1979 Chrysler Cordoba

Description

The market is awash in '70s American luxury cars right now, with Lincolns and Cadillacs bringing strong money, but where are all the Chryslers that used to rule the roads? Well, wonder no more, as this handsome, low-mileage 1979 Chrysler Cordoba delivers all the same luxury of the Lincs and Caddys, but has that unique Chrysler vibe with "future collectable" written all over it.

This car is almost entirely original, and with 71,795 miles on the clock, it looks far younger than it is. The Nightwatch Blue paint isn't just pure 1970s funky, it actually looks quite modern even by todays standards. And with Ricardo Montalban as the car's original spokesman, you know it's just dripping with dapper style and a silky-smooth curb presence. There's a soft gloss to the dark blue finish that whispers factory enamel and the chiseled bodywork looks as good today as it ever did, with only minor signs of use. Really, all you'll find upon closer examination are water spots and light swirl marks acquired over the course of hundreds of car washes through the years, but with a professional buff-and-wax we'd have to think that the paint would be kicked back up a notch or two. Regardless, it's a top driver-quality coupe that gets a ton of attention, and it's not just because most people don't know what it is. Unlike so many cars of the period, the Cordoba body style has aged well and doesn't look that dated, even with all that chrome and the period-perfect front end. Obviously, with original paint, it has never been wrecked or rusty, and even the factory-applied pinstripes that run the length of the body have maintained their integrity and really pop out from the dark finish. A white vinyl landau half-roof was a popular option for many big coupes from this era and it's rare to find one without it, giving the Cordoba a formal look that goes well with its unique wrap-around rear window. Big chrome bumpers fore and aft, the commanding front grille, and shiny stainless steel rocker moldings really dress the car up and it's all in very good shape.

This particular Chrysler has a leg up on most of its siblings thanks to the sporty yet luxurious bucket seat interior. The dark blue leather buckets are in great shape, suggesting that it's been well-cared-for its entire life, and despite a few minor comfort marks, those button-tufted surfaces are all-day comfortable. Likewise for the matching plush carpets and door panels, and even the crack-free dash pad hasn't been baked by the sun's UV rays. A big center console splits the wide buckets, and there's plenty of woodgrain applique around the shifter, on the door panels, and across the expanse of the big dash. A sporty three-spoke steering wheel frames a rather comprehensive set of gauges, and lower panel houses the controls for the factory A/C and AM/FM/Cassette stereo. Other options include a power driver's seat, dual-sport remote mirrors, power windows/locks/antenna, cruise control, and a heater/rear defroster to go along with the cold A/C, and everything seems to be working properly. Seatbelts front and rear help provide security, and if you're at all familiar with American cars from the late '70s then you'll know that a taut, non-sagging original headliner is a rare and welcomed sight indeed. The rear seat holds three adults comfortably but looks to have been rarely used, and out back the spacious trunk is outfitted like it was when the car was new – with black carpets and a full-size spare tire and jack set.

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. With low, original miles it has never needed to be rebuilt and still runs superbly, smooth but torquey, and with a muted hum from the original exhaust system underneath. A TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic gearbox was the only choice in 1979, 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 other than some light surface scale, and thanks to Chrysler's famous torsion-bar suspension, it has an impeccable ride. Premier turbine-style wheelcovers give the Cordoba an understated look that played well in 1979 and still does today, and they're all fitted with 225/75/15 whitewall radials.

Nobody kept these as collector's items, so finding one this nice and this well-preserved is all but impossible. But if you're a Mopar guy, this is an indispensable piece of history from a forgotten era. Documented with its original owner's manuals, a reproduction window sticker, and a few maintenance records, this is Cordoba is top-flight survivor that's ready for the road today. Call now!