1962 Chrysler New Yorker

The tailfin Chryslers of the 1950s were suddenly dropped for 1962, wearing the same grille seen on the previous year's models and continuing to rest on the long-wheelbase chassis. The overhead-valve V8 engine had a 413.3 cubic-inch displacement, five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, and a two-barrel Carter Carburetor, and delivered 340 horsepower at 4,600 RPM. A three-speed TorqueFlite automatic and four-wheel power-assisted drum brakes were standard equipment. Body styles included a sedan, priced at $4,125, a hardtop sedan at $4,265, and a six- and nine-passenger station wagon priced at $4,770 and $4,870 respectively.

The rear of the car easily identified them as a New Yorker, with rear fenders shaved off smooth with the rear deck lid level, which was slightly raised. The taillamps were located in the fender ends starting on the top of the fender and wrapping down the edge to a vertical stem. There were ten rearward slanting bars on the rear quarters, except on the station wagon. In the front, the grille had the cross-bar appearance formerly employed on the 300 Series, flanked on either side by dual-slanted headlamps.

The sedan was the most popular body style with 12,056 examples produced. 6,646 were hardtop sedans, and the combined station wagon totaled 1,521 units.

Chrysler used the New Yorker model name from 1940 to 1996, after serving as the company's flagship. They were often priced and equipped above mainstream brands, but typically below brands like Lincoln, Packard, and Cadillac. During the 1950s, it utilized the Forward Look theme with a sweeping design and large fins. In the early 1960s, the trend changed to understate trim, canted headlamps, and a lack of fins. Both the Newport and the 300 were offered in two-door and convertible styles, while the New Yorker only came in four-door sedan and station wagon bodies. The Newport was the entry-level model and the 300 was the high-performance version.

For 1962, the New Yorker accounted for approximately sixteen percent of Chrysler's production.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2020