Chrysler Newport

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Chrysler Newport
Production period: 1940-1981
Class : upper middle class
Body versions : Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Successor: Chrysler E Class

The Chrysler Newport was a full-size vehicle from the US car manufacturer Chrysler , which was produced in large series from 1961 to 1981 in five generations. Within the Chrysler brand, the Newport was mostly the entry-level model. In some model years there was a further differentiation into the Newport Custom (1967 to 1976) and Newport Royal (1971 and 1972) series. Before 1961, the term Newport had already been used as an additional name for different equipment lines of other Chrysler models. In 1941 a sensational show car was named Chrysler Newport Phaeton .

Newport Phaeton

Chrysler Newport Phaeton (1941)

The first Newport, officially called Chrysler Newport Phaeton , was a pure show car. It was designed and built in collaboration with the body manufacturer LeBaron , which at that time already belonged to the Briggs Manufacturing Company . Ralph Roberts was responsible for the design of the Newport . The car was based on the extended chassis of the New Yorker production model . Interesting is the modern interpretation of the Dual Cowl Phaeton body shape , which had already disappeared by then , and which included a soft top and separate windshields for each row of seats. Together with the prototype Thunderbolt , which was developed at the same time and had a hydraulically retractable metal roof, the Newport Phaeton was one of the first vehicles with retractable headlights. The concept was based on the model of the Cord 810/812 (1935–37). The Chrysler Corporation took over the retractable headlights in 1942 for the series models of the DeSoto group brand , but initially did not pick up on this design element again after the end of the Second World War.

The Newport Phaeton was built from 1940 to 1941 in only six - according to other sources: five - copies. Series production was not planned. There was no free sale; Instead, the cars were given to special buyers. One Newport Phaeton went to company founder Walter Chrysler , and another to actress Lana Turner .

A Newport Phaeton was used as a pace car in the Indianapolis 500 mile race in 1941 . This was the only year in the history of the event that no production model was selected for this purpose.

Windsor Newport and New York Newport

Chrysler Windsor Newport (1953)

In the 1950s, the Newport was not a stand-alone model. From 1950 to 1956 Chrysler used the term Newport as an additional designation for the two-door hardtop coupés of various series. The positioning of the Newport version differed significantly from year to year.

1950 and from 1953 to 1956 the name Newport appeared for coupé versions of the Windsor , Chrysler's cheapest series. Within this series, the Newport Coupé was the more expensive of the two coupé versions offered. Its price was around US $ 330 in 1950 and around US $ 120 from 1954 above the basic models known as the Club Coupé or (from 1956) Nassau Coupé .

From 1950 to 1956 Chrysler also offered coupé versions known as the Saratoga , New Yorker and Imperial Newport in the higher series . Here, too, the Newport version was initially the most expensive coupe; In 1955 and 1956, however, after the simple Club Coupé was omitted, the Newport was the cheapest two-door model; the higher quality version was called St. Regis in those years . In 1956 a four-door sedan with the name Newport finally appeared in the Windsor and New Yorker series. Their price in both series was around US $ 320 above the basic four-door model.

After Chrysler had made its highest model series, the Imperial, an independent brand in 1955, Imperial also used the name Newport for the coupés of the model years 1955 and 1956 .

With the introduction of the Forward Look designed by Virgil Exner in the 1957 model year, the (additional) name Newport was omitted from all group brands.

Newport (1961-1964)

1st generation
Chrysler Newport (1962)

Chrysler Newport (1962)

Production period: 1961-1964
Body versions : Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Engines: Otto engine :
5.9 liters (195 kW)
Length: 5459-5497 mm
Width: 2017 mm
Height: 1420 mm
Wheelbase : 3099 mm
Empty weight : 1671-1896 kg
Station wagon with tail fins

For the 1961 model year, the name Newport reappeared in the Chrysler brand range. Unlike before, it now referred to an independent model series. The reason for the reintroduction of the name was a restructuring of Chrysler's model range. For the medium series, Chrysler dropped the previous name Saratoga. The middle series received the name Windsor from 1961, which had previously been used for the basic models. The simplest and cheapest Chrysler range was then named Newport.

