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Greetings

Although I am not a '68 Newport 'vert owner, I do have a decent literature library to help with the decoding. I'll try to follow your post with the infomation I have at hand. My ride is a 1966 300 vert which very similar in most basic ways to the 67 and 68 verts.

Production: According to most sources, 2,847 Newport 'verts were built for the 1968 model year for the DC1-E Series cars.

The data plate for your described car is always read from left to right, bottom row first starting with the car line.
A 1968 Chrysler Newport convertible will read first Car Line = C ( Chrysler ) E ( Economy class ) 27 ( convertible body style )
Engine 83 ( 440 TNT 375 hp, single 4 bbl carb Carter )
Transmission 5 ( 727B torque flight automatic sales code 395 )
Tires ( there will be two digits ) I can not guess at the numbers, but can de-code them if you can provide the numbers)
Scheduled production date ( there will be three digits with the being the month, and the second and third digits the day of the month )
Shipping order number ( there will be 6 numbers, which are a combination of the production date and the shipping number )

Second and Third row of the data plate;
Numbers 1-8 are for the vehicle mouldings
AX is for the rear axle ratio ( if you have the number it can be de-coded. It is likely to be a 1, 2.76:1 or a 4, 3.23:1 ) If there is an 8 after the ratio it is a Sure Grip
Trim code "TRM" the black all vinyl interior is a E5X with bench or E6X with bucket seats. No leather was factory produced for the Newport series.
Paint code "PNT" the yellow paint code is SS-1
"UBS" : "U" upper door paint ( not applicable for the C Body ) "B" buffed paint ( AA-1 silver metalic only ) "S" sport painted body stripes

Fourth and Fifth rows
various options and standard equipment for your car. They can be de-coded if you provide them

Sixth and Seventh rows
accessoris, lights. mirrors and delivery information for your car. They can be de-coded if you provide them

Your VIN, readable through the left windshield, should read for your car
C = Chrysler
E=Economy price class
27 = convertible
L=440 TNT HP
8=1968 model year
C=Assembly plant.
I'm speculating that it was built in the Jefferson plant in Detroit
The last 6 digits are the sequence numbers.

I am unaware of any C-body which does not have the power top mechanism. The rear lift pistons would be a dead give-a-way as would the lift switch.

The 'vert C-Bodies have problems with the rear top of wheel wells rotting if there is goop preventing drainage. The rear lower quarters,and front lower fenders need to be checked for tin worm. Of course the rear outer wheel wells can rot from the rear fender skirt locating holes. I'd check the trunk pan both top and inside the quarters for rust. No sheet metal is available repop so a good donor car or a skilled metal crafter is needed.

Most mechanical bits are readily available, but interior trim, chrome, and model specific parts are sometimes dificult to find.

I trust that this will be of some help. I Am sure the other members will chime in with additonal information.

Regards

Greetings

Good for you. ( or your buddy, who ever gets to do all the work ) I thought I was in for a challenging project when I restored my 66 300. It was a lot of work but at the end of it, most satisfying.

A few more bits with regards to the de-coding;

Lines Four and Five

A has no sales code but should be for a 26" rad. Odd in that you have no A/C.
C is for a 70 amp battery

Lines Two and Three
4, clear windsheild
0, belt line mouldings
8=wheel opening moulding
1=licence plate frame
RR-1= Burgundy metalic paint


Line1
CE27=as per previous post
61=383 cu in 290 hp
5= auto trans
64= 8:55 x 14 nylon whitewalls ( probably Goodyears)
301=build date, March 01, 1968
071138 build sequence number

The bumpers are only usable for the 1968 model year. I believe that the dash pad may be usable for the 1967 and 1968 model years, but i'd check my parts manual first to be sure.

Good luck with putting the old gal back on the highways.

Regards

Greetings

Bumpers & Dash pad interchange

I dug up my '67 and '68 master parts catalogs. The interchange between the two years is as follows:

Bumpers; 1967 has no interchage with 1968. 1968 interchange is bwtween the Newport, Newport Custom and New Yorker, (except station wagons) all body styles among the three. Part numbers are; front w/guards 2856 882. w/o guards 2856 880. Rear w/guards 2856 851, w/o guards 2856 850. The front rubber bumpers are 2856 822-3.

Dash pads; the 1967 upper dash pad is interchangeable, the lower has a different part number. I do not know was the physical differences are. Part numbers are; 1967 upper2822 455, lower 2857 352. 1968 upper 2822 455, lower 2889 356.

FWIW i'd recommend tracking down both the Master Parts catalogue for the 1968 model year along with the service repair manual. You will find that they are invaluable for tracking down parts and confirming what parts interchange between various models that year, along with serviceing you car.

I've got the parts catalogues from 1955 to 1973, along with the colour and trin selectors from 1965 through 1968. They were very helpful during my restoration.

Regards

Greetings

Just a minor correction, the upper dash pad is interchangable between '67 and 68, the bumpers are interchangable for just the 1968 Chrysler models noted,

The Imperial is more difficult to restore due to limited production. My favorite Imperial's are the 64/65/66 and the 68. I had a 1964 Imperial Crown back in 1975 when I was much younger. Wish i'd kept it as it was so well put together, stately, nice to drive, very luxurious. Oh well, some day i'll get another.

By-the-by, my first name is Gene.

Regards