The listing for this Chrysler opens with, “Here is my unique 1980 New Yorker stainless and padded top very special low production model. This car was special (sic) built to be featured on the cover of the 1981 sales brochure.” Really? Well, that’s notable, let’s investigate further as there appears to be a story here. Tony P. gets a tip of the hat for spying this Clinton Township, Michigan listing and this New York state-of-mind sedan is available, here on craigslist for $15,000.
So, the story goes that this 1980 New Yorker received, courtesy of Chrysler’s Highland Park Engineering paint and trim shop, a makeover to resemble a 1981 model and earn its place on the cover of the ’81 New Yorker sales brochure. This edition of the New Yorker spanned the years ’79 to ’81 and is a representative of ChryCo’s R-body platform which underpinned full-size cars such as the Plymouth Grand Fury, Dodge St. Regis, and the Chrysler Newport/New Yorker. These are big cars, stretching out at 221.5 inches in length while riding on a 118.5-inch wheelbase. Weight-wise we’re right at about two tons. As for volumes, things started strong for the New Yorker with 54K units in ’79; ’80 managed to cough up only 13K copies and ’81 petered out with a mere 6,500 assembled.
This sedan looks good in a 1980 sorta way. The mileage clock claims 62K miles and the two-tone finish is like new. The usual suspects of early eighties luxury cars are all on board including a padded landau roof, stand-up hood ornament, wider white stripe tires enveloping steel wheels sporting wire wheel covers, and opera-style windows which are a component of the rear doors as opposed to the C-pillars.
Lacksidasial may be one way to describe the action in this Chrysler’s engine room where a 120 net HP 5.2 liter (318 CI) V8 engine is holding court. The 318 is as tried and true as they come but concerns over fuel economy and mandated emission control standards whittled down the power band. The seller suggests, “Runs and drives as new“. A TorqueFlite three-speed automatic transmission makes the rear-wheel connection.
The interior is a surprise and I’d suggest that the zebra stripe fabric upholstery seems incongruous in a car of this stature. It’s a true bucket seat environment with a bottom cushion in place of a center console and a pull-down armrest separating the seats. It’s an attractive arrangement and appears to be clean and free of wear, it’s just not what I expected. I wish I could include a glimpse of the dash and instrument panel but one wasn’t provided.
Back in ’80, I would have scoffed at a car like this – and this era was not Chrysler’s finest hour. As with so many things, time changes one’s perspective and I have to admit that I like this New Yorker. No, I don’t want to own it but I’m sure there are many who might like to be the next caretaker. Might you be one of them?
A bit of an odd duck here. I think I like it J.O. What a strange rear window 🪟 glass arrangement.
I agree with you on this one Stan. One unique feature I never noticed efore is there is a leather (?) Pull strap by that unique rear window treatment. I’m surprised this didn’t have a standard 360 with all that heft to move around.
Odd duck, but man, ,what a ride!
A straight-up answer to your ending question: NO!!!!!
They look clumsy & overwrought. I’ll take the 5th Avenue, thank you.
This would have been the ultimate New Yorker in ’80 or ’81. It’s a Fifth Avenue with the Carriage Roof package, which included a stainless steel cap over the front of the roof and a padded landau roof with a Frenched rear window. I can’t recall ever seeing one, even when they were new.
This exact car was featured on the Rare Classic Cars & Automotive History Youtube channel recently. You can watch the video at https://youtu.be/N_PkHp0Y5IQ?si=B2HTwSbylzuhoi4d which discusses these 2-year only R-body cars in detail. The video also includes some interior shots, including the instrument panel and steering wheel!
I absolutely LOVE this guy’s youtube channel (his name is Adam), he is extremely knowledgeable and has a wealth of historical information. He also owns literally a barn’s worth of older mid-to full-size vehicles from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and beyond.
Abe
Where is the ad..?
Fixed now.
JO
Can’t click on craiglist because you forgot the link!!!!
It’s fixed now, thx!
JO
Yeah, yeah, yeah…
JO
Wow this is a special Chrysler with 3 tags on the radiator support!! I was lucky working at a Chrysler dealership when the car transportation showed up with different New Yorkers back in 1980. These were very special cars. Some of the hood ornaments were made of crystal. Top of the line. I remember seeing one with this style roof. It had a plastic coating on the roof and remember the prep guys had to be careful not to scratch it. The prep guys had to go to class how to prep it correctly and washing it. It was a big deal back then. Side note… New York State Troopers had the Dodge St. Regis with a 360-4 under the hood. I also remember a Trooper told me they had problems with the rear suspension a bolt would break and shift the rear end . Anyway back to the 5th Ave. Yes it’s a beautiful car and ride. If everything is working including the stero it’s a fair price. Back then the radio was top line and sounded great like in a movie theater . Good luck to the next owner. 🐻🇺🇸
Looks like the felt trim on the b pillar is in bad shape. Otherwise gorgeous car.