Technology and design

Technically and stylistically, the Newport largely corresponded to the Chrysler Windsor. Like its sister model, the Newport rested on a chassis with a 3,099 mm wheelbase, only Chrysler's top model New Yorker, whose wheelbase was four inches (10 cm) longer, and vehicles from Imperial , the Group's top brand, were larger . The Newport had the smallest of the three engines offered by Chrysler. Its displacement was 5,916 cc (361 cubic inches); he made 265 bhp (195 kW) at 4,400 min -1 . The Newport series included a two-door coupé, a two-door convertible, a four-door sedan and the town & country station wagon with six or nine seats. Prices were about $ 300 below those of the mid-range Chrysler range.

Model development

The first independent Newport generation covers the model years 1961 to 1964. During this time, Chrysler made hardly any technical modifications, but the body design changed in details from year to year. The stylistic development of the Newport corresponded to that of the more expensive sister models.

  • In the 1961 model year, the Newport - like the Windsor and the New Yorker - had a trapezoidal grille and angled twin headlights. With them, Chrysler took up the so-called Chinese Eyes , a theme that the Norwegian designer Vilhelm Koren had developed in 1959 for the Park-Ward version of the Bentley S2 Continental . The tail fins were designed to be extremely pointed, which, according to Ralph Nader , entailed a considerable risk of injury.
  • In 1962, the Newport lost its tail fins while its front remained unchanged. Due to the now missing tail fins, the Newport - like Chrysler's sister models - was mocked as "plucked chicken". Compared to the previous year, sales of the Newport models rose by almost 50 percent. This improvement can not only be explained by the change in the rear design, but also by the fact that the group had recently discontinued the DeSoto brand, which was positioned at a comparable price .
  • For the 1963 model year, the front design of all Chrysler models changed. The headlights previously used at an angle gave way to units mounted side by side. The belt line - inspired by the Chevrolet Corvair - continued on the front of the vehicle. The round taillights of the previous year's model, as well as the trapezoidal radiator grille, were adopted.
  • Also in 1964 there were only cosmetic changes: the radiator grille was given a massive cross made of chrome bars with a Chrysler emblem in the middle. The round rear lights from the previous year gave way to rectangular designs.

production

The first generation of the Newport was the most successful model series within the Chrysler brand from 1961 to 1964. In contrast to the top model New Yorker, it offered all body versions. The most successful single model each year was the four-door sedan, while the convertible was the most expensive and at the same time the least popular model. Within the four-year production period of the first Newport generation, the last year of construction was the most successful.

Model year code Production numbers
Hardtop Coupé Convertible coupe Hardtop Sedan Four Door Sedan Wagon 6 seats 9-seater wagon total
1961 RC-1-L 9405 2135 7789 34370 1832 1571 57102
1962 SC-1-L 11910 2051 8712 54813 3271 2363 83120
1963 TC-1-L 9809 2093 8437 49067 3618 2948 75922
1964 VC-1-L 10579 2176 9710 55957 3720 3041 85183

Newport (1965-1968)

2nd generation
Chrysler Newport Custom Sedan

Chrysler Newport Custom Sedan

Production period: 1965-1968
Body versions : Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Engines:
Petrol engines : 6.3–7.2 liters
(199–257 kW)
Length: 5542-5710 mm
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :
Empty weight : 1688-2063 kg

With the 1965 model year, Chrysler converted the full-size models across the group to the newly developed C platform ; The only exception was the Imperial brand. From 1965 onwards, all models of the Chrysler brand were based on this construction. The same was true of the second generation Newport, which continued to be the cheapest range within the Chrysler brand below the 300 that replaced the Windsor and the New Yorker. In 1967 the Newport Custom was added as a separate model series.

