I’ve got a 1960 Chrysler New Yorker. With two four barrel carburetors on the 413 engine. It’s one of my favorite cars. It comes out of second gear at 95 mph at full throttle.
I paid $300 for it in 1967.
Except for gas and oil, I haven’t put a penny into that car in the last 20 years.
It’s in almost perfect condition. All of its brake drums are within 5 thousandths of an inch of standard size, a couple of them actually 5 thou UNDER SIZE.
My dad had a ‘56 Plymouth V8 that I took out on the freeway once to see what it would do. I was trying out my “wild and reckless” side as a 16-year-old. ;-) Tried out the passing gear, had it up to about 95. You could practicaly watch the gas gauge needle going down.
I’ve got one of those too. Only it’s a four door hardtop, not a two door hardtop like “Christine” was. It’s the car that I learned to drive in when it was Dad’s in 1959. And since it only has a 361 and a single four barrel carburetor, it’s my ‘economy’ car that I drive most of the time. We put that engine in it in place of its original 318 back in 1964 when Dad wanted more horses under the hood. Later, when he found out that a 413 would fit in the same place he was a little miffed that he didn’t put that in it instead of the 361. Still, even the 361 will spin it’s wheels on dry asphalt if I push on the throttle a little too hard.
Other than routine greasing and oil changes, the only maintenance it has taken lately was that I replaced the strut-rod rubber bushings a few years ago when they finally wore out after fifty years of driving it.
I like Chrysler products but Chrysler doesn’t like me because every car I have of theirs is about half a century old and still running like the day it was new.
I learned to drive in a 1958 Buick with air suspension. What a dog! It steered like a plow. You never knew which way the wheels would end up going when you hit a bump. And it looked like a rolling jukebox.
My first car was a 1950 Chevy 4-door fastback sedan with “Powerslide” (aka “Slushamatic”) My classmates joked that any connection between the engine and rear wheels was purely coincidental. Not a hot car but solid transportation.
I loved my 1964 T’bird. A gorgeous automobile, but it drank oil like BP’s love-child.
My dad had a ‘71 Chrysler New Yorker that he called his land barge. It was thirsty, but the interior was the size of a gand ballroom.
“Daisy” was my 1971 Dodge Dart Swinger with 318 V-8 and 2-barrel carb. Great car and easy to service (except for changing the oil filter which was a @$#&%)! It was only 17 years old and still running great when I sold it because the interior was starting to fall apart.
Yeah, Chrysler used to run TV commercials back then showing how their Plymouth cornered vs. “Car C” and “Car F”. Where the Chevy and Ford leaned so much that they knocked down the pylons along the side of the road that the Plymouth had just gone through in front of the Chevy or Ford without touching any of them.
The first time I ever rode in a Cadillac was in a real estate agent’s car in 1964, and I almost dove for the floor when he went around a corner with it!
And then I saw a Cadillac up on a hoist at a garage where a friend or mine worked. You could have made the whole set of the Cadillac’s ball joints out of the metal in ONE of the ones in a Chrysler or Plymouth of that era.
Cosmo’s car is a prime example of respect for anything that lasts longer than 15 minutes. My car is 21 years old, I’ve had it for 15 and it is the most reliable vehicle I’ve ever owned.
Llewellenbruce about 14 years ago
“Cosmo! Don’t you know old clunkers will nickel & dime you to death”?
BigChiefDesoto about 14 years ago
Clark,
I’ve got a 1960 Chrysler New Yorker. With two four barrel carburetors on the 413 engine. It’s one of my favorite cars. It comes out of second gear at 95 mph at full throttle.
I paid $300 for it in 1967.
Except for gas and oil, I haven’t put a penny into that car in the last 20 years.
It’s in almost perfect condition. All of its brake drums are within 5 thousandths of an inch of standard size, a couple of them actually 5 thou UNDER SIZE.
ben_david about 14 years ago
My dad had a ‘56 Plymouth V8 that I took out on the freeway once to see what it would do. I was trying out my “wild and reckless” side as a 16-year-old. ;-) Tried out the passing gear, had it up to about 95. You could practicaly watch the gas gauge needle going down.
