1979 Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue

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, low-mileage 1979 Chrysler New Yorker Fifth Avenue 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 a light cream color dubbed Designer's 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 light 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 this survivor-grade 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. A 4-door luxury land yacht with loads of style, sounds good to me!

The New Yorker was all about traditional luxury, so you got a pair of champagne-colored 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. 'Corinthian' leather is a wonderful made-up creation all on its own, and that master stroke of marketing is perfectly exemplified in this Fifth Avenue. That sure looks like original, 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 over 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 (yes, it's working!), cruise control, a tilt wheel, and an AM/FM/8-track stereo that's still in place and comes ready with a nice collection of tapes to play. The cavernous trunk is finished with proper dark gray carpets as well as what might be the original spare tire under its own matching cover.

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. A TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic gearbox was the only choice, 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, and thanks to Chrysler's famous torsion-bar suspension, it has an impeccable ride. Simple wire wheelcovers give the New Yorker an understated look that probably played well in 1979, and has been fitted with 205/75/15 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. Documented with its original owner's manuals, window sticker, dealer invoice, and maintenance records, this is Fifth Avenue is top-flight survivor that's ready for the road today. Call now!