QuestionHELLO - THANKS FOR HELPING OTHER'S. MY 16 YEAR OLD SON HAS FOUND A 1967 NEWPORT AND WANTS TO BUY THIS BEAST WITH HIS OWN HARD EARNED CASH. MY QUESTION SIR IS THIS CAR SAFE AND HOW/WHERE DO I FIND THIS INFORMATION. I KNOW TO CHECK THE BASICS LIKE TIRE'S,REPLACE FLUIDS,NEW BRAKES AND SHOCKS.IS THERE ANYTHING ELES I SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT? THANK YOU AND AGAIN THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. - RANDALL
AnswerIt happens that I drive a 67 Chrysler myself, although not as a daily driver, it is one of my restored antiques that I show and use for long trips.
No car from that era has modern safety features like anti-lock brakes, air bags, shoulder belts, etc. However, the full size cars from that era are very sturdy and heavy - in a crash with a modern car, the heavy old car is going to suffer much less damage to itself and to any occupant than the light modern car that would likely be the other party's car - this is just the laws of physics operating here - the more massive object is going to get less impact deceleration than the less massive object - and the ratio goes as the square - in other words, since this car is about twice as heavy as a modern car, in any collision, it will get 1/4 the amount of impact energy, - the modern car gets 3/4. That is why big heavy cars always test safer in impact tests.
The car is very large, and you have to expect much poorer gas mileage - about 15 is the best you will ever see, and there will be trouble finding parking spots that are big enough for it.
Maintenance and parts are not difficult for these cars, and the major mechanical parts are about as durable and trouble free as any car on the road - the 383 V8 engine and the 727 transmission are one of the best in the industry. Those were used for many years, and parts are plentiful. The car has the dual braking system, a big safety improvement, and excellent handling characteristics - the Chrysler line was one of the best in the industry in those years.
If your son is interested in old cars, this would be a good choice for him - and I would encourage him to join the W.P.Chrysler club - the club activities are excellent, as is the monthly magazine, and he will meet many like minded folks, and learn about good honest mechanics and where to get parts and supplies for it.
He will have to put up with ribbing from the Honda crowd in his school, but when he gets involved with others in the old car hobby, he will be in with a really good crowd.
Dick
