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 Oyster White 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!

*SOLD* Thank you!