While not a classic New Yorker, these unusual little front-drive-era K-car-derived luxury boxes are nice, nice enough. Good enough for most people, which isn’t what Chrysler had in mind for their marketing campaign, I’m sure. The seller has this 1987 Chrysler New Yorker posted here on craigslist in impossibly beautiful Huntington Beach, California, and they’re asking $4,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to numskal for the tip!
Looking back at them now, the K-car-derived, stretched E-body New Yorkers were an interesting line of cars. I’ve mentioned before that my first new(er) nice car in the 1980s was a LeBaron convertible, and it was quite a step up from a rusty, dented 1974 Dodge Tradesman van with a converted three-speed floor shifter that we had to put in backward in order to get the linkage to work. As a Minnesotan, that LeBaron was more than good enough.
Chrysler really downsized the New Yorker for the 1983 through 1988 model years, they were almost two feet shorter from the previous rear-wheel drive version. These cars are front-wheel drive, as you know, and buyers could option them with such famous features as Corinthian Leather, made from free-range Spanish cows… Just kidding, it was made in Newark, New Jersey, but check out the next photo.
Yes, this New Yorker has the optional New Jersey Leather! It’s beautiful, just like Newark, New Jersey! Hey, I like New Jersey, just for the record. This car is fitted with Almond-colored Corinthian Leather, a somewhat rare color. The seller says this car has 49k miles and it looks great. It could use some white wall tires and lighter window tint, but it looks great from front to back, and they say it’s like new inside with no rips, tears, or any other funny business.
I expected the balanced-shaft 2.5-liter, but this New Yorker has Chrysler’s 2.2-liter SOHC turbo inline-four with 146 horsepower and 168 lb-ft of torque. It sends that power through a three-speed TorqueFlite to the front wheels. They say it’s had “mechanical upgrades” throughout the years and its two owners. Have any of you owned a front-drive New Yorker?
Chrysler shrunk the size, but tried their best to keep all the luxurious appointments in the cabin it appears.
Over 30 years ago had a friend that had an early 80’s LeBaron the same exact color as this. Had a cloth interior though, not as nice as this New Yorker. I must say, when I saw the interior shot, if you look at those seats, the first thing I thought of was a Chrysler Fifth Ave. Chrysler had some of the nicest leather seats in the business.
Interesting how the seats are what catches our attention. That deeply tufted leather is really something. Otherwise, a regular E car with the strong 80’s Mopar family resemblance. I agree with Scotty, whitewalls would help.
Yes, I totally agree whitewalls with the wire wheel covers are a must. Not only were the seats deeply padded, but the leather they used was very soft. This is probably one of the nicest “K” cars you could buy in the mid 80’s.
My in-laws had the blue color same model. They added the dealer paint protection add on but within three years the paint wore down.
The mechanical was not that bad and held out for six years until they bought a Nissan Maxima.
I had the exact same car but it was burgundy with matching guts. Very plush inside and the girls liked it. Those 2.2 turbo motors could really move these cars.
I suggest having the entire car covered in that fine Corinthian product, unless there are prohibitive tariffs and/or supply chain issues.
No, I never owned a FWD New Yorker. But, I wasn’t 65 years old in ’87….
Hey Scotty hello from from Eagan! Yup, needs ww tires and, in Mn., 50% tint is as far as you can go legally. For some reason, can’t start a new paragraph. I had Ziebart tint my windows on my Cutlass but had it removed in later years. Anyway, love the fine VColinthian ( can’t backspace it either) leather and color , too. Not sure how much trouble the motor is. Rick W is reaching for his wallet! Lol!
Hey, Jon! Just a couple of hours ago, I was mumbling (swearing) under my breath at yet another car with pitch black windows. I bought a used Saturn in the mid-2000s, and the seller had one shade of tint too dark, and my wife got a ticket for that. We had to take it off and pay a $130 fine. Sadly, as you know, there are really no rules or laws anymore, so now you can just spray-paint your windows black and you’ll never get pulled over. I see dozens of vehicles every single day with pitch black windows; it’s ridiculous. My second biggest pet peeve with drivers, other than not signaling lane changes.
Scotty, a former co-worker of mine got pulled by the Eden Prairie police for having too dark windows, too. He got off with a warning but had to have it removed on a Ranger pickup!
Yeah, I see dark windows, too, mostly on these pro sports players’ rides. They afford the fine, I guess.
It’s amazing how far Chrysler stretched the Kcars in length and semi luxury. But give me an 80s RWD Fifth Avenue any day. I had 83 and 85 Fifth Avenues that easily held their own with other upscale vehicles I have owned. When Iacoca went loca with Kcars and dropped the RWD Fifth Avenues, that IMO was the end of Chrysler. Hey,Jon, not on this one. See my comment. But I’m reaching the end of my sanity trying to get a problem fixed with Xfinity! 😠 😡
Rick, we’ve got infinity here for land line, cable, & internet, no real issues (yet).
We have a store 4 miles from the house, so we go there.
Good luck.
If I remember correctly these cars talked to you. Your door is a jar. Your lights are on. This was 1986 or so.
Yes, sir, I forgot about that! I can still see the tiny white switch in the glove box of my mid-80s LeBaron convertible to turn off that voice.
It would be difficult to explain the convoluted Chrysler history from the beginning through the Airflow to the Exner era to the Engle era. The fuselage cars to the K cars and then the LH and LX cars to now. They really did an admirable job in making this one what it was. Plush inside with a capable and reliable turbo engine.
As delicious as Corinthian leather is I believe these were from the Mark Cross period. Sorry to rain on that one.
Nelson C, you are 100% correct that this car is from the Mark Cross era, but my LeBaron had gray Mark Cross leather, and it wasn’t even remotely as puffy. It was gray, but similar to this:
https://cdn.dealeraccelerate.com/mce/1/810/56727/790×1024/1984-chrysler-lebaron-mark-cross-town-country-convertible
Not to mention, page 2 of this 1987 Chrysler New Yorker calls it out as Corinthian Leather.
https://www.xr793.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/1987-Chrysler-New-Yorker-CN.pdf
Those rear seat interior door handles look like they should be handlebars on a small dirt bike.
Ha!
Rented a brand new convertible in LA. Drove it up Highway 1 to SF, beautiful drive👍. Then had to take it back to LA, the opposite (in many ways).
When these were on the road, I was sure the era of US auto greatness was over. I despaired a future of hideous cars. It was a long stint in purgatory.
Less C-pillar, more trunk lid please. Looks laughably out of proportion with a huge blind spot, to boot.
The seller has deleted the listing, did one of you grab it?