Let’s add to our weekly dose of late 1970s Brougham admiration with this 1979 Chrysler Cordoba uploaded to the CC Cohort by nifticus392. For a change, this survivor is still living in its period-correct 2-tone color combination. And if I’m reading my brochures right, it carries the optional Crown Roof, a very Brougham-esque touch for this last year of the model’s first-generation. Someone liked their Cordobas when the purchase of this took place, as lots of options were checked on that order. And looking at it, all I can think about is getting myself a blue polyester suit along with white shoes and belt to be in the proper late 1970s PLC Brougham spirit in order to ride in it.
Like many, I dislike the updated stacked square headlight treatment that many of these seventies models got in their later years; a fad that looked good for about 2 weeks back then (At least to my then kid self: Oooh, square! How modern!). On this Cordoba’s defense, I find that the two-tone treatment looks flamboyantly fitting to its neoclassical lines. And actually, weren’t these mid 1970s PLCs about the last cars when two-tones really added a great deal to the whole package?
The stacked headlight and revised front arrived on the Cordoba for 1978, and other than a slightly updated grille (which predated the 1980s upcoming models), its face carried pretty much unchanged. New for the first-gen’s last year were rather distinctive two-tone treatments, along with other Brougham-associated frothy touches (Landau, Targa roofs, etc.). The “Special Appearance” package got a prominent display for that year, though that’s not what we have today.
Elsewhere in the brochure, today’s two-tone treatment is highlighted. And for those wondering, yes, the model’s renowned “Corinthian Leather” was still on offer.
Colors are a pain to see online, particularly scanned from old printed materials. In all, the closest that comes to today’s combo seems to be what the factory referred to as Dove Gray with Nightwatch Blue. Mmm, perhaps? Pentastar aficionados may confirm or fine tune that.
Regardless, a version of this combination came from the factory, and like lots of Brougham era rides, these could be optioned to the point that they felt quite customized. Overall, about 88,015 Cordobas sold that year (including the 300 version), which was a pretty decent figure for a six year old design, though quite a bit down from its usual 100K+ yearly figure. As for power, in standard form it came in the guise of Chrysler’s 318CID V-8, providing a proper malaise era 120BHP. Optional, in the brochure, the 360CID appears, with better, if not road scorching performance numbers.
Yes, I’m always making some reference to matching suits with these 1970s cars. But how could I not? After all, I still have photos of myself in all sorts of color-coordinated polyester kid clothing (What can I say? Mom had a sense of style). And well, in period shows (Columbo screecapture above), such matching outfits are a recurring theme on trendy characters. Something that wasn’t really fiction. If you lived the time, you know what a weird (and wondrous) trip it all was.
One last look at this one, to remind us a bit how it all was. As for myself, as I keep saying, I’m looking at my old childhood photos and trying to decide which outfit would look better in order to ride in the rear seat of this one.
Related CC reading:
1976 Chrysler Cordoba — Fine Corinthian Brougham
CC Capsule: 1976 Chrysler Cordoba — The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of
1978 Chrysler Cordoba — The Fine Little Chrysler
Why Does Everyone Think Ricardo Montalban Says “Rich” or “Fine” Corinthian Leather?
In that one picture showing the driver side rear quarter, am I seeing this correctly? What’s up with that tire? Painted on white wall?
Doesn’t look like factory wheel covers. But I bet in it’s day new, this was one nice looking car.
What exactly would one be wearing back then as an adult driving a Cordoba. Well here you are from 1976. My father did like to stay up with what was current back then. This would be polyester leisure suit heaven.
In darker colors the stacked headlights don’t “bulge out” visually as much as they do in lighter tones; I do not dislike them, although the round headlights had a more cohesive look. On the other hand, i definitely prefer the newer grille and front bumper.
I was not around when the first gen Cordoba was sold as new, but looking at it today, it seems like a stylish car, very much a product of it’s time in both positives and negatives
The irony of stacked rectangular headlights was the justification the manufacturers used to get them federally approved. They said they were a safety feature in that they would allow car hoods to be lower for improved visibility.
So, after approval, what did the manufacturers do? Stacked them. It’s particularly goofy since, on the few cars where they were placed horizontally, the cars typically looked pretty good (like on the Grand Prix).
Fortunately, the rectangular headlamp fad (along with sealed beam headlamps, as a whole) didn’t last long when composite headlamps were approved, beginning with the new, 1984 Lincoln Mark VII.
I rarely wash my car these days because this one is functional instead of fun. And well, I’m an old man who doesn’t need to show off. But the front of that Cordoba looks like it’s grown moldy. That’s outside the bounds of morality.
