I Bought a 1987 Chrysler Fifth Avenue - 80s LAND YACHT GLORY!

[@malcolmschenot6352]

At the time the 5th Avenue was called Lee Iacocca's poor man's Cadillac. I drove taxi in New York 1980-81 and it was all Dodge Diplomats with slant 6's. Almost the same looking car with slightly toned-down front clip. We drove those things around that city like they were bottle rockets. I was 23-24. Now you can't get a taxi license in NY until you're 25. I didn't think much of them in those days but I love the look of them now.

[@HelpingHand-ic4wt]

Seinfeld always used the same Diplomat cab seating buck when cab scenes required it. 1980 in NYC driving cab... oh boy, good times.

[@dcmbdcmb3116]

That is hardly a land yacht. A Buick Electra is a land yacht, and it will even run.

[@new2000car]

It could be called a land turd.

[@olikat8]

First off- get rid of the "Lean burn" ignition, put in the stock electronic ignition. With that, you'll have to put a 4-bbl intake & carb, because the factory one feeds into a crude ECU- it controls the ignition. Walker exhaust used to make a Y-pipe that eliminated the pre-cats up near the manifolds, too...the car will run worlds better. If you check the the rear gear tag? Bet you have the 2,2-1 rear gear ratio. A lot of real inexpensive upgrades/improvements for these M-bodies.

[@tpatrickcrowemx429]

Definitely

[@HelpingHand-ic4wt]

Ease of repair and low cost for replacement parts make it a good car to learn basic auto mechanics on.

[@dave3657]

Sounds like it’s having fuel issues. I would replace the fuel filter, the smog carburetor, and possibly the fuel pump. Probably could use new spark plugs and wires, transmission flush, antifreeze. But overall you have a good start. 👍🏻

[@sneaks01]

Haha… my Dad had one. As a younger guy, I always enjoyed it. The seats were like a couch! It was fun to drive back in the day. 😊 Good luck!!

[@malloryhead]

This was my first car in 2000! I loved it. Big fluffy velvet seats. Everyone talked about how comfy it was. Never had any problems with it in 4 years. And it absolutely plowed through snow.

[@HelpingHand-ic4wt]

Fuel pumps that these cars have are known to break their rubber diaphragm with the alcohol gas we get. Intermittent fuel starvation is a typical sign. A new fuel pump & carb kit with new accelerator pump, not to be confused with the fuel pump, never hurts. The one driver said he was flooring it, but it appears to be starving for gas. The computer these cars use have a feature... for every X minutes of highway speed driving, it leaves the advance higher for the next time the gas is pushed, it will accelerate faster than when it's driven in town. So drive it on a highway, come to a stop light, then accelerate, it should leap off the line if the fuel system is good.

[@astardustparade]

My great aunt had this car. She got in from her sister in the 80s. I remember growing up in the 90s and riding in it and it feeling so comfy.

[@thebestisyettocome4114]

Has new in 1986. The car was very good for its time. Enjoy yours.

[@TaylorZ2]

These cars were ubiquitous in their day! They were everywhere. The offered extreme comfort and luxury at an affordable price. Why exactly did it die pulling out of the gas station though? Sadly, quality control was really lacking in 80s cars. Michael looks right at home driving it.

[@colinmclarty2200]

I took my drivers test in a Fifth Avenue. That car was a disaster from the day we my grandparents bought it new. 😂

[@netob6826]

Pretty cool! I would get a full tune up done, maybe a carb rebuild, get the carb tune or see if it’s even the right one, check timing replace fuel filter, oil change to make sure this is running and can be good 👌

[@melvinharris7859]

