Found nice 70 383 Chrysler Newport

[70NPORT]

Hello, I found a nice Chrysler Newport for sale. I can have it for a song and a dance, however there are wet spots on the rug on the front and left side areas (see pics). Is this a sign to run away?? Rest of car is rather nice and looks like just came from factory from 10ft away (no dents, rust, bangs). Runs great. I'm just leary about the wet spots. There did not appear to be any rust underneath (I pulled part of the rug up), just solid, factory yellow steel. Advice is appreciated greatly. (see pics):icon_lol:

 

[commando1]

Dry floors?
Check around the frames of the F&R windows and pull up the trunk mat.
Still OK?
Go for it.

 

[70NPORT]

Dry floors?
Check around the frames of the F&R windows and pull up the trunk mat.
Still OK?
Go for it.

They (window frame) appear to be nice a solid. There was moisture and rust under the trunk mat, and I think I saw a couple really small holes. I figured that is repairable as long as the holes were small (and there were not many). In addition to that it has the ol' Chrysler heat problem. It has a rear heater/defogger that works properly, but when the "heat" button is pressed on the dashboard nothing happens up front. I noticed the levers under the top of the dashboard were very stiff to the point they could not be moved. Perhaps a vacuum (or lack there of) issue in the tubing behind the dash? I heard of this before.

The car is really nice, the interior is spotless save for the nasty rug. The 383 runs strong as a mule, and the 727 shifts exactly like it should. I'd hate to walk away without knowing if the heater/moisture things are big deals. A total bummer.

 

[polara71]

The photos are rough, the hole in the carpet looks like wear from a foot always resting on the same spot when driving.
One of my 71's had a leak issue, it came in from the cowl area underneath the dash.

 

[Fratzog]

It's just a few minutes to unscrew the door sills and kick plates so you can peak under the carpet. Check the firewall around the wiper motor and booster for paint bubbles and rust stains. That should tell a big part of the story.

 

[70NPORT]

The photos are rough, the hole in the carpet looks like wear from a foot always resting on the same spot when driving.
One of my 71's had a leak issue, it came in from the cowl area underneath the dash.

Here are more pics. I haven't completed the transaction yet. More issues besides the moisture: crack in windshield on very far right hand side, took a hit to the front passenger side fender that was repaired at Maaco some years ago, trunk has rust w/ a few tiny holes, and of course the heater does not blow (none of this was mentioned in ad, of course). The motor is strong, and the 727 feels to be in good shape, brakes stop on a dime, handles well for a big ol' "c" body anyways (took a test drive on highway). Appears like it has wrong size tires although.

 

[commando1]

"I can have it for a song and a dance..."

It comes down to this: How much to sing and dance?

 

[70NPORT]

"I can have it for a song and a dance..."

It comes down to this: How much to sing and dance?

Wants 3K for it, I thought that was a reasonable figure and is well within my budget. However, now with all these discoveries (which were not mentioned in the "for sale" ad), I'm thinking that figure is way over the top.

 

[Blue 300]

It's not a 2010 Mercedes. Its not going to be perfect. From what I see it's well worth 3k leak or no leak. Once its in your drive way put a sprinkler on the roof, climb in and start checking.

 

[70NPORT]

It's not a 2010 Mercedes. Its not going to be perfect. From what I see it's well worth 3k leak or no leak. Once its in your drive way put a sprinkler on the roof, climb in and start checking.

Not looking for perfection here, I know that's already a given.

Inspection so far indicates the car will easily need way over the 3K asking price to address all that plagues it...and lets face it, No one would want to drive it around everyday in its current shape, might as well go straight to the junk yard.
I prefer to do all my checking before I drive off with any car and although 3K easily fits within my spending money (so says the wife), its too much for this ride, if it were more sound than yes I would put down that many dollars..

 

[commando1]

Wants 3K for it, I thought that was a reasonable figure and is well within my budget. However, now with all these discoveries (which were not mentioned in the "for sale" ad), I'm thinking that figure is way over the top.

That's not for a song and a dance. That's being taken for a ride.
$1,500.

 

[fury73]

id say try to get it for $2000 or even start at $1700,who knows maybe they want to sell as much as you like it,sounds way to good for the junkyard,i would drive it around after addressing the heat/leak issues,imperfect cars (like i have)are great drivers because you dont have to stress over getting a scratch or ding,i would buy it,fix it and drive it year round,but hey im a gear head car nut on a budget,who dont have much use for trailer queen cars that hardly ever get driven and are astronomically priced.

 

[70NPORT]

id say try to get it for $2000 or even start at $1700,who knows maybe they want to sell as much as you like it,sounds way to good for the junkyard,i would drive it around after addressing the heat/leak issues,imperfect cars (like i have)are great drivers because you dont have to stress over getting a scratch or ding,i would buy it,fix it and drive it year round,but hey im a gear head car nut on a budget,who dont have much use for trailer queen cars that hardly ever get driven and are astronomically priced.