I don’t like the stacked headlights and the grille is too Lincolnesque. The wire-wheel covers are cheesy. Two-tones can be nice but this one isn’t making me warm The Special Appearance package takes better advantage of the car’s lines although the black & silver combination has been overdone.
As ’70s personal luxury coupes go, this Cordoba is a grounder to first base for me.
Still waiting for the return of leisure suits and gold chains and of course disco. Loved the music at the time, but never went for leisure suits. At this point in time I don’t think I will ever see the return.
A good wash and wax, some normal wheels/wheelcovers and new tires and that would not be a bad looking old ride. I prefer the round lamps too, the stacked square ones look like an offbrand Monte Carlo wanna be.
This one was definitely dressed up in its late 1970’s best! The PLC buyer had some big choices to make in 1978-80, with models on offer changing drastically. In 1979 I think the Cordoba was the most traditional, then there was the Thunderbird with its more modern roofline, and finally the downsized Monte Carlo/Grand Prix in their second year. By 80 the Bird and the Cordoba were downsized. I would argue that the Cordoba was the only one that retained its good looks when it came shrunken out of the dryer, but the sales figures tell me I am in a small club.
The stacked headlights and new grille made it look like a Monte Carlo. From a distance they can scarcely be told apart. I hated the new front end when I first saw it, still do. Previous years were much classier. If Chrysler wanted to change something they should have gone after the meh rear end.
That was no accident. After the 1962 downsizing debacle, Lynn Townsend and Elwood Engel had quite a run of going the conservative route of simply copying GM’s last model cycle styling. The new 1975 Cordoba was no different and, for once, Chrysler’s timing was spot-on at the height of the seventies’ brougham/PLC era. It didn’t hurt that they had one of the more memorable and effective marketing campaigns. Chrysler really needed it, too. If not for the Cordoba and Omnirizon, there’s a good chance Chrysler might not have survived before Iacocca became available.
So, when the Monte Carlo got stacked rectangular headlights, well, not much of a surprise that the copycat Cordoba would get them, too.
I thought these ugly when new but they seem to have aged well and almost everyone I’ve ever met who owned one, liked it .
I like this two tone color scheme .
I’m also grateful to Chrysler because they used an odd fron shock absorber that happiiy also fit my old Nash Metropolitans, allowing me to be able to source good quality gas charged front shock =8-) .
Gold chains appear to be de rigur for many here today .
-Nate
Was the 3.3L (3300) a version of the 3800, known to be good engines?
The Chrysler pushrod 3.3 V6? Yes, it was a good engine; no significant issues I’m aware of. Ours went almost 200k before we donated it.
As soon as I saw the heading, I thought of Ricardo Montalban and corinthian leather.
In the shortlist of cars ruined by a midcycle refresh this is up there. The whole identity of the Cordoba (beyond rich Corinthian leather) was that Jaguaresque front treatment that managed to have a distinct look in spite of obviously mimicking the Monte Carlo. This stacked treatment just looks like a straight up 1976 Monte Carlo ripoff. The real irony is a lot of the round to stacked headlight cars only needed a new header panel to fit them, that’s the case with the Monte, as well as the Ford LTD II(which used the Elite hood). Chrysler made new stampings for not only the hood but also the fenders for this facelift!!! Why???? What a waste of money.
I much prefer the Dodge Magnum facelift with its side by side rectangulars under retractable covers and cord like grill, it’s not as elegant as the original 75 Cordoba but at least it’s distinctive and inoffensive
Every update to the ’75 Cordoba made it look just a bit worse. Even the guy who redid the ’78 facelift didn’t like the new look, but rectangular headlamps were considered de rigueur in 1978 and had to be incorporated over the designer’s objection.
Seems like we’re living through a similar time where every automaker just has to put a pair of angry LED DRLs to look like headlights but not actually function as headlights. Unfortunately the stacked rectangles was shorter lived to the current trend which seemed to start with the 2014 Cherokee
Back in August of ;87, me and four of my just-graduated college friends took a road trip through the industrial heartland in my hand-me-down ’78 Buick Estate Wagon, affectionately dubbed The Blue Canoe.
One day we were driving down Michigan Avenue in Chicago when this player straight out of Doctor Detroit stepped out of a hotel in a mint green suit and copper tinted hair and into his matching first-gen Seville. Oh yeah, I remember those days well.
I enjoyed this feature on the 1979 Chrysler Cordoba and its flamboyant two-tone luxury. The write-up brings the era to life with vivid detail and appreciation for this classic personal luxury coupe. A great read for car enthusiasts and vintage auto lovers!
Just be thankful AMC didn’t have enough money to redesign the Matador 2 door sedan with stacked rectangular headlights. (There are airbrushed photographs with them.)