Technology and design

Chrysler's Newport, 300 and New Yorker models were technically and externally almost completely identical; they only differed from each other in terms of their engine and equipment level. The lengths were also identical. While the series of the Chrysler brand had previously differed from one another in terms of wheelbases of different lengths, from 1965 all series had the same wheelbase, which was extended to 3,150 mm. The only exception were the combination models of all series, which continued to use the shorter wheelbase of 3099 mm. As standard, the Newport was equipped with the lowest-performing variant of the 6276 cm³ (383 cubic inch) eight-cylinder V-engine, which initially made 270 and last year 290 SAE hp. From 1966 a 325 SAE-PS version of this engine was optionally available, in 1967 a 7.2 liter eight-cylinder engine (440 cubic inches) with an output of 375 SAE-PS was available for all body versions with the exception of the station wagon. The power transmission was taken over by a manual three-speed gearbox as standard; a three-speed automatic transmission, which was standard in the higher-end models, was an additional option on the Newport. The front wheels were individually suspended and connected with torsion bar springs , the rear of the C-Bodies had leaf springs .

The Newport shared the body with the other Chrysler models. The design was completely new. It was characterized by low, elongated lines and a horizontal belt line. In the area of ​​the front bumpers, Chrysler took up the angular shapes of the contemporary Lincoln Continental . The sides of the car were concave and the rear wheels were partially covered by panels.

Within the Chrysler brand, the Newport offered the most diverse range of bodywork. In addition to the two-door coupé and the two-door convertible, there was a four-door sedan with four side windows and - in 1965 and 1966 - a sedan with six side windows, which in 1965 bore the additional designation Town Sedan . Then there were the station wagons known as Town & Country with six and nine seats. The design of the roof finishes was particularly striking. The structure of the sedan strictly followed the trapezoidal line; the C-pillar was in the shape of a slanting rectangle inclined towards the windshield. In the case of the Coupé, in the first two years the C-pillar was narrower at the bottom of the belt than at the top of the roof area, so it had the shape of an inverted triangle. The coupe was redesigned for the 1967 model year. The C-pillar was again triangular; the two companions , however, met at the top of the roof.

A special design variant was the woodgrain option that was offered in the last model year of the second generation Newport. It included imitations of wood for the sides of the car. This option was only offered for the Coupés and Cabriolets.

Model development

As in the previous generation, the design of the Newport changed every year in detail.

  • In the first year of the new model generation, the grill was given a slight arrow shape. It extended over the entire width of the vehicle. The double headlights were integrated.
  • There were few cosmetic changes for the 1966 model year. The taillights became a bit wider and the radiator grille was given a horizontal chrome clasp.
  • In the 1967 model year, the hardtop models of the Newport received vinyl-covered roofs and wider C-pillars as standard so that they looked more similar to the convertible.
  • In 1968, small position lights were attached to the side of the fenders, red on the rear and yellow on the front, as prescribed by the US Highway Code from that year. The twin headlights were set back in the radiator grille, which was particularly strongly contoured this year.

Newport Custom

1967 new: Newport Custom

For the 1967 model year, Chrysler introduced the Newport Custom, which was formally an independent model series. It was priced between the regular Newport and the 300. With the introduction of the Custom, the price difference between the base model of the Newport and the 300 increased. If the 300 was previously around US $ 500 more expensive than the Newport, the difference between the two was Models now a good $ 700. In the 1967 model year, the Newport Custom was about $ 200 more expensive than the base Newport and $ 500 cheaper than the 300.

Outwardly, the Custom was identical to the regular Newport, but it had slightly better equipment. The Newport Custom was not available in all body versions. The offer was limited to the two four-door sedans with four side windows and the two-door coupé.

production

Production numbers
Chrysler Newport Chrysler Newport Custom
Model
year
code Hardtop Coupé Convertible coupe Hardtop Sedan
4 WD
Four Door Sedan
4 WD
Town Sedan
6 WD
6-seater wagon 9-seater wagon total code Hardtop Coupé Hardtop Sedan
4 WD
Four Door Sedan
4 WD
total
1965 AC-1-L 23655 3192 17062 61054 12411 4683 3738 125795
1966 BC-1-L 37622 3085 24966 74964 9432 9035 8567 167671
1967 CC-1-E 26583 2891 14247 48945 - 7183 7520 107369 CC-1-L 14193 12728 23101 50022
1968 DC-1-E 36768 2847 20191 61436 - 9908 12223 143373 DC-1-L 10341 11640 16915 38896

