Vehicle Description
The market is awash in '70s American luxury cars right now, with
Lincolns and Cadillacs bringing strong money, but where are all the
Chryslers that used to rule the roads? Well, wonder no more, as
this handsome, low-mileage 1979 Chrysler Cordoba delivers all the
same luxury of the Lincs and Caddys, but has that unique Chrysler
vibe with "future collectable" written all over it.
This car is almost entirely original, and with 71,795 miles on the
clock, it looks far younger than it is. The Nightwatch Blue paint
isn't just pure 1970s funky, it actually looks quite modern even by
todays standards. And with Ricardo Montalban as the car's original
spokesman, you know it's just dripping with dapper style and a
silky-smooth curb presence. There's a soft gloss to the dark blue
finish that whispers factory enamel and the chiseled bodywork looks
as good today as it ever did, with only minor signs of use. Really,
all you'll find upon closer examination are water spots and light
swirl marks acquired over the course of hundreds of car washes
through the years, but with a professional buff-and-wax we'd have
to think that the paint would be kicked back up a notch or two.
Regardless, it's a top driver-quality coupe that gets a ton of
attention, and it's not just because most people don't know what it
is. Unlike so many cars of the period, the Cordoba body style has
aged well and doesn't look that dated, even with all that chrome
and the period-perfect front end. Obviously, with original paint,
it has never been wrecked or rusty, and even the factory-applied
pinstripes that run the length of the body have maintained their
integrity and really pop out from the dark finish. A white vinyl
landau half-roof was a popular option for many big coupes from this
era and it's rare to find one without it, giving the Cordoba a
formal look that goes well with its unique wrap-around rear window.
Big chrome bumpers fore and aft, the commanding front grille, and
shiny stainless steel rocker moldings really dress the car up and
it's all in very good shape.
This particular Chrysler has a leg up on most of its siblings
thanks to the sporty yet luxurious bucket seat interior. The dark
blue leather buckets are in great shape, suggesting that it's been
well-cared-for its entire life, and despite a few minor comfort
marks, those button-tufted surfaces are all-day comfortable.
Likewise for the matching plush carpets and door panels, and even
the crack-free dash pad hasn't been baked by the sun's UV rays. A
big center console splits the wide buckets, and there's plenty of
woodgrain applique around the shifter, on the door panels, and
across the expanse of the big dash. A sporty three-spoke steering
wheel frames a rather comprehensive set of gauges, and lower panel
houses the controls for the factory A/C and AM/FM/Cassette stereo.
Other options include a power driver's seat, dual-sport remote
mirrors, power windows/locks/antenna, cruise control, and a
heater/rear defroster to go along with the cold A/C, and everything
seems to be working properly. Seatbelts front and rear help provide
security, and if you're at all familiar with American cars from the
late '70s then you'll know that a taut, non-sagging original
headliner is a rare and welcomed sight indeed. The rear seat holds
three adults comfortably but looks to have been rarely used, and
out back the spacious trunk is outfitted like it was when the car
was new - with black carpets and a full-size spare tire and jack
set.
The 360 cubic inch V8 under the hood is rated at 195 horsepower,
which isn't too shabby considering the era. Underneath all the
hoses, this one is still wearing factory Chrysler Turquoise engine
enamel and all its original decals. With low, original miles it has
never needed to be rebuilt and still runs superbly, smooth but
torquey, and with a muted hum from the original exhaust system
underneath. A TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic gearbox was the only
choice in 1979, and it spins a set of factory gears (likely 3.23)
that make it a fantastic highway cruiser, and it'll loaf along for
hours at any speed in eerie silence. The chassis was undercoated
either at the factory or the dealer (the Jerry Lundegaard's of the
world did a great job overselling those 'true-coats' in the '70s
and '80s), but there are no real signs of neglect or rust
underneath other than some light surface scale, and thanks to
Chrysler's famous torsion-bar suspension, it has an impeccable
ride. Premier turbine-style wheelcovers give the Cordoba an
understated look that played well in 1979 and still does today, and
they're all fitted with 225/75/15 whitewall radials.
Nobody kept these as collector's items, so finding one this nice
and this well-preserved is all but impossible. But if you're a
Mopar guy, this is an indispensable piece of history from a
forgotten era. Documented with its original owner's manuals, a
reproduction window sticker, and a few maintenance records, this is
Cordoba is top-flight survivor that's ready for the road today.
Call now!
