Loaded With Options: 1977 Chrysler Cordoba
Even in its most basic form, the Chrysler Cordoba was an upscale and adequately equipped personal luxury car. However, when a buyer ticks all the option boxes, travel becomes much more enjoyable, and that’s exactly what happened here. Well, that is except for one item that got overlooked, according to the seller. This one’s a beauty and is priced accordingly, so if you’re in the market for a top-tier example, this 1977 Chrysler Cordoba might be worth considering. Ted, our thanks go out to you for the excellent tip here!
Other than the car being loaded with accessories, the only other history we get here is that the seller’s grandfather ordered the Cordoba new, so this is one of those cases where we’ll need to turn to the photos to try and get the rest of the story. There’s no mention of whether or not this is still the factory paint, but even if there has been a respray, the finish appears to be in fine condition, as does the half-vinyl top and trim. The fact that this one’s equipped with T-Tops is drawing me in even more, and I certainly hope the passenger side looks just as sweet, although we don’t get a photo of the second half.
Stepping inside, things seem up to par with the outside, or at least close. The buckets look far younger than their age of 47 years, and they seem to reflect a high level of care and remain in the condition I’d hope for seats in a car with a claimed 84,000 miles, regardless of age. The seller mentions the rare factory tach, and I have to agree that’s a cool option to find, but what about the one box Grandpa neglected to check? According to the seller, the oversight was a power antenna, but those are sometimes prone to fail anyway, so maybe that was for the best.
The best engine for ’77 can be found here, a big block rated 400 cubic-inch V8 rated at 190 horsepower, and it’s always fun to find two fender tags under the hood of any Chrysler product. Located in Gary, Indiana, this one’s a treasure in my book and it can be found here on Craigslist. The seller has set his asking price at $20,000, considerably higher than what the folks at J.D. Power are feeling. However, it’s hard to argue that this one will command a premium price, with not only the right boxes ticked but almost all of them. How much would you be willing to shell out for this highly optioned 1977 Chrysler Cordoba?
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Comments
Wow, just wow. I’ve been partial to Cordobas after seeing just one in person and enjoying them vicariously through this site. This one is indeed loaded to the hilt! I didn’t even recall that they came with t-tops. Lovely color combo that is not excessively ’70s (like the butter yellow or green ones that are love-or-hate) but still stands out today. I’d be a player for like $13,500-$15,000.
Make him a offer I have done that many times and was excepted 80 percent of the time
Indeed, they permit excessive body flexing. Still, they are a striking accessory to have.
This would be the one to have especially since it isn’t rust-eaten and is in-the-wrapper, relatively speaking. I could imagine tooling around like it is 1977 and I’m on my way to see Star Wars or Smokey and the Bandit.
Too strong on price IMO
Loves me some loaded Corinthian ‘Doba !
Dad ordered one in 76 ,white on burgundy .It sat in front of the showroom for a few days before he picked it up .The salesman (my uncle ) said they could have sold it 10 times ,while they had a dozen in stock with the standard “air,tilt,cruise ” cheapo package ,which no one looked twice at .The high back burgundy buckets MADE the car.If this one was in those colors ,I think I’d have to have it .
By 1977, this Cordoba design was looking old and bloated. It represented what was wrong with Chrysler. The auto industry was down sizing then. A LeBaron would have been a much better choice. That’s what I bought in 1977 because it looked contemporary and not terribly boat like, but was still a Chrysler.
Recall that in the early 60s, Chrysler proclaimed there would NEVER be a smaller Chrysler! 🤔. WOW how times have changed 😕! After a long descent, there is little left. W.P. must be spinning in his grave! DON’T get me started!👎 😁 🤣 😃
Nice Cordoba, in my opinion it would bring a more 70’s American “Personal Luxury Car” look with some nice 3 inch white stripe tires instead of those letter racing tires, I believe Mr. Montalban would probably feel the same as I do. And is that the famous “Rich Corinthian Leather” seats I see! Ha!
They Plain! They Plain! Welcome to Fantasy Island! 🌴 🏰 ⛱ 🌴. 😎
I thought that for 77 Cordoba had stacked rectangular headlamps 🤔 . But for me the sculptured, landing strip hood was one of it’s best features. Many may know that too much is NEVER enough for me. OTT excessive chromed luxury make this appealing. But T tops and Rich Corinthian Leather are negatives. Would definitely prefer plush tufted velour. $20,000 is the best reason I will let this big boat 🚢 sale on, hopefully to a new Captain who will launch many smooth cruises in it!
Chrysler knew what they were doing when they hijacked the GM g-body styling cues. Still a good looking car over 45 years later.
