What exactly is a brougham? In horse and buggy days, it was a low-slung, windowed, enclosed four-wheeled carriage with a seat outside for the coachman and a footman, hauled by one horse (aka, one hp). The key was that outside accommodation for the driver. Once carriages became extinct, the brougham was adapted to motoring in a similar way – the box seated the passengers, while the driver put up with the weather outside. It didn’t take long before the marketing men at carmakers found a new way to use the word – to denote a luxe trim level. Cadillac was the first to figure this out, way back in 1916. Today’s 1973 Chrysler New Yorker is from the age of Brougham is Better: every carmaker worth its salt had a Brougham edition. Aside from its nomenclature, this New Yorker is a standout for its two-owner history, low miles, and sanitary condition. Find it here on craigslist for $16,500; if you strike a deal, break out the passport – you’re picking it up in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. This artifact of the 70s is another great find by Tony Primo – thanks Tony!
Like the brougham body style, the New Yorker name stretches back decades – to 1939. Always denoting a top-tier offering, it came with a straight-eight right off the bat. By the time this car was offered, regulations were altering both engine output and car design. Power stepped down in 1972, and by 1973, the 440 cu. in. V8 you see above was generating 215 hp, off from 1972’s net rating of 225. But that wasn’t as bad as a few years later, when the requiem for the big block sounded, and motors were downsized in furious fashion. A TorqueFlite three-speed automatic was the only transmission option in ’73. The odometer in this example reads less than 44,000 miles, and it’s had a recent tune up. It’s said to run and drive well.
The interior is 70’s swank, with brocade inserts adorning the seats, faux wood trim, chrome trim, and a severe, square gauge set. This car features the “bucket” seat option – buyers could also opt for a split bench or a regular bench. Chrysler reminded buyers that the cabin was pin-drop quiet, with improved insulation. The trunk is large enough to haul a couple bales of hay! The condition of virtually everything inside is top-notch – no rips, tears, fading, scratching…. all the controls look brand new.
The New Yorker was offered in two-door coupe, four-door sedan and four-door hardtop configurations. By the 1970s, “fuselage” design was trendy, leading to long, slab-sided cars with vast expanses of sheet metal. The 5 mph bumper was new in ’73, a switch from the earlier “loop” bumper surrounding the grille. I used to think these cars were unattractive, but in light of the sameness I see today, I’ve grown quite fond of 70s land yachts. This well-cared-for example might find a sympathetic home if the seller is negotiable; for a ’73, this price seems high. What do you think?
Great eye Primo. 👍
Good job Michelle. Your sentiments in the last paragraph match mine: I used to have no interest in big sedans like this, now I find them interesting and attractive. Maybe because nothing like them exists in the new car market today. This New Yorker looks great. I like the green with the green brocade interior.
Bob, It seems like many of us, like yourself have found a newly discovered interest in the so-called land yachts of yesteryear. Not only for their uniqueness as opposed to contemporary jelly beans, but because they truly are big, imposing and grandiose, perhaps even as a hard to ignore testimonial to better days.
Nice writeup, Michelle. I’ve always been a fan of big cars, so I love this one. In fact, when I go to an Air Force museum, it’s the bombers that I like to look at, rather than the fighter planes.
Yes, 16.5K is probably at the top end of what the market would bear for such a car, but the exchange rate may help out, I’m not sure. This car looks nice enough to be in a museum of Detroit bombers!
This is a nice car, growing up my mom had a 1973 Town & Country. The problem is, it’s expensive and green. Unless this particular year, make and model is someone’s dream car there are more than a few full size cars in similar condition from the 1960’s through the early-1980’s available for a fraction of the price.
Steve R
Triple green has always been my favourite 70’s malaise combo.My 71′ Meteor Rideau 500 was triple green..i just love it…LOL
Today’s exchange rate puts that big green bruiser at $11,500 USD. I wonder if the seller would take $10,000 in American C-notes; for that much I’d be sore tempted.
Rare optional pwr wing windows.
Love the 70’s Chryslers! My dad had 3 and I had 1. With a tank like this you will ‘win the wreck’!
I love this car. Everything about it scores a 10 in my book. In fact, I can safely say that this the only green car I would ever own.
Gorgeous!
Blends righty in with the grass up there!
Brougham seemed to make the rounds. Maybe Buick was the only one who resisted its alure. This one is beautiful in period green. Not one thing is missing on a tight 4-door sedan as opposed to a hardtop. I always thought that the ’73 Chrysler was inspired by Lincoln-Mercury up front. Not really a bad thing. I believe this is the divided front seat as the bucket seat was a high back design.
Reminds of Harry Truman’s last car, a 72 Chrysler Newport with the same colors. It’s on display at his house in Independence, Missouri with a whopping 19,000 miles on it. Not my kind of car either, but they have grown on me a little over the years.
Very nice land barge!! Very clean too. Add dual exhuast!!