Come on, that's a midsize car! And its unibody! That ain't no land yacht. More like a pimped out Dodge Aspen. Not surprised it gets questions, while this car may be from 1987, it looks more like a car from 1976. Since, that's when the body it uses and chassis first came out. I don't think these are bad vehicles, but I always saw them as little imitation luxury cars. A small car trying to pretend its a big car. They don't ride nearly as nice as a Cadillac or Lincoln from the era either, due to the unibody architecture, short wheelbase, and the primitive suspension design (rear leafs, transverse torsion bar front). They also managed to get the worst fuel economy of any "big" American V8 luxury sedan of the time, despite also being the smallest and most cramped one out of all of them. This is due to them lacking an overdrive gear in the transmission. Frankly, its astonishing to me they sold any of these at all, considering they are just objectively inferior to their competition in basically every way. I'd guess the only people they sold to were old Chrysler diehards. Not hating though, just giving my opinion. Personally if I got one of these M-Bodies I'd prefer something along the lines of maybe a low-spec slicktop Diplomat or Gran Fury. These cars just don't really work as plush luxury cars IMO.

[@donaldsmith7047]

Had an 82 LeBaron convertible. A K car but it floated. No idea how they did it

[@melvinharris7859]

@@donaldsmith7047 The K-Car actually had a more advanced suspension design than these did, having coils on all 4 corners, as the K-Car architecture was released 4 years after the original F-Body. The F-Body/M-Body was the last Chrysler car with the traditional Chrysler torsion bar/leaf spring setup. I haven't driven a K-Car, but I wouldn't be surprised if the K-Car based Fifth Avenue that replaced these rode better than the M-Body did.

[@HelpingHand-ic4wt]

@@melvinharris7859 The Transverse Torsion Bar 1976 & up FMJ body Chryslers were a huge advancement over the older, straight torsion bar cars. The torsion bars sent all the vibration to the front of a rubber isolated subframe about 4 feet ahead of your feet when the older style sent it all to a solid mounted crossmember under your butt. This made for a super quiet, isolated ride with the fast unwinding torsion bars whereas the all -coil strut cars develop an oscillation as they act like pogo sticks going down the road. This makes the torsion bar car more level while driving, less wallow and pitch, more tire grip to the road. The 1976 Volare/Aspen were advertized as having "near full sized car ride comfort", and thats when they made aircraft carriers as cars. They ride great. I would suggest this car be raised a couple of inches in front, it's super easy to do, just turn the adjusters with a really big bar and socket. It would restore suspension travel and make it feel less "hoppy", they were supposed to ride on the high side.

[@DG-sf9ei]

He needs to open his eyes to the 1970s, the 80s were land yacht wannabes

[@melvinharris7859]

@@HelpingHand-ic4wt These cars didn't have nearly the road isolation or noise isolation of a coil sprung perimeter frame car, but I will admit the ride was at least more level compared to other luxury cars of the time. But then again so was the ride of a 3/4 ton pickup truck. The float and wallow is sorta where the "boat" or "land yacht" terminology comes into play, which these cars lack, despite what this video alleges.

[@JazzzRockFuzion]

Land yacht? Hardly. Believe it or not, this car would have been considered “small” back in the late 70s…it is, in fact, based on Chrysler’s F Body, with origins in the 1976 Dodge Aspen/Plymouth Volare. Contrary to other comments here about “80s Chrysler” - the tech in this car was very old for the 1980s; much of the basic drivetrain and suspension engineering dating back to the 60s. A 318 with a Torqueflite automatic and torsion bar/leaf spring suspension can be *extremely reliable* with a modicum of know-how and maintenance. Tune up and de-smog that 318, maybe put a nice aftermarket 4B carb on it. If you’re feeling adventurous, swap out to a tougher rear end…you’ll have an excellent driving, comfortable and surprisingly peppy MOPAR. 😁

[@forresthoffman489]

I bought one of these for 600 bucks over a month ago. Much rougher cosmetically but still runs and drives. Can't wait to fix her up!

[@InternetDude]

No this car is not big enough to be called a Land Yacht. I owned a 07 Town Car, that was a yacht.

