1962 Chrysler 300 convertible ONE OWNER SURVIVOR

*SOLD*

I know we've been talking about how the word "survivor" has been abused lately, but this car qualifies without conditions or asterisks. This 1962 Chrysler 300 convertible was purchased new by my client's late husband and aside from tires, battery, belts, hoses, and tune-up parts, it is 100% original. Paint, interior, top, engine, everything is the same stuff bolted on more than five decades ago. It is the only new car this couple ever purchased, and as a result has enjoyed a very easy life. It shows 62,888 original miles and there's no question that's authentic. The car is not perfect, of course, and there are plenty of signs that it has been driven and enjoyed, but there are also plenty of signs that it has been loved. The paint has a wonderful soft shine with remarkably few blemishes--a few chips and nicks but nothing major to note and I think a professional compound buff would really wake it up. The bodywork is 100% original, never hit, and super straight without so much as a parking lot ding in its flanks. The chrome is likewise factory-issue and remarkably well-preserved, particularly the grille and body side moldings. The bumpers show some scuffs, with the most notable being the passenger's right front where it was clearly "parked by feel" in the garage during the owner's later years, but otherwise it's very nice.

The red leather interior has just the right kind of patina to make it inviting without worrying about perfection. It's a little cracked, a little stiff, but like the paint, it would be a crime to think of replacing it. We've conditioned it, which softened it up a bit and continued applications should improve it even more. There's a single 1-inch seam split on the passenger's seat cushion, which would be easy enough for an upholstery shop to fix invisibly, but otherwise it is not in need of professional assistance. The original carpets are protected by aftermarket mats that have probably been there for decades and the door panels are a little discolored but otherwise excellent. And the highlight of this car's interior is the Astra-Dome instrument panel which remains fully functional, including the turquoise electro-luminescent back-lighting. In fact, everything works, including the AM radio and the power convertible top. Speaking of the top, it is also original and undamaged, although it's a little discolored by age and the rear window is only a little cloudy but not really in need of replacement. There's a matching red boot that's been patched once or twice but still looks good and the massive trunk still carries what I believe to be the original Goodyear spare tire. The ancient trunk mat is hard and brittle and cracked when I tried to peel it back to look at the floors, so I left it alone, but from underneath there are no signs of rust or other trouble on this car and it's apparently never seen winter weather.

The 383 cubic inch V8 is the original engine and runs superbly, the way a great survivor should. It starts easily with that characteristic Chrysler starter whirr and quickly settles into a smooth, quiet idle. The engine bay isn't detailed for show and a dedicated enthusiast could spend a weekend cleaning things up to really pay big dividends. Everything is there, from the air cleaner to the original exhaust manifolds and nothing deviates from original specs. It runs so smoothly that it feels like the engine mounts are made of air, not rubber, and there's plenty of torque to move the big convertible with ease. Power brakes and power steering are both fully operational and there's a set of whitewall radials that don't do the overall look any favors but they ride and handle well.

This car is a slam-dunk for HPOF competition and if you like them unmolested and with an awesome pedigree (1-owner!) then this is one of those rare finds that makes us lovers of original cars smile. We're asking $34,900, and we're always open to reasonable offers. Knock 'em dead in next year's Hershey HPOF class!

Now this ISN'T a smart ass question, but is the reason YOU haven't cleaned up the engine dept. our repaired the seat is because you want new owner to make that decision?

YOU have done some things, so wondering WHY not the mentioned above?

Thanks,

Dale in Indy

Fantastic ...

