This started out as an epic post, but I’ve decided to break the story up over a few days. OK, been lurking here for over a year now and since I’ve actually gotten a chance to show some progress I thought I’d share some pictures of the resurrection of my 1970 Chrysler 300 convertible. My other hobby (vintage toy trains) takes all of my attention from October 1 thru May 1, so please don’t expect the herculean effort put forth by the likes of young Nick. I read the Fury thread a couple of times already, a must-read inspirational manual!
A little background first. I cut my teeth on E bodies back in the 1980’s. My first car was a 1970 Challenger base convertible; then came along the love of my life, 1972 Challenger Rally 340. That perfect relationship ended with the mistress that spoiled it all, 1970 Challenger R/T convertible, 383, factory air, 45,000 original miles. In between, there was a 1967 Belvedere with a 273 and factory air (the best car I’ve ever owned), and a 1963 Dodge Polara with push button trans. Unfortunately, I was out of the game by the time I was 22 and Fords and Toyotas with an occasional Chrysler mini-van filled the next 25 years. I always dreamed of another Mopar project, but money, space and time (mostly money) always worked against me.
Enough regret, fast -forward to 2009. A buddy of mine has owned a 1970 300 convertible since the 1990’s and had amassed enough parts and parts cars to mint out his and create another one. He gave me the other one and 90% of the parts I needed for the price of trucking it from South Carolina up to New Jersey where it has been since November ’09.
He had originally picked the parts car up off of eBay. Here is the car as it was listed on eBay back in ’06. The seller was nice enough to forward me some of his listing photos:
And here is the fender tag decoded:
CM27: Chrysler Medium Convertible
T0C: 1970 Jefferson Avenue, MI, USA
E85: 440 cid 4 barrel V8 350hp
D32: Heavy Duty Automatic Transmission
EB7: Medium Blue Metallic Exterior Color
M6X9: Trim - Opt. Decor Group, Vinyl Bucket Seats, Black
TX9: Black Int. Door Frames
611: Build Date: June 11
107775: Order number
V3X: Black Convertible Top
H51: Air Conditioning with Heater
R48: Power Antenna
R31: Rear Seat Speaker(s)
P31: Power Windows
L31: Hood/Fender Mounted Turn Signals
C21: Center Front Seat Cushion
P25: Power Left Front Seat
B41: Front Disc Brakes w/Standard 10in RR Drum
G11: Tinted Glass (all)
V7X: Accent Stripes, Black
My intention is to put this together stock with some alterations and end up with a better than average driver. Alterations include dual exhaust with HP manifolds, white interior and white top.
My friend had a ’69 parts car already, but he needed the fenders and hood from the ’70. The ’69 was a rotted hulk, but I got the engine and trans and all of the seat frame parts, plus some spare fenders and a hood he had lying around.
We spent a day and a half striping the 69 parts car he had and loading the trailer with everything else that he didn’t need:
Finally, delivery day in November ’09 (the look on the faces of my neighbors was priceless as his flat bed arrived):
To be continued...
James
A little background first. I cut my teeth on E bodies back in the 1980’s. My first car was a 1970 Challenger base convertible; then came along the love of my life, 1972 Challenger Rally 340. That perfect relationship ended with the mistress that spoiled it all, 1970 Challenger R/T convertible, 383, factory air, 45,000 original miles. In between, there was a 1967 Belvedere with a 273 and factory air (the best car I’ve ever owned), and a 1963 Dodge Polara with push button trans. Unfortunately, I was out of the game by the time I was 22 and Fords and Toyotas with an occasional Chrysler mini-van filled the next 25 years. I always dreamed of another Mopar project, but money, space and time (mostly money) always worked against me.
Enough regret, fast -forward to 2009. A buddy of mine has owned a 1970 300 convertible since the 1990’s and had amassed enough parts and parts cars to mint out his and create another one. He gave me the other one and 90% of the parts I needed for the price of trucking it from South Carolina up to New Jersey where it has been since November ’09.
He had originally picked the parts car up off of eBay. Here is the car as it was listed on eBay back in ’06. The seller was nice enough to forward me some of his listing photos:
And here is the fender tag decoded:
CM27: Chrysler Medium Convertible
T0C: 1970 Jefferson Avenue, MI, USA
E85: 440 cid 4 barrel V8 350hp
D32: Heavy Duty Automatic Transmission
EB7: Medium Blue Metallic Exterior Color
M6X9: Trim - Opt. Decor Group, Vinyl Bucket Seats, Black
TX9: Black Int. Door Frames
611: Build Date: June 11
107775: Order number
V3X: Black Convertible Top
H51: Air Conditioning with Heater
R48: Power Antenna
R31: Rear Seat Speaker(s)
P31: Power Windows
L31: Hood/Fender Mounted Turn Signals
C21: Center Front Seat Cushion
P25: Power Left Front Seat
B41: Front Disc Brakes w/Standard 10in RR Drum
G11: Tinted Glass (all)
V7X: Accent Stripes, Black
My intention is to put this together stock with some alterations and end up with a better than average driver. Alterations include dual exhaust with HP manifolds, white interior and white top.
My friend had a ’69 parts car already, but he needed the fenders and hood from the ’70. The ’69 was a rotted hulk, but I got the engine and trans and all of the seat frame parts, plus some spare fenders and a hood he had lying around.
We spent a day and a half striping the 69 parts car he had and loading the trailer with everything else that he didn’t need:
Finally, delivery day in November ’09 (the look on the faces of my neighbors was priceless as his flat bed arrived):
To be continued...
James
