Cheap 1964 Chrysler Newport 4dr. project car

This one's a lil' rough (but not horrible), it doesn't have its engine or trans. anymore, nor is the interior original or complete, and call me crazy, but MAN do I ever want this car...BAD. I've really been salivating for a '64 Chrysler lately (yeah, I know I'm weird) and this one just has a killer look to it. I could see building this on the cheap, sticking a big block back in there - a 361, 383, 400, 413, 426 (wedge) or 440, doesn't matter to me - and terrorizing the streets with it as a cool, ratty sleeper. Call me utterly insane, but this car really speaks to me. At $800 the price sure is right too. Sadly, it's over 2,000 miles away...one way, and I don't have the room for another car right now. If I did though, I'd be very tempted to snatch this thing up. WANT.

 

As of this posting, that converts to $635 'Murican dollars.

 

Jeremiah, you have room for an orphan doorslammer?

 

She's down to $727! One dollar for every number in a 727 Torqueflite! For the price it's been going for, I can't believe it hasn't sold yet. I'm still lusting heavily for this crusty Chrysler, but it's just way too far away and even if the seller was down the street I simply have no room for it. Call me weird, but I want this car so bad.

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars/lethbridge/1964-chrysler/1609540183

 

It's down to $500! I've got a bad feeling this one might wind up getting scrapped.

 

I was thinking this car would have to be way up north or isolated to still be available, but it isn't that far out there. So either it's WAY rustier than the pictures indicate (even by Canadian standards) or the seller is a real peach to deal with, or people just absolutely hate 4 door cars. Because I don't see why it hasn't sold at that price, even without a motor.

 

Yeah, I'm astounded someone hasn't bought it yet too. I know there isn't a huge market for '64 Chryslers, but for that price you'd think someone would have snatched it up by now. It's been on the market for months now. I've said it a couple times and I'll say it again: I want this car bad.

I did sort of contact the seller though, and said this:

"Hi there. I know this probably isn't the message you were hoping to receive, but man, do I ever want your car. Unfortunately, it's just too far away for me to come and get (I'm in Ontario), but if I could I'd give this car a good home and treat it right. It deserves to be saved."

Not that I can take it right now, but we'll see if I get a reply of any kind.

 

Also, as of this posting, that $500 converts to $388 'Murican.

 

I had one of these Newports, but it was a 4 door hardtop. There is lots of interesting details on these cars, even for a Newport, starting with the squarish steering wheel. think about this - since it doesn't have an engine or tranny, how about putting a 5.7 Hemi and tranny out of a 300 or Chrager in it. Heck, if you could get your hands on a insurance auction total of , say a 2016 Charger with a V6/auto, it would still be 300hp and return good gas mileage.

 

Nah, I'd stick a big block back in there. A 361, 383, 400, 413, 426 (wedge, not Hemi) or 440. Doesn't matter which one. It'd drop right in, as all of these cars came standard with big blocks, and no matter which engine it is I can make it run like a scalded cat. I'd almost want it to be a 361 just for the "What the heck? I got beat by what???" factor.

Call me perverse, but with this particular car I'd keep it kinda' ratty lookin' and just make it a cheap, fun cruiser/sleeper. Mostly because the original powertrain is gone, the interior is not original to the car (looks like a more modern bench seat) and restoration parts for these cars are about as common as finding plutonium in a box of Corn Flakes. So, I'd just build a loud and obnoxious hot rod out of it, because no one expects a '64 Chrysler four door to outgun a 5.0 Mustang. I'd just want a relatively unique, head-turning car out of left field that no one expects to see.

But I totally agree about the interesting details on these cars. For the longest time I was never drawn to them in the slightest, but over the last couple of years I have really warmed up to them in a big way. The front end styling does look goofy - I'll never deny that - but there is so much more to the styling of these than initially meets the eye. Without going into all the reasons here, feel free to read my thread about '64 Chryslers in the link below, which describes many of the reasons why I like these cars as much as I do...

http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/threads/anyone-else-like-1964-chrysler-longroofs-too.56550/

 

Trim seems to be for the mid-line Canadian Chrysler 'Saratoga 300' model......

http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/chrysler/64cb/bilder/4.jpg

 

My apologies in advance for the length of my reply...

I actually believe this car is a Windsor model. The grill and trim pieces on the car in the ad are different than the Saratoga model. The grill in particular is completely different than the Saratoga...

Windsor (the car pictured below has a Canadian plate):



Saratoga:



Also, the rear emblems and lack of trim below the trunk lid are different too, and are more in line with the Windsor model.

Windsor (the car below has a Canadian plate):



Saratoga (again, the car below has a Canadian plate):



There is also something interesting about the side trim on '64 Chryslers as well, but first, it pays to understand the Chrysler lineup in '64. In order of model by price from lowest to highest, the models offered that year were:

Windsor
Newport
Saratoga "300"
300K letter series
New Yorker

However, the funny thing is that the Windsor and the Saratoga (two models above) shared the same side trim, which was wider and bolder in design. Whereas the Newport, 300K and New Yorker had thinner, more sedate side trim, or even no side trim at all in the case of some 300K letter series cars. The ad lists the car as a Newport, but a Newport's side trim is completely different than the car in the ad, which again, is more in-line with a Windsor.

Windsor side trim:



Newport side trim:



Saratoga 300 side trim (same as Windsor):



300K letter series:



300K letter series with no side trim:



New Yorker:



So, in some cases it can be fairly confusing as to which model is which, particularly with the Windsor and Newport at first glance, given that they both have the same grill, but the trim, emblems and badging are consistent with a Windsor model and not a Saratoga.

However, given all of this confusion with superfluous model names (basically five model names for the same body style), trim packages that had identical details in some cases, etc., this is why Chrysler began to streamline their model lineup starting the following year in 1965, where they dropped the base Windsor model and the Newport then became the base model in its place. After 1971, Chrysler dropped the 300, which was just a package at that point (essentially a moderately upgraded 300-ized version of a Newport) and then just the Newport and New Yorker models remained...as well as the Town & Country wagon, of course.

Anyway, what puzzles me is that the car in the ad is missing the 'Chrysler' script emblems that should be on the side of the headlight housings. It should say 'Chrysler' or 'Saratoga' in the case of Saratoga models. New Yorker models had it in gold on the lower fender near the driver's door. The odd thing is that there are no mounting holes for an emblem either. Nor does it have emblems or mounting holes that should be on on the C-pillar, which all models had. It's a bit of an oddball in that respect.

 

Man, I really like this car. I have always been a fan of them.

That is exactly what I was thinking. Now I'll be daydreaming the rest of the afternoon.

 

I want this car SO BAD. lol Again, call me perverse, but I like the vibe it has already. Sort of like an early 70s hot rod vibe with those wheels and that steering wheel. I'd love to make it ridiculously loud and mean sounding just to p*** off a few neighbours. lol Honestly, if you can get past the quirky front end styling (which I have come to appreciate), these are actually really nicely done cars with some very cool design cues. The '64 has really grown on me.

 

Right?