Description
Chrysler relaunched the Newport name on the new entry-level full-size model for 1961. With a base price of $2.964 (equivalent to $25.616 today), the Newport was the cheapest Chrysler model intended to appeal to owners of the discontinued DeSoto brand to seduce. . While the Newport was a hit and made up the majority of Chrysler's production, the entry-level Newport sedans were stripped-down versions of traditional Chrysler high-end models, with small hubcaps instead of full hubcaps, subdued interiors. exterior cladding. The perception of a cheap Chrysler has hurt the brand in the long run by devaluing the brand's cachet. In contrast, the next model, the New Yorker, sold for $4.870 (which equates to $42.088 today). The ad was careful to point out that the Newport was not a compact car, describing it as “a full-size Chrysler in a new, lower price range” and using “no Jr. editions.” as a slogan.
In 1961, the Newport was available as a two-door convertible, two-door hardtop, four-door sedan, four-door hardtop and four-door station wagon. The Newport's base engine was the 5.9L V8 producing 269 hp (198 kW). The 6.8L and 6.3L were optional and used primarily in Town & Country cars. All Newports could have been ordered with the 413 single or dual carburetor and most lettered 300 options except the four bucket seats, center console and tachometer. A three-speed manual transmission was standard, but rarely ordered. The instrument cluster was designed with Chrysler push-button controls for the TorqueFlite automatic transmission, where the instrument cluster covered the portion of the steering column, a steering column-mounted shifter would emerge from it. Below (current practice), so manual cars used a gear lever on the floor.
