[Chrysler300] Santa, heritage C, and 300c qs?

["christopher beilby" <thelastbestgenius@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

1) Sorry to tell you guys/yanks (you James somethinfing like 'Presley' - any 
relation, hear Elvis is like Santa - somewhere out there still doing gigs?), 
but Santa has already arrived and left in Australia - so we are ahead of you 
here, but anyway no big deal, so here is wishing you all a safe and happy if 
late one !!
2) Re recent website discussion - Do I detect coming slowing sales on the 
new 300C - could the Heritage version be a means to try and prop up, revive 
sales?
Personally I find them using more Exner/'57 300C -61 G' styling cues on the 
new C as unfortunate, especially when they put the side spear backwards, and 
perhaps overdo the tricolor side medallions on the interior.
Harley Earl at GM sometimes overdid the chrome, fake vents, 59 Cad tailfins 
versus if one closely studies the original 57 300C - all Exner did with the 
tricolor badge on the interior of the C was a descreet chrome bezeled badge 
on the glovebox lid. And if one was really discerning, the logo was 
discreetly repeated as an embossing above the centre of the rear seat squab.
Outstanding styling features, claasy if not world standard, visuals, abound 
on the original C - from the direct side on shot ahead of the front wheel 
arch (that raked shark like profile set off with/by chrome bezels, bumper, 
and headlight side profiles - that BMW 20 years later stole for their 
flagship sports/luxo 6 Series Coupe 1977 - 80s) - the tri spoke chrome trunk 
medallion/badge, the whole front with it's mesh brake duct intakes, the 
whole interior, even the horn centre - etc, etc.. ?
Add in brilliant 3 spd torqueflight that today when well set up is not 
shamed by latest electronic gizmos, plus angled anti dive front torsion bar 
suspension, and the motor - 375bhp stock, but if had come out with their 
'1957 already planned/erxisting 2005 SRT' whatever version, one only has to 
look at what Chrysler already had in the works - alloy intake, Holley carbs, 
better exhaust and springs - and hey isn't this the old SK Boat Race spec, 
and this gave 550bhp at 7200 rpm, and according to US engine builder Joe 
Reith was near bulletproof re reliabilty in race boats, so indestructible in 
a production car ??!!

My disappointed judgement/assessment of the new 300C is based on only a 
short drive, and trouble accepting using the 300C name on a car that 
although likely a good one, has few Exner trademarks, world leading 
performance/engineering - so please allow for this - but it will be sad if 
we see a repeat of Ford wasting an iconic name (Thunderbird) on a car that 
could have been way more - that reborn lived briefly?  Ford seemingly has 
woken up, done a far better job visually re their new Mustang, and 
practically, for a low basic price, duplicates in modern terms what made the 
original Mustang popular?
What I would like Chrysler America to think about more now is rather than 
plundering Exner's outstanding late 50s early 60s styling cues to seemingly 
be used as just 'add ons', that they step back and realise Exner was about 
the whle package. Chrysler can build an outstanding styled Coupe and 
Convertible - hemi powered - can then legitimatley use Exner cues and 
standouts to grow the Chrysler and Exner legend and support/sales.
Sadly Chrtsler America may be constrained if they built a world leading high 
performance V8 rear drive 300 Coupe or Convertible, as whose sales would 
this hurt/trample on - owner/parent Mercedes most lucrative market they 
pioneered with their 450SL, 500Sl - onwards series cars ??  Tell me I am 
wrong?

3) If anybody is still reading - is there an easy US source for 57 300C rear 
spring bushes - I am about to trash part of xmas break swapping rear 
springs, and do not have any new bushes, so I may need some if I find 
any/some not too flash? And are '57 300 ones same as any other more common 
(non 300) ones I may get in Australia?
Thanks in advance, enjoy your Christamas dinners if snow stops some of you 
using your cars, and  thoughts are with any serving in Iraq, may they come 
home safe to enjoy many future Christmases.
Christopher




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