If they wish, the next owner could easily change out the coolant hoses and clamps - go back to a set of bias-ply wide-white tires, and enter for HPOF,

or just drive it "as-is" and watch the "Thumbs-Up" from the admiring public

Doing such things costs money, Dale. The widow isn't interested in spending money on the car--it breaks her heart to sell it and she had a neighbor bring it over because she can't even bear to ride in it or even look at the car anymore. I did, actually, spend about six hours detailing the car, including the engine bay, which you'll note IS clean and grease-free now. It just needs detailing in a sympathetic way. Yes, the cheap hoses bother me, but where do you stop fixing it up? Should I repaint the engine or at least the valve covers (then it's not original anymore--some people would care about THAT)? The air cleaner? The exhaust manifolds? What should stay original and what should be "restored" and who am I to make that decision for the next owner? Should I have sprayed it with clear to make it shiny like some crappy used car dealer? I did give the whole body a once-over with the clay bar and a fresh coat of wax, and polished the chrome, in addition to cleaning and feeding the interior leather. My time and resources are limited, I'm just one guy with a start-up business trying to figure out a way to make it work, and this car got a lot of attention before I photographed it and put it up for sale.

The engine bay was much, much dirtier when it showed up--I suspect it had never been cleaned. Would spending another $800 on a professional engine bay detail make the car $800 more valuable? Is a split seam something that will keep a buyer from buying the car? I weigh these decisions and in this car's case, I don't feel like running up a big service tab on the widow has any merit. I do what I reasonably can to get the cars ready for sale but there comes a point where you hit diminishing returns. Would the car be easier to sell with another $1000 thrown at it? Sure. Any car would. Will it be $1000 more valuable when it's done? Nope. The buyer is still going to want to haggle, I'm still going to let him, and if those details become a sticking point, I'll deal with them then.

I don't think either of those small items really detracts from what is otherwise an incredibly solid, ready-to-use big luxury convertible with an awesome history. I have multiple magazine and newspaper articles about the car and, more importantly the owner, who from all reports appears to have been a first-rate person in every way. It's not an amazing, rare, find-of-the-century kind of thing, but it might be the nicest original one you'll ever see.

This is why I always open conversations with prospective buyers with, "What are your expectations?" I don't want anyone getting a car with surprises, including this one. It's original, and original does not mean perfect. Does this car meet expectations when placed in context? I suspect that it will.

Not sure what I've done to attract your ire, Dale, but if you have to keep prefacing your comments to me with "I"m not a smartass, but..." you might want to rethink your tack. It's like when a guy says, "I'm not a racist, but..." you can bet he's about to say a horribly racist thing. Have I done something to offend you to make you constantly nit-pick my posts like this? I don't see you doing it to any of the other cars for sale here, and if you can't nit-pick the car, you nit-pick my writing. What's the issue?

Beautiful car, Matt. You know I'm a fan of these big, sixties MoPars and if I had a hole in the barn, this would likely fill it. As usual, very well presented.

Matt, well presented as stated. Your description, as always, is honest and spot on, great car, and anyone who criticizes minor points is not a serious contender for the next pride of ownership.....

My late friend Kim Martin of Norco, Louisiana had one of these 1962 Chrysler 300 convertibles. It came from his grandfather Henry Martin, a noted collector in LaPlace, LA. That big Chrysler rode beautifully, drove easily, and just had that "solid" feeling which only an original car can have. Don't get me wrong -- restorations are great - I have several, but they just lack the "feel" of an untouched original - and I have those too!

This time capsule seems priced fairly, and will certainly find its next caretaker - one who will surely enjoy the sunshine on his/her face, and wind in the hair.

I bought a 1962 New Yorker 4 door hardtop in 1966 and really loved driving that car. Itwould cruise along at 80 MPH all day long in comfort. I remember so well the first night I bought it and went outside in the dark to turn on the dash lights. WOW! that Astra Dome with the instrument lights was a sight that I'll never forget. It was and still is to my mind the most beautiful instrument lighting on any car I ever was in. I would love to buy this one if for the instrument lighting alone and maybe I will.

You're in luck, Dave, because this one includes an extra Astra-Dome instrument cluster as a spare. Put it on your desk!

You're in luck, Dave, because this one includes an extra Astra-Dome instrument cluster as a spare. Put it on your desk!

Matt, If you would sell me just the Astra Dome maybe with some fabrication I might be able to fit it onto my 03 Crown Victoria.

*SOLD* Thank you!