1975-1979

The first car to wear a Chrysler badge that wasn’t a full-sized model, the Cordoba was introduced in 1975. The original body lasted four years, replaced by a lighter, squarer model that sold poorly and is largely, and rightfully, all-but forgotten today. The first generation car was an instant hit - moving into third place on the personal luxury car field behind Chevrolet’s Monte Carlo and Ford’s Thunderbird. Backed by a successful print and tv advertising compaign featuring Ricardo Montalban - the Cordoba captured a large piece of the luxury car market thanks to tasteful styling, luxury features and performance.

With the 4bbl 400 cubic inch V8, twin exhaust and Torqueflite automatic, the Cordoba was a spritely if thirsty performer. Chrysler swapped and changed engines on the Cordoba, at times offering the smaller 318 V8, and also the mid-sized 360, before switching back to the 400, then reverting to the 360 as they tried to anticipate changing consumer demands.

The market shifted quickly by the late 1970s with more buyers moving away from personal luxury cars and towards more economical offerings - often by European makes. The Cordoba was left all but stranded and selling poorly from 1979. Today it’s best remembered as the last car entered into the classic personal luxury car field, and for it’s famous ‘fine Corinthian leather’ as uttered by Ricardo Montalban on prime time television.