From the thirties to the early eighties, you could usually trace an automobile’s design back to one very powerful person running the company’s internal design section. For Chrysler in the early sixties, that man was Virgil Exner. One thing that you can say about Exner’s styling tastes is that they were distinctive. His reign over Chrysler styling produced some of the company’s most memorable designs. Suppose you are looking for a highly original early-sixties Chrysler coupe with Exner’s design influence. In that case, you owe it to yourself to consider this 1961 Chrysler Newport Coupe for sale on Craigslist in Santa Barbara, California. This magazine and movie car can be yours for a mere $27,500. Is that a fair price in today’s market? Thanks to T.J. for this SoCal-based tip!
Some cars just capture a certain era’s look and style, and this Chrysler is one of them. It was one of the cars used in a seldom-seen seventies movie called “Eye of the Sparrow.” It was also featured in both Hagerty Drivers Club and Trailer Life magazine features. A few of of the pictures in the ad are from magazine articles, with the black and white one being from the movie.
So why is this car special enough to merit such attention? According to the seller, they are the second owner of this Alaskan White Chrysler. The paperwork that will accompany the car tells us the original owner purchased it at Earl C. Anthony Chrysler in San Francisco in the spring of 1961. Since that time, the car appears to have been well cared for. It is advertised as completely original except for “one excellently quality respray in the correct Alaskan White.”
A look inside this beautiful car reveals that the original white basket weave interior is in good condition considering its age. There is some work to be done on the sun visors, and minimal fading and discoloration are evident. The seller tells us that the car came from the factory with several desirable options. These include a Golden Tone radio, a power antenna, remote mirrors, power steering, power brakes, a clock, full-wheel covers, and safety belts. Yes, safety belts were optional on cars back then.
Under the hood, the original 361 cubic inch V-8 is still at work. The heads have been upgraded to accommodate unleaded gasoline some time ago. The intake and carburetor have also been changed to one from a 383 cubic inch engine. That allowed for an upgrade from a two-barreled carburetor to a four-barrel unit. Rest assured that the original parts will be included in the sale. The extra power is routed through the automatic transmission to a Sure Grip (limited slip) rear axle. The car is said to run and drive fine.
Is the car worth $27,500? While minor flaws here and there are testament to the car’s age, it does present very well. One also has to consider that Chryslers of this era are seldom seen. Rust wreaked havoc on these cars, and their styling had a somewhat negative effect on their value as used cars. While the styling can be an acquired taste, these cars are now the focus of collectors. They see them as sixties icons, and it doesn’t hurt that these cars are as mechanically stout as it gets. Hopefully, someone picks it up and enjoys it.
This one is a tough call. Hagerty says a “good” example should be around $25,800 (which surprised me a little bit).
The photos show some interior defects, and the photos don’t show the exterior in detail, nor do they show the undercarriage. If the paint were as good as it looks in the photos, and if the underbody was clean, then I’d be in for around 22.5K. Wait…who am I kidding? 15K.
Can’t quite identify the bike on the trailer. Honda 450 scrambler? Not sure of the color on the tank. In any event the instrument cluster on the car in my opinion is the best ever produced. It’ looks to be ready for a moonmission in 1961.
What wall art it would make above my work bench.
Hey pal, how you been? I think it’s a early 70s CL350 as I see a chrome points cover. I agree, at night the speedo is awesome.
Good eye Howard, at a distance they look almost identical, 350s and 450s. You still in Colorado? I sold the lake house in Hayward, live in Madison, practice cooking and travel a bit. Unfortunately the ravages of age have stifled motorcycle riding. Still have an original 305 scrambler, but ready to let that one go now also.
Yeah, a Honda 350. Never crossed my mind until you mentioned it. Interesting that when I first saw this feature my attention immediately concentrated on the bike. I must have some kind of a disease…
Hey Gregg, yep, still in CO. and with recent health concerns myself, doesn’t look like I’m going anywhere soon. I have a pretty sweet deal here, and the old saying applies, if it works, don’t break it. I see you are getting clobbered with snow, I hope Mike didn’t sell his Willys yet. Take care, pal, nice to hear from you.
On and On, I absolutely agree with you on the instrument clusters on these early 60’s chryslers, and I’ve heard rumors that they are very expensive to repair/restore.
Beauty. Especially the first two photos.
The grille, or possibly just the grille insert, is from a 300 of similar vintage. The Newport and other models did not have the cross bars.
Good catch on the grille. Newport as the entry level Chrysler, at advised $2964, had a basic grille from 300, Saratoga and New Yorker. The downward entry level was a fill in for canceled DeSoto.
I don’t like the head lights on these cars. But the rest is early 60s cool!! $20k
I love the Forward Looks Chrysler, Plymouth, Desoto and Dodge cars, my favorite being the 57 & 58 Plymouths. This would be fun to have, and the people on the Forwardlooks forum will probably be watching this one.