Newport (1969-1973)

3rd generation
Chrysler Newport (1973)

Chrysler Newport (1973)

Production period: 1969-1973
Body versions : Sedan , coupe , convertible
Engines:
Petrol engines : 5.9–7.2 liters
(129–202 kW)
Length: 5705-5845 mm
Width: 2020 mm
Height: 1390 mm
Wheelbase : 3150 mm
Empty weight : 1816-2084 kg

The third generation of the Newport appeared in the 1969 model year.

Technology and design

The vehicle was still based on the technically unchanged C platform, but like all full-size models from the Chrysler Group, it had a completely redesigned body. It followed a design concept called Fuselage Styling , which was supposed to take up the lines of an aircraft fuselage. The wheelbase remained unchanged, but the cars became significantly longer, heavier and wider.

The Newport models also ranked in this generation in terms of price, features and prestige below the Chrysler New Yorker and Chrysler 300 models (which were offered up to and including 1971). B. distinguished by the design of the taillights and the grille.

Chrysler still offered the higher-quality Newport Custom version in addition to the regular Newport. In the 1971 model years, the Newport range was further subdivided. Positioned below the regular Newport (with a discount of around US $ 100), the Newport Royal was positioned as an entry-level model, powered by a small-block, 360-cubic-inch engine as standard. In 1972 the Royal was the basic version instead of the Newport, but the model name was dropped again in 1973.

The Newport range has been streamlined. It consisted of a two-door hardtop coupé, a four-door hardtop sedan without and a four-door sedan with a B-pillar (center post). These body styles were offered both as a base model with the name Newport and as a higher-quality version with the name Newport Custom. In 1969 and 1970 there was also a basic version of a two-door convertible, the production of which was discontinued before the start of the 1971 model year. The station wagon versions of the Newport were discontinued as early as 1969; the station wagons were now an independent model series within the Chrysler brand as Chrysler Town & Country.

The engine range of the Newport in the third generation was more diversified than in previous years.

  • From 1969 to 1971, the 6276 cc (383 cubic inches) eight-cylinder V-engine was the standard engine for the Newport and Newport Custom. It had an output of 290 SAE-PS (or 275 SAE-PS in 1971). A more powerful version with quadruple carburetor and 330 SAE-PS (or 300 SAE-PS in 1971) was available on request.
  • The 1971 Newport Royal, which was priced below the Newport, was equipped as standard with a 5899 cm³ (360 cubic inch) version (255 SAE-PS) of the small-block V8 engine.
  • In 1972 and 1973 a 6554 cc (400 cubic inch) version of the eight-cylinder was the standard engine in the Newport Royal (1972), Newport (1973) and Newport Custom. It had an output of 195 SAE-PS (net) in 1972 and 185 SAE-PS (net) in 1973.
  • On request, engines with 7210 cc (440 cubic inches) and 350 or 370 SAE-PS were available.

The performance data varied from year to year during this period. The reasons for this were, on the one hand, gradually stricter exhaust gas requirements and, on the other hand, the change from 1971 to 1972 from gross to net hp.

Model development

  • In 1970 there was a slightly less contoured grille with three horizontal chrome bars.
  • In 1972 there was a new grille with a vertical chrome frame rod in the middle. The Newport without additional designation was dropped, so that only the Newport Royal and the Newport Custom were built.
  • In 1973 the Newport Royal became Newport again. For this year the entire front was changed; this step became necessary in order to integrate the recently required safety bumpers into the front end. The radiator grille lost its arrow shape and got a middle section that was moved forward a little.

production

Production numbers
Chrysler Newport Chrysler Newport Royal Chrysler Newport Custom
Model
year
code Two-door

