Yes, this 1975 Chrysler Cordoba has “fine Corinthian leather“. That usually comes up when one is shown here. Too bad Ricardo Montalban didn’t get a nickle for every time someone uttered that phrase. This posh ride is on Craigslist in St. Petersburg, Florida with an asking price of $6,800 or best offer. When the listing goes away the photos and text can be found here. Thanks to Pat L. for finding another unique car!
Once again this looks like a great car, but unfortunately, once again the photos are mainly detail and close-up images, a mish-mash of cut-off images, and there are exactly zero photos from a front 3/4 angle, none of the trunk, and no underside photos out of 18 total photos. The car looks spectacular none the less and the photo issue is more of a personal pet peeve than something that holds back any serious buyers.
See, this car looks great! 1975 was the first year for both the new Cordoba and Dodge’s Charger SE in the same, for the most part, body style – Chrysler’s B-Body. The seller confirms that this car is in “Excellent condition with 49,000 original miles”.
This car looks as nice inside as it does outside, the seller says that it has a “Like new interior with leather seat and console.” Here are those famous/infamous “Fine Corinthian Leather” seats. Or, was it Soft Corinthian Leather? Maybe it was Rich Corinthian Leather? Actually, Chrysler supposedly used all three descriptions but most people automatically default to Rich Corinthian Leather and that’s the only one that I can’t seem to find a reference to. I have not been able to find a clip of Ricardo Montalban saying, “Rich Corinthian Leather”. Maybe one of you can, while you’re at work, instead of actually working.. In any case, the leather seats look great, front and rear.
This looks like a 360 cubic-inch V8 would have been the standard engine. An optional “fuel saver” 318 was available as was a 400 which came with either a 2-barrel or 4-barrel carburetor. The seller says that this one “Runs and drives excellent. New brakes, new tires, rebuilt carburetor.” Any thoughts on this Cordoba? Other than a couple of generations of folk lore, can any of you track down an actual clip or a print ad with the phrase “Rich Corinthian Leather”? Bonus points if you can!
Can you spell “flipper”? By the end of the week it’s on eBay for $15k
I thought it was “plush” Corinthian leather?
I thought it was ” Rich” blah blah
This is the commercial (link below) where most of us mistakenly thought Ricardo said “Rich Corinthian Leather” when he actually said “Soft Corinthian Leather”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vsg97bxuJnc
I was hoping someone would post that link, I haven’t seen that commercial since TV Land quit playing old commercials from back in the day
Actually mr. Montalban used several words to describe the “leather”. First it was “soft” then it was “fine” en finally (in a 1980 commercial) is was “rich”. So the “Corinthian” leather (from Newark) was soft, fine and rich (and the cheapest they could get !).
It’s fine Corinthian leather
Just an FYI … the Cordoba doesn’t have ‘fine’ Corinthian Leather. It has ‘Rrrrichh CorINNNthian Leather’ [he said as his arm extended wide to show a 3/4 view of the NEW 1975 Chrysler Cordoba!]
“Two Corinthians walk into a bar…”
Great line Dick!
Thanks ‘dude!
My uncle had one identical to this one.
He drove it for his Moormans feed sales route.
“Best car I ever had”
“Plush Moldovian pleather”. “Fine Highland Heather”. “Crushed Moroccan Feather”. whaddever.
Rrrrich Corrrrinthian Leatherrrr!
Ricky Montalban
I saw this car at a little show in St. Pete last year. It’s very nice. I’d be happy to go over there on behalf of any BF potential buyer and check the car out in person.
It’s kind of a shame, the leather saying is what comes to mind when mentioning these cars ( like all Corvairs and Pintos are death traps), and seems to overshadow what really nice cars these were. Before downsizing, and overly choked off motors, these were road cars, something Chrysler was know for, for years. Somebody will get somebody’s pride and joy. Still looks sharp 40 some years later.
Ha, I know, Rube, you hit it dead on. That was sort of my point, that certain things come up with certain cars almost every time. Like “___” Corinthian Leather” for the Cordoba (still waiting for a reference to “Rich”), “fix it again Tony” for Fiats, “Lucas-prince of darkness” for pretty much any/every British car, “Flux-Capacitor” for DeLoreans, etc. It used to bug the bejeezus out of me, but I realized that these cars trigger memories for people the same way that they do for me. And, whatever memories folks have, even if it’s the same thing every time for every car, it’s always fun to relive memories.
Can’t say it much better than that! It’s why I’m here. Special thanks to all writers!
Carry a spare balast resistor or 2….
WINNER, WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER! I found it! Featuring a 1975 Chrysler Cordoba and right from Ricardo Montalban mouth, “SOFT Corinthian leather”.
Here’s the YouTube commercial clip………..
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=ricardo+montalban+corinthian+leather&&view=detail&mid=4B5AB32F744E11FF00974B5AB32F744E11FF0097&&FORM=VRDGAR
Lol I think we’re looking for “rich”
No. Read what Scotty was saying. He wasn’t sure if the words used on this car were; fine, soft or rich.
https://youtu.be/3p9g3JCZv1E
Here he is on David Letterman discussing “Corinthian leather”
The commercial also mentioned a “smart” engine. What the heck did that mean in the seventies?
Lean burn. First thing to remove on these cars.
