Chrysler’s Cordoba boasted the long hood and short trunk of a pony car in Clydesdale dimensions, a personal luxury car with class. This 1976 Chrysler Cordoba in Columbus, Ohio comes to market as a “complete” barn find that cranks but does not start, according to the listing here on ArenaMotor. The $3900 asking price buys a heavy slice of late ’70s luxury, though sadly with cloth seats and not the Cordoba’s signature “Corinthian leather.” A 400 cid V8 provides power on this factory air-conditioned ride, the latter bolstering the car’s naturually cool presence. Thanks to Joe I. for spotting this classic copper Chrysler.
Luckily that air conditioning (once repaired) can cool you down after cranking the expansive side windows down and up at your toll booth or drive-through window. Luxury came in different levels in the ’70s when many buyers saw power windows as just “something else to go wrong.” Just because I enjoy a soft ride and conditioned air doesn’t mean I’m too weak to crank my windows, buster.
The two-barrel 400 cid (6.6L) V8 evolved from the much-revered 383. Sadly these mills lost compression and horsepower as they (not coincidentally) gained smog equipment after the horsepower high-water mark of the classic muscle car era. You’ll still feel the torque, though. My high school buddy Steve’s nearly identical 360 Dodge Charger had enough juice to jump the front end on a healthy stab and squeal its skinny 15 inch tires. That’s good honest fun, folks.
Someone came dangerously close to fitting the entire car in the picture frame. Luckily they saved the day by not stepping back a foot or two. I’m picturing this ride with a modern Hemi drivetrain and virtually no other changes. You’d have the luxury of doodling along in the slow lane or, when the mood strikes you, surprise!
That anti-roll bar and single exhaust whispers “performance” in a pitch only discernable by keenly focused terriers and space aliens. It will take a boatload of work under here before you’re getting high fives at the autocross. That said, this tank’s 4200 lb curb weight barely tops a modern V8 Challenger’s 4150. Body swap, anyone? Would you recommend this big-cube Cordoba as a low-budget classic?
Like your thinking Fitch 👍
My brother traded a RM125 Suzuki for a Cordoba just about like this one in 1980 except the one he got was loaded, it also had a bent up passenger fender. That car had the 400 four barrel, automatic with a floor shift and a moon roof. It even had a button on the floor where you could change channels on the am/fm At least I think it was on the floor, its been 45 years since he got it and really didn’t keep it that long, A friend of our oldest brother wanted it really bad and it was sold.
I had my 76 Cordoba for several years in D.C., Denver, the Nashville. I loved the “Corinthian” leather, hood, and grill. Had to change to carb jets in Denver due to the higher altitude. This was my first luxury car. Much fun.
Look at it there is a reason it was in a barn.
Timothy
Chrysler had a button on the floor where you could change the dials on the radio. My father had a 1975 Chrysler New Yorker Brougham that had that same feature. Gotta love those big ol Gas guzzling cars of the 1970’s. His got 14 MPG on the highway. Lord I miss those big cars.
A dual exhaust!