This month we bring you a...
This month we bring you a cool C-body that we acquired with a little help from our friend and Mopar aficionado Keith Davis. This one will stay in the family, so you'll be seeing more of it as we fix it up in future issues of Mopar Muscle.
We all know that tastes change over time, and we only need to look at the hairstyles and clothing of the '60s and '70s to verify this fact. Back in the muscle car period, people's tastes in automobiles were certainly varied, just as they are today. Some consumers made their car purchasing decision based on styling or colors, others on economy or size, and driving enthusiasts liked the performance of the muscle car. One thing was certain, however: If you wanted a luxury Mopar, it had to be a Chrysler.
Our friend Keith Davis found this '69 Newport convertible years ago, right here in central Florida sitting in a back yard. The car's owner at the time was an elderly gentleman who had purchased the car new and said the car was not for sale. Sometime later, Keith revisited the house and asked about the car but was told it had been given to the owner's grandson who was enjoying fixing it up and driving it.
Knowing that life's changes often cause people to change their minds, Keith kept his eyes on the house, finally seeing the car sitting again in the back yard. Knocking on the door, the grandson recognized Keith and said that yes, the car was for sale. Having too many projects already, Keith couldn't pass up the price and made the deal, immediately calling us to see if we were interested in the Chrysler for $1,000.
With a teenage daughter that will be driving soon, we figured this would be a great first car to fix up together. Big and heavy, this car has enough metal in one fender to build three Hyundais, so it should be safe. It also ran and drove when it was parked and has been maintained reasonably well so it shouldn't take much to get it running. Look for future articles on the C-body as we get the car running and driving again, and possibly perform some upgrades as well.
After hauling the big Chrysler...
After hauling the big Chrysler home on the trailer, we unloaded our find and looked it over....
.... Other than some rust...
.... Other than some rust in the trunk, we found the car to be very solid.
Under the hood, the Newport...
Under the hood, the Newport has its original 383 which has been modified with an aluminum intake and Holley carb. After putting a battery in and pouring a little gas in the carb, the engine fired and built oil pressure, so we're hopeful it will run well with a little work.
The fender tag indicates this...
The fender tag indicates this car was originally R6 red. That's a lot of bright red, and we're inclined to repaint it the original color.
The previous owner had pulled...
The previous owner had pulled the carpet, likely saving the floors from extensive rust. The interior of the Chrysler is otherwise intact, though showing its age.
After dropping a battery in,...
After dropping a battery in, we discovered that the convertible top operated properly, which is nice. Of course the top itself will need to be replaced, but, fortunately, parts are available for that.
The grille, taillights, and...
The grille, taillights, and bumpers are all in great shape, as is the rest of the body.....
....This should make a solid...
....This should make a solid driver when we're finished, and be a cool first car for a teenager in Florida.