RE: [Chrysler300] 300F Special article

["Carl cbilter@xxxxxxxxx [Chrysler300]" <Chrysler300-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

FYI. re. the 4-speed white convertible, a couple months ago I posted a vintage photo or two of this fantastic automobile on our club Facebook page for those with access.   The photos were taken in 1981 or 1982 when Cone & Hoover displayed the car at the AACA show at Allstate headquarters in Deerfield, IL (near Chicago).  I was there and my dad shot some 35mm slides of the car which I have scanned.   

I too recall when the car went up for sale, I think later in 1982.  It was marketed through the Volo Auto Museum in Volo, IL and I’m remembering an asking price of around $16k but I could be mistaken and John Lazenby’s figure of $25K may be correct.  Either way, I agree that was very big money for any 300 at that time.  

George was an interesting character but very gracious; I spent a pleasant evening at his home around 1986 when I picked up some parts for my G there and he showed me his extensive inventory of 1962 parts and either an H or ’62 Sport he was working on at the time.  And his ‘62s were always red cars.  

Carl Bilter


From: Jim Pristelski ajp002@xxxxxxxxx [Chrysler300]
Sent: Thursday, March 7, 2019 10:57 AM
To: Chrysler 300 List
Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] 300F Special article

  
Like George Cone, I lived in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.  I met with him a couple of years before he died.  He had advertised that he had some parts for sale, and I bought a few.  

We discussed the white F convertible.  He said that he owned the car in partnership and that his partner had some financial issues and wanted to sell.  At the time, George did not have the funds available to buy his partner out, so he reluctantly agreed to sell.  

While he owned the car, he would take it to the Great Lakes Dragaway at Union Grove in southern Wisconsin.  He said that no other car could beat him in first gear.  But, the manual transmission could not be speed shifted, so he would lose some ground coming out of first gear.  

At the time that I met him, George was putting the final touches on restoring a red 300H convertible.  It was knock out gorgeous.  I have often wondered who now owns it.  He said that he had acquired it in Tucson, AZ.  

While I was at his home, George told his wife that he would probably not restore another car after the H convertible.  While seemingly in good health when we met, he died a couple of years later.  

Best regards, Jim

On Thu, Mar 7, 2019 at 9:24 AM John Lazenby french_fryguy@xxxxxxxxx [Chrysler300] <Chrysler300-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
  
Guy,

Interesting story regarding the customer who ordered the convertible from Chrysler.  If I recall he was a Toy Manufacturer.

The story with the Graefen/Drumm car is similar.  Andy Drumm built the highway systems in Nevada and used the car to travel from site to site at high speed, thus the need for A/C.  He didn't like the toilet seat and had that trunk removed with a white non toilet seat that remained with the car for many years.  Also he installed a tall whip antenna on the roof (center) to use with the short wave system in the car when traveling.

When Drumm tried to order one of these Chrysler refused and he threatened to file a lawsuit.  What they ended up doing was giving him the car to avoid that.  Now this is a story and I can't prove or disprove it but can tell you many years ago I had a call from Andy Drumm's grandson who was trying to reach Wayne Graefen and he shared the story along with many others of riding in the car when he was just a kid.

Another note based on Carlton's to me.  When Wayne first got the car it would shift out of 1st gear around 60mph.  As time went on Wayne realized this was really not usable for street application and did change the rear end out to lower gears.  I drove the car both ways and it made a world of difference.

John Lazenby
 
On Thursday, March 7, 2019, 7:57:14 AM PST, Guy Morice <guyztoys@xxxxxxx> wrote: 


That is correct....Goerge Cone and Bruce Hoover. Goerge was also famous for his 300Hs. Spoke with George about the white car numerous times. Said he had hard time racing it because the clutch was so hard to push. I believe he said his son did better. 
George told me the business man who was the original owner gave Chrysler an ultimatum....build mDre that white convertible or else he would take his business elsewhere. Seems this fellow had bought literally truckloads of Plymouths over the years for his company. 
Guy Morice 
Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 7, 2019, at 9:20 AM, John Lazenby french_fryguy@xxxxxxxxx [Chrysler300] <Chrysler300-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
  
If you are speaking of the only convertible 4 speed built it could be.  The car was found and restored by, I think I have the names correct, George Cone and Bruce Hoover many years ago.  They sold it to the late Tom Turner and it has sold a couple of times since then.  Tom's wife, Susan, is a current member of this club and still owns a couple of Letter Cars.  That car is white and I'll add this comment from Wayne Graefen to me this morning based from my post of last night.

