We’re back in the Land of Land Yachts, with this pristine, one-owner 1975 Chrysler Newport, listed here on facebook Marketplace for $6500. The car is located in Saginaw, Michigan, and we have Ted to thank for the tip. The Newport name was first used in 1940 for a phaeton, but it barely counts since only six were made and it didn’t look anything like a land yacht. In the 1950s, the Newport nametag was used to designate a hardtop. Finally, in 1961, Chrysler made the Newport a standalone model. It substituted for the expired DeSoto, formerly the company’s cheapest set of wheels. Despite its poverty specs, the Newport name soldiered on for decades, becoming more luxurious by the year while remaining at the bottom of the stack. A restyle in 1974 resulted in the slab-sided look you see above.

Buyers could choose among several V8s, including the 360 LA series with a two barrel carb, a 400 B series or the big 440 RB with a four-barrel – all afflicted by emissions regulation impacts. The base 360 made 180 hp – add another 10 hp for the dual carb option. The top-shelf 440 gave buyers about 210 hp. No word on which engine we have here – maybe a Barn Finder can ID this for us? The option of a manual transmission had gone by the wayside in the mid 1970s – almost no one ordered it. The TorqueFlite automatic was your only choice. The odometer here reads just 56,000 miles – said to be original. The car runs and drives as new.

The interior boasts “Castilian decorator” brocade-embossed vinyl, with every upholstery surface appearing as unsullied as a lamb in springtime. Kudos to the owner – this color is not easy to maintain over years of use. Even the headliner is beyond reproach. The instrument panel design is uninspiring but functional, accented by faux wood trim to add that touch of class we all needed in the midst of the Great Malaise. The seller describes the interior as a “10/10” and I believe it. Even the clock works!

Values of Chrysler Newports have seen renewed interest lately. Collectors have developed an affection for land yachts, in a demographic trend tinged with nostalgia. That said, the Newport remains somewhat of a bargain with nice examples selling near this seller’s ask and only infrequently nudging higher. This 1975 Newport  was bid to $10k, though it has the 400 engine and exceptionally low mileage; the high bid wasn’t enough to make the sale. Our subject car seems worth the money – what do you think?