Bought a new BIG daily w/pics!

[NYCMille]

Hey Guys -

Thought you might get a kick out of this. I've been looking for another old MOPAR to drive as a daily but didn't want to spend a ton of money. So, since I've always been a fan of the big fuselage style C-bodies I decided to pick one up.

Meet AHAB, my 1970 Chrysler Newport Custom. It's got 104,000 original miles, power front discs, a 383BB, power windows, A/C (will freeze you out), a big 'ole comfy bench seat and EVERYTHING works - even the trunk light! I bought it back in September (put about 3000 miles on it since then) just to try it out and since that time have fallen in love with the old sled. I've been driving highly modified stuff for so long that it's actually nice to have something normal (if you consider this normal).

It cruises effortlessly at 80-85 with the 2.76 open diff and gets around 16 mpg hwy - not great, but doable. It's also one of the quietest cars I've driven in quite some time. As for speed... there's not much of it, but once it gets rolling it's quite a bit of fun.

Only mods planned are a new set of wheels and tires. I'll be staying with 15's and will possibly go with a set of Mopar Rallye's or Torq Thrusts with some white lettered BFG's.

Cheers - Mike

[TUFCAT]

Looks like a nice one!  For wheels, what about the Chrysler 300 style 15-inch road wheels with the long narrow center dome?

[NYCMille]

I thought about those, but they're hard to find - also expensive for an original set. I want to stagger them as well - 15x7 F with a 235/70/15 and a 15x8 rear with a 275/70/15

[Troy]

Can you fit a queen sized mattress in that trunk? It's HUGE! Clean looking car.

Troy

[Aero426]

Nice looking car!

[NYCMille]

It really is clean Troy - ZERO rust anywhere - bought new in Southern, CA and stayed there its entire life. It still runs points!

[FlatbackFanatic]

Very nice looking ride...

[Daytona R/T SE]

Excellent !

I'm thinking with that plain white wrapper...

Mopar cop car wheels painted body color with the dog dish hubcaps.  

Repops are available new for about $100 a piece in several widths.



http://www.classicindustries.com/mopar/parts/wheel-tire/wheels/original-style-wheels/

[Finn]

Sweet! You can land a helicopter on the trunk lid!

[Baldwinvette77]

GOD, that deck panel goes on for days  , i guess trunk space was a priority? 

Nice car, looks good in white 

[NYCMille]

The rear quarter panel is 7'2" long! 

[cdr]

i like it 

[Cooter]

And just think. This one has a bigger engine, more room, gets about the same mpg, weighs' less?, than a new Charger and you don't 'need' 4drs.

This was when Chrysler built cars, and cared about styling. No mistakingb that land barge for a Fiat/Audi.

[ITSA426]

Have you got a good picture of the 300 wheels?  I might have a set laying around.

[TruckDriver]

Like I said on Facebook Mike, Torque Thrusts all the way! 

[Back N Black]

I love it! 

[JamieZ]

That's quite the beast!   I've always wanted to see someone do a diesel swap into one of those big C bodies.

[ws23rt]

That's quite the beast!   I've always wanted to see someone do a diesel swap into one of those big C bodies.

Perhaps diesel/eletric--as locomotive

I like it and have a 68 sport fury project that begs my attention.

[NYCMille]

I dig this boat because it hasn't been messed with or hacked up and I think cars like this are becoming harder and harder to find. Plus, my wife likes it - strange but go figure... 

[Homerr]

Very nice!  I think the grocery getter hubcaps are great in any case.

I've been thinking about a C-body as well.

[twodko]

That thing is a small aircraft carrier.  

[Tilar]

GOD, that deck panel goes on for days  , i guess trunk space was a priority?  

Makes it easy to sneak up to 4 more people into the drive in theater with out paying... Don't ask me how I know this.  

[Baldwinvette77]

GOD, that deck panel goes on for days  , i guess trunk space was a priority?  

Makes it easy to sneak up to 4 more people into the drive in theater with out paying... Don't ask me how I know this.  

Were you the one driving? or one of the 4 dudes locked tightly together in a small dark space? 

[charge69]

Very nice ride!!  The C bodies, especially the Newports and up, were awesome!

[sanders7981]

Holy land-yacht !!!

[71green go]

Very Nice!......lol I am looking for the most economical car I can find for a daily driver to save gas and you are going to daily drive that ...I couldn't do it but would love to own it!

[Alaskan_TA]

Awesome find! 

I would not change a thing myself.

[Tilar]

GOD, that deck panel goes on for days  , i guess trunk space was a priority?  

Makes it easy to sneak up to 4 more people into the drive in theater with out paying... Don't ask me how I know this.  

Were you the one driving? or one of the 4 dudes locked tightly together in a small dark space?  

I was the one driving. It was my parents 69 Newport Custom.  

EDIT: Just to clarify, the only ones that ever got in there were the ones that couldn't afford to pay for the movie.

[bill440rt]

Looks like a nice, clean original car. 
That deck lid is H-U-G-E!!!     

[NYCMille]

I think the fuselage bodies from 69-73 are a few of the last affordable big-block powered Mopars on the market partly because they are so damn big. To give you an idea, the Newport is around 4 inches longer and 5 inches wider than the Charger. I was parked next to a full size quad cab Silverado last week and the Newport was the same size... crazy that it's a coupe right?

[Steve P.]

SWEEEET RIDE, Mike.. I was just looking at a 4-door version of it nearby. Those were the days of the sweet riding land yacht, only with more style!! 