[@risaacpadilla3889]

I agree. But I think Fifth Avenue was not really a competitor for the Cadillac and Lincoln brands. Perhaps, it was pretty much for the Ford Crown Victoria LX and the Chevy Caprice Classic LS. Certainly, the Town Car was big. But I would say we were both lucky to have one of those. Reliable, efficient and luxurious like no other full size made in America. Had a '96 Executive and currently, a 2011 Signature for collection purposes. 💯👌😊

[@gconley701]

dude ive wanted one of these for so long, the biggest issue with these is those shitty lean burn ignition systems

[@TaylorZ2]

For sure! My parents bought one new and it was so unreliable that they finally had to get another car all because of trouble with the lean burn. Once they were on an 8 hour road trip and it died right in the middle of it, so they were stuck four hours from home and the car had to be towed to a Chrysler dealer because lean burn computer fried. Talk about inconvenience and the car was still relatively new. What good is a car if you can't rely on it?

[@Ayianalopezmae]

Best video by far of yours ❤❤❤❤

[@UQRXD]

Get a Lincoln Town car, it is a land aircraft carrier.

[@risaacpadilla3889]

I think history has been a little bit rude toward the Chrysler's M platform. Those units were reliable but not as attractive as the LTD Crown Victoria LX and the Chevy Caprice Classic LS Brougham. After 37 years, it's not uncommon to see many of them running pretty much well. The same can't be said of foreign cars. Specifically, those japanese compact phenomenons. Ugly like hell.

[@meanyist]

I owned a fifth Avenue up til a few years ago it was a nice car and the styling was fabulous ❤

[@dmcnamara9859]

Would not call a Volare with a padded vinyl roof a Land Yacht.

[@paytongraham2036]

5:17 that sudden jerk into gear is the trans slipping my Lincoln was doing the same thing shuttering at a stop and then jerking into gear like that eventually it started doing that on the highway and now the trans is currently being rebuilt. Hopefully it’s just me jumping the gun but I just experienced those same symptoms

[@troyweingart8176]

This is a midsized car.

[@TheBeagle58]

These were great. I rode in two brand new

[@MidnightPolaris800]

A guy I knew in highschool had one of these and on his license plate it said "DNT H8" 😂😂😂

[@gregg1699]

did i miss the purchase price? im curious because i have a 1988 fifth ave with 22,000 miles

[@jarmelo2006]

Those are great cars bro.

[@old_school_guy]

Even though it's a smog motor put a 4 barrel on it and it will roast the tires.

[@HatBilly2008]

My mother had one, They are the best car. I love it. 318 engine was amazing. I drove it 19-25. She hit 2 deer with it. And she sold it . I should have bought it and fixed it.

[@aaronwilliams6989]

My dad wanted one, but either didn't have the money or wanted to spend that much money when he did finally have it.

[@scottzurbrigen4149]

That's a midsized car

[@TeddyBearGaming999]

It is certainly a yacht. However the oldmobil remains the unquestioned supreme yacht overlord

[@aaronwilliams6989]

Yeah. By today's standards. I kinda miss those days, really, and for more reasons than one.

[@jameswillett7186]

The 1987 Chrysler Fifth Avenue was built off of the Dodge Aspen/Plymouth Volare compact car platform introduced for the 1976 model year. They were considered small cars at the time. By 1987 it was the largest four door sedan Chrysler sold but it was far from a Land Yacht. The 1978 Chrysler New Yorker at 231 inches in length and weighing 4,400 pounds was a Land Yacht.

[@boristheamerican2938]

He did say 80s land yacht

[@jameswillett7186]

@@boristheamerican2938 Even in 1987 it was not a land yacht. A 1987 Lincoln Town Car was far longer, wider and heavier as was the 1987 Cadillac Brougham- those two cars would qualify as land yachts in 1987.

[@aaronwilliams6989]

So were the somewhat smaller 1989-81 R bodies.

[@aaronwilliams6989]

​@@jameswillett7186True. Chrysler didn't even have a big car anymore at all.

[@mexicanspec]

A Chrysler 5th Ave. is not a land yacht, it is a mid sized car at best.

