Chrysler products evolved gracefully through ’60s — fins disappeared, large cars became more refined — and ads for the 1963 New Yorker promised that there were “no junior editions to compromise your investment.” By 1965, Chrysler sales had increased 65 percent and the brand moved from 11th to ninth place in national rankings. Models ranged from the “affordable luxury” of the Newport line (with no fewer than 376 trim and color combinations), through the high-line New Yorker to the sporty 300 with its 440-cubic-inch V-8 engine.
The New Yorker focused on upscale interiors, power accessories, and high-tech dashboard layouts. New Yorker’s powerful V8s, advanced automatic transmissions, and the Unibody construction gave the New Yorker better rigidity and weight distribution than most full-size body-on-frame competitors.
Chrysler New Yorker – 6th Generation (1960–1964)
- Platform: Chrysler C-platform (Unibody)
- Layout: Front-engine, rear-wheel drive (FR)
- Body Styles: 2-door hardtop, 4-door hardtop, sedan, convertible, station wagon
- Position: Top-of-the-line Chrysler (above Saratoga, Newport, and 300)
- Styling: “Space Age” design with large tailfins in 1960–61, followed by cleaner, more restrained looks in later years
- Engineering: Unibody construction, powerful V8s, and advanced automatic transmissions
- Luxury: Focus on upscale interiors, power accessories, and high-tech dashboard layouts
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Production Estimate: Approximately 74,000–75,000 units over the five-year period
1960 Chrysler New Yorker
- Styling: Last year of exaggerated tailfins; dramatic Virgil Exner styling with slanted headlights and spaceship-like rear
- Body: Unibody construction with wide stance and lower profile
- Engine: 413 cu in Golden Lion V8, 350 hp
- Transmission: TorqueFlite 3-speed push-button automatic
- Interior: AstraDome instrument cluster with domed lens and electroluminescent lighting
- Production: Approx. 17,700 units
1961 Chrysler New Yorker
- Styling: Even bolder; free-standing headlights, tailfin taper, and exaggerated sculpture—polarizing Exner design
- Engine: 413 V8, now 375 hp with high-compression setup
- Notable: Optional Auto-Pilot cruise control, power accessories standard on most trims
- Interior: Continued use of AstraDome gauges
- Production: Approx. 14,500 units
- Note: Last year of Virgil Exner’s design leadership
1962 Chrysler New Yorker
- Restyle: Fins eliminated; cleaner, more squared body lines under new styling direction (Elwood Engel influence begins)
- Body Styles: 2- & 4-door hardtops, sedan, convertible, wagon
- Engine: 413 V8, 340–350 hp
- Features: Sleek full-width grille, more refined styling
- Interior: Flat dash replaces AstraDome in some variants
- Production: Approx. 12,300 units
- Significance: First step toward more formal luxury look of late ’60s
1963 Chrysler New Yorker
- Styling: Major redesign with more Lincoln-like formal lines—blocky, elegant, with slab sides
- New Influence: Elwood Engel (formerly of Ford) took over styling; resemblance to ’61 Lincoln Continental
- Engine: 413 V8, 340–360 hp
- Options: Tilt wheel, rear speaker, full power package
- Trim: New Yorker Salon offered as extra-luxury trim level (rare)
- Production: Approx. 14,100 units
1964 Chrysler New Yorker
- Refinement: Subtle facelift—new grille and taillight treatments
- Engine: 413 cu in V8, 360 hp
- Notable Tech: Optional 4-way power seat, air conditioning, power antenna
- Interior: Woodgrain trim, upscale fabrics, formal dash layout
- Production: Approx. 15,700 units
- End of Era: Last year before full redesign for 1965
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