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Thread: Chrysler Cordoba (1st gen) 1975-1979

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    Chrysler Cordoba (1st gen) 1975-1979

    The Chrysler Cordoba was an intermediate personal luxury coupe sold by Chrysler Corporation in North America from 1975–1983. It was the company's first model produced specifically for the personal luxury market and the first Chrysler-branded vehicle that was smaller than full-size.

    History

    In the early 1960s, when other upmarket brands were expanding into smaller cars with such models as the Mercury Comet and Buick Skylark, Chrysler very publicly declared that there would "never" be a smaller Chrysler. Indeed the 1963 Chrysler deluxe catalog says of the New Yorker, "This is no jr. edition car." The 1962 deluxe catalog goes even further, proclaiming on the rear cover: "there's not a jr. edition in the whole family!".

    The Cordoba name was used in 1970 on a special version of a Chrysler Newport hardtop (two-door and four-door). This full-size model was a "limited edition luxury car, designed to introduce you to Chrysler" and consisted of an exclusive "Cordoba Gold" paint with matching wheels, wheel covers, and side molding with vinyl inserts. Chrysler described this model's textured antique gold all-vinyl interior, matching vinyl roof cover, and the hood ornament with an Aztec eagle as "quiet Spanish motif". Included in the $4,241.65 price was the 383 cu in (6.3 L) 290 bhp (220 kW) two-barrel carburetor V8 engine, automatic transmission, power steering, H78x15 fiberglass-belted whitewall tires, and a "golden tone" AM radio.

    Originally designed by Chrysler to be the all new Plymouth Sebring for 1975 which was to share bodies with the Dodge Charger SE, a decision was made to introduce this car as the first small Chrysler. The smaller Cordoba was introduced 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 (2,921 mm) wheelbase, 9 in (229 mm) 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.

    Although Córdoba is the name of a city in Spain, the car's emblem was actually a stylized version of the Argentina cordoba coin. Either way, the implication was Hispanic, and this theme was carried out with somewhat baroque trim inside the vehicle. Although the first spokes person for the car was Richard Basehart, Chrysler famously secured Mexican movie star Ricardo Montalban as the car's advertising spokesman through its entire run. Notable was his eloquent praise of its "soft Corinthian leather" interior and his Americanized stress on the second syllable of the car's name. Chrysler Cordoba featuring Ricardo Montalban

    The Cordoba was introduced by Chrysler for the 1975 model year as an upscale personal luxury car, competing with the Oldsmobile Cutlass and Buick Regal.

    The Cordoba was originally intended to be a Plymouth—the names Mirada, Premier, Sebring, and Grand Era were associated with the project; all except Grand Era would be used on later Chrysler, Dodge, and Eagle vehicles, though only the Dodge Mirada would be related to the Cordoba. However, losses from the newly introduced full-size C-body models due to the 1973 oil crisis encouraged Chrysler executives to seek higher profits by marketing the model under the more upscale Chrysler brand. The car was a success, with over 150,000 examples sold in 1975, a sales year that was otherwise dismal for the company. Gauges, except the tachometer, were standard.

    For the 1976 model year, sales increased slightly to 165,000. The mildly tweaked 1977 version also sold well, with just under 140,000 cars. The success of using the Chrysler nameplate strategy is contrasted to sales of its similar and somewhat cheaper corporate cousin, the Dodge Charger SE. The similar Dodge achieved only a quarter of Cordoba's sales during the same model years, due to the fact that the Cordoba cost only $160 more than the Charger, leading customers to spend the extra for the prestige of the Chrysler nameplate.

    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 center armrest and cushion, or at extra cost, a center console with floor shifter and storage compartment. The dashboard and door panels featured simulated burled elm trim and metal stampings in 1975, while 1976-79 models featured simulated rosewood trim. A 60/40 bench seat was introduced in 1976 and other seating/upholstery options were added each year through 1979.

    The original design endured with only small changes for three years before a variety of factors contributed to a decline in sales. For 1978, there was a modest restyling with the then popular rectangular headlights in a stacked configuration (the Dodge Charger SE kept its round headlamps for 1978 rather than rectangular stacked of the Cordoba). This made the Cordoba look similar the 1976 to 1977 Monte Carlo from the front. A Chrysler designer, Jeffrey Godshall, wrote in Collectible Automobile magazine that this restyling was viewed as "somewhat tacky" and eliminated much of the visual appeal that the 1975 to 1977 Cordobas had been known for. The restyle also made the car appear heavier than its 1975-77 predecessor at a time when other cars in this class were being downsized to smaller dimensions such as the Ford Thunderbird in 1977 and Chevy Monte Carlo and Pontiac Grand Prix in 1978.

    The Cordoba's sales decline in 1978 and 1979 could also be attributed to the introduction of the smaller Chrysler LeBaron in mid-1977 that was available in both sedan and coupe models, and offered similar personal-luxury styling and options. Facelifted from the abandoned line was the redesigned Ulu trim, whose aerodynamic exterior featured hypoallergenic chrome bumpers, black accenting on the trunk and unique headlights.

    At the same time, Chrysler's financial position and quality reputation was in steady decline. Rising gas prices and tightening fuel economy standards made the Cordoba's nearly 3,700 lb (1,700 kg) weight with 360 cu in (5.9 L) or 400 cu in (6.6 L) V8 engines obsolete. However, for its final year in 1979, a performance oriented version made a return in the form of a one-year-only revival of the Chrysler 300 name.

    Surce: wikiedia.org
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    Lack of charisma can be fatal.
    Visca Catalunya!

  2. #2
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    Is this the best car ever made? #2
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    Lack of charisma can be fatal.
    Visca Catalunya!

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    Chrysler Cordoba (1st gen) 1975-1979 #3
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    Last edited by Man of Steel; 08-12-2019 at 09:58 PM.

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    Chrysler Cordoba (1st gen) 1975-1979 #4
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    Chrysler Cordoba (1st gen) 1975-1979 #5
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    Last edited by Man of Steel; 08-12-2019 at 10:05 PM.

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    I have one question to ask you guys...

    How can you guys both post about this car and not include this commercial?

    Ricardo Montalban - 1975 Chrysler Cordoba Commercial - YouTube

    It's required.

    At this point, soft Corinthian leather is pretty much a meme unto itself.

    It would tickle me to see a Chrysler Cordoba actually be driven in Cordoba, Spain today.
    Last edited by NSXType-R; 08-13-2019 at 03:07 PM.

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    That has been banging around in my head since I have been looking at this thread.

    RIP Montalbán.

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    When the car comes to a stop around 0:46 you see the entire car wobble.
    That's laughable I think you get sea sick when you will drive this here in Europe on our small streets and turns.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by NSXType-R View Post
    It would tickle me to see a Chrysler Cordoba actually be driven in Cordoba, Spain today.
    It most probably wouldn't fit.

    And as Duell says you'd get sick a lot.
    Lack of charisma can be fatal.
    Visca Catalunya!

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ferrer View Post
    It most probably wouldn't fit.
    And as Duell says you'd get sick a lot.
    But with a lot of style
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