Owner called back - dropped asking price..... substantially. Going back to have another look.
Pros:
-70' 2dr fuselage coup
-looks decent even close up
-primo vinyl black interior: unmolested seats, headliner, dashboard
-strong 383 2bbl/727 combo
-engine not smoking, even under load.
-starts,runs,drives, is roadworthy
-paperwork (original invoices, maintenance records).
-old but not thrashed
-motivated seller

Cons:
-windshield has vertical crack on left side (hard to find replacement?)
-rust in trunk (pulled up only part of liner; wet -found small holes)
-grandma bumped left front fender some years ago, repaired at maaco
-needs exhaust system (original leaking)
-rug moist under driver's side (moist under rug liner, however steel underneath was solid and factory yellow)
-heater will not engage (dadgommit levers won't budge, problem unknown, janurary gets reeaally cold here), has working rear defogger though
-wrong size tires
-motivated seller

I dunno, want to make this a daily driver, don't want to spend more than purchase price to get it to that point.

 

[commando1]

You understand, of course, the first dollar you put into it will already have you upside down on the car.
Just a C-body fact o'life...

 

[rexus31]

What about the cancer on top of the right fender and right door by the key hole? I'm sure there is more where that came from. I say stay away. Looks like a money pit to me. Now, if it were a '70 300 Hurst, I'd say grab it.

 

[70NPORT]

What about the cancer on top of the right fender and right door by the key hole? I'm sure there is more where that came from. I say stay away. Looks like a money pit to me. Now, if it were a '70 300 Hurst, I'd say grab it.

Unfortunately these days you have to wealthy and/or of the "investment/collector type pedigree" to afford something like a nice 70' Hurst that isn't stripped, crashed or nearly in pieces. The value of some of these cars have been driven up to absolutely insane levels; yesterday I saw a plain jane 6 banger Duster for 10K!! I remember when you could get a sweet big block c body at a junk yard for $800 bucks. No, I'm in it for the pure fun of wrenching and racing, I'll stick with Newports/NY'res, besides they are basically 300s and Hursts anyway, just with less fancy stripes.
I think this particular car has potential, as it is clean interior AND the 383/727 runs and drives well, plus I was able to get the heater to blow hot air, so that's a good thing. The problem is the entire rug is trashed from being water impregnated. I took pics this afternoon and you can see where the heater core leaked, but I don't think JUST that would make the entire rug wet (except for the area where the bench seat is bolted on). There are absolutely no holes in the floor, I went over it with a flashlight hammer and the steel was all there and solid. Could constant cycle of condensation keep the rug moist? The car has been sitting for a very long time according to the owner.
There is surface rust in the trunk, and with a few really tiny holes. I supposed that can be sanded down and the holes are small enough to fill, as there not many. These are the two major areas I see with this car. It also needs lower/upper control arm bushings on both sides, and a new exhaust system, but I've been there before, its no big deal.
The guys is asking 2K, but I think its really worth only $1700, he originally wanted 3K!!

 

[polara71]

For a daily driver as I think you stated you wanted it to be it "looks" fair. If you want something old to drive around in, in the northeast its going to get banged up, rust and scratches. Drive that thing...................

 

[1978 NYB]

Considering the cost of same condition A,B, and E bodies, the newly reduced owner price sounds reasonable if you want to drive a C body daily.

 

[70NPORT]

Considering the cost of same condition A,B, and E bodies, the newly reduced owner price sounds reasonable if you want to drive a C body daily.

Well, Its all moot now 'cause I'm 1K lighter; offered that much to owner this morning and he went for it. Turns out he had not the time or the place for it, and in fact even though he had it stored completely under a nice looking weather proof cover, his condo association was all over his *** to get it out of their sight. According to him the car has sat for a very long time under this cover through snow, rain, summer yada yada. So that explains all the cobwebs and dead bugs, and perhaps it was just sheer condensation cycle over time that made the rug soak in all that moisture because I could see that the floors are solid and clean once the nasty rug is pulled up. Save for he rug and the interior is absolutely primo with not a single slash, gash, cut, discoloration or broken stitch in sight. Even the dashboard is unmolested. I honestly think those facts and the solid running 383/727 puts the ol' girl worth at what I paid for her.
Now I need to find some place to install upper & lower control arm bushings cause the originals are shot. If it comes down to it I'll do it myself in my driveway but I prefer to just swipe the ol' plastic and let someone else deal with something like that. Anyone know any good suspension shops in Nj/Delaware Valley area?

 

[polara71]

So you got it for a grand? ................Nice! A jersey car too.......now that you got it, where from?

No good "suspension" shops I know of. A few decent shops but thats it , no specializing.