It is sometimes surprising to realize that certain cars and trucks we once saw seemingly everywhere are now considered collectible. This 1979 Chrysler Cardoba is a terrific example of this phenomenon, as it was just another used car with little in the way of value either as a trade-in or private sale when it was just a few years old. Fast forward a few decades to a time wherein you really only see them at car shows and scrap heaps, and it makes sense why this one listed here on craigslist for $10,000 is so attractive.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Rocco B. for the find. When these cars were new, they were part of a class of vehicle designed to provide a high-end experience at a reasonable price point. The marketing touted the materials inside and the powerful engines, despite being somewhat choked by emissions equipment. The attempt to move the brand upmarket didn’t really succeed, as I suspect the numbers will prove Mercedes-Benz and BMW shoppers didn’t flock to models like the Cordoba in droves. However, it’s safe to say the Cordoba will be a hell of a lot cheaper to own now than a 1970s-era Benz.
The seller’s car is nicely presented inside and out with the tasty combination of red over white leather with a matching white landau-style roof. The red carpets are in excellent shape with no major signs of soiling or staining. The seats looks a little tired but certainly are livable for the time being. The seller notes it comes with an eight track player and that everything works as it should, including the heat and air conditioning. There’s even a CB radio and a digital clock.
The 360 V8 has been modified slightly with Edelbrock Performer Intake and a Holley four-barrel carburetor. There’s also a “true dual” exhaust system from the manifolds back. With a Posi rear-end and Torqueflite transmission, you have one of the most prove set-ups of all time. Mileage is original at 89,200 so it should have plenty of good years left. The listing notes it was stored in a collector’s garage for many years before the sale, which explains why it still looks so good. This Cordoba may not be a hall-of-fame worthy vehicle at this point, but it’s still an excellent starter classic.
I don’t think that any of these ever rolled off the dealership lot with dog dish hubcaps.
I’m pretty sure you’re right, but they look good on it, it my humble but highly accurate opinion! :)
another name for those dogdishes is poverty caps, the Cordoba was a “personal luxury” car. only full hubcaps were sold on this car. couldn’t sell a luxury car with poverty named anything. even the base, no power option cars were still considered a “luxury”
There’s an obvious question left unanswered here, and it concerns that “leather” upholstery…
it’s fine rich Corinthian Leather. What you come to expect from a luxury car
If you buy a luxury car spend the extra few buck and splurge on the deluxe color keyed seat belts.
I rode in one with this leather before. The main thing I remember about it was how it had surprising get up and go for a big car and also how soft and comfy the seats were. I was in the back and it was like riding on a really soft, nice living room sofa.
Rich Corinthian Leather… c’mon man 😂
Comment made by DeadPool?
The poverty Caps and Blackwalls make totally opposite statements: At least put some “Dubs” on it and bring it to the level of absurdity that Malaise Cruisers deserved!
it was their advertising gimmick. no such thing as Corinthian leather
This is a nicely equipped and nicely preserved Cordoba, but I hope whoever buys it returns the ride height to stock (even the front appears to have been raised) and replaces the police-spec wheels and oversized white-letter tires with proper Cordoba wheels or wheel covers and white stripe tires. It just won’t look right any other way.
Lower it, leave the wheels, put a 440/four speed in it.
Glove soft Corinthian leather. That’s the best kind of leather.
I was never a fan but I’m liking them more as time goes by. And to me the modifications to this one are tasteful and appropriate!
It has a suregrip not a posi rearend.
Nice Cruiser.
I hated them then and I still do!
Hemi, right?
These were really nice riding cars. Throw the lean carb out and you have a nice ride. . I have a 78 and wish I had this one to- Its a nice ride.
I’ve never seen a Cordoba with dog dish hubcaps. Makes the car look threatening. Looks good, IMHO.
Good night. $10 large? For a car a couple years ago you literally couldn’t give away!
Michael Stipe is right, it is the end of the world, however I don’t feel fine, I’m disgusted.
Mother had the dodge charger version of this. Nice car, but 2 years later traded in on ’77 TransAm
As much as this gent wants for this car could get close to buying a 1979 Chrysler Cordoba “300” package, with a factory tachometer, optional Sun roof, spinnaker white paint, with red and blue pin striping and 300 callouts, over a red leather interior that is as actually as collectible as a Small Block Cordoba can be, powered by a E-58 police Pursuit 360 small block, factory dual exhaust with dual catalysts, road wheels and a 3.21:1 9-1/4” rear axle. See this ad in Hemmings: https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2015/09/03/hemmings-find-of-the-day-1979-chrysler-300
Living in So Cal in the early ’80s, a local small lot had five with Corinthian leather. I didn’t care for them, but have to admit the styling was unique.
