1958 Chrysler / Help!!!!
Hyfire
Posted 2017-09-06 4:47 PM (#547859)
Subject: 1958 Chrysler / Help!!!!



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  Hi guys!

  I've got a couple ForwardLook car build sheets that I need some help with! I just got these in the mail yesterday with no deciphering from FCA.   I know some info, but I'm hoping you guys can shed some light on other info.  EVERY LITTLE CLUE HELPS!!!

 

  The first car is a 1958 Chrysler.  It's a factory race car and was built and charged to either Chrysler Engineering or the Chrysler Public Relations department.  I've been told by two ex-Chrysler employees that it spent time at the Proving Grounds and the Chrysler "Header House" for "special attention".   It's one of only 2 cars in 1958 built with a special 390HP race engine and manual trans. 

 

    THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

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LD3 Greg
Posted 2017-09-06 11:38 PM (#547883 - in reply to #547859)
Subject: RE: 1958 Chrysler / Help!!!!


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Location: Ontario, Canada
Other than "NOL" should read "MDL". And "SCDC" should read"SCLD", it is nothing but date, region, number of cars etc.

I can't see much in the way of interesting order codes other than obvious paint and trim stuff.

Let's see what Bill says!

Greg
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LD3 Greg
Posted 2017-09-06 11:43 PM (#547884 - in reply to #547883)
Subject: RE: 1958 Chrysler / Help!!!!


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Location: Ontario, Canada
Sorry, SCDL.

Greg
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Hyfire
Posted 2017-09-07 1:25 AM (#547890 - in reply to #547859)
Subject: Re: 1958 Chrysler / Help!!!!



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Hello Greg,

Thanks for your input. I'm sure my old eyes aren't what they used to be... haha. As for codes, maybe I should have listed what I already received and asked for help filling in the blanks.

The President of the Chrysler 300 club (Gil Cunningham) sent me this info about seven years ago, as Chrysler has given him copies of all 300 build sheets.

Dealer Code: 80044 (Internal Chrysler Code, thought to be PR Dept as per Darrel Davis)
Motor Code: 481 (390 HP HI-PO engine) 1 of only 2 built in 1958. 1 built for Bonneville Salt Flats & 1 built for Daytona Beach
Tire Code: 77 (9.00x14 Goodyear Blue Streak Nylon)
Route Code: 630 (Unknown)

** Power Steering Delete
** Power Brake Delete
** Heater Delete
** Manual Transmission
** HD Exhaust



That's a good amount of information, but I'm hoping with the new clearer build sheet from FCA, somebody can find out some more information. No matter how minor it seems.

 

 



Edited by Hyfire 2017-09-07 1:23 PM
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Chrycoman
Posted 2017-09-08 4:15 AM (#547956 - in reply to #547859)
Subject: Re: 1958 Chrysler / Help!!!!



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Location: Vancouver, BC

On the body tag there is but one option - 441 - Music Master radio.

Also, the SRL is the last five digits of the serial number - 01485. The prefix should be LC4- (L - 1958, C - Chrysler, 4 - 300D) (Columns 68 to 76) - 485th 1958 Chrysler 300D built.
FOSO - Foreign Order / Special Order. In this case Special Order Number - C369 (Columns 64 to 67).


The heater was not a delete option. If you wanted a heater you had to tick off the box for a heater. No tick in the box - no heater in the car.

The two top rows have numbers in the columns for equipment that was installed. Easier to check than going through the columns looking for holes.

Anyway, going through the columns -

Columns 1-4 : 0131 - Scheduled build date - January 31, 1958
Columns 5-7 : 240 - Item - 240th car scheduled for 0131
Columns 9-10 : 80 - Region
Columns 11-15 - 80044 - Dealer No
Columns 16-18 - 600 - Dealer order no
Columns 19-21 - 592 - Model No - Chrysler 300D 2dr Hardtop
Columns 22-24 - XXX - Paint - Ermine White, single tone
Columns 26-28 - 016 - Trim - have no trim info
Equipment columns -
331 - Aerials - 60" manual
399 - Sure-Grip
441 - Radio - Music Master pushbutton radio
77 (537 and 547) - 5, 9.00x14", nylon Blue streak tires
553 - Axle - 3.15:1
578 - Generator - 30 Amp
611 - Drive - Domestic
630 - Route - ??
Columns 64 to 67 : C369 - Special Order Number
Columns 68 to 76 : Serial Number - LC4-001485
Columns 77 to 79 : Motor Code - 481
809 - Tracer - Car shipped

Engine numbers, 58N3-1443, is the 443rd 58N3 engine built.

Interesting that both 300 cars, the 1955 and the 1958, were shipped on February 14.

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LD3 Greg
Posted 2017-09-08 8:27 AM (#547967 - in reply to #547956)
Subject: Re: 1958 Chrysler / Help!!!!


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Posts: 1906
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Location: Ontario, Canada
Thanks, Bill.

I thought that power steering and power brakes were standard equipment on a D. In which case they would be coded on the card. No codes there indicate they were "deleted" ?

Greg
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Hyfire
Posted 2017-09-08 9:03 PM (#548005 - in reply to #547859)
Subject: Re: 1958 Chrysler / Help!!!!



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BILL!!!! AWESOME!!!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!


You're right about the heater! Also, the fact they share the same day is very interesting.

Regarding the radio.... the driver was under contract from Chrysler and insisted on a radio in every one of his race cars. He felt it made the car look more stock... funny huh?

THANK YOU AGAIN BILL! I appreciate the help!

Josh

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Hyfire
Posted 2017-09-08 9:26 PM (#548006 - in reply to #547967)
Subject: Re: 1958 Chrysler / Help!!!!



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LD3 Greg - 2017-09-08 5:27 AM Thanks, Bill. I thought that power steering and power brakes were standard equipment on a D. In which case they would be coded on the card. No codes there indicate they were "deleted" ? Greg

 

  Hey Greg,

 

  I don't know anything about coding, but I do know that the power steering delete and power brake delete were also coded into the "Chassis Package", which was Chrysler's term for race car goods.  It includes everything from race motor, larger driveshaft, larger exhuast manual trans and so on).  In 1957 Chrysler built a handfull of these for homologation and racing (Owen has one), but for 1958 the package was banned to comply with the AMA racing and performance ban.  Supposedly the "Chassis Package" was banned by management.... but on direct orders from E.C. Quinn (Chrysler board member and President of the Chrysler Division) two cars recieved it and were sent to Bonneville and Daytona. 

 

  Below is a photo of the car from just 3 weeks after it was built.  It was dirty becuase it just set a speed record at the El Mirage dry lakes, but you can see the simple firewall.  Rare in a luxury 300 to see so many delete panels.

 

 

 and a barn fresh photo of when it was pulled from 40 year storage:



Edited by Hyfire 2017-09-09 1:35 PM
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