Re: [Chrysler300] 1957 and/or other 300 start of productions?

["rob kern" <robkern@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Chris,
    My understanding of the production/sales scenario of the 300 Letter cars was that they were special order production vehicles.  Keep in mind that $5K - $6K new vehicles in 1957 in the U.S. were economically out of reach for most consumers.  These were vehicles marketed for  executives, sports stars, and performance afficianados.  Thus the nicknames "The Bankers Hotrod" and the "Beautiful 'Brute". Most likely only some high volume metropolitan area dealers would have the clientele that would walk in off the street and look for a 300C in stock as a floorplanned inventory item.  Some of these dealers may also be located around centers for racing such as Daytona Beach or southern California back in the day.  So I can understand why the production numbers were low in the early months of the manufacturing year for the 1957 models. The cycles ran usually from end of July to the following May/June.  The 300s went in production  a few months after the "bread & butter" model lines of Chrysler Corporation.  Also a November/December introduction in the U.S. prior to global warming wasn't the best time to expect run away sales of expensive high performance vehicles....most people were bracing for winter and holiday expenses north of the Mason-Dixon line and in the midwest.  That only left fair weather markets in the deep south and southwestern part of the U.S. to appeal to customers.  Initial quality presented great assembly problems and the word got out quickly which probably had an effect on the manufacturer's side to correct as many problems prior to ramping up to higher volume production and the public became wary of spending a considerable amount of money for a vehicle which was possibly a disappointment from the start.  Dave Coston's DVD has an interview with C owner Ron Fedoryk which best describes the mentality of the average  car guy at the time.  He lusted for the C but when he found out it would cost him over $5K he walked away from the show room.  I hope this gives some insight into the production/sales phenomenon you were querying.  300'ly,  ROB KERN----- Original Message ----- 
  From: christopher beilby 
  To: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 5:58 AM
  Subject: [Chrysler300] 1957 and/or other 300 start of productions?



  Earlier posted a query re when 1957 300C production started - have since found it seems first numbered cars were around 3rd week of Nov 1956.

  However this then poses the question of how they were then only up around cars numbered mid 30s by late December - like it seems improbable that they only built around one 300 a day over then near 30 days between late Nov to late December!? Is it more likely they ran an initial/near pilot batch from Nov 20 to whenever, then maybe started actual (eventually) regular/continuous 300 production some time in December ?!

  Anyone know anything, or even what happened with later 300 model production start ups? Or maybe how say 1st 300, or 300B production started? And/or when around what dates Dealers had first cars for public/buyers to see/drive?

  Christopher in Australia
  ps Mitsubishi Japan announced this week that the former Chrysler Plant in Australia they purchased around 20 years ago after Chrysler exited Australia will cease production in March - near 1000 employees lose their jobs - all product will now be sourced from overseas, and production moved to China or other low cost factories. Gas prices are savaging 6 cylinder family cars sales, only Toyota booming/immune. Production of Dodge 4s began here in early 20s - Valiants, later aussie designed, the biggest sellers from 60s into early 80s.
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