RE: {Chrysler 300} One of the holy grails of rare factory letter cars ha

Yes, if someone is in love with this car, then by all means buy it, restore it, make it beautiful. The criteria for restoring a car shouldn’t be ‘how much will it be worth’ or ‘will I be able to recoup my money when I sell it’. If you’re in this *hobby* to make money, then you’ve come to the wrong place. Buy real estate instead.

Ron

From: chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx On Behalf Of Carl Bilter
Sent: Wednesday, January 01, 2025 12:43 PM
To: James Douglas <jdd@xxxxxxxxxx>; chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re[2]: {Chrysler 300} One of the holy grails of rare factory letter cars has been found!

Because it is the only one known to exist, the restored market value of the car would not be estimable unless it went through auction. Again, the 300J is NOT a high dollar car, and may be declining in value a bit at this point as we have seen even with restored Fs and Gs, the most popular letter cars by far. Like any proper full restoration these days, if not done yourself, it's at least $100k and maybe a lot more - I don't know. We don't do it as an investment. We do it because we're 300 nuts. It may appear to be foolish, but we are not fools. Most of us know exactly what we are doing.

We have seen letter cars this bad - or far worse for that matter - be restored to show quality. I'll bet someone like "Rusty Mike" in MN could do it. It won't be cheap. That's not the point. It is the ONLY one known to exist.

Carl

------ Original Message ------

From "'James Douglas' via Chrysler 300 Club International" <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

To "Carl Bilter" <cbilter@xxxxxxxxx>; "chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Date 1/1/2025 11:08:42 AM

Subject RE: {Chrysler 300} One of the holy grails of rare factory letter cars has been found!

From the looks of it, it will require a full-on ground up restoration. Unless the price is really good, one will have double or more into this car than the concourse market value.

Now if one just MUST have it then price is not an object.

I suspect the asking price will be way too much except for someone who wants it and money is no object or someone who think that can do it justice without spending $100K on it. Of course they would be wrong, but those folks only learn after the fact.

I do hope it is saved.

James

From: chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Bilter
Sent: Wednesday, January 1, 2025 09:00
To: chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: {Chrysler 300} One of the holy grails of rare factory letter cars has been found!

Hello and happy new year to everyone in 300 land!
What a way to start the new year - with a new letter car VIN!
But not just any letter car VIN...

Perhaps the subject title got your attention - 55 years after the founding of the Club, we have finally located, and validated, an extant example of perhaps the rarest factory production letter car built.
It is rarer than a 300F 4 speed GT Special of which possibly 9 were built (and 4 or 5 are known to exist?).

We have found a factory built 3 speed stick 300J.
Bob has vaildated that it is a factory stick J, per the microfilm. Claret in color.
Only 7 were built and all were special dealer order.
To date, none have been known to still exist.
The car is located at Franks Auto Salvage in Fort Dodge, IA and is evidently for sale.
Details are on an obscure "members only" Facebook site called "Junkyard Finds." See attached photos.

It is ruff, ruff, ruff, but given the rarity, I hope someone in the club can get the car. I can't take it on. Ft. Dodge is only two hours away from where I live, and so if someone in the club goes after the car and would like my assistance in aseessing the car for factory correctness please let me know, We have little to no snow in Iowa at this time, weather is dry but cold; so not a bad time to visit a boneyard - no bugs.

The 3 speed stick J was equipped with a 3.91 rear, unlike the TorqueFlite J which had the typical 3.23 in most cases. First gear was non-synchro. The 3 speed stick was not known to be robust under heavy use. But - if you could get down the dragstrip without blowing up the trans, with a good launch and shifts - I think a stick J would do low 14's in the quarter mile at 105+ mph. Posssibly the fastest accelerating standard production letter car built.

I think that s stick J would be considerably more valauble than a T-Flite J due to rarity, but you would be way under water on a restoration. The J is not a high dollar car. But we do it for the love of the marque.

Carl Bilter
J consultant

------ Forwarded Message ------
From "Bob Merritt" <bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To "Carl" <cbilter@xxxxxxxxx>
Date 1/1/2025 6:45:42 AM
Subject Fwd: 300 J on Facebook

Hey Carl;
Rcvd this, VIN 8433174966
Mfilm says transmission code 1.
Bob

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject:
300 J on Facebook
Date:
Tue, 31 Dec 2024 17:12:53 -0700
From:
Jeff Eastwood <jeff.e.eastwood@xxxxxxxxx>
To:
bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Happy New Year Bob

I don’t know if you remember or even on Facebook of junkyard fines but this 300 4 speed showed up on there today and you’re mentioned in the comments. Just figured I’d send it your way if you hadn’t seen it it’s extremely rough.

All the Best Jeff
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