The personal luxury version was the company's first model produced specifically for that market segment and the first Chrysler-branded vehicle smaller than full-size.

Chrysler developed a concept car, the Cordoba de Oro, which was shown at the 1970 Chicago Auto Show.

Its advanced features included a cantilevered roof with no A-pillars between the windshield and the side windows, as well as a thermostatically controlled air intake with horizontal experimental headlights inside the grille.

[4] This full-size model was a "limited edition luxury car, designed to introduce you to Chrysler" and consisted of an exclusive "Cordoba Gold" paint with matching wheels, wheel covers, and grille fascia, the side molding had textured vinyl inserts, an "Espanol" vinyl roof cover featured a distinctive pattern, and the hood ornament included an "Aztec" eagle.

[5] The Aztec motif continued into the interior with textured antique gold vinyl seats and door panels as well as special dash and glovebox appliqué.

[4] Included in the US$3,769 (equivalent to $29,571 in 2023)[6] base price were the 383 cu in (6.3 L) 200 hp (149 kW; 203 PS) two-barrel carburetor V8 along with a special gold vinyl roof as well as the exterior and interior Axtec trim.

Adding an automatic transmission, power steering, H78x15 fiberglass-belted whitewall tires, and a "golden tone" AM radio raised the price to $4,241.65.

[7] Chrysler initially designed the 1974 Cordoba to be the all-new Plymouth Sebring for 1975, which was to share bodies with the Dodge Charger SE.

"[14] The Cordoba was introduced by Chrysler for the 1975 model year as an upscale personal luxury car, competing with the Oldsmobile Cutlass, Buick Regal, and Mercury Cougar.

The success of using the Chrysler nameplate strategy is contrasted to the far fewer sales of its similar and somewhat cheaper corporate cousin, the Dodge Charger SE.

A Chrysler designer, Jeffrey Godshall, wrote in Collectible Automobile magazine that this restyling was viewed as "somewhat tacky" and eliminated much of the visual appeal that 1975 through 1977 Cordobas had been known for.

The Cordoba's sales decline in 1978 and 1979 could also be attributed to the introduction of the smaller Chrysler LeBaron in mid-1977 which was available in both sedan and coupe models and offered similar personal-luxury styling and options.

For 1979 a $2,040 "300" option package was offered on the Cordoba, featuring an all-white exterior, "Chrysler 300"-style grille, and a four-barrel 360 V8 engine.

The smaller, second-generation model used the J-platform dating to the 1976 F-body Plymouth Volaré, and its rebadged variant, the Dodge Mirada.

For example, the Chevrolet Monte Carlo shrank in size in 1978 and the Ford Thunderbird was downsized for the 1980 model year.

[26] Regarding the 300 version, Consumer Guide described in 2007 that "the '79 could become a minor collectible in the distant future, but LS prospects seem slim to non-existent at this time.