Vehicle Description
1968 Chrysler Newport Hardtop
"It grows on you. In about 3 seconds flat. 2 seconds for the looks.
And one to catch the price. Look it over. Five feet wide seats of
Cologne grain vinyl and Jacquard weave fabrics. Thick door to door
carpeting. Even a center convenience drawer in the dash with coin
sorter, twin ashtrays, a storage compartment, and a lighter." This
was excerpted from the 1968 sales brochure which contains all of
Chrysler's monstrous luxury land yachts with incredibly sculpted
features that, in some cases, set them apart from other Detroit
offerings. Who can forget when having toll booth change and
cigarettes in the car were as common as cupholders and EZ passes
today?
For consignment, a 1968 Chrysler Newport hardtop. This one will
stop you in your tracks with angular highlights that present a
striking profile. This is a lot of car for the money, 219 inches in
fact of sleek, cruising blueness.
Exterior
The massive horizontal grille, slightly facelifted for 1968, has
inset dual headlights that linger in a cove like a moray eel, while
the nose of the grille comes forward, like a cattle prod on a
locomotive. And speaking of coves, let's head to the back where the
rectangle back lights have appeal augmented by their position in a
sculpted fascia that provides rounded depressions, like tear ducts,
as they lurk within a deep cove created by the deck lid and bumper.
And oh the profile! Long flat panels and wide horizontal surfaces,
all in repainted Sky Blue Metallic, sends shadows to accentuate
every body fold or panel bend. The long hood line slopes with the
aid of wide C-pillars and fender skirts sandwich a narrow quarter
panel that flows to a protruding rear section, and it's all
bookended by wrap-around chrome bumpers. 15-inch Magnum 500 wheels
are a nice addition here and give this straight car round points of
interest. Some of the metal work would benefit from restoration
including door handle, emblems, and vent window frame. The other
imperfection includes quite a bit of bubbling on the lower edge of
bottom panels.
Interior
Our consignor states the interior is original, so let's get into
it! Blue vinyl door panels are full of horizontal lines and metal
hardware and accents and appear in good condition with some patina
on the armrest and some separation on the hinge side of the panel.
The split bench seats are in great shape and just like the brochure
says, combines vinyl outers with Jacquard fabric in light blue and
this pattern is repeated on the immaculate rear bench. While back
here, we note some fraying on the cloth lining at the door jamb on
both sides. The blue steering wheel and horn ring show some patina,
and the wonderfully simple horizontal dash looks good with a ridge
trimmed lower accent that extends end to end. In the middle are an
AM radio and push button vent controls. Under the fitted dash
cover, the dash pad is cracked in several places and generally
faded, but the blue looped carpet on the floor is in good
condition. The massive trunk is mostly barren with the exception of
a plaid mat and two spare, steel wheeled tires.
Drivetrain
Under the hood resides a remarkably clean and date-correct 440ci V8
with a Holley 4-barrel carburetor on top. An A727 3-speed automatic
transmission sends power to the 8 3/4 inch rear and 2.76 gears.
Power brakes are onboard with discs in front and drums in the back.
The engine bay is clean and although the 440 is a big engine,
there's still lots of room underneath due to the width of the
car.
Undercarriage
More clean goodness underneath that really lacks any notable
surface rust, grease, dirt, or errant liquids. We see some residual
oil on the rear differential, possibly from the pinion seal, but
even that is minimal. This car has been pampered and the underside
is evidence of that. The dual exhaust is gleaming and enters two
stock style mufflers before exiting discreetly on either side of
the shiny gas tank. Torsion bar suspension is found in front and
leaf springs on the back.
Drive-Ability
Is there a tugboat around to push us out the door? This is a
seriously large car but we turn the key and start the 440 and roll
this mother ship onto the test loop. We're sure it sounds good, but
the tailpipes are in the next county and hard to hear. Anyway, this
car floats along with wide smoothness and adequate power, good
tracking, decent visibility except for that blind spot created by a
C-pillar that hides backseat occupants like a limousine. We don't
know what this car gets for MPG, but we don't really care. It's a
sweet ride! On our short trip, we noticed the radio does not work,
the clock is not ticking, and there must be a loose wire in the
column because the horn honks occasionally when you turn the wheel.
All other functions on this blue beauty work as they should.
Make room in the garage Ethel, we've got a blue baby coming home
and she's a big one! We're not sure how many 1968 2 door Newports
are still on the road, but we don't see them often at all. This one
could be brought up to concours level in short order, if that's the
avenue the next owner takes. As it is, it stands as a wonderful
show car with long panels and angular points of interest that must
have been fun to design back in the day!
CE23G8B183434
C-Chrysler Newport
E-Economy Price Class
23-2 Door Hardtop
G-383ci 2bbl V8
8-1968
F-Newark, DE Assy Plant
183434-Sequential Unit Number
FENDER TAG
CAR:Chrysler Newport
ENGINE:383cid 2-bbl V8
TRANSMISSION:3-Speed Automatic
TIRES:Unknown tire code
MODEL YEAR:1968
BUILD DATE:December 11.
AXLE:2.76 Rear Axle Ratio
INTERIOR:Light Blue Interior.
PAINT:Sky Blue Metallic
OTHER:
MOLDINGS:
14:Sill Mouldings
30:Body Belt Moldings
78:Wheel Lip Moldings
ABC OPTIONS:
abc OPTIONS:
h7:Fender or Hood Mounted Turn Signal Indicators
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acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in
person.
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