Chrysler Fifth avenue, 1989.

[cfz2882]

I thought these had ended with '88 model year,but this one appeared for sale kinda local to me: one of the very last RWD v8 cars made by the original Iaiccoca era Chrysler corporation Carbed 318 and I think 904 transmission.Very odd to see late-seventies era interior with an airbag steering wheel looking like it might have came from a '91 Dodge Shadow A very nice,handy size,'80s luxury car in dark blue with dark maroon interior.If I had room for an extra car,would consider buying this one !

 

[petek]

My boss, back in 86, had a navy or royal blue, blue vinyl top, and ever so pillow tufted blue velvet like interior. What struck me about it was how the stuck or applied the Fifth Avenue moniker every where in the interior. There was no way you could be a passenger in that car without seeing that you were riding in a 5th Avenue. They were very popular cars with older/seniors, probably moreso than I'd ever seen before.

 

[sudsmaster]

I've had a Plymouth Valiant Signet 200 2-door sedan for decades. It was my first keeper car (I keep trying to forget the '64 Corvair I had for less than a month). I took that car all over - even to Portland, Oregon. Did just fine. Eventually it cracked along the base. Probably from driving it up to the ski country with diluted coolant. That was about 30 years ago. I fixed that with a couple handfuls of Iron-tite plugs. Still should run just fine today, although I admit I haven't run it for a few years now. The crack block can seep a little but not much, and the seepage stops once the block warms up. BFD. I also have a spare block to install in "Gertrude" should she ever need it. She has a 904 push-button transmission, as well, which I had rebuilt once and it works great. At least the last time I drove it. The cool thing about the 904 is that you can bump start it. Second gear, I think. And I've done that!

 

Probably this spring I should renew the reg and collector car insurance and take her on a little jaunt.

 

I also had a 79 Dodge pickup truck for about 10 years. Finally the motor gave out and I junked the thing. Probably a mistake, but I was too busy to fool with it. It probably had a 318 motor, and an automatic, although I don't remember the transmission number.

 

Chrysler got a lot of disrespect from the Chevy and Ford guys, but IMHO the Chryslers were well engineered, and would last a long time if properly cared for.

 

 

[sudsmaster]

Oh, and the Valiant Signet 200 was a 1964 model as well.

 

 

[qsd-dan]

I wasn't aware that the 904 could be bump started. I know some early automatics with a rear pump can like the dual band 4 speed Hydramatics and some of the early Powerglides. I looked it up and one site states Chryslers up to 1965 do have a rear pump and can be push started.

 

If your '79 Dodge had a 318, it had the 904 transmission.

 

I dig the early (pre 1980's) Chrysler powertrains but their interiors were kind of cheap with mediocre fit and finish. Their electrical was always the worst in the industry with the exception of British vehicles. Their overdrive transmissions were highly faulty which was strange because their rear wheel drive designs were heavily based off of their solid built earlier 3 speeds transmissions.

 

[kenwashesmonday]

I believe that most brands 1966 and older had a rear pump and can be push started.  GM, Chrysler, Ford, and Borg Warner (used by Rambler and Studebaker).

 

[sudsmaster]

The trick was you had to press the "2" button to put it into second before attempting to bump start.

 

 

[askolover]

I have always liked those Fifth Avenues from the 80's. I see them once in a while on ebay or autotrader. I'd like to have one even now. I even liked the newer front wheel drive ones too. Even though we don't buy Chryslers...I'd still take one of these.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Had a choice of my 1987 Dodge Charger, a Pontiac Fiero that was one of the last built, or a Chrysler Fifth Avenue that must have been an ‘88 or ‘89, it had a sort of overhead console, versus the earlier-built from ‘82 without—I picked the Charger, all at a Dodge dealer’s used car lot in 1991…

— Dave

 

[circlew]

My Aunt Doris had a Chrysler Fifth Avenue for several years. I think it was either an '86 or '87, and was solid black, with black interior. I did not like it very much, as I thought it just looked like an overdressed Dodge. Previous to that, she had a '79 Thunderbird (silver), and before that a '73 or '74 Ford Gran Torino station wagon (brown), which I liked better. When she bought a '91 Lincoln Town Car (burgundy), my Uncle Joe took over the Chrysler, and drove it a couple years, until it caught fire and was destroyed. I think he was glad to see it go.