1979 Chrysler Newport Base model - Police package E58 360 4-barrel with dual exhaust from North America
Summary:
Not perfect, but good stuff :)
Faults:
The Carter Thermoquad carburetor was no fun. Good carb for the emissions/performance/economy late-seventies EPA-mandated compromise. Very inconsistent performance. One day you would powerbrake it, and it would stumble and ping, and the next day, it would smoke both back tires (thank you limited slip, 3:21 ratio rear end).
The oil pumps on Chrysler Small Blocks (AKA A-Blocks) are problematic. Ours checked out at 76,000 miles. It suddenly started making uncharacteristic tapping noises (thankfully) at a stoplight - we pulled over and shut it off immediately. The engine lived :)
The windows were frameless, and rolled up and down sloppily. Bad idea for such a pedestrian car.
The good news was that the rest of the rest of the car was rock solid.
General Comments:
Ex-Philadelphia Police car.
Ex-detective car (less "curb-jumping" than patrol cars). Bought at a city auction.
The accommodations and comfort were first rate. Firm-but-comfortable chair-height seats with excellent head and legroom. Seats were supportive-but-comfortable. Air conditioner was also first rate. Prolonged idling was with the A/C on was no problem thanks to the heavy-duty cooling system that was part of the police.
The acceleration was great - especially given the indifferent aerodynamics of the vehicle. And the sound of the intake was second to none - the infamous HOOOOOOT (with the air cleaner cut away).
Steering was numb, but adequately fast.
The handling was excellent :) Minimal understeer, but the tail was well behaved. You could pretend you were an excellent driver without wrecking the car. All this on gas station-grade tires (!!!).
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 27th November, 2016
24th Nov 2020, 01:56
These cars were great, I haven't seen an Newport in years. The last time I saw one was ("regular version") in white; still was in good shape, not sure what year, either '79 or '80 I think. The styling kind reminded me of the 1980-85 Buick LeSabre. Chrysler's were used as interceptors back in the day; when I saw the review that you bought it as a cop car, I thought of the sitcom T.J. Hooker.