Amen. Not a BIG Mopar guy, (nothing wrong with them, just not my “brand”) but love these! 400, T-tops, loaded…Yep this one is NICE!
ONLY negative here is that damned Lean Burn system…
My mother had a ’75 Charger, practically the same car. It was nice, traded it in in ’77 for a TransAm.
There should be chassis reinforcements to compensate for the loss of rigidity associated with the T-tops, but it’s still more flexy. In the end, though, does it really matter? This car was built for cruising the boulevard at Boca, not canyon carving California’s twisty roads.
ESPECIALLY on a unibody!
You had me at T-tops.
I love everything about this car. Usually I’m not a fan of vinyl tops but I like this one. At 70 years old I prefer leather interiors, easier for me to slide my butt out, lol just my opinion. The car flexing would bother me because I wouldn’t be driving it to that point, boulevard or Interstate driving only. Curious does it have power locks?
Yes, it does have power locks. Notice the buttons are thicker than usual. There’s no separate switch, you grabbed the button and pulled up to unlock the other side, or pushed down on it to lock the other side.
Thank you Zen. I thought so. I owned a used 1976 Dodge Royal Monaco Brougham, I believe it had the same locks, my memory is getting a little fuzzy.
To Mike, sometimes I think my mind has Gone With the Wind! 🤔 But still enjoy Finding this Barn!
I have always been a fan of the Cordoba. They are an example of luxury and “ sport sedan” all in one! The Charger/Road Runner were also along that line in the mid70’s. My father bought a Road Runner in ( I think ‘75) I remember it as a white with red leatherette interior. The Road Runner graphics on the rear deck lid were rather cheap stickers but neat design.
This was one of the 1st bucket seat cars my father bought. It was one of the 1st 2 door cars he bought, many, many2 door sedans to follow this purchase.
If I remember correctly, this automobile was equipped with the “ detuned- underpowered “ 360 with the 727 automatic. To this day, I thank my parents for inspiring my love for cars, even though my wife has decided that love of automobiles is an infliction and a illness!
Google Corinthian Leather and see that it was regular leather
Boy if you could look at a new car and say 45yrs from now you’ll be one of best looking classic cars compared to similar cars of that era . I loved the styling then and even more now. The asking price might be a tad high for the mileage. Love the 77 Cordova.
We like Cordoba, especially the early versions with the round headlights. Certainly the styling was more refrained than the over-styled Monte Carlo of the day.
This reminds me of the cold Christmas day in the early ’80s when my darling ex and I loaded our kids and presents into her ’77 Cordoba on the way to visit family. Darned thing wouldn’t start!
My neighbor had a heated garage, and a couple of days later we took the car over there so I could work on it. I had every extension at my disposal, including universal joints. It took me 3 hours to get 6 plugs changed, and when we got the car to the dealership, the service manager told me that some times they have to lift the engine to get to the 2 plugs under the firewall. That was the last time that I ever trusted Chrysler engineering.
Totally untrue. It’s just a B-Body…same as every Coronet, Satellite, Road Runner, and Charger ever built. I can change every plug in five minutes on any Cordoba.
My friend had a Cordoba in high school. So nice. I can still remember bumper skiing, one winter…
Ah, those were the days…
The tach was not an option on these cars…it was added later, as were the chrome valve covers.
Michael, I can’t speak for the ’77, but the ’76 did have the tach as an option. I ordered a new ’76 Cordoba with the tach. I also opted for the 400 Lean Burn engine, bucket seats in “rich Corinthian leather”, floor mounted automatic, half vinyl top, wire hubcaps, power windows and locks, and AM/FM 8-track radio. That car was beautiful! And it road like a dream. But the 400 was enemic and I had to replace that fancy Corinthian leather under waranty in the first 12,000 miles. The finish peeled off of the leather in sheets/ I had to replace a 2nd time several months later, this time not under warranty. Typical Chrysler quality for the time and teh first and last Chrysler I ever owned. But I still think it was gorgeous.
I am sure that the lean burn did not appear until after 1976.
Lean Burn on the 400 was actually introduced for 1976. See the following from Hemmings.com:
For 1976, Chrysler introduced its Lean-Burn system in its intermediate- and full-size 400-cu in four-barrel V-8s. An early computerized spark-advance control system, Lean-Burn attempted to make the engine cleaner from within, rather than simply bolting on cleaners (like catalytic converters) after the fact.
I bought a used Cordoba in 91,custard yellow and tan interior and vinyl half top. 400 motor. I had it two weeks and filled the tank and after forty miles the EMS went kaput! The fuel was used up in another forty miles! Nobody knew how to fix the system! I took it back to the dealer and swapped it for an 82 Chevy Impala sedan with a 305. Boring but reliable!