From 1961 to 1981, the Newport was Chrysler’s entry-level full-size car. But because it was a Chrysler, it was far from a basic automobile. In 1962, the 361 cubic inch V8 was the standard engine, and we assume that’s what lies under the hood of this 4-door sedan. The example here seems to have been fading away in the desert along with several other old cars that the seller may be trying to liquidate. From Santa Clarita, California, this project or donor is available here on craigslist for $2,500.
The Newport was initially intended to be a replacement for the DeSoto brand, which was discontinued barely into the 1961 model year. For 1962, the cars had styling changes that resulted from the use of a 1961 Chrysler front clip and the rear body of a 1961 Dodge Polara, sans the tailfins. So that’s the easiest way to spot a ’62 from a ’61. This makeshift solution was to carry the big cars until 1963, when a new styling approach was rolled out. Chrysler found nearly 55,000 buyers for the 1962 Newport 4-door sedan, like this one.
No history is revealed about this Newport, and that may be because it’s not known. The car may be complete, including the 361 V8, a pushbutton automatic transmission, and somewhat rare factory air conditioning. The Chrysler does not run and hasn’t for a long time. The two-tone paint is well-faded, and the interior has been exposed to the Sun, so it’s not much better from what we can tell.
The open question becomes: is the car worth the asking price? If you wanted to restore one of these, wouldn’t a 2-door hardtop, New Yorker, or a 300 (Letter or non-Letter) be more desirable? But as a parts car, it may have workable sheet metal, though these were unibody cars that were prone to rust. Thanks for the tip, Jack M.!
COULD IT BECOME AN ENFORCER POLICE CLONE