I was browsing the Cohort and ran across these great photos of a forlorn Chrysler 300C convertible.
Any letter-series Chrysler 300 is a great find, but the 1957 300C is arguably the best. You got 375 horsepower from a 392-cid hemi V8, clean, no-nonsense trim, soaring fins, and that great eggcrate grille. And, for the first time, a convertible was available in addition to the two door hardtop. What’s not to like?
I would have thought all of these cars would be restored and living in climate-controlled garages by now, but this one proves me wrong. The coupes are rare enough, with 1,767 built, but this convertible is one of only 484. Here’s hoping it gets back on the road soon. In the meantime, the ’66 Barracuda and ’66 Cadillac will keep it company.
Special hat tip to Laurence Jones, who posted these great pictures at the Cohort!
Its been at an auto body shop behind Lois The Pie Queen in the Santa Fe Neighborhood of North Oakland for at least 5 years called Enthusiast Automotive.
If any of the curbsiders are curious to see if they’ll sell it (I couldn’t ever afford a resto’ of a 300C) their phone number is 510-653-1955.
Laurence, ‘cross the Park St. Bridge from Alameda (Oakland side to the right past the diner) two streets to the right, is a fenced in junkyard next to a green building (with mean dogs) that has mondo ’50’s cars stacked five high it seems. I can’t (or couldn’t) get a good look, but I do see numerous ’50’s DeSotos and the prominent ass-end of a ’58 Lincoln.
Is the 300 for sale do you know 6308030418
Hi Laurence Jones! I wonder if it possible for you to check
if I can buy the 1957 Chrysler 300c convertible.
Best Regards Ronnie
OH!!!!!! bubble window Challenger!!!!!!!!! sweet!
Hey Lawrence the keys weren’t inside that Challenger, were they???? 🙂
You mean Barracuda right?
I did……….. 🙂
Sweet Mercy! I would have bet good money that there were no original unrestored 300 C convertibles left. I know a guy who always liked Chryslers and started buying up Imperials from the 50s and 60s, figuring that they would be worth money someday. He told me that he never really thought that the 300s would become all that collectible, and never bothered with them. He knows now that it was a very expensive miscalculation.
Oh my! I would want all three! The 300C convertible would be my perfectly restored show car, the Backaruda would become my hot modified street stomper and the Caddy would become my slicked out semi-custom street cruiser!
Oh well, at least I can dream!
lets hope someone gets to this car quick the longer it sits there with no hood out in all waethers the worse its gonna get,a freand of mine whent to see a 56 ford zodiac convertable that had sat about without a convetable hood ,,it was basicaly fit for scrap rotted right through
hey damo where was the 56 zodiac convertible and do you have any photos of it please send photos and address ,location to
browns32ford@hotmail.com
thanks andrew
I know that restorations and upkeep are expensive propositions, but it always makes me sad to see a significant old car end up in this condition.
Anyone know how much they are asking for the 300?