Re: {Chrysler 300} New Member From CA Saying Hello

Hello everyone! My name is Isaiah Estrada from Santa Maria, CA. You may or may not have heard of this town - but we are beginning to grow in size!. Located an hour north from Santa Barbara, we are a stones throw away from places like Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, San Simeon, Morro Bay etc etc. I was born here and I've lived here my whole life - but that hasn't been a long time!

I am only 21, but I've got lots of love for these cars. My taste in cars varies but all the cars I love are most definitely classics. I say that, because here in Santa Maria as well as many of our surrounding areas have strong roots tied to the lowrider culture which I appreciate very much. I am more of a "traditional" guy in the sense that I prefer the old "Kustoms" (with a K) done by guys such as Gene Winfield, Larry Watson, Bill Hines, George Barris etc etc.

Don't fret, I believe the 300 letter cars are absolutely perfect and would never want to cut one up! I appreciate all years (55-71) but my absolute favorite has to be the 62. I know the 62's can get lots of hate because of the lack of fins - BUT, in my honest opinion (and coming from a kustomizer's point of view), the shaved fins really compliment that sweeping roofline and give the car such a sporty and MEAN look! It's hard for me to choose between a 61 or 62 as my favorite, but my heart always leans towards the 62. A Black 1961 Chrysler 300G would have to be my dream car #2 though... I guess what really sets the '62 in stone as FAVORITE car of all time - is it is a TRUE kustom from the factory. Canted quad headlamps, shaved fins, gorgeous jeweled hubcaps, that AMAZING astrodome cluster... I can go on and on...

I almost had a '62 Chrysler- and I foolishly let it slip away. My great friend (who has now taken on the role of my mentor with cars) took me to go check out some really cool old cars his neighbor had. These cars were all being brought from Ventucopa, CA to Nipomo, CA. You see, out there in the desert / middle of nowhere lies a place that is known as the "Cuyama Car Garden." The late owner, Tom Merkle was a bit of a strange guy. He bought any old car he could and took them back one by one to this place on a hillside in the middle of nowhere. All the cars he brought there were essentially abandoned. No, it wasn't a junkyard, and no it wasn't even a place to store cars he planned to sell. This was quite literally a car graveyard! In his eyes. a form of "abstract" art to watch Mother Nature reclaim all of these old cars. Unfortunately, many of them were really rough. Even being in California, some of these cars faced bad rust issues especially in the floor pans due to critters living in these cars and peeing all over. Totally gross!

Anyways, I was pretty interested in seeing what this guy might've had. I wasn't expecting much. I was 18 and looking for a car I could've made into an awesome mild custom. I'm not big into cutting up frames and removing factory parts and essentially butchering a car. I like to think "Less Is More." Initially I was looking for an old Ford Galaxie. I just wanted a car I could throw some pinner whites, Cragar SS wheels on, and lower just a touch to give it that mean look! Unfortunately (well, fortunately now in my case!) He didn't have any Galaxies. Then I saw it, a '62 Chysler. IMMEDIATELY my friend knew what it was - and he told me "I'd get THAT one if I were you." Through the busted headlights, the bent grill and the fading paint, I just couldn't vision that car looking cool at all. To me it was like an old lady car that needed too much to even look nice! I was close minded and didn't see the big picture. It's crazy how much my taste in cars has matured since then.

I looked around some more on this big property, and behind a C Train container sat a 1968 Chrysler New Yorker. A 2 door hardtop, factory 440 and COMPLETELY in tact. Factory scorch red paint, ironically scorched by the sun and pretty well faded. Inside the car it was crispy but I didn't pay too much attention to it - as I was so excited to find a car that was this cool looking and so complete! The guy said "$1,500 and it's yours." My friend was still trying to talk me into buying the 62 Chrysler (which I later learned it was a Newport), but I was too obsessed with the 68. I bought it, and since then I have been a diehard Mopar man. I did have almost immediate buyers remorse however, as a few days later I saw a picture of a 62 Chrysler all done up. It had 15" Astro Supreme wheels (early 60's style!), thin white wall tires, and was not slammed but had an AWESOME stance. My jaw dropped, my friend was right... Immediately got a hold of the gent who had the 62 and asked if I could swap, but I was too late. Someone got the 62!

I've never forgotten that car. Although I love my 68 dearly, I still dream of owning a 62! I'm extremely grateful though, as this 68 has made a Chrysler man out of me and has taught me everything I now know about cars. I only barely got it running (I purchased it early 2020.) What turned into a car I thought I could get running easily has now been a complete restoration. I've since rebuilt the 440 top to bottom, rebuilt a 727 transmission for it (car had no tranny.) Had a TransGo TF2 shift kit installed, I rebuilt the whole suspension, detailed the under carriage, wire brushed any metal frame and I've re-coated the undercarriage with rubberized undercoating like from the factory. I located and rebuilt a 1972 C Body disc brake setup, as well as a factory 1968 Disc Brake booster for a C Body which was rebuilt by Booster Dewey. Attention to detail has been my motto for this project. It may not be factory and 100% correct, but I've put tons of hours into meticulous work to make sure it's at least pretty to look at! I've replaced the trunk pan, rusty floor pans and I am now working on re-assembling my heater box with a new heater core and reconditioned evaporator. Over the nearly 3 years I've collected parts to put the dash back together with almost all NOS parts, even an un-cracked dash pad! I had my speedo cluster rebuilt by Redline Gauge, and a whole lot more. If you can think of it, I've probably done it on this car! The process has been slow and expensive but most of all I'm thankful that my girlfriend / now fiancée who is very supportive for my love of cars! I must've rubbed off on her, as now she too is a Mopar girl!

Recently, I came into contact with somebody who has a 1962 Chrysler 300 sport. He offered to let me purchase the car, and as badly as I wanted to say "YES!!!" I unfortunately didn't have the money. Thankfully, he is a very very kind and understanding person, and has the car on hold for me. I am hoping very soon that I could pick up the 62 and bring it home! I dream of cruising that car almost every day!! We went to see it in person and it was everything we hoped it would be. We are getting married in June and my dream is to be able to have that 62 there to be a part of such a special day!

I am extremely happy to be here in the club. As I mentioned, I love different types of cars- I know lowriders and kustom cars and even hot rods can be frowned upon by others, but I guess it's also a cultural thing too. Nevertheless, I am also extremely passionate about MOPAR in general, I love the muscle cars, I love Forward Looks, I love big C Bodies but most of all I love the 300. I can't wait to be able to share the moment I bring mine home. Thanks for letting me be a part of this club! I look forward to hopefully meeting some of you in person some day. Already I have been drooling over some fine examples of restored 300 in the gallery on the website. Excited to learn from you all. Thanks for having me!

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