The first year for the post-fuselage C-body Chryslers, the Newport was a bit shorter beginning in the 1974 model year. However, it sure doesn’t look like it when you see one in person or even in photos. This 1974 Chrysler Newport Custom (the highest trim level) is said to have been stored for almost 20 years and it’s listed here on eBay in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and the current bid price is $1,525.
I’m a fuselage fanatic, having grown up with a ’69 Fury III, but I wouldn’t turn down a sixth-generation C-body Newport, New Yorker, Monaco, or Gran Fury. The sixth-gen cars were made for the 1974 through 1978 model years and then the C-body was retired. These models would come back for the 1979 model year as the smaller, slant-nose R-body cars. Make no mistake about the reduced length, these are very big cars.
At well over two tons, this generation of the C-body was among the heaviest made by Chrysler, coming at the exact worst time for big, heavy, gas-guzzling vehicles. The seller says this car is originally from the Midwest (MN plates) and has been in storage in private collections for a couple of decades. It appears in really nice condition but we don’t get any underside photos or detail shots to see what the rust situation is. There’s a big dent on the bottom of the driver’s door right on the bodyline so that’ll be hard to fix, as will the dent on top of the passenger fender, and there’s also a crease on the lower edge of the right quarter panel.
The interior is beautiful, but there is some wear and fraying on the edges of these perfectly groovy “standard trim” cloth and vinyl seats. Why anyone would have ever chosen smooth vinyl over these seats is a mystery to me, especially since it was optional. You can see parts of a leftover attempt at keeping the seats in like-new condition – the clear plastic covers – but someone removed most of it on the front seat. Not so in the back, where it appears to have done its job.
The engine is Chrysler’s B-Series 400-cu.in. OHV V8 with a two four-barrel, according to the VIN, and it pushes out 205 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque through a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission to the rear wheels. The seller doesn’t say how or even if it runs but hopefully it does, or will with little effort. How much would you pay for this good-looking Newport Custom sedan?
I’d pay $1250 for a Newport Custom, which I did.
Right on Rex. 👍
If you had kids or pets, the smooth vinyl was a great option. Chrysler was definitely caught flat footed in 1974. I remember seeing Dart SE’s in the junkyard with carpeted door panels, hood ornaments, and other goodies to dress them up. As a friend commented, “Once a Dart, always a Dart.” They were good cars, but not the luxury of the C-bodies.
That makes sense, Roland, I hadn’t thought of the easier-to-clean aspect.
The SEs were made to compete with the Nova Concours , or the other way around
Cheap wheels and easy to fix. Love this big bomb. I worked on these when new.
Back in the day it was common to see these things cruising down the highway with big towing mirrors mounted on the fenders pulling a travel trailer and a back seat full of kids, this thing can probably pull more than the half ton 4 door trucks on the market today difference is this is a more comfortable ride.
According to the ad on eBay, the VIN shows an “N” code. This means the car had the 400 CID with 4 bbl carburetor when it left the factory. If it were a 400 with 2 bbl, it would be an “M” code. Maybe I’m nit-picking, but I would prefer accuracy and honesty is car ads. Car looks nice and would be a great entry level vehicle for someone wanting to get into the hobby. You can take it to a show, then load up the kids and go for ice cream.
Thanks for catching that, Ian. I misread it as an M and using this decoder, there is no N listed. http://www.degeneratepress.com/newport/vin66-74.htm
However, if you put the VIN here, you’re right! https://www.mopar1.us/vin.html
Although, to say I wasn’t being honest is a bit of a stretch. It was an honest mistake, I wasn’t lying about it or being dishonest. The seller doesn’t list the engine so I’m assuming you were talking about me being dishonest.
No Scotty, I am not referring to you being dishonest. Nor the seller. I’m merely stating that it would be so much better if folks placed accurate information in their ads. I worked for Chrysler from 1973 to 1978 and I pretty much know all the codes from the VIN and the Data Plate as they are stored in my head. But I don’t expect everyone else to know them. However, this information is out there on the internet and can be had. I’m always searching for my next acquisition, so I read the ads diligently. Yes, there are times when people are trying to scam you. Other times, it’s just a simple mistake. I once saw an ad for a 1972 Plymouth Duster with a “factory installed 318 4 bbl carb engine”. There was no such option. And on top of that, the VIN for that car was VL29C2B******. This baby left the factory with the 225 slant 6! Anyway, I am sorry if I offended you. I meant no harm.
While you have a point Ian, in these particular models it’s of no consequence considering the lack of collectability and value these models command. It’s the same when people find it compelling to state the “318 is numbers matching.” It just doesn’t matter.
Those Fingerhut seat covers left their pattern on you after a long drive. Of course we had them in our new 66 Chevelle. I mentioned in the 73 Brougham post that the front styling resembled earlier Mercury where as this looks like a ’71 Chevy. Chrysler was just phoning it in after ’72.