Apologies to those sick of the topic - if so hit delete button now - two hopefully quick " ps" to my suggestion earlier re 'noting any 300s as seen/heard of' as a first best means of future knowing original 300s from clones/fakes. 1) it is important I add/support the already mentioned thought re any detail re generally unknown markings/identifiers on 300S beyond the Vin and data plate should not be broadcast, and in fact only issued to owner of that particular year letter car once the Club has established they indeed own an original 300. Roger Schaff mentions rip off Vettes, and there are untold other way rarer cars that now exist in greater numbers than ever produced - Japan seemingly a few years back was a great place to sell fake early racing Jags and Ferrari etc to. Let the ripoff merchants find out all the hard stuff by their own means - the Club need not make it easier for them to rip us/others off ?! 2) A key thing the Club/Members should also strive for I believe, is to preserve or save as much of original car's 'fabric/parts' still remaining. This means if possible as others have suggested DO NOT CUT UP ORIGINAL TAILSHAFTS, rather put them away and make a complete new one if going to more modern uni joint sertup. Obviously lots of leather interiors in say 300Cs, plus their thin headlinings will be now mostly 'non show, or worse stuffed/nackered - and therefore 'replaced'. I kept my original one when my trimmer replaced it, even though he had picked it apart in places. Call me stupid, but I wanted it still, it part of a car now not so original. This also goes I believe to keeping your original shockers if you put new gas one on. They may be useless to you, but in years to come, invaluable re knowing how close any new interior, etc is/was to Factory. (Likewise I am no fan of wrong 2 pak paint, powdercoated too glossy parts where wrong re original finishes, etc - this however a personal thing/issue for others.) All jmy cars have original door cards, seat backs, even if not 100% show - call me stupid again if you wish - I even kept good pieces of my carpet, rear parcel tray, etc. Our cars lose more originality the more we restore or use them - sad maybe, but a fact. But that is like another fact - as our cars lose originality, they grow a 'history', an ownership record, (a personality/character') and if we are clever, a/that story that can add to the cars 'worth', and that not meaning in a monetary sense. We do not own them in reality, as we all finally go (maybe/hopefully?) to that 'another place' eventually, and someone else will take over 'ownership/care' of our car/cars. So my message/thought is - enjoy our cars, however always try to save whatever we replace, whilst in replacing always trying to replicate as close as possible what the factory did. That way our 300s next owner is best in a position to continue what we have hopefully enjoyed. Sorry if I have gone on too long again, but 30 plus years of seeing bits of rare cars thrown away too often sees regret at that too late. Lert others throw away the worthless too common cars parts. Fired up my Supercharged 300C this afternoon - attempt 2 after now bolting back on inner guard and still not finished d/s guard on - minus exhaust - backed up the 50 metres to rear of shed I am working on it on, and gave it about half throttle as releasing brakes ( I need/needed some 'encouragement/fun' to keep me motivated - I own this car to use, so I bloody well thought it needed some quick use?!). Nothing happened except a lot of noise, then the car crept forward a bit, so I got off throttle. Boy you should have seen the tire smoke that filled the shed, and the 20 feet of bits of spat out melted tires thrown off from both rear wheels. This car seriously needs slicks, that blower gives it real low down tire shredding grunt, any wonder the original owners claimed it never ever lost over the quarter mile from 1958 on when they ran it in eastern States ! The car may look still a bit unfinished, but do the body on a 300C/D so it sits right on the chassis again - not down in the guts as they can get when rust gets bad in rear of rockers in cabin - and they are one beautiful sight. Wish I was going to Lawton - those who can are silly not to - I am aiming to be at next year's one - my little time and funds swallowed for this year by this baby. Get out there and enjoy them now - China looks like it is not only going to suck up all our jobs and overwarm the planet as they all buy cars - it is also going to put up our gas prices so dear too soon ?! Christopher in Oz To send a message to this group, send an email to: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx For list server instructions, go to http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm For archives go to http://www.forwardlook.net/300-archive/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Chrysler300-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/