This 1963 Chrysler 300 Sport Convertible is truly a sad, but not-so lonely wreck. While I was leaving Honest Gary’s Used Car Emporium, I noticed it and asked Gary about it. He said I could take some pictures and look, but told me it was not for sale in a rather unusual and melancholy way. I asked why, and he said “It was my Dad’s first new car, and my first car. It means too much to me to let go of it.” I told him that I understood his rationale and motive for wanting to keep it.
Lest any of you readers not be familiar with this fine car, and since it’s mostly covered with a tarp, here’s how it looked in its youth, thanks to pacesetr’s Photostream.
Photo from BaT of a 1963 Chrysler New Yorker. Equipped exactly like subject vehicle.
Gary went over to show me the interior of the 300. He started rambling about all the memories he had in it. Some were commonplace, others were quite unusual. But, memories are memories; among them were memories family picnics and beach trips, losing stuff like toys, money, food, and crayons, among other things, and weekend family vacations as a kid. He also fondly remembered Sunday cruises and beer runs later in life, in this car.
Gary also liked the 300 as a design piece. His favorite part of the exterior was the rear end, because it looked understated, classy, highly-detailed, and contemporary to him. Even when looking through a modern design view, his views on its design still hold true.
Gary is so nostalgic about this car that he wouldn’t even sell me any trim, emblems, or badges, like the example shown above. He said he will probably keep it with him until the day he dies. He said that he will restore it someday, perhaps when the Second Great Depression, I mean the Great Recession, ends. Someday, someday.
“Parting is such sweet sorrow.” -William Shakespeare
Rust in peace, Chrysler, rust in peace.
That is one odd-looking steering wheel. I thought it had melted.
Those square wheels always did look kind of funky to me. Iirc my ’63 300 2-door hardtop didn’t have one.
Chrysler was into square steering wheels then along with push button transmissions and a few other quirks.
Too bad that wasn’t a “Pace Setter” convertible.
I thought it melted too! It’s so odd. It’s funny that once you know a car’s history, or know it’s a one family car, it doesn’t seem so old or mysterious anymore.
I’ve never driven one of those cars with quartic wheels, whether from Chrysler or BL–but I can’t imagine it’s pleasant being kicked in the hands on the return from every single corner.
Of course, with Chrysler’s “Full Time” power steering, there was never a need to have your hand on the rim during a turn. One index finger placed against one of the spokes could handle any maneuver you needed to make. 🙂
Someday = Never.
Or in some cases “next summer” = never. My step-grandfather had a early 70s Cadillac convertible that sat under a tarp to be restored “next summer” for 15+ yrs. In that time frame he bought and restored a T-Bird and purchased and ran to medium sized motor homes.
I know that, but I was just trying to inject some naïveté into the story.
Now this is a curbside classic! I have never seen a square steering wheel Chrysler in real life, but I think every movie from 1960 to 1963 required them.
This is a classic because I would LOVE to drive this thing. Push button transmission, square wheel, convertible – now we truly are in the JET AGE!
Square steering wheel I love it, British Leyland called that Quartic control when they reinvented it in the 70s and fitted them to absolute rubbish. I get the impression that car will never see the curb again under its own power it will be another hoarded rust out.
Hopefully he does get to restoring it someday. It’d be a shame to see it just rust away, and follow the fate of so many unfortunate old cars.
A fantastic car, and a shame to see it suffer. But why would you think you could buy parts off it? It’s still his car, not in a junkyard
FYI: I posed the question as a hypothetical question. I also asked him that to measure his level of emotional attachment to the car.
My grandad had a ’63 New Yorker. I remember it had the square steering wheel too. I’ve always loved the styling of that generation of Chryslers.
That instrument panel is one of my very favorites. Both businesslike and jewel-like at the same time. A high school friend drove a 63 Newport 4 door hardtop (turquoise in and out). Their steering wheel was squared off at the bottom but rounded at the top. Anyhow, I really loved that Chrysler.
I like the font of the Chrysler script on the front fenders. Hearing thoughts and memories from the car’s owner has always been interesting to me. Thanks Mr. Mann.
This is a sad story, not a good one. I’m a car chaser. If the rumor mill lets me know about a car possibly somewhere, I go hunt it down. I don’t buy them but my mantra is The joy is in the journey, not the destination. Too, too, many of the journeys end up with a Yah, I’m gonna git around ti fixin her up some day. Usually the guy is eighty years old. If not, they’ll still be saying that when they’re eighty.
I hear those words now and I get depressed all over again. There’s no justification for our falling for that. It never happens and yet another once savable car becomes an iron oxide stain on the landscape.
In this story, I was trying to capture this personality’s essence. For example, I have an uncle who has a 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 w/ ram air (unknown if stock) which has been left to rot for 10-13 years on his long driveway. It’s sad to know. But these people exist, & will always exist. The Firebird will probably end it’s life as an iron carcass of itself. RIP Firebird 400. RIP.
Ugh– as an ex-owner of a Verdoro Green ’68 Firebird 400, I echo your sentiments. I’d hate to watch one of those incredible machines slowly disintegrate into nothingness.
The saddest thing is that he actually WANTS to restore it to how it was 10-15 years ago, but his health is in decline & would make doing so extremely hard on him.
I also was trying to capture the naive personality that might fall for the line “I’ll fix her up someday.” Knowing that, in reality, a more fitting line would be “I’ll keep her until I die but I’ll never fix her or sell her.” How’s that for reality @Stan Parkalis?
FYI: I don’t really know if this car is for sale or not. But I haven’t ever seen anyone (no salesmen, no customers) at this dealership. There was a phone number on the building used as the office. You might be able to buy this one.
This story was meant to be rather sad from the beginning.
There was an old one of these in the neighborhood when I was growing up. It was a turning point for Chrysler as the front end was friendly, the rear finless and the dash rather European. Not to make a complete clean break they kept the square steering wheel. I think this was the last year.
I had a thing for power window switches. The ones you see here were classic Chrysler with the big chrome bezel and black switch in the middle. The ones from GM we nice too but more simple. I really liked the late 60s ones from Ford, especially when they were all lined up in a row on the door with even the lock out making five total. Not very ergonomic but looked cool. I think GM arranged them in a square shape before they moved to the horizontal surface on the armrest.
I know what you mean about power window switches. I grew up in a 66 Fleetwood Cadillac, and the drivers door had 9 switches! 4 windows, 4 vents, and a lockout. I think I killed the battery more than once playing with all those switches, using the “emergency” toggle to work them without a key.
We also had a 64 New Yorker. Learned to steer in both, but I did love the square wheel, and the push button transmission. Several times, my dad left it in second gear on trips to town, mumbling something like “Why the heck is this thing so sluggish? Oh…. oops”.
My favorite Chrysler design quirk? The dashboard mounted rear view mirror!
It’s very sad to see it rot. My Pace Setter (as shown above) is an absolute joy to ride around in and garners a lot of admiration where ever I go.
I had thought that all Pace Setters were turquoise, but perhaps I am wrong. Really cool car, a favorite of mine.
The only black one that is known to be authentic… with the original receipt to prove it.
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/2952/2021/7378510025_large.jpg
Even the ’63 expert who checked it out for me was amazed.
Ed, I have a 1963 Chrysler coupe in my driveway, a little better shape bodywise than Gary’s, but not mechanically. Are you looking for one or know anyone who is? Thanks, JP