[@MikeekiM-vh5se]

Change the carburetor, you have smog carburetor ..The performance increases tenfold.. Yes they are slow until you change the carburetor(your lean burn/spark control computer is already removed) also get a 1968 2 barrel form a 318 the 140 -150 hp goes to 200 and you notice the gain immensely.. or get a duel plane intake and 650 cfm four barrel then a lot better.. Remember you also have 2.21 rear axle ratio and a 2.74 1st gear ratio.. Example a new Honda Civic s.i has a axle ratio of 4.34 that in the Chrysler would make it seconds quicker to 60....another example the Dodge/Chrysler 8 speed has a 4.81 1st gear that makes the car again seconds quicker mixed with 3.06 axle ratio the 5th Ave would wake up. This car basically came out in 1976 as the Dodge Aspen,Plymouth Volare but a upgraded version in 1977 the Chrysler LeBaron and Dodge Diplomat..The Fifth Avenue was a expensive luxury car and always praised,the owners loved them..I bought several over the years as flip cars,bought/sold and they were quick sellers..These were reliable and well built...These are good handling cars,steering is good its just real easy to turn the wheel many people cant figure it out these days,but you turn the wheel the car shoudl turn,if not check the steering box..Also lower the front end 1 to 1.5 inches and handling improves more(alignment and everything is fine never harms it)..Easy to do find the torsion bar and crank it,one way it goes up,other way she goes down! Ford Crown Victoria .Mercury Grand Marquis are basically a 1971 car until 2010 or whenever they quit them..Also the 79-91 versions were identical except a few minor changes..Ditto Chevrolet Caprice/Impala and Pontiac,Buick,Olds clones came out in the 1970's and lasted until 1992. CHANGE THE CARBURETOR...do not get the mog carb..best to do is a 4 barrel swap as nobody knows what 2 bbl carb to get..I wnet from 20.9 in the 1/4 mile to 16.30 with just the computer delete and 2bbl carb from a older 318..The engine never get full throttle with the carburetor you have,its only 1/4 throttle!!!

[@dave3657]

Totally agree, swap out that carb.

[@boristheamerican2938]

Good God, that car needs spark plug wires. Go get a full tune up and change the fuel filter too.

[@the23rdbryan]

Is it slightly larger than some car makes and models today...? Yes. Is it a "land yacht" ? Not even a little close. This car is as mid sized as mid sized gets if not on the small side ( and yes that's from personal experience. )

[@kaiserbillxiv1245]

I had an 87 Plymouth Caravelle RWD, same care, but on factory propane. Easy to work on. Wouldn't call it a land yacht as it was considered a midsize car in the 70s. Many newer- so called mini vans weigh in the 4600lb range. A Crown Vic/Continental/Marquis weigh around 4100 lbs yet are called large cars. You can easily modify the engine for more pep. Handling was never great, but acceptable and like newer Chrysler products this one is reliable.

[@aaronwilliams6989]

Sounds like a Canadian model. That car was the Gran Fury in the US market. Our Caravelle was the K-car based FWD model.

[@kaiserbillxiv1245]

@@aaronwilliams6989 It was a Canadian model. Ex police car. Some FWD Caravelles were sold here also.

[@Gasfumes1067]

Had one for a while was a reliable but slow car

[@rainbowmangarage]

I have a 93 I just put in the road

[@InternetDude]

you need to work on your editing, when the music comes on it's twice as loud as your voices. Stabilize the overall volume.

[@TopherParkerCars]

Thanks, I’m new to putting music in my videos, but i’ll keep working on it and the next one will be better!

[@craigchally5942]

80s Mopar. Run. Run far away and don’t look back.

[@JazzzRockFuzion]

These aren’t K Cars, much of the drivetrain and suspension tech go back to the 60s. It’s basic, reliable stuff with some maintenance and know-how

[@MidnightPolaris800]

K cars were good vehicles man​@@JazzzRockFuzion

[@Burninhellscrootoob]

That was a midsize car, if u really want to drive a boat, try a 68 thru 76 model with the 440 , they were about 25 feet long, and almost as wide😂😂😂

[@bestoflincolnmotorcompany]

Enjoy the good life Boy's, there's nothin like a 1980's Chrysler, amazing it Drives at all !!!!!