No Reserve Driver: 1966 Chrysler 300
Why do you buy this 1966 Chrysler 300? Because why not? It’s big, solid, and smart looking. If those qualities appeal to you, maybe you should hope the auction, here on eBay, stays within the reasonable limits it currently lives in. The bid is just over $7,000 with three days to go. The lucky winner will pick the car up in Germantown, Maryland. From there, I’d be tempted to drive it home, though California is a long ways away. But the ad does say it’s a reliable driver, after all. Might be a good test.
Apparently, the sheet metal sides have been repainted, supposedly to erase door dings and things like that. One only hopes that this isn’t secret code for “there was rust, but we patched it.” Otherwise, the paint is original. One photo seems to show that it’s fading on the trunk, but that could be the light. Everything certainly looks as it should, including the body-side spears adorning the lower regions from door to flank. You just want to know—who owned this? How old did they get driving it? Is there paperwork?
The engine is a 440, with 365 horsepower and just a tick under 100,000 miles, though there’s no mention of maintenance or rebuilds, or odo rollover. Perhaps that’s good. How many times have you heard, “motor rebuilt about 2,000 miles ago” but that there are no receipts. So you just have to trust that the fact that the valve covers are repainted signifies more than that a rattle can got under there at one point. This car looks far from that. Under the hood is tidy but just enough off perfect to suggest that it’s authentic. I’m pretty convinced that it’s as is claimed. What say you, Chrysler experts? Can you take one look and sew seeds of doubt, because I’m quickly turning into a believer.
The interior and vinyl top are apparently as they left the factory. Black vinyl might be warm in summer, and there’s no mention of AC (and no compressor in sight), but your concern in piloting this beauty to the local cruise-in will be more with parking it so that everyone who comes onto the lot sees what a stylish and eagle-eyed buyer you truly are, because this big Chrysler is worth celebrating. Will the price go into crazyland? I hope not, for the sake of the hobby. These big cars used to be reasonable buys as the big money chased the Hemis and other muscle. Let’s all hope that the final sale of this 300 shows that those days haven’t entirely disappeared.
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Comments
The fact that “The paint is original except for the sides, which were re-painted to repair door dings, etc.” is worrisome-what exactly does the “etc.” refer to? The “re-painted to repair door dings” part is understandable considering the seemingly diminishing size of parking stalls at ANY public parking lot anymore. I’d still take along a magnet though. Too, no photos of the trunk interior or underside raises questions but if it’s really as clean as it appears otherwise this could be a good buy.
The eight track and FM converter bring back some memories!!!
Regardless whether or not this is a “numbers matching”car” this would be a hoot to just cruise, irrespective of the lack of gas mileage. Put a HVAC in it and go road trippin’-Route 66 to the West Coast would be a great shakedown run IMHO..
Looks great, i had white one that i smashed up in Boston tunnel after blowing brakeline.
I am a believer ,I think it is an honest car. It is one of those cars that I would never give a second thought, until I see it and then it is love at first sight. If the price stays resealable, why would you nit pick it?
I agree Joe – I’m sure the price will go up -but you couldn’t buy a rusted 4dr Chevelle for that money …and its a 440/ torqueflite to boot !!
I always liked the looks of the 1966 and 1967 300’s though they don’t seem to get much attention from collectors. These are good buys as the famed “letter cars” in nice condition continue to escalate in cost.
The fender skirt on the drivers side looks to be ill fitting and should be checked out.
Love it!
I have a 67 Newport Custom (just like in the brochure), and a buddy has a 66 300 like the subject car, in green. Both are very nice cars with big V-8s. When we go to cruise-ins or car shows, nobody notices either car.
The 66 and 65’s for that matter have the most gorgeous instrument panel. In 67 they really made it way too boring
I would call it art deco
I contacted the seller after I wrote this, and he says there’s bondo in a fender, and that there is previous rust repair to the frame. He’s also including a new floorpan. Funny none of this is mentioned in the ad. It’s what they DON’T SAY that matters buyers.
I never bought a Chrysler during my younger years because of the chintzy starter they used. It sounded “tinny” and like it was never going to start. Then when I married, my father-in-law was a Chrysler guy, but he was always going to the shop for something. He would get a new one, within a year, things started going wrong, and back to the dealership. He went through 5 Chryslers in the time I did one Honda Accord, which was no problem.. just the routine maintenance. He just kept trying, and I never understood loyalty to a car company that always turned out poor products… only thing decent from the Chrysler folks is the Dodge Ram pickup… now that one is a winner.
I must disagree, Old Ranger. When I first started working on cars for extra cash one of my specialties was rebuilding GM starters. Most of them needed that after 40-50K miles. The Chrysler reduction-gear starter (that’s why it sounded so odd) was the most powerful and reliable starter of the day. I made the mistake of taking one apart once; almost didn’t get it back together! It needed absolutely nothing; big difference to the GM and Ford starters of the day.
Sold for $8400 .
It sold for $8400