1977 NY 3300 miles

[Letsrock]

I recently purchased a 1977 Chrysler New Yorker black on black with 3300 miles as the previous owner stated. There was no documentation supporting that claim but theres alot of evidence to back it up.

The NY belonged to a family member that died who rarely drove the car and it sat alot. The interior is in great shape with little wear on the drivers seat, all the switches so little wear. The car sports what appear to be OEM tires with plenty of tread left and hold air (Goodyear polysteel jr78-15's), looks to have the original spark plug wires, oem type air filter, most if not all the underhood stickers are present, hoses are mopar with spring style clamps. Although rotted out the original exhaust appears to be there too.

The dash pad is cracked, theres surface rust on the body and pitting on the chrome in certain areas. Looks like it will clean up nice.

I believe this car to be this low of mileage. What should I do with this car? just clean it and keep it as is? I know its not a sought after model but with this low of mileage it is special. Should I attempt restoration? Or just treat it as any other car regardless of mileage, fix the problems and drive the hell out of it?

 

[commando1]

Well, if I had any say in the matter...

The day you put in so much as $1.00 into the car, you'll immediately be upside down. It will never be valuable money wise as compared to the other C-body generations. You own them and sink endless money into them because you love them.
If that's a true 3,300 miles (which I can't swallow but I'm willing to be convinced) it needs to be restored to Day 1 IMHO. But I'm weird....

BUT, I need to confirm one more thing. Would you please REPEAT the mileage on it???
How about more pics. Lots of them. Especially the L&R wells in the trunk and the lower rear quarters.
Under the rocker panel molding is quaranteed to be a rust trap.
The best way to check the mileage on these is look at the odometer. These were designed so that when they rolled over, the first digit will NOT line up correctly (little know fact #217).

 

[70NPORT]

I recently purchased a 1977 Chrysler New Yorker black on black with 3300 miles as the previous owner stated. There was no documentation supporting that claim but theres alot of evidence to back it up.

The NY belonged to a family member that died who rarely drove the car and it sat alot. The interior is in great shape with little wear on the drivers seat, all the switches so little wear. The car sports what appear to be OEM tires with plenty of tread left and hold air (Goodyear polysteel jr78-15's), looks to have the original spark plug wires, oem type air filter, most if not all the underhood stickers are present, hoses are mopar with spring style clamps. Although rotted out the original exhaust appears to be there too.

The dash pad is cracked, theres surface rust on the body and pitting on the chrome in certain areas. Looks like it will clean up nice.

I believe this car to be this low of mileage. What should I do with this car? just clean it and keep it as is? I know its not a sought after model but with this low of mileage it is special. Should I attempt restoration? Or just treat it as any other car regardless of mileage, fix the problems and drive the hell out of it?

You should keep it and be PROUD, after all it's a Chrysler -- it's a Chrysler "C" body car, enough said there. Slight modifications to suit your personality are cool (by me that is - but YOU have the final say), but If I start seeing 22" rims, hydraulics, tiny naked women patches, fur interior, red lights on the headlinger and a NY'r symbol emblazoned in the back seat I'm running for the hills.
my 2 pennies:blahblah:

 

[BillGrissom]

Keep it, drive it, and be unique.

Cover the dash w/ a $25 dash mat and it will look fine. I get most parts from ebay, rockauto, or Autozone. I usually split orders between the later two since Autozone has free shipping to home $75 and rock has often great prices but exhorbitant shipping on a few items.

Surface rust on the outside is minimal concern, if not pitted, since you know about it. The main concern is rust-thrus which come from the inside where the factory barely painted sheetmetal, especially bottom of doors and around wheel wells. Whenever you have access to the interior, clean and paint. For areas you need to protect until you get around to a full paint, use Rustoleum spray protectant (picture of a shovel on can).

Bumper rechroming is very expensive since EPA rules. Your front one looks OK in the photo. For small rusted areas, maybe clean the rust, wipe on rust converter to get into the pits, then spray clear coat. I painted my 65 Newport at Maaco in 1995($250, 2 part polyurethane) and it still looks fine despite most years outside in GA and CA (covered).

