Chrysler Cordoba Coupe 1976 - 173 000 KM

The Chrysler Cordoba is perhaps one of the most iconic cars in history, yet you will rarely see them at a car show. Billed as “the newsmall Chrysler”, it was nearly a foot shorter than the full-size 71975 New Yorker Brougham, and nearly 650 pounds (295 kilos) lighter. The new Cordoba was a personal luxury coupe that emphasised opulence and a smooth, quiet ride,versus the raw speed and performance of the preceding ‘muscle car’ era. 

Cordoba was introduced in 1975, as a contender in the personal luxury market that was powered by smaller, more economical engines than other Chryslers, and riding on a 115 in (2.90 cms) wheelbase, 9 in (23cms) less than the traditional models at the time. This single body style coupe was one of Chrysler's few genuine hits of the 1970s. At a time when the automaker was teetering on bankruptcy, demand for Cordobas actually exceeded supply for its first couple of years, with production of over 150,000 units for the inaugural 1975 models, and the most built in 1977, with 183,000 units. Half of Chrysler division production during this period (and occasionally more) was composed of Cordobas, and they helped to revive the division. All Cordobas were built in Windsor, Ontario. 

Cordoba is best known as a city in Spain, but it is also the name of the Argentinian coin that became the car’s symbol. The Cordoba’s gold coin was liberally sprinkled over the design, serving as the hood ornament, fender badge. Either way, the implication was Hispanic, and this theme was carried out with somewhat baroque trim inside the vehicle, as well as by Chrysler famously using Mexican movie star Ricardo Montalban (Fantasy Island, Star Trek) as the car's advertising spokesman. Notable was his eloquent praise of its "soft Corinthian leather" interior and his Americanized stress on the second syllable of the car's name.

Exterior styling took cues from the Stutz Blackhawk and various Jaguar saloons (front end and headlights), Cadillac Eldorado (sidemarker lights), with graceful lines, and none of the over-chromed excesses of American cars of the past. Most of the chrome was in the bumpers and radiator grille, plus the tasteful chrome rings around the distinctive round headlights. The rest of the car was the classic long hood (bonnet) and short rear deck theme. The long doors (nearly 60 inches or 152 cms long) covered most of the cockpit length and gave excellent access to the rear seats. With the opera windows, just aft of the doors, and a choice of a sunroof or a full or half vinyl roof, the car looked much more expensive than it was. 

Interiors were somewhat more luxurious than the Dodge Charger SE and much more than the top-line standard intermediates (Plymouth Fury, Dodge Coronet) with a velour cloth notchback bench seat and folding armrest standard. Optionally available were bucket seats upholstered in Corinthian leather with a centre armrest and cushion. The carpets were 24-ounceshag, with additional carpeting on the bottoms of the doors, the backs of the front seats, and even inside the boot (trunk) and over the full-size sparewheel. The dashboard and door panels featured simulated burled elm trim and metal stampings in 1975, while 1976-79 models featured simulated rosewood trim.The instrumentation included oil pressure, temperature, alternator and fuel gauges plus an optional tachometer (fitted on our car). 

Underneath the body, front suspension was by torsion bars, rear by asymmetric leaf springs, giving a very comfortable ride with good handling. Brakes were power disc front with power rear drums. Standard motor was the 360 cubic inch (5900 cubic centimetres) V-8 backed by a three-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission. 

The model combined "just the right amount of amount of neoclassic styling with the prestige of the Chrysler nameplate." 

‍