The Chrysler Cordoba of the 1970s is best remembered today for its marketing hype. In one commercial after another, Ricardo Montalban would hype the Cordoba’s “rich Corinthian leathers,” but there were no such things (the Cordoba had the same leather seats as other Chryslers). This 1979 edition is mostly original, right down to the burgundy paint job. Located in Cicero, New York, this Chrysler product is available here on craigslist for $9,900. Another Mopar find brought to us by T.J.!
Built from 1975 to 83, the Cordoba was Chrysler’s first model produced specifically for the personal luxury market and the first Chrysler-branded vehicle that was smaller than full-size. The name was lifted from the Spanish city of Córdoba, Spain. Its competition was the likes of the Olds Cutlass, Buick Regal, and Mercury Cougar. It was considered an upscale corporate companion to the Dodge Charger SE and was all about treating its owners to the best their budgets could afford.
The Cordoba was treated to stacked headlights in a 1978-79 restyle, which may not have had a positive impact on sales. From a peak of 167,000 units in 1975, the Cordoba would muster just 73,000 copies in 1979 and would continue to decline through its last year in the portfolio (1983). The seller’s ’79 version comes across as a nice survivor with just 67,000 miles on the clock. The paint is what it left the factory with and the vinyl top and interior also appear to be from Day One. There may be one small hole in the front seat.
We’re told the car was always stored indoors during winter months and its present condition may be attributed to the car being rust-proofed and undercoated when new. We don’t know which engine is under the hood, and while a 318 would have been more economical, a 360 or 400 cubic inch V8 would be better to lug around a 3,700-lb. automobile. This Mopar has received a new dual exhaust system, shock absorbers, hoses, belts, filters, and new valve cover gaskets (the originals may have started leaking). Is this a car that would make you and ole Ricardo proud to own?
“Look Boss- da Plane, da Plane!”
That leather does look pretty good, though.
The engine in this one is either a 318 or 360-2V. The 400 was gone in ’79.
Love Cordobas…
Plunk in a 440 built to 71 Magnum specs and that nice corinthian leathrette will haulin ass…..
My sister had the twin of this car, the Dodge Charger SE. Which was kinda funny cause my first car was a Dodge Charger, but mine was a 1973. The classic body style of 1973 was replaced by this Cordoba look-a-like. At the time I thought it was sacrilegious to do that since it led to the end of the Charger line for a few years, but compared to the tiny little Chargers that came out in the 1980’s…..I guess it wasn’t nearly that bad.
What I like best about this car is its rich Corinthian leather! Never mind that it was regular leather… By the way, Ricardo Montalban was forced to pronounce the word “Cordoba” incorrectly in the ads. He tried to explain to Chrysler executives that he was being told to mispronounce the word…but he was told to pronounce it in the way that Americans “expected” it to be said. In correct Spanish, there is an accent on the first “o” in “Cordoba” (a wonderful city in southern Spain, with a namesake in Argentina). The emphasis is on the FIRST syllable COrdoba–not CordOba).
Ricardo Montalban would be proud