Substantial Survivor: 1978 Chrysler New Yorker 18K Miles – SOLD!

January 15, 2023, Update – We confirmed the seller of this “Classifind” deleted their listing, so we’re now able to call this one “SOLD!” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

December 24, 2022 Update – The seller replaced their expiring Craigslist ad with a fresh listing. In their new ad, the seller lowered their asking price from $6,500 to $5,900 firm.

December 6, 2022 Update – The seller replaced their existing listing with a fresh Craigslist ad. The description, pictures, and firm asking price all remain the same.

With a more slab-sided appearance than the original “fuselage” styling of the 1969 models, the 1978 Chrysler New Yorker, such as this white over red velour two-door example originally listed in November 2022 on Craigslist in Wasau, Wisconsin, could be one of the lowest mileage survivor examples of the last full-size two-door land yacht produced by Chrysler before Lee Iacocca stepped in to save the company.

Once offered for a firm $6,500, Classic.com, the analytics and search engine for the collector car market, confirms the ask is slightly below the one-year rolling average of this guide’s summary for ninth-generation Chrysler New Yorkers of all body styles and trims produced between 1974 and 1978.  By clicking on the green dots in the graph below, you can navigate to each comparable car sold as a way to help you evaluate the price of the New Yorker featured here:

As a second data point, the  Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the seller’s ask falls between this guide’s #4 “Fair” estimate of $3,900 and its #3 “Good” appraisal of $6,900.

Chrysler introduced its ninth generation full-size New Yorker line-up for 1974 just as the OPEC Oil Embargo hit, so these Land Yachts quickly fell out of favor with gas usage averaging less than 10 miles per gallon.  This generation also saw the introduction of Chrysler’s Lean Burn computerized spark advanced ignition system.  While we take computer-controlled engines for granted today due to their superior reliability when Chrysler launched these first systems, they quickly earned a reputation for unreliability, and thus many owners or their mechanics swapped out the system for a traditional points-based system.  Consequently, these 1974-1978 versions are a rare sight and are even rarer in such low-mileage, original condition.

The cardsaysmoops YouTube Channel features this 1978 vintage test drive of a Chrysler New Yorker Hardtop:

Based on the limited pictures and the seller’s brief description, the only notable defect is the worn vinyl top.  However, that is an easily-remedied cosmetic defect on a very low mileage survivor example that will clean up nicely over the winter in time for next year’s car show schedule.

This is the seller’s most recent description:

“1978 Chrysler new yorker with 18k original miles, 400 engine with automatic transmission, run’s, and drive’s excellent, no rust, very clean car must see to appreciate $5900 firm.”

Here’s the seller’s original description:

Show or go: What would you do with this 1978 Chrysler New Yorker 18K-mile survivor for sale?  Please comment below and let us know!