I live in this area and I surf craigslist often and I’ve seen this car on craigslist month after month. It seems like a nice enough car, but $10,000? Good luck.
Well, that is just the asking price, but a $5000 offer might be appealing and that would make it a good deal for both parties. I had at least four of these at one time or another and still have some of the ‘unique’ parts. Gotta watch this one…..
What’s really neat about this model car and the Plymouth Fury and Dodge Monaco and Charger variants is all of police suspension and breaks bolt up. To make these really handle, you need the pinch welds seam welded (something Ford just copied on its Taurus and Explorer police cars), use the cast iron subframe connectors instead of the rubber connectors and remove the rubber isolators on the leaf springs. Then, if you want it to be even better, fabricate some “pain-in-the-ass” bars to triangulate between the firewall and the shock mounts.
To go faster, swap the factory heads for Engine Quest CH318B heads and easily out flow the smog heads. There’s no reason you can’t make 420 HP with a relatively tame small block 360.
Working for Chrysler at a Regional HQ, and being a grunt, I was tasked with driving the first Cordoba in the region from the transport lot to the HQ so my boss could have it for his personal use. It was beautiful; silver with maroon leather and a maroon partial vinyl top. In the 30 minute drive, I can’t tell you how many things fell apart in the interior or didn’t work at all. It was a mess. The Cordoba was Chrysler’s entry into the Monte Carlo/Grand Prix/Thunderbird market. Too little, too late. $10K for this one? No.
Dog dish hubcaps don’t go. This car is well equipped with A/C, PW and tilt wheel and hubcaps just doesn’t do it.
Hubcaps and oversize white letter tires look ridiculous and spoil the whole car. Whoever put them on should be….. fill in the blank. At least it’s fairly easy to rectify. How about some deep dish aluminum wheels and whitewalls?
I agree, it looks like its set up for the demo derby circuit . Most of these had full wheel covers , not sure about any special wheels that may have been offered from the factory. I know a lot of ones around here had the aftermarket chrome rim and wire basket treatment, and even that looks better than dog dish caps !
Cornering lights, and Tilt/TELESCOPE wheel + AM/FM/8Trk/C.B.radio, this was somebody’s “dream demo”!!!
I doubt the hub caps are original but, you never know. Most car ordering was “a la carte” in those days. If the customer ordered this car, in his zealousness to get the 8 track/cb, leather and power everything (passenger seat too), he may have overlooked the wheel covers. Or, a dealer might have ordered it for inventory this way with the intention of get extra markup with custom wheels. But, most likely, an owner thought to swap the OE out due to curb rash or wanted them for the Coronet or whatever these came off. I like the contrasting seats/carpet but wouldn’t want to keep the white clean (experience as a rental co. lot jockey back then gives me the background).
I prefer the looks of the 75 to 77 models with the Jaguar headlight treatment. Those square, quad headlamps ruined the look of these cars.
Had a black one in ‘78, just when the gas crunch hit!
The first brand new car I bought was a 1976 Cordoba. Ordered it with the Police pkg engine, 400 4 barrel with factory dual exhaust and NO catalytic converters. a 3;21 sure grip rear end. Nice car but to get the dual exhaust the gas tank size was reduced, and this car was a gas HOG…or maybe it was my lead foot. The car was loaded with all the options and cost a whopping $6,900.00
Those were the days.
Regarding Grey O’Brien’s comment on the black seat belts in the car with red interior trim accessories, I seem to recall that while Chrysler hadn’t been offering color-keyed trim with white seats (white seats came only with black trim accessories well into the ’70s at Chrysler), the seat belts did match the accent color, and no “upgrade” was necessary. What has probably happened on this car is that the ratcheting mechanisms failed at some point (a trait common to all manufacturers) after Chrysler Parts & Service Division had sold out of 1979 Red lap/shoulder belts for B-bodies. The “universal” color for service trim parts of any kind, once the original stock of color-keyed items is exhausted, is always black, so black would have been the only color available after a few years.