1978 Chrysler New Yorker Brougham
1978 Chrysler New Yorker Brougham Brougham Description:
1978Chrysler New Yorker David: 303.947.0444
In 1974, Chrysler introduced the successor to the fuselage styling. It ran to 1978. It was going to be a world beater. Large, solidly built, very handsome styling, advanced torsion bar and unit body isolation, made this a vast improvement over the previous models. Even the A/C evaporator core in the dash was much larger and produced huge volumes of cold air. As usual, Chrysler’s best plans were foiled by reality. The car showed up at precisely the same time as the first OPEC oil embargo. This killed sales.
I was in dealerships but not yet selling cars back then and people were trading in 1 year old Cadillac’s for Dodge Omni’s and Chevrolet Vegas. The hysteria of people trying to get better fuel mileage than their traditional American cars could get was on the news every night because gas rationing had made lines around the block at your local gas station. It was a complete freak out that we would laugh at today but back then it was serious business and it destroyed this C Body introduction and subsequent sales. As a result there was never a Chrysler ever built this big again. This was the last year for the big C Body. I purchased it from a long time Chrysler dealer in Virginia. It had been his personal car and when not being driven was kept in his show room next to the new Chryslers. Quite a character he closed the deal by taking me for a ride in his Dusenburg in the Virginia Countryside.
Unique to this vehicle (because it was the last year) the interior had very limited color choices. So, the white interior with the green dash, and green carpeting, is distinctive. However, the condition of the interior and the overall car warrants putting up with any misgivings you might have about the interior color combination.
Like all of our cars it has been extensively gone through and any factory issues have been taken care of. This vehicle is equipped with the last year 440 cubic inch engine and loaded throughout with luxury options. It drives better than my other Imperials. It is unlike just about any other New Yorker of this vintage that you will find, the LEAN BURN works perfectly. So, it gets surprisingly good mileage – not that that is an appropriate concern for a car of this size.
What’s wrong with this car: The factory paint is typical 1978 Chrysler. It shines, it is completely original, however, it is factory paint from 1978. The interior is pristine with the exception of the B pillars exterior trim. They have slightly yellowed and should probably be removed and dyed. The engine bay is untouched from factory and shows some slight surface rust bloom where the factory paint has failed. (This is very minor). Also in the engine bay could be selectively detailed and still maintain its factory original status. In closing: In reviewing the work that was done to this car, all of it was of the finicky minor things that it takes to make the car nearly perfect.
This car, like most all of the NGD cars, are special because the color, mileage, and the fact that they are ready to go. Items like A/C coldness, clock operation, noisy starters, and even the spare tire having air in it has already been seen, too. Anything left not done was done in the interest of originality. Last thing: I love Imperials and the first introduction of this body was an Imperial so it proudly wears an Imperial eagle on the nose.
I bought this car from a small town 50-year Chrysler dealer in Virginia just 10 days after 9/11. This had been his personal car and after having been a dealer for so long his technicians had taken exceptional care of it and it was kept on the showroom floor. Being so close to the date of that tragedy, we both felt kind of like survivors as he was only 30 miles out of Washington D.C. We joked, we laughed, and he took me for a ride in his supercharged Dusenburg in celebration of surviving. The undercarriage shots demonstrate what you are never going to find a restored car. Not only is it impeccably rust free, but all of the original shielding, retention ties, cabling, and undercoating is untouched from the day the car was built. This car was never driven in winter and always lovingly cared for.
As with all NGDCARS offerings and unlike most collector vehicles, this car is completely drivable. Many collector cars are just shiny, pretty things, this one is beautiful and is fully capable of being driven and enjoyed.
David: 303.947.0444