Hard top

Convertible Four-door

Hard top

Sedan total code Two-door

Hard top

Four-door

Hard top

Sedan total code Two-door

Hard top

Four-door

Hard top

Sedan total
1969 EC-E 33639 2169 20608 55083 111449 EC-L 10995 15981 18401 45377
1970 FC-E 21664 1124 16940 39285 79013 FC-L 6639 10873 13767 31279
1971 CE 13549 10800 24834 49183 CE 8500 5188 19662 33350 CL 5527 10207 11254 26988
1972 CL 22622 15185 47437 85244 CM 10326 15457 19278 45061
1973 CL 27456 20175 54147 101778 CM 12293 20050 20092 52435

Newport (1974-1978)

4th generation
Chrysler Newport Hardtop Coupe

Chrysler Newport Hardtop Coupe

Production period: 1974-1988
Body versions : Sedan , coupé ,
Engines:
Petrol engines : 5.9–7.2 liters
(126–156 kW)
Length: 5770 mm
Width: 2020 mm
Height: 1390 mm
Wheelbase : 3150 mm
Empty weight : 2059-2250 kg

The fourth Newport generation, which was presented in the 1974 model year, was again based on the C platform presented in 1965.

Technology and design

The C platform had only been slightly revised for the new full-size generation. Chrysler had made some modifications in terms of noise insulation and driving behavior, apart from that, however, neither the dimensions nor the basic structures were changed. However, the bodywork was redesigned and was largely identical to the New Yorker and Imperial LeBaron . The cars were shorter than their predecessors, but were still 100 to 200 kg heavier: a four-door hardtop sedan weighed around 2,250 kg empty in 1975.

The body range consisted of a hardtop coupé and a four-door hardtop sedan without a B-pillar; Until 1977, a sedan with a center post was also available. The engine range remained unchanged: As in the previous year, eight-cylinder engines were available with a displacement of 5.9, 6.6 or 7.2 liters, with the smallest engine being the standard equipment for the Newport.

Model development

During the five years of production of the fourth Newport generation, Chrysler made hardly any changes to the vehicle. The development was primarily characterized by the streamlining of the model range, which came about through the gradual elimination of various body and equipment versions. The only external change concerned the radiator grille, which for the 1976 model year was given a rounded shape reminiscent of a Mercedes-Benz grill.

The Newport was again the entry-level model of the Chrysler brand. The Newport Custom ranked slightly above. This structure changed in 1977 when Chrysler introduced the LeBaron based on the M platform : The price of the LeBaron, which was a good 50 cm shorter and 500 kg lighter, was positioned in the segment that the Newport Custom had previously occupied. In order not to hinder the sale of the LeBaron, Chrysler discontinued the Newport Custom with its introduction.

production

The fourth generation of the Newport is - like its sister models at Chrysler, Dodge, Imperial and Plymouth - a prime example of a well-made car that came at the wrong time. Sales of all full-size models of the Chrysler Group suffered from the effects of the first oil crisis that broke out shortly after the model family was presented. In 1975 the sales of the Newport had halved compared to 1973, in the last year of production, when the model range had been reduced to two body versions, not even 40,000 copies were made.

Production numbers
Chrysler Newport Chrysler Newport Custom
Model
year
code Hardtop Coupé Hardtop Sedan Four Door Sedan total code Hardtop Coupé Hardtop Sedan Four Door Sedan total
1974 CL 13784 8968 26944 49696 CM 7206 9892 10569 27667
1975 CL 10485 6846 24339 41670 CM 5831 11626 9623 27080
1976 CL 6109 5908 16370 28387 CM 6448 9893 11587 27928
1977 CL 16227 20738 39424 76389
1978 CL 8877 30078 38955

Newport (1979-1981)

5th generation
79-81 Chrysler Newport.jpg
Production period: 1979-1981
Body versions : limousine
Engines:
Petrol engines : 3.7-5.9 liters
(63-146 kW)
Length: 5593 mm
Width: 1958 mm
Height: 1384 mm
Wheelbase : 3010 mm
Empty weight : 1601-1653 kg

