Forgotten concept – Chrysler Cordoba de Oro

It is the fate of so many automotive concepts to intrigue and delight us, and then disappear from view — never to be seen again.

The Chrysler Cordoba de Oro is one such car.

First shown at the Chicago Auto Show in 1970, the smooth rounded flanks of the Cordoba de Oro reinforced the airplane inspired “fuselage” design themes that Engel was then applying to all Chrysler cars.

Flush fitted windscreen and side windows emphasised the sleek silhouette.

One eye-catching design feature was its cantilevered roof and complete lack of A-pillars.

Elwood Engel, who was Chrysler’s styling boss at the time, said the absence of A-pillars and cantilevered roof reflected the design of the 1956 Chrysler Norseman, designed by Virgil Exner, Engel’s predecessor at Chrysler.

Designed in Detroit and built by Ghia in Italy, the Norseman was supposed to be Chrysler’s main attraction on the 1956 auto show circuit.

But the car never made it to the USA.

It was shipped to the USA aboard the ocean liner SS Andrea Doria, which sank off the coast of Massachusetts in July of 1956.

You can read more about the Norseman in one of my earlier stories.

Although it had no engine and drivetrain, an air speed brake was supposed to rise out from above the rear window when the brakes were applied at speed.

Large lights formed most of the grille.

The interior featured adjustable pedestal bucket seats with and integrated lap and shoulder belt system.

The seats were upholstered in gold leather to match the car’s iridescent gold/bronze exterior paint.

A prototype airbag was fitted, as was a rear mounted camera and TV monitor on the centre console, replacing the conventional rear-view mirror.

The production cars that came closest to reflecting the Cordoba’s overall styling theme were the Plymouth Satellite and Dodge Charger models of the early 1970s — especially the smooth C-pillars.

Austin 1800: less than success

The Cordoba name was later used on Chrysler’s very successful personal luxury car of the late 1970s.

TV advertisements for the car were fronted by American actor Ricardo Montalban.

They are legendary for his pronunciation of the words “soft Corinthian leather” to describe the upholstery.

Automotive folklore suggests that Montalban added the word “Corinthian” during the making of the advertisement because the producer needed him to speak for one additional second, and Corinthian filled the gap.

The Cordoba de Oro was most likely dismantled in the early 1970s.

David Burrell is the editor of retroautos