Here’s one for you hard core big old Chrysler lovers: a ’65 New Yorker, a two door hardtop, no less. I saw it sitting along Hwy 99 in Junction City, and I just had to pull over. I’ve always had a thing for ’65-’66 Chrysler, and the New Yorker had a two-door hardtop roof that was unique to itself. Well, not that it was all that unique.
As is quite obvious, the two door hardtop “hat” is the exact same as the four door hardtop “hat”, a little hat trick that Chrysler indulged in, obviously lacking the money to create a unique coupe for just the New Yorker.
I couldn’t get a decent shot of this car in profile, so here’s one to give you an idea of what it once looked like. And what it can again, if someone’s willing to spend the money.
The sign is severely faded, and the 2 has been written over by a 1. Maybe the 1 will get crossed out eventually, or is it worth $1999? Hey, it’s got a new transmission.
The dramatic dash looks reasonably intact; not even except for that big crack on that padded vinyl cover.
Which is not the case with the upholstery. Looks like it was covered at one point in a taxi-cab worthy blck vinyl, bu the driver’s seat is back to the original material.
The back is going too. Well, anything is replaceable, for a price.
The headlight covers were a nice touch, on the New Yorker and 300, to help distinguish them from the plebeian Newport. Behind the grill sits a 413 RB V8, rated at 340 hp. Tough stuff; the 413 became legendary in the motorhome world.
The tail lights also came in for a rather unique treatment, they didn’t look red, until the lights were turned on.
Finding replacement vinyl with that distinctive pattern might be a challenge (I don’t mean the moss).
The door won’t close because the glass is quite out of alignment. Hey, but there’s no rust! That alone makes it worth an extra grand, no?
I love the Town Sedan look for the Newport and New Yorker.
Very nice, BOC hasn’t commented yet because he’s driving his pickup west with $999 in his pocket at the moment.
Oh wait, that’s $1,307.46 Canadian!
Ha ha! Actually it’s been a busy day at work so I didn’t see this article posted until just now. I’d want to see under the hood and hear the engine, but I’m thinking this would be a good buy at $999 but not so much at $1999. Unfortunately, at that price it may attract the derby crowd. On the other hand, if someone was crazy enough to do a thorough restoration on one of these, a rust-free body would be a nice change.
This is one of the lowest optioned NYers of its era I’ve ever seen. AM radio, cruise control and the bucket seats with center “buddy seat: appear to be the only options. Hate to say, but the 413 does not really excite me; If it needs an overhaul, availability of oversize replacement pistons is pretty slim. Easier to swap in a 440. And the transmission in ’65 was still cable-shifted. They switched to rod linkage in ’66.
> The dramatic dash looks reasonably intact; not even a crack on that padded vinyl cover.
Paul, how did you miss seeing the large crack starting at the left corner of the defroster vent? It’s almost centered in your picture.
Agree on the low option status. The cruise control is sort of an oddball on such a low option car, but oddly optioned cars were a hallmark of American manufacturers from the ’50s through ’80s.
The lack of AC is probably the deal breaker for me – too much heat and humidity where I live in the summer months. I know you can add on very good aftermarket AC, but the big chrome vents that Chrysler put in these cars are part of the charm on an already very handsome dash.
The lack of options in a very nice ’65 Newport 6 window kept me buying it many years ago. Power windows were among my deal breakers then, but I’m now nostalgic enough about crank windows that I’d go for even a New Yorker with cranks.
The fewer power options on a 50 year old Chrysler the better, in my book. 🙂
I had the opportunity to upgrade my Windsor to power windows during the restoration. I decided to pass.
Valid point, but I still own Mopar 3, and I DIY replaced a power window motor / track assembly in it earlier this year. I’m still feeling the testosterone boost!
BOC, I would have done the PW upgrade. Part of the fun & charm of these boats is all the flashy options with thier chromey
buttons and switches.
BTW, a question for an expert. Does the dash unbolt and come out of these C-bodies, or is it integral to the structure, like many small unibody FoMoCo products.
Oops. Looked like dirt at first glance on the photo. I need stronger reading glasses.
Welcome to the dark side. Oddly I have several pairs of varying power all over the house. All depends on the level of ‘help’ I need…reading a prescription directions is slowly sliding into ‘double glasses’ territory….
I see it does have the remote control mirror option as well. It must have been somebody’s road machine with the ‘Auto-Pilot’ as the only unusual option. They were great road cars. Back in the day I had a ’69 Newport with the base 383 and 2 barrel. It would cruise all day at 80 and deliver 18 mpg to boot.
