Silver SUV after silver SUV, followed by black SUVs and white SUVs. Has resale mania taken all the guts and glory out of vehicle buyers these days? It’s gotten to the point that some vehicle companies are barely even offering colors anymore because everyone wants silver, black, and white. This 1969 Chrysler Newport in glorious Crimson red is listed here on eBay in Casper, Wyoming. There is a suggested $5,500 opening bid and a $13,000 buy-it-now price listed.
You won’t lose this car in the parking lot, at least if you can see over the ocean of silver SUVs surrounding it. You could get an orange foam Union 76 antenna ball just to make sure you can find it. Do any of you remember those? Chrysler made the sleek fuselage-style fifth-generation Newport from 1968 for the 1969 model year until the end of 1973 and buyers could get a variety of body styles, from four-door wagons, two-door sedans, convertibles, and four-door varieties as shown here. A four-door hardtop was also available. This car is begging for some period-correct white wall tires and it appears to have a painted white top rather than a white vinyl top.
A Newport Custom was also available with a higher level of coolness, trim, and features, but there’s nothing wrong with this “regular” Newport as far as I’m concerned. I’m not a red car person, in general, but I really like this one a lot. Hagerty is at $13,900 for a #2 excellent-condition car and I don’t see this one as being in that condition, but I’m not a value expert. It looks “good” to me, and they have $7,800 listed for a #3 good-condition car. I’m guessing the seller wouldn’t take $7,800 for this one with their buy-it-now price of $13,000.
The interior, though, mmmmm, smack (kissing ends of fingertips)! It looks beautiful. If I had a nickel for every time I said I loved brocade seat fabric I’d buy every one of you a ’69 Newport of your own. The exterior of this car looks good but the interior looks great. Chrysler marketing folks referred to this fabric as an “elegant sheath of Jacquard-weave cloth and vinyl” and they appear perfect both front and rear. The seller lists 64,000 miles on this beauty and say that they’ve owned it for three years.
Engine photos are great and kudos to every seller for including at least one. That being said, I bet even a couple of hours spent cleaning this engine and engine compartment would have made an amazing difference in how it looks, maybe bringing in more money. The VIN decodes to being a Chrysler 383-cu.in. OHV V8 with a two-barrel carburetor, which would have been factory-rated at 290 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. It’s backed by a three-speed TorqueFlite as expected, sending power to the rear wheels. The seller says it runs well and can do 80 just fine. Have any of you owned a fifth-generation Newport?
Red and white looks great together in my opinion. This Newport must have really popped when it was sitting on the showroom floor. The white vinyl top really compliments the red paint. And I agree with Scotty about the interior. Love it. And its not yellowed either which sadly happens all too much with classic cars from all makes. I usually lean towards a 4 door hardtop, but this sedan looks great , the red door pillar just looks great with the white top. Nice find!!!
Scotty, I love a ’69 Newport, but I’m not particularly impressed with the engine bay. After 3 years of ownership, maybe the engine bay could have been brought up to the level of the interior.
Here’s my very dirty/rusty ’65 New Yorker engine bay after 1 month of ownership.
Finally, with 4 doors, I think even the $7500 price might be a stretch. The C-bodies just have a limited appeal, to nerds like us.
RK, that’s a two-Kleenex engine compartment for me! As in, I almost weep like a child just looking at it. It’s so beautiful, like a work of art. What a gorgeous transformation, nice work!
Thanks Scotty. The rattle can is your friend if you know how!
I agree. The 2-door versions are real knock-outs, with the short cab-long body. If this car had been a two-door it would probably bring twice as much money. I remember seeing a gold 2-door with a black vinyl roof for sale in my neighborhood a few years back, very affordable, and I’m still kicking myself for at least not kicking its tires.
Those fuselage-styled cars are handsome, and I have a real affinity for the 2-doors especially. This unit has all the right goods including an engine that’s not been smogged out. You can’t go wrong with a good 2-barrel 383 with Torqueflyte, powerful enough but will also pass a few gas stations along the way. If the seller will haggle a little, someone will get a very good car at a decent price.
It’s nice, but the segment of the market this car belong to is price competitive. It’s hard to see it get much above the opening bid let alone the reserve, especially with the sellers current ad.
Steve R
If only some automakers was bold enough to offer a big land yacht like this today. I believe there is a vast hidden market for cars like these that remind people of the cars they grew up with
Chrysler was always ahead of Plymouth between Newport and Fury. Standard engine in Newport was 383/2barrel.
Standard engine for Fury was 318 enough said. Both nice rides for sure. The price on this one a tad high in my opinion.
Good luck to buyers and sellers.
I agree with all the comments! Cleaning the engine compartment would probably bring a little more money and make it look nicer just like Rex Kahrs picture!!!
Those tires, yikes! This era of car needs whitewalls plus the car needs a bath, a polish and a good waxing.
Presentation is not great.
My dad had one. That’s what I learned to drive in. Imagine being 16 years old sitting behind that massive hood.
Auction update: the buy-it-now price was lowered to $10,000 and had no takers at the end of the auction. It’s been relisted with an $8,000 buy-it-now price.