Yukoner about 14 years ago
I have a 1970 Ford Econoline van that still runs like a charm.
Dkram about 14 years ago
Wish I still had my 1970 T-Bird, 429 four barrel carb.
My favorite rig was my 1988 Chevy pickup, with Ex-cab, I called Grandfather. (oldest truck in a line of trucks going down the road.)
\\//_
davecancer about 14 years ago
Old pink Chryslers never die, they just fade away.
KEA about 14 years ago
I learned to drive in a 1961 DeSoto. Yes, the last model. It was white and huge. Called it Moby Dick.
DolphinGirl78 about 14 years ago
My first car was a grey/green 1984 Buick LeSabre, my grandfather’s car… Loved that boat! :D And no one ever cut me off either… until my next car!!!
GROG Premium Member about 14 years ago
There’s another book for that, is there?
treBsdrawkcaB about 14 years ago
OY! This panel is rife with bad puns lately… And all but two of the comments thus far are people waxing nostalgic about their old rides.
wetidlerjr about 14 years ago
Spam, spam spam spam…
BigChiefDesoto about 14 years ago
I’ve got one of those too. Only it’s a four door hardtop, not a two door hardtop like “Christine” was. It’s the car that I learned to drive in when it was Dad’s in 1959. And since it only has a 361 and a single four barrel carburetor, it’s my ‘economy’ car that I drive most of the time. We put that engine in it in place of its original 318 back in 1964 when Dad wanted more horses under the hood. Later, when he found out that a 413 would fit in the same place he was a little miffed that he didn’t put that in it instead of the 361. Still, even the 361 will spin it’s wheels on dry asphalt if I push on the throttle a little too hard.
Other than routine greasing and oil changes, the only maintenance it has taken lately was that I replaced the strut-rod rubber bushings a few years ago when they finally wore out after fifty years of driving it.
I like Chrysler products but Chrysler doesn’t like me because every car I have of theirs is about half a century old and still running like the day it was new.
whitecarabao about 14 years ago
I learned to drive in a 1958 Buick with air suspension. What a dog! It steered like a plow. You never knew which way the wheels would end up going when you hit a bump. And it looked like a rolling jukebox.
My first car was a 1950 Chevy 4-door fastback sedan with “Powerslide” (aka “Slushamatic”) My classmates joked that any connection between the engine and rear wheels was purely coincidental. Not a hot car but solid transportation.
I loved my 1964 T’bird. A gorgeous automobile, but it drank oil like BP’s love-child.
My dad had a ‘71 Chrysler New Yorker that he called his land barge. It was thirsty, but the interior was the size of a gand ballroom.
“Daisy” was my 1971 Dodge Dart Swinger with 318 V-8 and 2-barrel carb. Great car and easy to service (except for changing the oil filter which was a @$#&%)! It was only 17 years old and still running great when I sold it because the interior was starting to fall apart.
BigChiefDesoto about 14 years ago
Yeah, Chrysler used to run TV commercials back then showing how their Plymouth cornered vs. “Car C” and “Car F”. Where the Chevy and Ford leaned so much that they knocked down the pylons along the side of the road that the Plymouth had just gone through in front of the Chevy or Ford without touching any of them.
The first time I ever rode in a Cadillac was in a real estate agent’s car in 1964, and I almost dove for the floor when he went around a corner with it!
And then I saw a Cadillac up on a hoist at a garage where a friend or mine worked. You could have made the whole set of the Cadillac’s ball joints out of the metal in ONE of the ones in a Chrysler or Plymouth of that era.
sunchaunzo over 2 years ago
Cosmo’s car is a prime example of respect for anything that lasts longer than 15 minutes. My car is 21 years old, I’ve had it for 15 and it is the most reliable vehicle I’ve ever owned.