Exners fabulous finned fantasies for Chrysler Corp reached the GRAND FINALE with the 61s. Ultimate dream cars for me and final rare (3200) 61 DeSoto and 61 Imperial LEBARON. Fortunately both were spared the disastrous 62 Plymouth and Dodge redesign. Dodge quickly brought out Custom 880, which was badge engineered 62 Chrysler.
I find the 1962 to be a cleaner, more modern design, with the loss of the rocket fins.
I understand this is a heresy to 300 fans, but in looking at the left 3/4 rear view, there are too many features that seem discordant. Specifically, the tail lights seem like an after thought as do the front to back raised lines that run along the top trunk.
The 1962 300/Newport body shell does away with the fins and turns the fins into tail lights that take the rear body line over the bumper and tuck it in behind it. This emphasizes the “bubble top” streamlining and cleans up the rear of the car.
Once again just my opinion.
In addition to the 300 grill, the steering wheel looks like it came from a New Yorker. The interior door panels also don’t look original. The pleats and contrasting color arm rests seem don’t look original.
I remember the article on this car and the story behind the guy with it. The reclaiming of youth in something simular but not quite, ” originally a convertible, sold long ago in the 70s but unobtainable a few years ago to fill that now empty void”. It has always amazed me how so many dump the old car for whatever reason and then spend decades stewing and trying to get it back. I know some are taken out by things out of our control but most just were sold for whatever reason. I have been at that precipice and passed. Life is a bummer in many ways but stands still when you retain those items that made it fun, creative, and special. There is nothing like coming out of a rotten day and having a true friend that has been with you through it all and yes for those moments as you sit in it all the troubles melt away and become less important and much easier to deal with. OK enough, now to the Newport. 61 Chryslers are tops in many ways. I never encountered a nice one for by the early 80s in my area rust had consumed most if not all of them. There weren’t many. Imperials yes, others no. Hagerty IMO over inflates values on many vehicles, that inturn produces revenue to insure said vehicles. I would know I use them but that is business and they accept units others will not and in a world where you cannot have a car inside or out unless the bureaucracy gets its pound of flesh it is a bargain. I wish the next owner much happiness with this car as it is a great one. Original who cares, to me cars with scars and a few blemishes or mild touches are real. They lived life and survived to tell about it. No two are the same like people. They develop their own personality and they roll on.
Did something change? As far as I am aware, Hagerty still requires insured cars to be indoors.
As far as I’m aware, Hagerty allows the insured to declare the value of their own cars. Then, based on the owner’s stated value, Hagerty charges an appropriate premium.
If Hagerty’s values are over-inflated (and I agree, they seem to be) then it’s simply a function of what the owners are stating as the value of any given car.
I’m pretty sure their price guide is based off of previous sales.
They do but its a hard sell when your doing the paperwork. Unless the car is really exotic insuring four doors and as I have and put it number 3 units is dumb. I don’t have cars for investments and they are not part of my portfolio. They are just pure enjoyment.
One word: Electroluminescent!
Love the Forward Look cars too. I would be all over this one except for lack of room. Cant fit it and my 61 Fury in my shop.
Without a doubt, one of the ugliest cars evermade!!!
You mean that ’61 Fury, right? No arguement there! I do love the ’60 Fury though. It’s weird too, but not as homely as the ’61.
I also thought so. But seeing it in person, really grows on you. I especially like the flared back with those jet like protruding break lights. Not to mention the space age instrument cluster.
To David. If you think this is ugly (which I don’t) check out 62 Plymouth and Dodge! 🤮 🤮 🤮 🤮 🤮 🤮
I had a convertible in red of this 61. I wasn’t in love with it but it was ok. It was a basic car with NO options. Not sure why but I switch to a 62 dart convertible and if folks think the 61 is ugly, the 62 is a face only a mother could love. To me its so ugly its cool and little also.
Beauty A.
I was 11 then. I remember my grandfather showing up to take me to their house. He had a black 61. The unique thing was it had a 383 and get this, a three speed stick.(if it was four then he neverused first) i was totally in aww of him.
Yep, 3 on the floor was standard equipment then. Chryco. could advertise a lower price and a lot of grandpas still didn’t trust those automatics. They couldn’t make it a 3 on the tree because the astrodome dash board got in the way. That long floor shifter looked like it came out of the J.C. Whitney catalog. A friend that was a little older than me, told me he once didn’t buy a ’60 Chrysler convertible because he thought the floor shifter was a backyard setup. He wasn’t going to 250 bucks for a car like that.
If that was actually a 60 Chrysler, than it WAS a backyard setup. A standard shift was not available on Chrysler in 60, but for 61 they wanted to be able to lower the MSRP to sub $3K, so the Newport replaced the Saratoga, and a 3 spd w/a floor shift was standard.
Before the 61, he had Packards after the 61 was a New Yorker with a 426 hemi if memory serves me.