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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7207
  
Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada | So when does a particular car cease to be the original car, ie how much restoration work and sheet metal replacement does it take to make the car " not the car it came from the factory as". I know a guy who restored a 300-C coupe back in the 80s. It was a complete rusted up basket case. He had a solid New Yorker Coupe and NOS front fenders and 300-C hood. There is none of the original sheet metal on that car. I don't know which frame he used but assume the New Yorker frame, too. I would assume he used the heavier suspension parts, and assume he switched the tags but not sure. Was it worth preserving the 300-C by using the New Yorker as a donator? Can we call the resulting car a true 300-C or is it a clone? or What is it ? Is it worth saving by going that far?
Edited by imopar380 2011-03-01 3:47 PM
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Expert
Posts: 1302
Location: Skaneateles,NY(summer)/Port St.Lucie,FL(winter) | If the tags were switched, then the car is not a true 300C...period. That's why there are laws against such things. It would be a "Clone", which to me is a euphemistic term for "Fake"... |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I see no problem with a complete rebody or frame swap, so long as it is done exactly as
the factory would have done. Afterall, there is NO difference between a 57 NY'er coupe
body or frame and that of a 300C, ... a body or frame could have ended up as either,
depending on the build sheet coming down the line and where that body or frame was in
"grab pile". If the next one up on each met a 300 build sheet, then it would be built up as
a 300, if that build tag called for a NY'er, then a NY'er it would be !
Now, if you want to modify things, or use a 58 frame under a 57 body (which works, but
there are minor differences), then this should be made known to any potential buyer. But
any work this serious, definitely disqualifies a car from being called original. It may be
restored to original, but it is a totally restored car, complete with new body and frame !!!
Clones are lookalikes, but do not have proper tags and documents, .... or do I have this
wrong ?
Anyway, as it relates to the question, "original" means something very close to having
never been altered or worked on since leaving the factory. It would be an excellent example
of how such a car was when new.
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Location: Parts Unknown | imopar380 - 2011-03-02 12:35 PM
Is it worth saving by going that far?
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Kinda depends on the car ......
I would have loved to have found a nice "original" 58 Fireflite convertible. I took the one
I found. Have never seen another for sale in 30+ years.
I found it to be "worth" saving. The next guy would have likely made a 300 out of it ! 
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | Brent, one slight difference in the HT/vert bodies is the shape and configuration of the rear wheel wells.
IIRC, using a HT body, and its wheel wells, will cause the convertible top not to lie flat in its 'well', and to
make the folded top stick-up like a Rolls Royce's or Jensen Interceptor's top does.
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Expert ,, George Passed away July 28th 2021, He will be Missed
Posts: 1295
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | There is another difference in the 300 frame... there are extensions of about 2 inches that go on the front of the frame where the front bumper brackets mount. They push the bumper out a little further on the 57-59 300's.
George
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Location: The Mile High City | Eureka! Thanks, George. Last time Joe Godec and I had our cars together, we both swore that the 300C appeared a tad longer - but neither of us could explain it. We thought the De Soto and the Chrysler were basically the same body / frame. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | d500neil - 2011-03-03 6:15 PM
Brent, one slight difference in the HT/vert bodies is the shape and configuration of the rear wheel wells.
IIRC, using a HT body, and its wheel wells, will cause the convertible top not to lie flat in its 'well', and to
make the folded top stick-up like a Rolls Royce's or Jensen Interceptor's top does.
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Yes, the fold-down top makes for a number of small differences, including the wheel tubs, the top well
itself alters the rear deck pieces, as well as the quarter panels where the C-pillar would be on a coupe.
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Expert
Posts: 1488
Location: New Castle PA | This car appears to have been sold for big bucks last week at BJ Palm Beach. I'm still waiting for the follow who posted it on here to give us information on the cowl tag switch, what he found from Chrysler Historical (that he said he contacted), etc. Seems like car was sold without us getting our questions answered.
http://www.barrett-jackson.com/application/onlinesubmission/lotdeta... |
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WOW.. 1957 Desoto Adventurer Convertible in Connecticut
