Known by some as “the lesser Chrysler”, the Newport was, as the base model Chrysler for two decades, naturally always being compared to the higher-trim-level New Yorker and even higher-trim Imperial. The seller has this 1969 Chrysler Newport Convertible posted here on craigslist in York, Pennsylvania and they’re asking $4,900, plus various dealership fees. Here is the original listing, and thanks to William T. for sending in this tip!
Thinking of a Newport as a lesser anything is odd. The first thing I think about when I hear the word Newport, is Newport, Rhode Island, with some of the biggest and most-elaborate old mansions in the country. That being said, give me a real name, an actual word rather than a made-up collection of letters and numbers any day.
The fifth-generation Chrysler Newport was made from late 1968 for the 1969 model year until the 1973 model year and they were part of Chrysler’s C-Body fuselage design cars. These cars are not shrinking violets, at almost 19 feet in length and over two tons. There was a Newport Custom above the base Newport, and oddly, the convertible was only available on the base Newport trim level. This car is big and it would be a big project if the next owner wanted to fix all of the rust issues.
The seller says that this Newport has been sitting for years and if you look at the photos on the craigslist ad, you’ll see a lot of rust lurking around the edges, the bottoms of the doors, and places like that. Speaking of doors, did someone add a power window switch for the driver’s side? The passenger side door panel doesn’t have a power window and the hole in the driver’s door panel looks like where the window crank would have been. Weird. The seats look great in a few photos but you’ll notice that some areas need help, and the backseat looks good other than the top area, which is most likely crispy and cracked.
There’s a fair amount of surface rust under the hood, not to mention those red hoses (GAAAA!), but the worst part of this 290 horsepower 383-cu.in. OHV V8 is that it’s stuck. Bummer. I’d be more worried about tackling any hidden rust issues than cranking on the engine, but that’s just me. Hagerty is at $5,100 for a #4 fair-condition car, so this one is a lonnnnnng way from that, with it not even being a running car. How much is this Newport convertible worth as it sits now?
Odd brown stains on the seat vinyl, I wonder how that happened. And yes, weird switch on the driver’s door panel.
Someone has added that switch and the power window,yes the hole in the door panel is where window crank would’ve been, mirror adjustment is next to the crank for the vent window,if that would’ve been factory P/W there would be a bank of switches to control all the windows in it, that being said it’s a viable project, probably the 383 wouldn’t take a lot to free up, but that price in my opinion is way off.
I’m guessing hair products
Looks like someone installed a power window on the driver’s door?
Mirror switch.
Here is the correct identification of the arrangement of controls on the driver’s door.
Those Brown stains look like sun damage to me,&
I think that switch is for adjusting the outside mirror.
Brown spots are definitely sun damage. If you look closely the hand crank for the driver’s window is setting on the trans tunnel. The “switch” is not for the mirror. I’m thinking maybe for the power top?
Top switch is on dash in 69.
I love to see some of today’s wee little cars owners…..try to parallel
park this baby. That would be some entertainment !
Just do it by ear.
This beast could move an Escalade without pressing on the gas …
I don’t think the price is all that far off but the dealer fees are gonna drive up the costs. Maybe $4250 out the door would be a decent starting point. I’m with Roger in that the 383 could probably be freed up (if it’s actually stuck). The water pump could be seized.
The driver door window was manual. Most likely broken. Someone found one with a motor set up in a junkyard. Took the single switch from the right side door. They installed it using the single switch to work the window. The seats are sun damaged. It’s weird how that happened. Top down sitting in the sun? This would be a fun project. The 383-2 single exhaust. Can be brought back to life. If you know how to do it. It’s a fair price. Good luck to the next owner.🐻🇺🇸
I owned a restored ’68 Newport convertible which I got cheap. When I went to sell it I discovered that I had not gotten it cheap but that no one wants these cars. Even in great condition I could only get $6k for it.
I got rid of it when gas prices first started going up in 2003 and driving it with it’s 7mpg became way to expensive. It was totally reliable with the 383.