I’m not seeing the control, unless the driver door exterior mirror itself is the giveaway. Mopar was usually pretty generous with a driver door joystick control for the mirror, even many Dusters seemed to have them. I would not be surprised if it was standard on the New Yorker by ’65.
Man, it’s all there. Every trim piece. No broken glass, even the headlight covers. No body rust. And a new transmission in the bargain… if the frame isn’t rusty and the 413 isn’t seized, worth every penny of $1999. If it actually runs, $1999 is a steal.
Perhaps it’s a good thing this car is on the other side of the country, because otherwise I’d be severely tempted to go take a look at it! I love the ’65 Chryslers–square taken to an art form.
Didn’t someone mention in another ’65 Chrysler CC that Canada got yet another 2-door hardtop roof? Seems like it was very similar to the US 300, but the leading edge of the C-pillar was more parallel with the rear window, rather than using the distinctive Chrysler trapezoid C-pillar.
Chrysler sure had a lot of different roof styles from ’65-’68…
1965 Chrysler 300 2dht had the same roof as the Newport. For 1966 the 300 2dht had a unique roof and rear window. The Newport used the same roof as the previous year. Canadian-made 1966 300s also got the Newport roof (and taillights).
Wasn’t that ’66 300 2-door hardtop roof also used on a Plymouth and/or Dodge?
Not until 1967.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cohort-capsule-1967-plymouth-fury-iii-coupe-1963-revisited/
Hello,
we just pulled in a 1965 chrysler new yorker 4 door.
wondering if you have any good parts sources?
Big one is any wiring harnesses available for complete
replacement. If you have any good parts sources would
be of great assistance
I hate to call the two-door hardtop roof that is the same as the four-door hardtop roofline a trick, when it’s such a delightful roof. I’d have it over the other two-door hardtop roof.
Worth every cent, even the buck a mile cost to get it to your left coast for mailing out, about 10K landed here cheap at twice the price.
“It’s The Beautiful New Yorker, The Talk Of The Town…”
That shot of the vinyl roof made me look twice. Looks like an aerial shot of some islands somewhere.
Restore the car… but leave the moss alone!
And to think around ’84 I bought a ’68 4 door hardtop New Yorker with 440 engine for $100.00. The interior was perfect, no vinyl roof from factory, (puke green in and out) but the left fender and front bumper was dented, No rust, ran great but trans did have a output seal leak and the AC was dead. It only had about 90k miles on it. But that was over 30 years ago and at that time it was just a old gas guzzler. Let sister borrow it and a freeze plug blew and her boyfriend drove it until the engine seized. At that point it would have been a 100 mile tow to get it back so to the junkyard it went.
Let me guess, being sold by the transmission shop that rebuilt the Torqueflite for an owner whose need was bigger than is wallet? Or does “new transmission” really mean “transmission that shifts pulled from a worn-out Fury II”. An important question.
To me, the car looks a bit rough for $1999, unless it runs and drives really nice. Though its not a favorite color combo of mine, I could sure be tempted by something like this. As for BOC, I think he’s out – this isn’t a 66. 🙂
Yep, I do love those ’66 models. 🙂 Besides, I know where there’s a beautiful ’66 NYer 2dht survivor local to me that I’m hoping to acquire one day. (Glad my wife doesn’t read this site!) It’s almost the twin of that red ’65 pictured above.
Worth every penny. Looks like the body is straight and rust free. As noted above, even all the trim is there. Its definitely a good candidate for a full restoration, but if it were mine, Id paint it flat black, shave it, slam it, and go for the rat rod look. The ROI isnt there for a full concourse resto, but as a tastefully done custom that you can drive and have fun with….absolutely!
Paul this is my partners dream car. Well actually his dream car is a 65 New Yorker town sedan with the 6 windows, thanks for giving it some exposure since I know he regularly reads curbside.
I have always felt that this generation of New Yorker had an almost danish modern feel to it with its perfectly exaggerated proportions and elegantly straight bodywork. It wouold look right at home in front of an atomic ranch house.
Don’t cross the 1 out! Just turn it into the dollar sign symbol!
That “7 hats” ad is of great usefulness to me. Kudos for digging it up.
I would rather have the 98-04 Chevy S-10. Those pickup trucks are mighty useful.
There’s another thing I love about this car, and many 60’s coupes/convertibles–the metal trim and model emblem in the center of the back seat. Probably not ideal if you’re riding in the middle, but it’s such a stylish touch. When did that treatment disappear?
Would have been a broughamific touch in the 70s like the round clocks in the center of the dash have become today
These are actually 4 seat cars (or mine was) because there aren’t any middle seat belts.
