By Jim Brennan
So we are in the middle of the Blizzard of 2015 here in the Northeast, and you know where my thoughts are… on Summer of course, and so I thought I would share this very unusual Chrysler Newport Convertible with all of you, which is my way of getting past the snowpocalypse currently swirling around me… See if you agree with me that this particular Chrysler is unusually optioned, even for a car that was born in 1970…
When you think of the Fuselage Era Chryslers (built between 1969 and 1973) you think of vehicles that were interestingly styled, bullet proof drive trains (including the bomb proof Torqueflite Automatic), and luxury amenities that were just starting to become very popular. Well, this car is a real throwback, because the original owner ordered this Chrysler Newport Convertible with the big 383 CID V-8, a Three-Speed Manual Transmission (shifted on the collumn!), No Power Steering, and No Power Brakes.
According to the eBay Listing:
This fuselage-bodied Chrysler convertible was special ordered at Fairfax Chrysler/Plymouth, Fairfax, Virginia in March of 1970 by the original owner. It is uniquely configured and fully documented. The original owner told me that it was important that he have a car that was both easy to service and versatile. This 1970 383 big block convertible is not for everyone. It requires a strong but sensitive hand to drive well. It’s heavy in confined environments. It was purchased for a rural environment where it runs well on open highways. This car deserves to be preserved and/or restored. You will never see this combination of color and options again. It’s a just too wonderfully odd!
There is a wonderful set of images that you can take a look at here (which is outside of the auction). The car is well used showing 34,000 miles, which the current owner states is probably 134,000 miles. It does need some love in the form of rust repair, some interior work, and maybe new paint. Current high bid is %5,000 with no reserve. So, what do you think about this interesting Chrysler Convertible? Is it enough to make you want sunnier sky’s and a run to the beach? I like it… What about you… See the ebay listing here: [sc:ebay itemid=”331460346526″ linktext=”1970 Chrysler Newport Convertible ” ]
Jeff Glucker
Power windows and seats were more important than power brakes and steering? Or were PS/PB considered too unreliable by the OO?
Perhaps the owner wanted as much of the engine's output as possible to go to the rear wheels. Power windows and seats would only increase the load on the engine by virtue of their slightly greater mass, which may have been an acceptable compromise.
On the other hand, I wouldn't call either the windows or seats "easy to service" which the seller indicates was otherwise a strong consideration. Indeed, the seat is listed as currently not working.
That is the perfect car for the discriminating schizophrenic convertible buyer. My love/hate ratio for that car is nearly perfectly balanced. A rim-blow wheel with manual steering? Wow, that dude was nuts. But DAMMIT! I want that car!
Indeed. Perfect.
In college, one of my teachers said his first new car was a Dart with manny steering and rimblow wheel. It wasn't a felicitous combination of features.
That wasn't in Maryland, was it?
He was going to Wayne State in Detroit at the time.
My god I want the C-body brake/clutch-pedal hanger assembly and linkages.
I would make people disappear discretely for those parts.
… and this is just the car for making people discreetly disappear. Just look at the size of that trunk! That's gotta be a three body model, at least.
The convertible mechanisms do put a slight kink in your peeps, I mean plans, but speaking from experience when I say you can fit 5 breathers comfortably. Plus a keg.
They're for sale! Currently $5000 – includes free car!
HA! You are trying to get me killed, aren't you?
If you factor in the money saved by not needing a gym membership to keep fit, the car practically pays for itself!
I was kidding, but the more I think about it…
If the car sells for a reasonable price, take the bits you want and put a TorqueFlite in it. You can probably sell it with the autobox, despite the lack of originality, for MORE than you buy it for. This car isn't really a collector car, it's a cruiser.
This sounds like one of the Sales Bank Specials that Chrysler built to massage its numbers; a random combination of parts assembled on spec, and then wholesaled to dealers for whatever they'd pay.
OMG! Some loony thought this was a good idea and special ordered it!
I can honestly say that I would take that over the identical car with power steering, brakes and automatic with manual windows and seat. I.E. every other Chrysler convertible…
And is that a TRAILER hitch I see on the back of it?! The very idea of pulling a trailer w/ this car!……a braver person that I!! 🙂
Unpowered drums aren't that weird, but I'd rather have powered front discs on a big car like this, along with the Torqueflite automatic and the power steering.
I wonder how big of a deposit he had to put down to get the dealer to submit the order form.
Reminds me of the story my dad told of when he went to order a new 3/4 ton Suburban back in '83 or '84. He loves him some diesels, so he checked the box for the wheezy 6.2L. He noted that he could also have a 4 speed manual transmission too, but the dealer said, "I'll order if you want it, but I'll need a $5000 deposit because you're the only person that would spec out a top trim interior and want that drivetrain".
And so it came with an auto.
If you look at the bill of sale:
https://picasaweb.google.com/10076396337711863629…
he put $200 down, got $825 for his trade-in, and paid $3,551.32 cash on delivery. The salesman's name was "Lynch', which is what the sales manager would have done to him if the car didn't sell. It's also cool that the bill of sale shows Simca and Rootes Sunbeam under the list of model names ("Description").
In my experience as an owner of a large, late-sixties Mopar with no power steering and no power brakes – it's really not that big of a deal. Granted, parallel parking is challenging and tiring, but once underway there's no issues. In fact, those years Chrysler was using full power steering, and those cars provide zero road feel. The arm-strong steering is preferable. The braking is a similar situation. The car will stop just fine with manual brakes, it just takes a good heavy foot and pay attention to what's going on around you.
This car is really neat. Were it mine I'd ditch the white walls for black walls and then drive it every warm sunny day I could find.
My father had one of these, a sedan. He loved it. Said it was the easiest car he ever had to work on.