[Chrysler300] '62 Chrysler 300 4-door-Boukamp Response

["Rich Barber-Desktop" <c300@xxxxxxx>]

Burt has given permission to me to forward his response to my note on the
mystery '62 Chrysler 300 4-door sedan.  Thanks to Burt, Bob Rodger and a few
others we have a long list of Chrysler 300's to study, admire and enjoy.
And, the beat goes on nearly 60 years later.

 

I recall Bob Rodger was less than thrilled with removing the fins in '62.
Thanks now to Burt for his always cogent recitation of history.

 

Admiringly,

Rich Barber

Brentwood, CA

 

From: Burt Bouwkamp [mailto:northburt@xxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2012 9:21 PM
To: Rich Barber-Desktop
Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] '62 Chrysler 300 4-door

 

You are right Rich. I was Chrysler Product Planning Manager in 1960,1961 and
1962 - working for Bob Rodger.

 

After we brought out the $2,964 Chrysler Newport (in 1961) to compete
directly against the Oldsmobile 88, our dealers couldn't sell the Windsor.

 

We should have dropped the Windsor carline - but in desperation we (Sales
and Product Planning) renamed it the "300" in 1962. It stimulated business a
little - but at the expense of the 300 letter car image.

 

In 1962 I moved on to be Chief Engineer of Vehicle Planning at the
Engineering Division. Carline Product Planning was a new department at
Chrysler Corporation in 1960. The Engineering Division resented Product
Planning's product authority so my new function in Engineering's Vehicle
Planning Office was to improve relations between Engineering and Product
Planning. I think I was successful because two years later (1964) the
Corporation appointed me Chief Engineer and Product Planning Manager for
Dodge cars.

 

The last product I planned at Chrysler was the 1963 Chrysler "reskin". The
first product that I planned at Dodge was the 1966 Dodge Charger.

 

I was in Product Planning for 11 years (until 1975) and I loved it - but I
was getting stale (ineffective) so I asked my boss to move me. He did - to
Europe in charge of planning, styling and engineering Rootes (England),
Simca (France) and Chrysler Spain products. We became Chrysler-Europe and
the job was a "blast" until Chrysler ran out of money and our European
companies were sold to Peugeot.

 

I then returned to Highland Park as Director of Body and Chassis
Engineering.

 

Burt Bouwkamp

 

 

 

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Rich Barber-Desktop <mailto:c300@xxxxxxx>  

To: 'Mark Schueller' <mailto:f41324@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>  ; 'Chrysler 300 Club'
<mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>  

Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2012 10:52 PM

Subject: RE: [Chrysler300] '62 Chrysler 300 4-door

 

  

http://www.chrysler300site.com/cgibin/history.cgi?1962 

History Of the Chrysler Three Hundred Series - 1962

Nineteen sixty-two saw not only the continued production of the "Letter
Series" with the 300H, in two door hardtop and convertible styles, but also
the introduction of an entry level three hundred model produced in two door
hard top, convertible and, new for '62, both four-door hard top and a four
door sedan body styles. 

It seems that most manufacturers cannot resist the temptation to hang
prestigious model names on mundane versions after a few years. This is
called marketing and generally produces short-term results, depending on the
strength of the brand. Strong brands/model names tend to live on as witness
300's, Chargers, Challengers, Rams, Impalas and Mustangs. The concept can
be pushed too far, such as was the case with the latter-day GTO.

Rich Barber
Brentwood, CA

From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> ]
On
Behalf Of Mark Schueller
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2012 10:58 AM
To: Chrysler 300 Club
Subject: [Chrysler300] '62 Chrysler 300 4-door

  

There is a burgundy '62 Chrysler 300 4-door with black interior for sale in
Plymouth, Wisconsin, $3900 OBO. The body is average, the dash pad is badly
cracked and I have no idea if it runs. I can check the car out and take
pictures if anyone is interested but please talk to the owner first. Two
phone numbers were listed: 262-353-2336 and 920-467-1777.

ps: I didn't know there was such a thing as a 300 4-door. The car looks
original except for the color. 

Mark Schueller 





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



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