Show us your engine. 1977 might have the problematic "lean burn" system, with a controller under the air filter. Whatever ignition, consider upgrading to HEI which is ~$50 "ready to run" for SB (318, 360) or RB (440) and possible for others, but more roll-your-own (and cheaper). For engine stuff, search on www.forabodiesonly.com.

 

[Letsrock]

Heres a few more quick pics. The odometer is straght. Ill post more after work tonight ( late).

 

[Letsrock]

Sorry the pics are huge, havent converted them yet.

 

[commando1]

Was the car stored outdoors for most of its life?

 

[detmatt]

It's like a giant formal time capsule! very kool. Looking forward to more pics.

 

[1978 NYB]

Can't see the Lean Burn computer from that angle. It's mounted on the left side of the air cleaner. I hope the window, roofline and door seals are ok, if not and it was stored outdoors there will be a ton of rust on the floorboards from the rain getting inside and the car will have a heavy mildew odor.

 

[Letsrock]

The previous owner said it was.stored in a pole barn, I think it spent at least a few years outside in direct sun light. More like the past few years.

More pics coming Saturday, I'm going to change the oil and clean the car and take pics of areas of interest .

 

[Letsrock]

Can't see the Lean Burn computer from that angle. It's mounted on the left side of the air cleaner. I hope the window, roofline and door seals are ok, if not and it was stored outdoors there will be a ton of rust on the floorboards from the rain getting inside and the car will have a heavy mildew odor.

The lean burn computer is there but inop. Distributor and ignition have been retro fitted. The original carb was stolen ( yeah messed up) and an earlier thermo quad put in its place.

The seals look to be in good shape and there is no mildew smell

 

[Fratzog]

Welcome aboard and nice ride :eusa_clap: Gotta love that water fall grill. IMHO leave it stock. As long as its running OK start fixing the things it needs. Since you are up in the great white north your chances of finding a used uncracked dash pad are a lot greater than down south. I've had good luck dealing with these vendors...
http://www.cbodies.com/
http://www.nationalmoparts.com/

 

[Letsrock]

More pics I took today while doing some vacuuming

 

[Letsrock]

Welcome aboard and nice ride :eusa_clap: Gotta love that water fall grill. IMHO leave it stock. As long as its running OK start fixing the things it needs. Since you are up in the great white north your chances of finding a used uncracked dash pad are a lot greater than down south. I've had good luck dealing with these vendors...
http://www.cbodies.com/
http://www.nationalmoparts.com/

I have my other '77 that Im debating using for parts, it has a crushed rh rear quarter. The black one has a broken windshield and bottom windshield trim, wiper rest stops, damaged column from the previous owners nephew popping the ignition lock, popped trunk lock. They werent kind to their uncles car ( nephew and niece).

My white st regis has an uncracked dash pad, all locks, good windshield and trim, column etc.

My plans are to leave it stock as possible. It even has the factory floormats with little wear. The car had factory undercoat applied under the hood and underbody, #8 plug wire has overspray on it from the undercoating.

I believe its the real deal! Very proud ccasion14:

 

[1978 NYB]

Oh yes! Very nice. Please post pictures of the white St Regis too.

 

[Newp]

Those photo's of the 1/4's from inside the trunk are awesome,very clean. You should remove the side carpet/cardboard panels from the 1/4's and inspect the side marker lights for water intrusion, as a lot of the '74-'78 Chrysler C's rotted from the inside out.

 

[commando1]

I'm sorry but that is NOT 3,300 miles.

 

[Letsrock]

I'm sorry but that is NOT 3,300 miles.

Thats ok.. Live in florida all your life?

 

[Letsrock]

You all can be the judge, ive seen it in person and theres enough signs its low mileage.

Original factory floor mats, drivers side shows little wear, plug wire with factory undercoating overspray, original tires with nearly the same tread and matching the unused spare. Factory exhaust.

I even found an 80's era michelob bottle under the passenger seat. If its high mileage and in this good of condition the owner wouldnt have allowed that beer bottle to stay in there so long.

 

[Letsrock]

Oh yes! Very nice. Please post pictures of the white St Regis too.

Ill get more pics of the white one soon, its been sitting in the barn/garage a while though.