Re: {Chrysler 300} RE: Andy Bernbaum

Agree with Mr. Grady on this. I could recount a number of times (but I won't) I was unhappy with Andy B, Quirey, and even Mr. Goers over some 'soft parts' that were really made more for show and not daily use. Same for some items from Vans and others, no more wiring harnesses available from Greg, etc., but since I don't have the skill/knowledge to create these things from scratch, we need to do our best to support the efforts of others who are trying to help keep our brutes on the road, and to be able to bring back a barn find that may still be lingering out there as yet unfound that will take much more time and $$$ than 30 years ago.

The mind plays tricks sometimes, but it seems I recall it was relatively easy to bring back a 55 and a 57 from the dead in the 90's, and parts/parts cars were available to assist in the process. Chrome and paint were not the expensive nightmares they are today, either. Body shops were willing to take on some jobs that they won't even think about today. My brain of a 25 year old still keeps dragging my nearly 70 year old body to swap meets in the hopes of finding anything for my G or Hurst (or any other old Chrysler), and I wind up seeing more items for my wife's 16 year old PT Cruiser than anything I could use.

It makes no sense for anyone to try and make a living out of selling reproduction parts for 55-65 Chryslers, so any source for these or NOS/used parts (like Murray) are a blessing.

This listserver is also great for hearing about other not as well known suppliers who have provided services an individual is happy with (most recently transmission cables), and my own story about finding an upholstery guy down here in TX who did a good job on my convertible boot when I came away unsatisfied with the Quirey product. Keep those stories coming. Hopefully we can somehow archive a list of vendors who have done good work for us on the club store web page?

The best resource(s) we have in maintaining our brutes is each other. The accumulated knowledge/experience/parts stashes right here in the club make it all possible.

I just saw an ad in the latest NewsFlite from Don Petty. I first went to his 'private stash/junk yard' in the 80's, then again in 2001. It looks like he has decided to thin out the vast inventory he has accumulated over the decades. Nice Arizona stuff as far as steel and chrome goes compared to most of the country. Might be a win/win situation if you want to grab some nice used parts for your own personal stash.

On Fri, Feb 16, 2024 at 9:46 PM 'James Douglas' via Chrysler 300 Club International <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Chris has always been very good to me…I wonder if there was a miss communication. James

From: chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Al Macdonald
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2024 18:44
To: Keith Langendorfer <keith_a_lang@xxxxxxxxx>; Ron Waters <ronbo97@xxxxxxxxxxx>; chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: {Chrysler 300} RE: Andy Bernbaum

Should have done the same for me.

Al

Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device

-------- Original message --------

From: 'Keith Langendorfer' via Chrysler 300 Club International <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Date: 2/16/24 9:33 PM (GMT-05:00)

To: Ron Waters <ronbo97@xxxxxxxxxxx>, chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Subject: Re: {Chrysler 300} RE: Andy Bernbaum

When I got the FL floor mats from Chris last year for my F and told him I wasn’t happy with them, Chris refunded my payment and paid for the return postage - that’s a pretty rare thing these days

Keith

On Feb 16, 2024, at 8:38 PM, Ron Waters <ronbo97@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> Andy is a good guy , he tries. He owns an F convert .

Just to clarify, Andy sold the business over ten years ago. It’s now owned by Chris.

Ron

From: chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx On Behalf Of John Grady
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2024 8:27 PM
To: James Douglas <jdd@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: Al Macdonald <hemial@xxxxxxxxxxx>; chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: {Chrysler 300} RE: Andy Bernbaum

Hi ,

while all this true , no one among us is going to get rich making exact stamped air cleaner wing nuts for a 60 year old car . I still have a hundred G, J other year hub cap spinners ,— so far in $ hole as to be crazy . But i believe in these cars . just rechroming ONE is 35 $+’ today . Andy is a good guy , he tries. He owns an F convert .

I happened to see a Macs’s catalog for model A , 1/2”thick , 2 or three suppliers for the most obscure little cotter pin . Eye opening to me , lots of things we can use on 300 even , in that . They made millions of model A , or B — not a bad car really . Get a catalog , — it impressed me so much given hassles I have getting anything now for a 37 packard that I am in the middle of ( millions made) , — the restoring of a model A looks like child’s play . We are 2 % , if that , of packard’s junior car volume ,itself ? 5 % of model A — and the packard parts line is severely impaired , unless a 1000$! gas tank , 3000 radiator , 500 $ speedometer , 2500 wood grain job is fine with you . Guys just stop making things , not worth the hassle of dealing with someone who does not like the stitching pitch or color match and returns it . Gecko loved them passing on , no one steps up .

My first point is , at this point in time , we need to be exceptionally grateful in 300 land — we need to appreciate some nice guy (?or his wife!) somewhere who labors over a headliner for a 60 or 64 Chrysler maybe once a year . I’m not capable of doing that for 400 $ . Mainly because I cannot do it, period— even for 2000 $ and a week of my time with patterns , chasing perf pattern , finding and buying it , etc etc I know 2000 $ won’t get me his 400 one that he offered me . He might say , one day soon, “Do it yourself , then , none are available .” aka “ Get a life , dude, outa my face , you do it”

we can prevent that . Golden rule etc Be kind .

These are all more or less back room operations of a few people , whether in China or here . No one makes big money on Chrysler lettercar parts in 2024 . And it’s going to get tighter . Quirey is a godsend, sure some problems ( you try to do that ) we need to help them be profitable . What they do is fantastic .

For a 300 , or 60’s anything , the parts are fading out , just like Hudson did ~ 10 years earlier . 65 years now ,,and unique 300 parts were obscure when new , Hudson 75

The fastest car of early 50’s was Hudson , great car really , a twin H power beat my brand new 318 dodge v8 in 1960 , not even close .. it has zero listings now in Hemmings , let alone parts . Nascar record not far from 300 in years before 300 . It would throughly surprise a 300 B 0-100 , the head on it looks like a sidewalk 308 cu in six, huge valves . 300 was only 331 cu in , did nothing till over 70 , Hudson GM hydra matic with 4:11 first gear made power flite look like the sad joke it was off the line in 55 . I only bring that up as factual high performance rep is not equal to longevity of parts .

See F plate frame hassle , I put $ 4000 into it , no success ( just in tooling ) I keep hearing others are doing it, -/ it’s been vaporware for 20 years . Still is , Copper radiators pass $ 1000 , piston sets $ 1000 . Without Don V we all walk based on my past experience with other cast iron transmission rebuilders . All claimed they could do it , taking it in and out and the long sob stories, gets old fast . Been there 5-8 x .

Second point is we must support these guys . Or do with nothing but wishful thinking and moaning .

I really believe above aka ,” beggars cannot be choosers” I can deal with that .

Even mc master carr chinese stainless wing nuts , — might even be a lot better than half painted stampings .

john g

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