It was a dual-cowl phaeton that used the 323.5 cu in (5.3 L) Chrysler Straight Eight "Spitfire" engine with dual carburetors coupled to a three-speed manual transmission.

Five Newport Phaeton are known to exist today, while five Thunderbolts also show to have been manufactured, sharing the 127 in (3,226 mm) chassis and mechanicals with the Chrysler New Yorker.

Futuristic features that were shared with both the Thunderbolt and the Newport Phaeton were electro-hydraulic doors, electric windows and covered headlights.

This pace car, chassis number C7807503, was the only one that did not have hide-away headlights and became the personal property of Walter P. Chrysler Jr. after the race.

[14] Briefly in 1955, Chrysler used the nameplates St. Regis for the New Yorker and Nassau for the Windsor hardtops with two-tone paint schemes but ended the practice in 1956.

At a base price of $2,964 ($30,527 in 2023 dollars [15]), the Newport was the least expensive Chrysler model, intended to appeal to owners of the discontinued DeSoto brand.

While the Newport was successful and comprised the bulk of Chrysler production, the base Newport sedans were modest trim package versions of Chrysler's traditional upscale models, featuring smaller hubcaps instead of full-wheel covers, plain interiors and a minimal amount of exterior trim.

By contrast, the next model up, the New Yorker, retailed for $4,870 ($50,157 in 2023 dollars [15])[16] Advertising took pains to emphasize the Newport was not a compact car, describing it as "a full-size Chrysler in a new lower price range" and using "no jr. editions" as a tagline.

All Newports could have been ordered with the 413 either single or dual four-bbl carbs and most of the 300 letter car options, except the four bucket seats, center console, and tachometer.

The canted headlight approach was previously used by Lincoln, and briefly by Buick, but by 1961 when this generation was introduced the feature was unique to Chrysler.

The 1965 Newport was built on an all-new Chrysler C platform, shared with the 300 and New Yorker, along with the Dodge Polara and Plymouth Fury.

A new bodystyle for 1965 (shared with other Chryslers and Dodge Polaras) was a six-window Town Sedan that included a small side-window in the pillar similar to the three-window design of 1950s cars.

[14] The standard engine for the 1965 Newport was the 383 cu in (6.3 L) V8 with two-barrel carburetor and 270 hp (201 kW), designed for use of regular gasoline of 92–94 Research octane.

Optionally available at extra cost was the 383 with four-barrel carburetion and 315 hp (235 kW) with higher compression and required premium fuel of 98–100 octane rating.

New this year was Chrysler's 440 cu in (7.2 L) V8 that was available in a high-output TNT version with four-barrel carburetor, dual exhausts, and dual-snorkel air cleaner.

[14] A mid-year offering on the Newport hardtop coupe and convertible was the Sportsgrain option similar to the simulated woodgrain exterior bodyside trim on the Town and Country station wagons of this period.

[14] Mercury tried a similar approach to the Sportsgrain Newport in 1968 by offering woodgrain "Yacht Deck Paneling" as an option on its Park Lane coupes and convertibles, which also did not experience significant consumer demand.

The Newport was completely redesigned again for 1969, and featured the distinctive "Fuselage Styling" that would become symbolic of Chrysler's full-size cars until the end of the 1973 model year.

[23] Power output would steadily decrease on all engines during this generation due to stricter emissions standards and rising fuel prices.

The former vertical style tail lights (which were retained by the standard Newport) were replaced by a set that stretched out horizontally across the back of the car.

While GM and Ford had downsized their big cars by engineering smaller bodies around more spacious passenger accommodations, Chrysler took a different approach.

The existing Chrysler B platform was modified to improve fuel efficiency through a number of weight saving measures.