1979-1982 Chrysler Cordoba 300/LS: A Look Back

1979-1982 Chrysler Cordoba 300/Cordoba LS Browse the article 1979-1982 Chrysler Cordoba 300/Cordoba LS

1979-1982 Chrysler Cordoba 300/Cordoba LS

The 1979-1982 Chrysler Cordoba 300/Cordoba LS was a desperate attempt at recapturing letter-series 300 glory with rather mundane cars.

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1979 Chrysler Cordoba 300 coupe.  See more pictures of Chrysler cars.

The '79, appearing in the fifth and final year for Chrysler's first-generation personal-luxury Cordoba coupe, was basically a $2,040 option package comprising an all-white exterior with special emblems and traditional "cross-hair" 300-style grille, red leather interior with engine-turned dash appliques, handling suspension with G60-15 tires and "firm-feel" power steering, and a four-barrel 360 V-8 pulling a shorter rear-axle ratio through the obligatory TorqueFlite automatic.

A similar exterior package was devised for the downsized 1980 Cordoba, which was based on the Dodge Aspen/Plymouth Volare compacts, but the official name was LS, fortified underpinnings cost extra, and there were no special engines, just the lowly standard Slant Six and optional 318 V-8.

It's mentioned here mainly for interest value. We think the '79 could become a minor collectible in the distant future, but LS prospects seem slim to non-existent at this time.

Pluses of the 1979-1982 Chrysler Cordoba 300/Cordoba LS:

• Dirt cheap
• Traditional 300 styling cues

Minuses of the 1979-1982 Chrysler Cordoba 300/Cordoba LS:

• Sad reminders of "The Old Chrysler Corporation"
  
• Even clubs look down on them
  
• Patchy workmanship
  
• '79 very rust-prone
  
• Anemic six-cylinder 1980-82 performance

Production of the 1979-1982 Chrysler Cordoba 300/Cordoba LS:

• 1979 est.: 2,500
• 1980 est.: 5,000
• 1981: 7,315
• 1982: 3,136
  

Specifications of the 1979-1982 Chrysler Cordoba 300/Cordoba LS:
Length, inches: 215.8/210.1 (1979/80-82)
Wheelbase, inches: 114.9/112.7 (1979/80-82)
Weight, pounds: 4,210/3,300-3,500 (1979/80-82)
Price, new: $9,175 (1979), $7,200-8,360 (1980-82)

Engines for the 1979-1982 Chrysler Cordoba 300/Cordoba LS:

Type
Size
Horsepower
Years
ohv I-6/ohv V-8 225/318/360
85/130/165/195 1979-1982

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