This car does not have the front cornering lamps which were standard with the Fifth Avenue package. Also the felt on the interior B pillar ls peeling away or worn. A common problem with this component. Beautiful car nonetheless.
These and their siblings (the St. Regis and Gran Fury) are very uncommon. This one is a beauty. These are so much prettier than the old fuselage styling that preceded them.
I must be getting old. I like this car despite its eighties collection of squares styling. The front end reminds me of a Lincoln. But I would have to go with the Imperial of this era for sheer bodaciousness.
This same car popped-up with a lengthy article on my ‘phone a few days ago, where it was described as a Fifth Avenue. 120 horses seem a bit anemic for a 2-ton car. I have 150 h.p. in my Grand Marquis, and it barely keeps up; in fact, on long hills, I have to go over to that “slower traffic, keep right” lane. I happen to love that late ’70s to early ’90s “boxy” look. The nicest cars of 1953 were heading that way… before styling excesses of the “jet/rocket age” took us into lunacy. The mid-1960s brought a return to sanity — but then the end of the 1960s and the 1970s brought a “bloated” appearance. The late 1970s “downsizing” brought us the “classic” look (which some call “boxy”): I wish cars had STAYED that way! Give me a rear-wheel drive body-on-frame American four door sedan any day! (Oops! — my Grand Marquis is Canadian! — that’s okay: Canadian cars are like American cars.(smile)
A thoroughly handsome ride. I hadn’t realized that Chrysler offered a stainless roof treatment. Beautiful colors on a unique ride.
As for cover models, one Saturday afternoon a young woman walked into the dealership and asked if we had an accessory brochure for the new 2004 Durango. I said we did and asked if she had one. She replied no but she and her friends were on such and such page. She also showed me her picture in the convertible brochure. As it was our only one I said I would be happy to mail one. She later followed up with a thank you and dinner.
LMAO!
CORRECTION, the 318V8 has 230 H.P. as I know because I had one. Otherwise it’s a great car the way it is.
Love this car. 318 and Torqueflite so much more reliable than new Chrysler stuff.
I had a 1979 New Yorker 5th Avenue as my daily driver from 1994 until 2009. It was two tone cream over nocturnal blue. Cream leather interior. Had an AM/FM stereo with built in 40 channel CB radio that played through the stereo speakers. Coldest A/C of any car I have ever owned. It was like driving your living room couch down the highway. 360 K code with the Lean Burn system. Not fast but could cruise at 75-80 all day long. Actually, pretty decent gas mileage considering its size and the era it came from. Wish I had that car today. Sorry I let her go. These “R” bodies were very underrated and unappreciated. I worked for Chrysler when these cars were first introduced. I missed the razor-sharp lines of the 74-78 C Bodies and at first thought these cars were ugly. Over time, they grew on me. When I came across my 79, I knew I just had to have it. Never seen one like this before. Very interesting, indeed.
I always liked this generation of Chrysler. They should not have discontinued them. Ford ran their vastly inferior model for the next 20 years. Chrysler should have done the same. The tooling was paid for. But because of our government, Chrysler did not. They needed a loan guarantee and the K-Cars provided that. Once gas hit one dollar per gallon, there was plenty of gas again. The champagne colored 5th Avenue with the cream interior was my favorite example.
Jim did a good job explaining why these went away. The public stopped buying them.
These and all their siblings are rare today especially this nice. None of Chrysler’s cars were selling well in those days. Chrysler was losing money hand over fist and many were worried about the corporation’s viability. Chrysler was too slow in recognizing buyers trends to smaller more economical cars. If not for Lee Iacocca, and the K-car there likely would be no Chrysler today. This is a beautiful blast from the past.
To Michael Gregory: Must have been assembled on a Monday morning, by a guy with a hangover! (sorry — couldn’t resist!). I suppose that everybody has a “bad day” — happily, not ALL Chryslers behaved that way. (Oh! — I forgot Miss Daisy’s wise words: “Booley, cars don’t BEHAVE; they are behaved UPON…”). SMILE, Everybody!
I have one distinct memory about this type of New Yorker: I was in the market for a new car, and since I had grown up in a Chrysler family but had never owned one, I decided to take one of these for a spin at the local dealership. It was new but did not run well for some reason. My friends and I drove around the area for a few miles, checking out the luxury features. It had a power antenna that went up when we turned on the radio, but instead of staying up, it kept going up and down repeatedly. It was still doing it when we got back to the dealership. I remember piling into my Estate Wagon to drive away, and that antenna was still going up and down despite the car not running.
Craigslist page is now gone so presuming this fine vehicle has been sold. I liked it.
The GOOD ones get away QUICKLY…
Like a good Woman Harrison 🦸♀️ 👩 😌 👙
Okay, Stan: guess you could say that. I’m beyond the age, and too settled in my ways, to saddle any woman with the likes of me now. That ship has sailed long ago, I’m afraid.