In 1979 a completely new Newport appeared, which was only available as a four-door sedan. The vehicle was based on the Chrysler R platform . Like its competitors on the American market, for example the Chevrolet Caprice or Ford LTD , it had become smaller and also significantly lighter, but Chrysler had not reduced its full-size models to the same extent as General Motors and Ford had done. The Newport was largely identical to the Dodge St. Regis and - apart from a modified grille and better equipment - identical to the Plymouth Gran Fury presented a year later . Chrysler positioned the Newport above the Dodge and Plymouth; only the luxuriously equipped and significantly more expensive Chrysler New Yorker took a higher position in the structure of the full-size models.

The Chrysler Newport was just as unsuccessful in the American market as the parallel models from Dodge and Plymouth. The successes that General Motors achieved in 1977 with the reduced B-platform and which Ford repeated a year later with the LTD, Chrysler did not even begin to achieve. The reasons for this were complex. At first, Chrysler's downsizing program proved half-hearted; the changes compared to the previous models did not reduce fuel consumption sufficiently. Another disadvantage was the fact that the scaled-down Newport appeared on the market two years too late: shortly after its presentation at the end of 1978, the second oil crisis began, which generally caused interest in large vehicles to decline significantly. The poor manufacturing quality of the Newport and Chrysler's damaged reputation as a result of the company's financial crisis also prevented sufficient buyer interest. After just over two years, the Newport was finally removed from the model range. His position in Chrysler's portfolio took the much smaller, but not much more successful front-wheel drive model Chrysler E-Class one that was based on the K-platform with the Dodge Aries and the Plymouth Reliant was closely related.

literature

  • Beverly Rae Kimes (editor) and Henry Austin Clark, jr .: Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805–1942. 2nd Edition. Krause Publications, 1989, ISBN 0-87341-111-0 .
  • John Gunnell (Ed.): Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975 . Krause Publishing, Iola 2002, ISBN 0-87349-461-X .
  • Richard M. Langworth: Encyclopedia of American Cars 1930-1980 . Beekman House, New York 1984, ISBN 0-517-42462-2 .
  • John Lee: Standard Catalog of Chrysler 1924-1990 . Krause Publications, Iola 1990, ISBN 0-87341-142-0 , pp. 169-199.

Web links

Commons : Chrysler Newport  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Richard M. Langworth: Encyclopedia of American Cars 1930–1980 . Beekman House, New York 1984, ISBN 0-517-42462-2 , pp. 204 f.
  2. ^ A b Richard M. Langworth: Encyclopedia of American Cars 1930–1980 . Beekman House, New York 1984, ISBN 0-517-42462-2 , p. 192.
  3. Ralph Nader: Unsafe at any Speed ​​- The Designed-In Dangers of the American Automobile. Grossman Publishers, New York 1965, OCLC 6099538 .
  4. Information from Richard M. Langworth: Encyclopedia of American Cars 1930–1980. Beekman House, New York 1984, ISBN 0-517-42462-2 , pp. 206 f.
  5. a b c d e Description of Chrysler's C platform on the www.allpar.com website (accessed April 4, 2017).
  6. Comparison of the Newport with the Newport Custom in the factory brochure from 1967 on the website www.lov2xlr8.no (accessed on April 3, 2017).
  7. Information from Richard M. Langworth: Encyclopedia of American Cars 1930–1980. Beekman House, New York 1984, ISBN 0-517-42462-2 , pp. 206 f.
  8. Information from Richard M. Langworth: Encyclopedia of American Cars 1930–1980. Beekman House, New York 1984, ISBN 0-517-42462-2 , pp. 208 f.
  9. Richard M. Langworth: Encyclopedia of American Cars 1930–1980 . Beekman House, New York 1984, ISBN 0-517-42462-2 , p. 209.
  10. Information by Richard M. Langworth: Encyclopedia of American Cars 1930-1980 . Beekman House, New York 1984, ISBN 0-517-42462-2 , pp. 209 f.