Nice original car
And on the seats I agree on Ricardo telling us about them soft Corinthian seats 💺😎
(I also remember him as wrath of Kahn in the trek movies)
https://youtu.be/Vsg97bxuJnc
Don’t forget that he was the boss on Fantasy Island!
https://youtu.be/1x_QbVDlLbI
Two thumbs up for the 360, happy medium. The 318 would have been anemic and the 400 would have been a little thirsty.
I have driven all three engines and the 318 was more than adequate but the 360 seemed made for the car. What was nice about the 400 was I believe, in 1976, or was it 1977, the lean burn engine could use leaded gasoline as there was no catalytic converter.
” The Chrysler Cordba…eet ees A better car than I am an actoore! :) (hard to do accents in print!)
Beautiful car!
Here’s one where he says “Fine Corinthian Leather”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgZLdhWjTSI
Great year for 2 door land yatches Monte Carlos, El Dorados, Grand Prix, Thunderbirds, Continentals. Those were the days my friend we thought………
I agree, Earl! Do they even make full-sized two-door American cars anymore? If a person types in “full size American coupe” half of them are “four door coupes”, WHICH AREN’T COUPES.. sorry for yelling. Can anyone think of a comparable new car to this Cordoba with only two doors? Not a Challenger, too sporty, or of course a Charger with four doors. Not a Cadillac CTS coupe (too small). I can’t think of one off hand.
Rich Corinthian leather shows up later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7ylbDGbR0Q
I don’t think you could find a nicer one of these–the car looks to be absolutely flawless. The console & floor shift are an added bonus. Quite a few of these had front bench seats.
Cordoba was a real classey car!
I’ve had several of the Charger version and currently a 77 doba, triple black with T-tops. The 360 is the most fitting engine for power and relative economy but the current one has a mildly built 318 with a four barrel. I can still downshift at 50 and chirp the tires. She takes a lickin and keeps on tickin. Put on some rear air shocks and raise the tail a couple of inches, it gives a whole new muscular look to the beast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_HMIN0nGl0, talking about the New Yorker and Rich Leather
all others use, fine or soft for the Cordoba
Seems appropriate that this would come from God’s waiting room. Although, the lack of rust is pretty remarkable, considering the salt air in Florida would turn anything into a pile of ferrous oxide powder in no time.
Friends of mine moved from SoCal to Cocoa Beach for a year or so. The apartment building they lived in had a thing that you would drive your car through, and it would spray the top and undercarriage of your vehicle with fresh water.
This car’s biggest problem is it’s smog equipment, but it’s a 1975 so you can take all that off (even in CA). Turn up the wick on the engine, add Hotchkiss parts underneath for handling, and you’ve got the mid-70’s muscle car they couldn’t build back then. No rust, leather seats, it’s even a good color.
I had a 78 with the 400. Got it with 100k miles in the late 80s. It had a plastic carter thermoquad 4bbl carburetor. Under heavy load it just bogged. Unless you were already moving. Then you could bury the speedometer. Too bad because otherwise it was a pleasure to drive. Ugly dark green with white leather interior, which I made the huge mistake of applying Armor All to. Every speck of dirt or dust smeared all over. Must have been nice when it was new, but by the time I got it, it was too old and worn to be reliable, especially with that carb and Lean Burn setup. It used to eat ignition modules and ballast resistors, so much that I kept spares, and tools in the car to replace as needed.
In my naivete, I also bought a 77 Cordoba Crown Couple, which had a fancier landau roof. This one had velour interior, some luxury options seldom seen, including a manual sunroof. I thought this was the cat’s meow, so I bought it, cleaned it up, and barely sold it at a tiny profit. Oh well, you live and learn. I thought because it was rare, it would be valuable. That one also had the 400 4bbl, which ran better than my 78. Should’ve switched the carburetors!
loved to drive these cars they were like a tank but i dont remember the console on base models this must be an upgraded model
The car for the real Khan, not the fake JErkVerse Khan.
Cordoba’s are nice but I will take my ’79 Dodge Magnum GT over it.
I’ll take that one too. Sharp ride.
I’d like to hear an Al Pacino, or Clint Eastwood, version of that commercial! Scarface, or Dirty Harry, that would be hilarious.
Wow !!! after all the love, I need to treat myself ! Magnum or Cordoba, would prefer the leather and a 400 Carter 4bbl. Grandparents had a ’77 Newport. Very nice car ! Think the Aspen/Volare was the boat anchor that sank Chrysler quality/reputation in that era. Said by “LEE”, not just me…
I always liked the Camaro RS front lights on these cars. As an added bonus, this car comes with the always popular and highly desired “original miles” although I have yet to see an ad that states “unoriginal miles.”
Original miles would be opposed to not actual miles.
There was an article on google that said there really is no such thing as Corinthian leather. It said someone in advertising at Chrysler came up with that sales pitch because it sounded so impressive. Google it. lol
Everybody knew that even back then.
I had a 75 but with French Lace seats instead of leather. It had the 400/4 engine and it flew. Kept loosing charge on the battery and the garage spent 2 days tracking it down and found nothing. He finally put a charge on it and cranked up the volts until a wire smoked. Turned out to be the “digital” clock in the dash.
How did leather get associated with a city in ancient greece?
I found it! Mr. Montalban actually *does* say “Rich Corinthian Leather”. It might be the one time he did it, and probably in response to folks like us who kept going on about it, but he did actually do it. It was for the 1980 Cordoba with the square headlights.
Here’s the link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvyTTx33PPQ
Interestingly, he doesn’t roll the “R’s” when he says it!