Troy, do you remember the one we saw at Big Daddy's that the guy customized into a sort of El'comingia?? Had the side opening hood too!!

She's sweet Mike.. Have always wanted another one of them for a long distance hauler.. Nothing but comfort and big brakes too!!

[Scaregrabber]

Great car: I also think Torq Thrusts would look great on it.

Sheldon

[Road Dog]

Most Angry?

[WHITE AND RED 69]

That thing is sweet! Was that in the parking lot at Laguna Seca on the 8th? I saw one there that looks just like it and thought that would be an awesome cruiser.

But 15x7s and 15x8s? Come on, get some real tires on that thing. Can 15x10s fit in the rear? That car is too big for 7" wide tires. 

[RIDELIKEHELL]

Very Cool Mike!

[69charger2002]

Mike that thing is a BEHEMOTH!! I dig it. The white looks good on it. What's amazing is from your front shot the rear end looks like a normal C body coupe, but from that passenger back side, it looks like a landing strip. Crazy what 2 different angle pics can do. I vote put some 15 inch torq thrusts on it. Nothing too over the top on that one.   

[Steve P.]

I like the Torque Thrusts as well. Maybe even Cragar S/S to set it off going down the road... 

[NYCMille]

WHITE AND RED 69 - Yup... it was there.

Whattya' guys think about Mopar Rallye wheels as opposed to Torq Thrusts?

[wingcar]

All you need now is the hat!

[wingcar]

The Hat................

[TUFCAT]

I vote for torque thrusts, but the full polished version. I don't think Chrysler Rallye wheels would be suitable. Chrysler road wheels maybe.

[Troy]

It's totally original so I wouldn't dare put any sort of custom wheels on it. Bigger tires? Yes. I'd probably do some sort of steel wheels with correct looking hubcaps. I think the whitewalls complete the look. We're talking pimpmobile here - not weekend warrior.

Troy

[Brass]

I think the fuselage bodies from 69-73 are a few of the last affordable big-block powered Mopars on the market partly because they are so damn big.

But I wonder how long before good, affordable examples start drying up.  My guess is many are starting to get cannibalized for their big block drivetrains. 

[Steve P.]

STARTING??!!!??  C-bodies have been a huge provider for many, many years now. To find a car like this in such great shape is a monster rarity!! I wish I could find one in that shape... 

[WHITE AND RED 69]

WHITE AND RED 69 - Yup... it was there.

Whattya' guys think about Mopar Rallye wheels as opposed to Torq Thrusts?

Should have wheeled it around the autocross while you were there.   

[F8-4life]

I think the fuselage bodies from 69-73 are a few of the last affordable big-block powered Mopars on the market partly because they are so damn big.

But I wonder how long before good, affordable examples start drying up.  My guess is many are starting to get cannibalized for their big block drivetrains. 

They have been getting parted for a long time, like 30 years at least.
Very hard to find a original example like in this thread.
I'd like to find a 69-71 polara or fury myself.

[NYCMille]

I can't do whitewalls... it's against my automotive religion. Torq Thrusts, Steel wheels painted body color / with poverty caps or Rallye's may do the trick.

[Charger74]

Kind of liking the Torque Thrust.   My Grandpa had a 69, same setup but fun part was the 3-on-the-tree.   I wish I could have taken it and restored it, needs a bit of body and trunk floor work.  He used it as a cop car in Missouri for awhile.   Some of the stories he told be were pretty fun....

[myk]

Torq-thrust.  Be it the D, M, II, whatever.  That wheel makes ANYTHING looks good, and it looks good on anything.  I'm hoping your automotive religion will keep the rim at a 17" diameter at least.

[1970Moparmann]

Mike, nice boat .  I found a 383 Newport with 3 on the tree a few months back, but no room.  I always like a big ass C boat!   

I still love that Magnum GT you found on Ebay a few months back.  That car would have been awesome also as a daily....

[myk]

He bought a Magnum GT?  Talk about a rare find...

[NYCMille]

No... almost did. Miss out on the bid. Glad I did though, I like this one much better.

[myk]

Agreed.  Anyway, Torq-thrust FTW!

[PocketThunder]

Mike, where was that picture taken?  what refinery is in the background? 
PT

[Paul G]

I like the black steelies with chrome lug nuts and white letters.

[69rtse4spd]

Love it, had a 76 New Yorker Broughm, all original one owner, 440 for a week, still on the trailer, let me tell you that car took all 19 feet of the trailer. Any way traded it to my buddy for a set of X heads, he loves it, can not wait for summer. When your at a car show you should get a smaller size landing pad rug made up for the trunk, & set it on top  . You don't need air bags in these cars, they just flatten anything in front of them.       

[TUFCAT]

I'd like to see the final wheel selection on the car so don't leave us hanging Mike ...you know how much we like pictures around here!

[NYCMille]

I think I'm going to a set a of Mopar Rallyes - saw this video of a 70 Sport Fury and REALLY like the way they look on these big C-Bodies - whatcha think?

http://youtu.be/hGAoHXXzWuA

[Steve P.]

I have always liked them. I think they will look great on your car.   

[Todd Wilson]

That's sweet!


Todd

[Steve P.]

I like the COP wheels too!!!! 

[Mytur Binsdirti]

Holy land-yacht !!!

All you need is one of these......


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDJPLxwuMyA

[NYCMille]

OMG YES!!