"Only comment I’d add is that the Cone- Turner – whoever now F Convertible and the Drumm car were both built  POST Daytona.     7 total Gran Turismos at Daytona."

John Lazenby


 

On Thursday, March 7, 2019, 7:12:05 AM PST, my65cuda my65cuda@xxxxxxx [Chrysler300] <Chrysler300-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: 


  
Is the convertible version in a collection in MD?  I remember talking with someone who owned the car and had restored it.  I was speaking with him about another car, but the name escapes me currently.


On Mar 7, 2019, at 9:25 AM, Val Jeffers edward1108@xxxxxxxxx [Chrysler300] <Chrysler300-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


I purchased my G from Bob McAtee in 1985 and his Black 4 Speed F was sitting right beside mine. Bob was very proud of his car and mentioned all its history. I was very privileged to see it and he along with his wife were very nice to meet and deal with. Just  wanted to say.. 

                                                          Thanks,
                                                          Val Jeffers
                                                                                                                                

On ‎Wednesday‎, ‎March‎ ‎6‎, ‎2019‎ ‎09‎:‎41‎:‎35‎ ‎PM‎ ‎EST, John Lazenby french_fryguy@xxxxxxxxx [Chrysler300] <Chrysler300-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


 

Bob and all,

I read this article with great interest.  After the read I made the call to my longtime friend and IMO foremost authority of the 300F 4 speed cars, Wayne Graefen..  Here is what I can offer based on Wayne's and my knowledge regarding these cars..

There were 9 built by Chrysler with the intention of going to Daytona.  One of the 9 was a convertible that was ordered by a wealthy person for his personal use and never in the Daytona program.  The cars that are documented to exist today are:  a white convertible and 3 coupes.  Two of those coupes were Daytona examples, one previously owned by Bob McAtee (sp), originally owned by Gregg Ziegler who Bob purchased it from after GZ made the record setting runs.

Don Petty does in fact owns a white coupe that was also in the Daytona program.  I've seen that car over the past 30+years on two occasions.

The third car was originally ordered by Andy Drumm on Nevada and is the only 4 speed car ever equipped with A/C.  This was the Graefen car and I have extensive documentation of this example as I stored the car for Wayne when he moved from California to Texas several years ago.  I've also been behind the wheel more that once in that car.  My final ride in Graefen's car was in Texas some years ago and we ran out of road before we got into 4th gear.  That car is currently owned by club member Joe Jordan who lives in Wisconsin.

Now to the Hemmings article, that car started life as a 300F convertible with a Torqueflite and a 375hp engine.  Don created this car from extra parts he had.  I believe the club has the VIN of this example and I do too thanks to Wayne along with some photos.  One sign displayed with the Petty convertible some years ago state it is 1 of 2 which was ever equipped with this trans and I guess that is true.  What is not mentioned is that it is a "creation" and this was not a factory build.  Here is just one comment Wayne sent me regarding the Petty car:  

"Notice, it does NOT have the high volume air cleaners and they
are NOT red.  Also, the hood braces are still in that car."

Bottom line is don't believe everything you read in publications,

John Lazenby



On Wednesday, March 6, 2019, 4:35:05 PM PST, 'Bob Jasinski' rpjasin@xxxxxxxxxxx [Chrysler300] <Chrysler300-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


 

On another list I am on (for early A bodies), the subject of the 300F with the French 4-speed came up.  Here is a shared link from that list:
 
https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/mus/2017/06/Headless-Horsepower---1960-Chrysler-300F/3750912.html
 
Notice the photograph of the 200 MPH speedometer..  Does anyone know if the export speedo for kilometers, looks the same?  I’m thinking it is, and they recalibrated it for MPH instead of KPH, but would like to hear from anyone in the know.  This was the first I heard of the 200 MPH speedo in the F Specials, notice it doesn’t state MPH or KPH.
 
Bob Jasinski
Danville, CA 
 






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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Posted by: Carl <cbilter@xxxxxxxxx>
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