I had a 69 Newport Custom 4 door with front and rear A/C 383 2 bbl and I got about 14 mpg driving local on Long Island and 23 mpg on the highway. That was just after you couldn’t get regular leaded gas min. Wage was 3.30 an hour gas was 1.349 a gallon and the speed limit was 55mph. But yes that 383 was truly reliable my buddy had a 71 300 with a 440 TNT with a 750 double pumper and he said he used to average 27 mpg going from Long Island to SUNY Purchase near Westchester, NY . So it’s all in how you drive a vehicle and its gearing on what type of fuel mileage you get.
The design is a beauty, the car is a mess. Based on current market pricing I suppose the price is fair, but I’d bring cash and see if I could get it for less. Get it running and do repairs as you drive it. You won’t regret it.
My finger is quivering atop the ‘buy-it-now’ button! I agree this would be a fun project, it wouldn’t be the first stuck engine challenge encountered. Plus, I’m partial to big-iron, and especially convertibles. (I’m missing my 73 Eldo drop top).
Under the hood is messy, especially that plug wire spaghetti. Mechanics that are too lazy to customize plug wire lengths really p*ss me off!
Power door lock switch, nothing more to see here. Windows were, and still are, manual crank, regardless of where the handle is laying now. I’ve got a 440 Interceptor engine sitting in a garage about 15 minutes from this seller.
My dad had a 69 hardtop, red with a black vinyl top, no ac ( he was kinda frugal). I used to sit in it and play drive and I discovered that if I turned on the hazards, flipped the turn signal, and pushed down on the brake pedal, I could turn on the radio! I wonder if that worked in all the 69’s.
How funny, I was able to do that w/my Dad’s 68!
My Father had a 4 door New Yorker Brougham (sorry for the spelling). It was a land yacht, I did take my drivers test and parallel parked it. It did have an AM/FM and factory eight track. I was not real popular with the Dad’s when I pulled up to pick up their daughters. As I recall he sold around the first gas crisis. Somebody who was towing a trailer, RV type, bought it.
If I had the proper funds equipment, tools and room I would buy it myself and restore it back to the original factory when it was built even better than the factory original and yes the Ride would be a full rebuild, restoration instead of arm strong manual windows they would be Powered Windows with the Locking 5th button to lock and unlock the windows so i can have full control of the Power Windows, Same with the Door Locks. Instead of a full bench seat it would be 2 High Back Bucket Powered Reclining 60/60 Seats with Console in the Middle with Dual Arm in Front and Rear Arm Rest as well Power Steering Telescopic Tilt Wheel with Cruise Control interior Lights installed throughout the interior which would have to be all Leather throughout. AM/FM Stereo with Cassette and DVD Player Audio Fit Retro Stereo Sound System, Dual Remote Control Outside Left Side and Right Side Door Mirrors, Dual Power Telescopic Antennas on the Left and Right Sides Top Rear Quarter Fenders, as for Power Plant under the Hood Either a Big Block 383 4BBL V8 or a Big Block 440 4BBL V8, Antique, Classic, Vintage Factory Mag Sport Rims and 4 All/Terrain 2” White Wall Self Sealing Tires. Of course that would be a Off The Frame Rebuild Restoration Totally. Sincerely Yours Truly Your All Original Cool In The Gangster 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎 Ivan I J
We had one of these , Hardtop, when I was a kid. Absolutely huge, especially the doors, I remember my mother struggling to close the door when it was down hill.
I can’t remember the last time I saw one driving around.
Being a convertible would actually be pretty cool.
My parents had a 68 Newport 383 coupe, then traded it for a 72 NYB 440 coupe triple white when I was in high school. I could bury the longitudinal speedo past 120 on the Yorktown Pkwy outside Langley AFB, VA. Cheaper than a Charger but almost as fast!
I actually have a 69 Newport convertible or as I call it my B-52 car That I am trying to sell red with a white top white bucket seats 383 counsel automatic factory air conditioning car
I remember power locks were actuated by the lock button itself. This car’s been modified.