The ’56 model New Yorker Newport is one of those body styles the design team at Chrysler seemed to get just right, in my humble opinion. Finned in the back, yet a tasteful amount and not too excessive, with the front end receiving a restyle including a new grille and a more massive bumper, plus that colossal hood ornament left no doubt what was following them if a driver glanced in his rearview mirror. This one is located in Miami, Florida, and it’s a beauty. You can spot the hardtop here on eBay, where bidding has reached $17,200, but it’s going to cost more than that as the reserve has not been met.
This is one of those cases where the photos are going to have to do a lot of the talking since the seller is fairly brief in describing how the Chrysler got to the condition as we’re seeing it now. He does tell us this was an Arizona car for most of its life and went through a complete restoration, but we don’t really get many details regarding what has exactly been done, such as if there were any body panel replacements, prior damage repairs, etc. On the other hand, as beautiful as the finished product presents and with all the trophies in the trunk, there’s no reason to believe that whoever performed the work didn’t do a high quality job all the way around.
Things under the hood are coming across as tidy and ready for business, with that 354 Hemi making a strong statement when viewing the engine compartment. The seller lists the cubic inch displacement as 364, but I’m guessing that’s a typo. There’s not much specific information about the drivetrain either, like whether or not the engine and transmission are the original factory components, but the car is said to run and drive like a dream. We are given access to 3 videos of the Chrysler, including this one with the car running, and that Hemi sure sounds good!
Nothing disappoints inside either, with the interior presenting about as well as the exterior. Buyers got the love-it-or-hate-it push-button transmission selector in ’56 whether they wanted it or not, but a rather innovative option offered the same year that this particular car is not equipped with was Chrysler’s “Highway Hi-Fi”, an actual phonograph spinning a record under the dash that operated through the radio. Here’s a video of a 1956 Chrysler New Yorker St. Regis demonstrating how it works. I’m not finding much to fault with this one, and I really like the green body and white top combo. What are your thoughts?
WOWSERS! What a beauty, Mike.
I am a little curious as to the sellers punctuation (run-on sentences), spelling and wording (ie, “documentations”) for someone that has previously sold cars online; “helping a buddy sell that’s not tech friendly” etc., just seems a little odd in this instance.
Going on to another tangent, this would be another engine requiring leaded “high test” unless there’s an additive for that or having the heads redone with steel valve seats and high sodium valve stems, wouldn’t it?
Stellite which is an alloy.
To your question Nevada,
My expert BMW mechanic friend dismissed any notion that pre-unleaded cars would have issues with modern gas. I’ve run countless 60s cars on pump gas with no lead-substitute additives, and have had no issues whatsoever.
My ’63 Riviera with 401 just likes gas, and it doesn’t care what kind. It’s a rocket ship. Same with my ’65 New Yorker with 413. These cars scare me.
Thank you, Rex. Always been a question and you’re the first to answer it👍🏻
Couple of sweet rides there, sir and your 413 strikes a chord!. A good HS buddy had a 413 in an old NHP car his dad bought at auction as his 1st. What a honking’ machine, and surprised more than a few pony cars of the time!
American Oil (AMOCO) sold a lead free premium back in the day.
Believe it was called “White gas”, when you got gas for your outboard motor.
Yes Amoco Premium was lead free white gas. My MGA ( lightly tuned higher compression ) required it. My dad’s hemi powered Chrysler demanded it.
Simply gorgeous, what else can be said.
U can see them on Highway Patrol! Looks great!
It could use some curb indicators.
And a Hula girl bobblehead !
That horn ring looks like the same one my 1966 Coronet has.
Totally different horn ring. These are extremely fragile and hard to find!!
Horn ring with Fratzog emblem incorrect. It’s from a later car.
That is the fratzog “dodge”emblem which you are correct, is the same horn ring as my 1966 Coronet 500! It probably fits but not correct for a Chrysler!
Lovely looking car. Given its condition, I’d pay close to the asking price. I’d then take it to a good mechanic to have everything inspected, make sure everything works as they should.
Holy freaking cow that car is gorgeous! Just absolutely beautiful from stem to stern. I’d be careful pulling into or out of any inclined driveway with that rear overhang, though. I bet you could fit 5 bodies in the trunk, if you were connected and had to get rid of the evidence.
But man oh man, you’d probably win trophy after trophy if you entered that rolling American artwork in your local car show. Just beautiful!
The stock engines in these were 354 cubic inches; It could perhaps be a 364 if rebored, but I suspect misinformation. This has the 2 speed Poweflite automatic, rather than the excellent 3 speed Torqueflite offered later in 1956.
Very nice example! My first “full-size” car was the DeSoto version of this same car! Loved it!
Outside looks good, but someone scrimped on the interior. That is NOT original material on the seats, and the original IS available. Waste of money to do it wrong.