Re: [Chrysler300] Jack Wiltse's 300-D

I have not seen the car since before it was repainted. After I purchased my 58 in 1997 I went out to Ypsilanti, Michigan to look at it as a reference to my car. His charming wife Mary Lou was still alive and I remember her stories of growing up and going to school with the Preston Tucker children as local playmates of hers.
Anyway at the time I believe Jack's car still had its original paint. Fast forward to a Chrysler media event some time in the late 1990s and Jack answered a request to put it on display along with other Chrysler vehicles as a historical reference to the new 300m. While in the tent a storm came up and the car experience some serious paint damage. After much angst and arguing Jack was able to get MSX International, Chrysler's local go-to supplier for all media events to repaint the car. So It should have had a fairly good, if not show quality finish because MSX employed some very good painters. But because it was a repair type of repaint it would not of had the engine removed. The engine compartment paint should be original. That is the paint story as Jack personally told me.
Jack's 300 D is featured in the Ackerson 300 book. One interesting option is the rarer headlining as shown in the pages of the Ackerson 300 volume.   Check it out. I also have that headlining which is one of the reasons for that first trip out to Jack and Mary Lou's home in Ypsilanti.
So from the report it needs new seat covers, a new dash pad and some fluff and buff and you have a really nice car...Why on earth is that not worth $40,000.
Marv Raguse, Oakland Twp. Michigan   57 300C and 58 300D

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike McCandless my65cuda@xxxxxxx [Chrysler300] <Chrysler300-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: timothytomlinson <timothytomlinson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: chrysler300 <chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Fri, Jun 9, 2017 10:26 pm
Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Jack Wiltse's 300-D

I flew up to inspect this car when I first heard about it. The paint job on the outside is nice. The interior is very original. The dash had some serious warping on the passenger side. The seats are very worn. Underneath is very original. Motor wasn’t pulled when repainted, so there is a difference in paint color from outside to under hood. It’s a hard car to value, but I don’t see it as being near the 40k mark. I think it’s substantially below that honestly. The process is quite odd for buying the car. Once they had the title, putting on eBay or similar would have likely yielded the best result.

Mike

300 C-D-E-F-F-G-G-L

On Jun 9, 2017, at 9:27 PM, timothytomlinson timothytomlinson@xxxxxxxxxxxx [Chrysler300] <Chrysler300-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Folks,
I just received an e-mail from the lawyer handling the estate which contains Jack Wiltse's 300-D. He is conducting an on line auction in effect with the suspense of 16 June.
I had expressed interest, and am sure others in the club have similarly contacted him in the past and thus received the same e-mail. It includes an image of the appraisal from January of 2017, listing the car as being worth $40,000. I do believe the lawyer is expecting to approach that amount. He advised the purchaser will be responsible for paying sales tax which would be in addition to the bid amount. I have looked at the attached pictures, read the appraisal, an d believe the interior is indeed period worn or some such as the appraiser used.
Anyway, my interest under the circumstances is definitely waning. I would hope someone in the club would be able to procure this car and give it the care it has not had for a while. I would not wait if I were you! If you are interested, I can forward the materials I was sent by the lawyer.
Tim Tomlinson
300-K