am not in position to make this car mine.
I think your correct, these beasts about 20 feet long. And that defector in the front was to protect road debris from being destroyed by the car.
The panel in front of the hood is just a bug deflector, mostly to keep bugs off the windshield.
Wow this brings back some memories! The first car I have vivid memories of is my fathers 77 Newport. It was the same style as this only his was a burgundy 4 door also with the 400 V8. It was MASSIVE especially in comparison to my 4 year old self, and the 76 Pinto woody wagon my mother had at the time. My brother and I felt a mile away in the back seat…..couldn’t hit each other while belted in lol. It was in great condition, and he LOVED that car so it made no sense to me when he sold it around 84 or 85. I remember him being very upset as we watched it drive away. I even remember the new owner laying a decent patch as they took a right off our street.
Even more confusing to me was what we went to a small car lot the following day to pick up to replace said beast. A powder blue 81 chevette! Hearing the word Chevy and “vette” my brother and I were excited thinking dad was getting a sweet sports car! We didn’t know those didn’t have back seats, and didn’t understand why my dad didn’t seem to be sharing our enthusiasm. That is until we laid eyes on that POS! It was a 4 speed, and he treated it with contempt. He HATED that car, and so did my brother and I. We were both upset with him not understanding that US and fuel costs were the driving forces behind this severe downgrade. I even recall him slamming the door on it one time, and the window exploding! This car also confirmed that my mother cannot drive a standard, but that’s a story for another day lol. She has refused to try since, and never will at this point.
My poor father was stuck driving this slow POS, and my moms’ 4cyl auto pinto. When her pinto rotted out he cleverly managed to get something he didn’t hate driving while not setting off any alarms with the fun police aka MOM. He found her a nice 78 Zephyr wagon that happened to have a “high altitude pkg” consisting of a 302 4bbl. Lots of burnouts in that car! Pretty much the reason my brother and I both have fox bodys to this day.
Driving that chevette one day we passed by a small dealers lot and he spotted a gold 77 firebird, and decided to check it out. Wasn’t in the market for a car as nothing was wrong with the chevy it was just on a whim. He bought it, and took us out to an empty parking lot and proceeded to floor it in reverse and then whip it around doing a 180! He did this whenever he got the chance with a huge grin on his face. He called it “rockford time”, and my bro and I didn’t get it but loved it. Losing the newport for the chevette had pretty much driven him to pretending he was fricken Jim Rockford! Whenever we talk cars it’s not the firechicken he brings up though. It’s always the newport. If it was on the east coast and NOT powder blue I’d be calling my bro. We owe dad for losing that one.
I love the full size cars. That is what I grew up with. Here is my ’78 New Yorker St Regis Coupe. I was 17 when my neighbor brought this car home from Chrysler Outboard in Hartford WI. This was one of two, the other his sister purchased. After he died the car went to someone in 1992, I could not buy it as going thru a divorce. Five years ago I found the car on Criagslist and its been enjoyed ever since.
When I was 19 I had a 1977 New Yorker St. Regis just like yours except mine was light blue with a white top and a light blue interior AND a factory sun roof. The 440 didn’t have a ton of power (it improved when I put the electric ignition on and threw away the lean-burn junk) but it had gobs of torque! I sold it to a salvage yard after I blew the motor and bought a 1970 Chrysler 300. I miss both of those cars now! Hind sight….
Rob, my car was a Chrysler executives car. It has all options including the power sun roof and AM/FM/CB combo radio.
I seriously miss those seats in my New Yorker!!!! Was like riding on a fluffy couch…..
Purchased new by my father in 1974. As an 8 year old, it was my choice between this Fury or a black 4 door sedan. I put it back on the road shortly after his passing, 11 years ago now. 38,000 miles
Beautiful Fury. You are very fortunate to have a vehicle so meaningful to you.
In August of ’78 when I was 16, my late father bought a ’74 Fury Gran Coupe, largely because he knew how much I liked it. 400 2bbl, Golden Fawn ( I believe ) in color, white vinyl top, gold vinyl interior, Road Wheels, A/C, power windows and seat, AM/FM mono with a rear speaker and a Chronometer that kept perfect time for years. I inherited the car when my dad passed in ’82. Sadly, in the late ’80’s, it was rear ended very hard. It was still driveable, unlike the ’80 Granada coupe that hit it.
Finally a car that everyone seems to appreciate….