For Sale: 1968 Chrysler Newport in Lithia Springs, Georgia

Chrysler's full-sized cars were always an inviting blend of affordable and luxurious, and by 1968, the Newport had grown into a genuine contender for the top for the affordable luxury food chain. This awesome convertible looks dynamite in yellow and is powered by one of Chrysler's finest horsepower factories, a 383 cubic inch big block V8. To truly stand out, this giant convertible makes it easy.

The styling evolved right along with the rest of the industry, and the unique styling on this Newport ragtop borrows a lot from the Imperial lineup. A little bit gothic in the front end with its V-shaped, it continues Chrysler's tradition of impeccable taste and it was still an iron fist in a silk glove. The gorgeous yellow paint is perhaps 10 years old, but remains in very good condition, making the car look big and imposing on the road and highlighting some straight sheetmetal underneath when it's parked. Not many of these full-sized convertibles were built in 1968, so it's doubly-important to get one with all its trim intact like this one. Panel fit is exemplary, there's no evidence that this car was ever wrecked or rusty, and all the trouble areas like the rear fender skirt area fit together so well that you know there's a sizeable amount of cash tied up in the paint job.

There's more luxury inside, with a set of handsome bench seats with simple but elegant seat covers and contrasting colors and materials. The handsome seats wear correct seat covers, there are nice tan carpets on the floor, and the door panels are so nice that they have to be reproductions that were recently installed. Looking past the aftermarket wood-rimmed steering wheel, you'll also find luxury features like air-conditioning (converted to R134a and blows cold), burled walnut appliques on the custom center console, and a beautifully symmetrical dashboard that's pure 1960s slick. The back seat may very well be original and remains in excellent condition and has a kind of bucket seat look of its own thanks to the rear speaker for the stereo system, which is neatly housed in that custom console so the original one in the dash didn't need to go anywhere. A new tan convertible top fits well and offers a glass rear window and matching yellow boot, and the fully lined trunk is simply gigantic.

Chrysler's 383 cubic inch V8 really needs no introduction, and in the big Newport, it remains an effortless cruising partner. With endless reserves of torque and a willingness to run hard, the big block shrinks the size of the car for the guy behind the wheel, making this luxury ragtop feel downright agile. Some of that credit is undoubtedly due to Chrysler's innovative torsion bar front suspension, which was actually a better idea that worked rather well. The 3-speed TorqueFlight automatic is still a reliable link in the powertrain and it feeds the original rear end with highway-friendly gears inside. Aside from a chrome air cleaner and Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetor, the engine is stock, but then again, when something runs this well, most folks leave well enough alone. Recent wide whitewall radials offer a classic look and modern handling and are wrapped around a set of chrome wire wheels that really sparkle.

Fast, comfortable, and rare, this big convertible offers a more grown-up Mopar experience and you'll probably find that not many luxury cars of the era could quite match its performance. Call today!