Vehicle Description
The market is awash in '70s American luxury cars right now, with
Lincolns and Cadillacs bringing decent money, but where are the
Chryslers? Well, wonder no more, as this handsome 1979 Chrysler New
Yorker delivers all the same luxury but has that unique Chrysler
vibe and "future collectable" is written all over it.
The New Yorker badge has been around since WWII, and it has always
represented the top-of-the-line Chrysler. By 1979, it meant an
XL-sized luxury sedan with a clean, chiseled look that makes it
stand apart from the gothic Lincolns and downsized Cadillacs.
Finished in light cream, this well-maintained New Yorker has the
look of a car that's lived and easy life (as most of these cars do)
and it still shows rather well. Yes, it's original paint, so
there's about 40 years of wear and use, but aside from some minor
nicks and scratches, it's really, really nice. We like original
paint on our cars because it means there's no questionable bodywork
hiding underneath and if there was any rust on this car, you'd see
it right away. But there's no evidence of either issue here, and
the car is going to show well in preservation-class competition.
There's enough chrome to remind everyone that this is a luxury car,
and the padded roof is in excellent condition. Be sure to check out
the way the roof wraps into the rear doors, creating a very private
rear seat area and a very narrow rear window.
The New Yorker was all about traditional luxury, so you got a pair
of Corinthian Leather seats (well, a split bench, but who's being
picky?), as well as a full-sized back seat that could handle three
passengers. That sure looks like vintage 1979 leather, and it's
holding up remarkably well, with no splits or tears and only light
wear on the outer bolsters. Carpets, door panels, and even the dash
pad don't seem to have seen the passage of nearly four decades, and
the gauges are in round pods that actually look kind of sporty. A
long list of features defined Chrysler's top-of-the-line vehicle,
including power windows, locks, and seat, A/C (working!), cruise
control, a tilt wheel, and an AM/FM stereo that's still in place.
The cavernous trunk is finished with proper black carpets as well
as what might be the original spare tire under its own matching
cover (it's almost invisible in there, look again).
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. It has never needed to be
rebuilt and still runs superbly, smooth but torquey, and with a
muted hum from the exhaust system. The questionable factory spark
controller has been disconnected, which makes a big difference in
how it performs today. A TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic gearbox was
the only choice, and it spins a set of 3.23 gears that make it a
fantastic highway cruiser, and it'll loaf along for hours at any
speed in eerie silence. The chassis has been undercoated, but there
are few signs of neglect or rust underneath, and thanks to
Chrysler's famous torsion-bar suspension, it has an impeccable
ride. Simple wheelcovers give the New Yorker an understated look
that probably played well in 1979, and has been fitted with
225/70/15 whitewall radials.
Nobody kept these as collector's items, so finding one this nice is
all but impossible. But if you're a Mopar guy, this is an
indispensable piece of history. Call today!
