It was only a matter of time before someone quoted Ricardo Montalban in one of his commercials for the Cordoba as having either fine, soft, or rich Corinthian Leather so I thought I’d beat them to the punch. The seller has this leather-filled 1979 Chrysler Cordoba posted here on craigslist in Akron, Ohio and they’re asking $4,500. Thanks to Pat L. for sending in this tip!
Most of you know by now that there really is no such thing as Corinthian Leather. It was basically fake news for 1974 when a marketing company out of Omaha came up with the term for Chrysler’s new Cordoba which was debuting for the 1975 model year. Señor Montalbán, a spokesman for Chrysler at the time, made several memorable commercials and print ads touting this fine, rich, or soft leather which was really just regular leather that was made in New Jersey. I know, from whatever exotic location Corinthian leather was supposed to be from to New Jersey. The dream is over.
The Cordoba was made its own model, apart from being a trim level on a 1970 Chrysler Newport, for model years 1975 to 1983 with 1979 being the last year for the first-generation cars. The first-gen cars were B-body Chryslers which also were the base for Dodge’s Charger, Plymouth’s Fury, and a couple of others. The second or last generation Cordobas were based on Chrysler’s J-body, which also included cars such as the Dodge Mirada and the ’81-’83 Imperial. Here’s the craigslist ad for this Cordoba for future reference.
This car appears to be in good condition and if you were wondering, the seller has the missing Cordoba badge for the right front fender. Why they haven’t put it on already is almost as much of a mystery as to why they didn’t pop and hood and give us at least one photo of the engine. 2022, you’re a big fat disappointment so far in regard to online sellers giving engine photos, I had such high hopes. But, that fine, richly-soft New Jersey leather looks great both front and rear.
The engine powering this 18-foot-long “smaller Chrysler” is the company’s LA-series 360 cubic-inch V8 which had 170 horsepower and 270 ft-lb of torque. This was the post-muscle-car era and the post-gas-crisis era when buyers usually received neither fast cars (around 12 seconds to get to 60 mph) nor fuel-efficient cars (plan on around 13 mpg). But, personal luxury cars were all the rage and you could do much worse than buying a Cordoba. Good buy or good-bye?
Really Scotty? No Corinthian leather? My childhood memories are shattered.
Boatman, what do you have a’gin New Jersey leather?! (kidding)
Lol! Doesn’t roll off the tongue the same.
No engine shot so we didn’t see that Lean Burn box.
“Fine, CORINTHIAN Leather rolls of the tongue better than Fine, New Jersey Leather. Plus, it sounds way more exotic. Yeah, let’s go with that exaggeration…” -Don Draper
For some reason I remember him saying “Rich Corinthian Leather”. The leather in any car back then was light years better than today’s thin (and/or bonded) crap. The “leather” in my wife’s 2013 Avalon is not holding up well.
Fred, in his ads for the Cordoba over the years, he actually said all three – soft, fine, and rich.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgZLdhWjTSI
Yes it was “Rich” Corinthian Leather. My late brother and I (and his car-crazy teenage boy) used to joke about it all the time. I just check with the “boy” – now 55 – and he confirms.
Funny; I always remembered “rich”; not fine!
Nothing could help this car, not even a Hellcat Hemi engine installed. Ugly then and ugly now. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was one of the only good-looking vehicles back then.
You know what they say about opinions…
Sometimes I want to just go back in time and be a casual observer when a car like this was ordered…yup, check the box for leather, but not power windows?! Or at least the “deluxe seat belts” so at least those matched the rest of the interior!! But a nice find nonetheless.
Kyle, let me set the the way back machine for you. In 1979 Chrysler was heading for bankruptcy and pretty much out of cash. They were not paying their suppliers consistently. The second oil crisis occurred. Chrysler was known for big gas guzzlers. So.. it is very possible this car was not actually ordered by a dealer, but by a lower level employee in the distribution office at Chrysler based on what components were available from suppliers willing or able to wait 6 months to get paid. Then the car would have gone into “sales bank” and sat in a lot either in Windsor Canada or outside Detroit. Eventually zone sales personnel around the country would have found a dealer to take the car, probably at a discount.
I think you are a little short on the fuel economy number. I had a ‘79 Magnum with a 360 that got around 18.5 mpg on the highway. It was the same car as the Cordoba. Electronic Spark Advance gave pretty decent highway mileage. I don’t think it was still called Lean Burn by 1979.
You’re probably right, MOPAR Joe, I was going for a city number which wouldn’t have been 18.5.
I agree with the city number
He pronounced it “ Lather”
Trunk was big enough for Tattoo and a few friends
Love the Cordobas and Magnums. Pops almost brought one home. Went with a 79 Delta 88 instead. Olds rocket 350
Update, this Cordoba is now priced at $3,500! If you can find a better car for that amount, buy it…