WissaMan
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2018
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I got a surprise opportunity on a 68 Newport 2-door and am wondering if anyone would care to chime in any opinions or information.
Here's what I know about it:
The seller came into this car a few weeks or months ago but says he knew the previous owner. The PO had plans for the car but never followed through so it's got some minor "customization" of suspect quality (i.e. dual exhaust, a couple gauges, aftermarket aluminum radiator). In general, the car looks like it's been siting outside untouched for some time (we had to WD-40 the trunk lock to get the key to turn even)
First off, I'd rate the exterior condition as fair. It's not majorly rotted. It's got some rust in the usual places but nothing looks too far gone. The paint is poor so the whole car would need to be redone, couldn't just fix the rust. The underside looks decent, small hole in the driver-side floor, a little rusting where the torsion bars anchor. The interior is also fair -- front seats are ripped but rears look good. Dash was redone with "stitched" vinyl which I don't like the look of personally. The car is a low optioned car -- crank windows, no AC, manual brakes, AM radio.
But here are some of the more intriguing aspects:
Engine was replaced at some point with a 440. The block stamp has a J on it so it's 1973. The seller says it was a "truck motor". It has the HP exhaust manifolds on it but the intake manifold and carb are not on the car -- so obviously I couldn't hear it run or drive it, but the seller says he knew it ran before he came into possession of it but doesn't know was the current state of the engine is. The car is a factory manual 3-speed on the column but was converted to a floor shifted 4-speed. Well, he told me it's a 4-speed anyway. Could they have just put a floor shifter on a 3-speed?
I definitely don't need another project car if I have any hope of getting my New Yorker fixed up any time soon, but I also know there are some unique features on this car that might give it some value above a plain old beat-up Newport.
Thoughts?
Here's what I know about it:
The seller came into this car a few weeks or months ago but says he knew the previous owner. The PO had plans for the car but never followed through so it's got some minor "customization" of suspect quality (i.e. dual exhaust, a couple gauges, aftermarket aluminum radiator). In general, the car looks like it's been siting outside untouched for some time (we had to WD-40 the trunk lock to get the key to turn even)
First off, I'd rate the exterior condition as fair. It's not majorly rotted. It's got some rust in the usual places but nothing looks too far gone. The paint is poor so the whole car would need to be redone, couldn't just fix the rust. The underside looks decent, small hole in the driver-side floor, a little rusting where the torsion bars anchor. The interior is also fair -- front seats are ripped but rears look good. Dash was redone with "stitched" vinyl which I don't like the look of personally. The car is a low optioned car -- crank windows, no AC, manual brakes, AM radio.
But here are some of the more intriguing aspects:
Engine was replaced at some point with a 440. The block stamp has a J on it so it's 1973. The seller says it was a "truck motor". It has the HP exhaust manifolds on it but the intake manifold and carb are not on the car -- so obviously I couldn't hear it run or drive it, but the seller says he knew it ran before he came into possession of it but doesn't know was the current state of the engine is. The car is a factory manual 3-speed on the column but was converted to a floor shifted 4-speed. Well, he told me it's a 4-speed anyway. Could they have just put a floor shifter on a 3-speed?
I definitely don't need another project car if I have any hope of getting my New Yorker fixed up any time soon, but I also know there are some unique features on this car that might give it some value above a plain old beat-up Newport.
Thoughts?
. I did take 1 pic actually, of the fender tag. 