Back when they were made there were no seatbelt laws, so it had seating for as many people as you chose to cram in.
In fact, in 1965 the rear seatbelts were optional, at least on some Chrysler models. Would you say those without are 2-place cars? 🙂
These Chryslers weren’t “on my radar” when they were new, I was more interested in Plymouths and Dodges….way back then. As much as the 65 LTD and 65 Impala get (got) the lion’s share of attention….and deservedly so, I am warming up to these for all the reasons pointed out here. If I had deep pockets, I’d buy this and restore it to near factory fresh condition. Lack of A/C puts me off, too, but that rare cruise control is a nice plus.
Paint this a nice copper or gold color, and if necessary, paint the vinyl top areas a medium gloss black.
$2,000 is REASONABLE, while $1,000 seems like desperation fueled by lack of demand for older full-sized cars that aren’t wearing a “blue oval” or “bow tie”.
Got to be tempted…..
Chrysler wasn’t the only one who borrowed rooflines between 2 and 4 door models. ’63 and ’64 Cadillac Coupes used the roofline from the 4-door Chevrolet Impala hardtop sedan of the same vintage.
’63 Impala Hardtop Sedan for comparison.
Maybe, to an extent. The back lights are clearly different, the Caddy having a more limo style and the Chevy having a slight wraparound into the C pillar. Hard to imagine the side greenhouse is the same length with the difference in wheelbases.
But, yes, many B C D GM products shared greenhouse components since probably from before WW II.
Inside or out, I don’t think that there is a bad line on these cars. One of Chrysler’s best of the 60’s.
I think the answer to Paul’s question in the header is located on the sign beyond the pickup bed behind chrysler in the first picture.
Looks like a pretty good starting point. You would have to take a closer look for hidden rust and check how good it runs and drives. I’d easily split the difference at 1,500. Make any offer you want, the seller is in the position to turn it down. Any car is only worth what someone is willing to pay. I keep reminding myself of that as I have car up for sale on CL myself.
Definitely looks like a good start for a project.
The one red flag I see is the rear seat photo. The carpet is gone, and I can’t tell If that is rust or the remains of the padding on the floor. If that area is rusty, what does the area under the seat look like?
Yeah, a torn up rear seat isn’t a good sign. Invariably, even if the front seat has the typical rips and tears, the rear seat remains unscathed from little or no use.
Drop the price to $999, allow me to save up a couple paychecks, and I will be heading my Ford F250 diesel and a rented U-Haul trailer right the hell up there!
Love that ad with the different roofs. And it’s clear the town sedan came off the Newport sedan roof – wasn’t really sure about that until now.
Looks like this one was early enough to have the clear taillight lenses – or is that just the lighting in the picture?
$999 will likely head it for a demo derby.
Those glass headlight covers continue to inspire Chrysler designers. I saw an early Charger sedan today and noticed similar lines in the lens over the projectors.
I like it a lot and don’t think it’s terribly overpriced .
Never sell the 413 CID short ~ we had a whole fleet of them ’69 > ’70 in D300 Dodge trucks , most had THREE YARD dump beds , that’s a serious hauler right there .
Pistons are easy , Egge Machine etc. .
Rust and that driver’s door would be my only concerns .
I just did a major overhaul of the passenger door window lift on an ’81 Mercedes S-Klasse (W-126) and I still have a big healing gash on my right hand that’ll leave one more permanent scar .
Don’t touch old cars unless you want to get your hands dirty ! .
This Land Yacht needs to be saved .
-Nate
Dirty hands and maybe a tetanus shot make the world go ’round!!
I will be visiting my daughter there at Christmas……hmmmm wonder what my wife would say?
Considering the shape this Chrysler is in I am surprised it has a 2012 tab on its rear license plate.
Just so Jon ;
Ask any Farmer (probably mechanics too) about all the damned cuts and not getting tetanus shots regularly .
I’m looking at a 1′ open rip on the back of my right hand thanx to a balky old Mercedes S-Klasse window lift .
It’s part of the job , turns out Chicks _don’t_ dig my badly scarred hands after all .
Broken bones may heal but they still ache 30 years on .
This rig really needs to be saved IMO .
-Nate
Do you have this car still for sale if so where is it located at
It idles rough had a carburetor fire so the hood needs repainting. Most of the chrome needs to be redone. Looking for a cheaper way to recover the seats one shop said 6 to 8 thousand (no way) . The body is straight min rust in the wheel wells. Got it for 3200.00 65 New Yorker.