1963 Chrysler New Yorker

History

When Chrysler’s New Yorker was refreshed in 1963, it marked a dramatic departure from Jet Age-style popularized by Virgil Exner. Eschewing the Forward Look design of sharp fins and two-tone paint, the New Yorker went in a more squared-off, mature direction under Elwood Engel whose design credits include the 1961 Lincoln Continental.

Notable changes like level headlights – versus the iconic slanted orientation in 1961 – and wrap-around fender trim gave the updated New Yorker a whole new feel. Finished in black, today’s example really shows off that under-the-radar vibe…until you open the doors to see the relatively wild turquoise cabin.

That’s what makes a car like this so darn cool. It has all the massive presence of these old-school sedans with just the right amount of smooth-operator style. Not to mention the 6.8L beast of a V8 that made 470 pound-feet of twist when new! Before the modern era of gigantic SUVs, these full-size sedans ruled the roost, and this is your opportunity to find out why.