The Newport was Chrysler’s volume car in the 1960s and 1970s, with creature comforts on par with the Buick LaSabre or Mercury Monterrey. The 1970 Newport convertible was the last drop-top for the model and one of the last for the company, until a revival of the body style in the 1980s. The seller is the second owner of this Chrysler in the past 14 years and has done a few things cosmetically and mechanically to keep it in top shape. Located in Denver, Colorado, this lanky cruiser is available here on craigslist for $13,500. A tip of the fedora to Mark_K for sending this tip our way!
From 1969 through 1973, the senior Chryslers received new styling which provided a “fuselage” look to the automobiles. Newport’s would share the long 124-inch wheelbase of Chrysler’s premium car, the New Yorker. Just 2,231 Newport convertibles were built in 1970, split between the standard Newport model and the slightly dressier Newport Custom. With these smaller numbers, drop-top survivors are surely scarce today and the seller’s example may be one of the nicest left.
Before the seller acquired this Newport a year ago, the car had been seldom driven, so it required some attention. We’re told he/she installed a new gas tank and sending unit, complete brakes including the power brake booster, a new 2-barrel carburetor, and a heater core. Given these changes, the 383 cubic inch Magnum V8 and the rest of the machine perform quite nicely now at 87,000 miles.
The rear quarter panels were sprayed primer when the seller got the car, suggesting some body work was done in the lower extremities. Not wanting to repaint the whole car but wanting things to match as much as possible, the entire lower half of the car was resprayed. The seller says that gives it a sort of 2-tone look, but it’s subtle at best. The rest of the paint is a bit faded, but presentable, nonetheless. The power top works fine, although the canvas material could stand to be replaced,
Non-working items on the big car including the factory air conditioning and radio, so you’ll need to do some more work if you’re trying to have a perfect cruiser. Simply for aesthetic reasons, the seller swapped the rear bumper assembly with one from a 1971 Chrysler 300 that does look better. But since it was a bolt-on operation, going back to the original would be an easy switch. A fair amount of documentation will go with the Chrysler, including its build sheet. Who’s ready for a Saturday night excursion to the drive-in movies (if you can still find one)?
This body style really looks good in a convertible. Average fuel consumption is listed at 10.9 MPG with the 383 2bbl. What surprises me is the curb weight is listed at 4300lbs. I would think $5000 given the cars size. Car is in really nice shape and given the asking price represents a real good value and would make a good entry into classic ca ownership. Just think that works out to $3.14 a pound. Try to find hamburger or boneless chicken breast for that price. That’s like 2020 meat prices.
It’ll be gone at that price – all the way to Europe or down under !
Nice car, but that’s not a subtle two-tone. It’s an attempt to put a positive spin on a bad paint match.
Boy, if all craigslist ads were written and presented like that it would be nicknamed the hall of honesty. Makes me want to run and purchase the car(and it’s only one hour away from me!) just to promote truth in advertising……..
With these wheels & bumper that really makes the car! Would get the whole car painted!
🎶”I got me a car, it’s as big as a whale
And we’re headin’ on down to the love shack
I got me a Chrysler, it seats about twenty
So hurry up and bring your jukebox money”🎶
I wonder why the seller would buy a car, do all of that work, and then sell it a year later? Why not enjoy driving it?
Thats a neat looking car. I think it would be worth it to buy it as a cruiser. at the same time get anything small done. This is something different and not seen much.I love it. got the $$ to buy it ,just no room in my garage!!I, how many of us have that problem? i only have so-much space and and could only build a 18×25. i would have did 100×100 if i had the room,but lucky to have what i got!
We have a drive-in with 6 screens here in Vegas.
I knew that rear bumper was wrong for this car. In 1970, a friend had a 300 convertible with the wall to wall taillights. Hidden parking lights, hidden headlights and hidden wipers. In a similar color, only nicer.
Love these. Reminds me of my 1971 Imperial.
I had a ’68 Newport with a 383. I sold it in 2003 because of the price of gas. I can’t imagine feeding this beast at current prices.