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

Sadly, just basic maintenance is getting costly. I just looked up a distributor cap and rotor on NAPA online for a 61 300G, and the first cap that came up was $35, and the rotor that came up was $22 and incorrect for the application.

These aren't 20-25 year old cars that can be found at 'used car' prices anymore, and the parts availability for even 'normal-wear' items is getting sketchy and expensive. Not much to be found at the swap meets anymore, either. The auto parts stores don't have the books on the counter anymore, and online info searched by counter help that is younger than our cars can't be expected to be of much use. The driver quality restos I did of 55 and 57 models back in the 90's was a whole lot easier and less costly (chrome/paint/upholstery) than it will ever be again.

By the late 90's I had changed my preference towards finding low mileage, mostly original cars that cost more to acquire, but didn't need any major restoration work to enjoy as 'good' driver quality cars that could be used for what they were intended, nor were 'unique' body and trim pieces missing.

I'm glad there are 'perfect' cars that have been painstakingly preserved or restored that I can look at to make some corrections to what I own, but I'll never get any of my cars to that level if I continue to put the number of annual miles on them that I intend to while I still can.

By the time my heirs have to dispose of them, I think they'll still be good cars that can either be enjoyed by a future owner or taken to a pristine level by someone without having to correct a lot of 'mistakes'. There are lots of unique mechanical and trim parts to letter cars that will make them difficult to restore. Thank goodness for Van's/Quirey/Goers/J.C. Auto and individuals in the club who have provided reproduction parts and knowledge to help us stay on the road and not have our cars become stationary objects.

On Wed, Jan 1, 2025 at 1:49 PM Darrin Bailey <dpbaileysr@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Agree, but love of an ultra rare letter car or any letter car for that matter can only go so far in one's lifetime. If you have the true ability and means for the restoration as well as the time it takes to do it correctly, then certainly do so. However, as these letter cars are now 60 to 70 years old, the taking of one from a junkyard is a serious and near monumental task. Remember, it was likely sent to a junkyard many decades ago for a reason. That reason and subsequent time has taken a serious toll on the car. Not to mention, if it has been then picked over of the unique trim parts, it only compounds the project. Even a nice rust free driver quality letter car is a serious restoration project today which can reach a financial investment of six figures and still be far from correct and not even fully functional. I have been down this path and found these cars after multiple owners hold so many unknowns and small,(very annoying) modifications, it really becomes a web to untangle; not to mention when you hire out to a so called "restorer" who thinks they can restore the car and are truly over their head. When this happens, it is a sad reality of time and serious money lost to the cause.

Hopefully, the few talented and truly knowledgeable individuals left can take on these projects for another year. Best of luck.

Darrin Bailey

On Wed, Jan 1, 2025 at 1:25 PM 'Ron Waters' via Chrysler 300 Club International <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
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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Subject:	300 J on Facebook
Date:	Tue, 31 Dec 2024 17:12:53 -0700
From:	Jeff Eastwood <jeff.e.eastwood@xxxxxxxxx>
To:	bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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