One-Family-Owned 1964 Chrysler New Yorker

I’ve always felt that 1964 was the last year in orbit for Chrysler styling, as it finally came down to earth with the squared off and formal 1965 models. The full-size models of 1963 and ’64 hid their bulk well (they were only a few inches shorter than the ’65s), and I think their mildly odd styling has aged better than one would expect. If you like it too, this original New Yorker might be a car you’d like to see a little more of.

One refreshing thing about this New Yorker is the detailed Craigslist advertisement; it’s thorough without the over-the-top salesmanship that occasionally comes with the online car-buying game. The car still has its original paint, but it has had a few mishaps as a result of some “elderly owners.” In other words, don’t expect a “best paint” award at the local car meet. But there are plenty of photos to go along with the text, and it looks like a straight and solid survivor that you could leave as is or work on some paint correction.

The interior is original and “lived in.” Chryslers from the 1950s and ’60s all had vaguely European instrument clusters, perhaps due to retired-by-1964 stylist Virgil Exner’s fascination with continental styling cues. Nineteen sixty four was also the last year of Chrysler’s Pushbutton Drive, as the industry adapted a universal selector pattern over the coming years.

Under the hood is Chrysler’s jukebox hero 413, producing 340 horsepower in the New Yorker, a little less than your average Max Wedge drag racer. The seller says that this car is ready to cruise with new tires and good brakes, but it could use a little carburetor tuning. If you’re like me, you could probably have an AFB disassembled on the bench within 20 minutes, so that won’t be any stumbling block for someone who knows their way around a fuel mixer. It’s a common refrain, but the air conditioning doesn’t work, nor does the passenger window.

Big sedans are sometimes a hard sell, but powerful, luxurious examples like this New Yorker always have fans. This car is apparently one-family-owned with a proven history, and it spent much of its life away from the salt in Colorado before finding a home in Wisconsin, where it’s been driven sparingly. With 92,000 miles on the clock, there should be plenty of life left in this old Chrysler. It’s currently on Craigslist for an asking price of $9,500.