Vehicle Description
Chrysler paved the way for the true muscle car era in 1955 with the
introduction of their 300 Hardtop, named after the 300 horsepower
331ci V8 Hemi under the hood. It would dominate the NASCAR circuit,
and with continued engineering improvement year after year, would
go on to set passenger car speed records at Daytona Beach. As
engine displacement increased, so did the horsepower. By 1957,
Chrysler's 300C Hemi was now 392 cubic inches making 375
horsepower! They would also add a convertible model to the lineup
in limited quantities this year along with Virgil Exner's "Forward
Look" style design in full display. The quad headlights, egg crate
grill with '300' emblem centered like a target taking aim, and
prominent tail fins at the rear!
They were remarkable road cars, engineered by Chrysler as their
"premier luxury sports car". A 413ci wedge engine came in 1958 with
the same 375 horsepower, which later adopted cross-ram intake
runners in 1960 giving the dual Carter AFB carburetion a unique
under hood presentation! The 1961 300G features the last of the
huge tail fins along with the absence of the distracting rear trunk
'toilet seat" ornament, replaced instead by stamped ribbing
perfecting the overall presentation. Up front, the headlights were
now angled for an aggressive appearance when the car was coming at
you, a similar visual aspect that Chrysler & Dodge continue to use
today!
We are very proud to offer this beautifully restored 1961 Chrysler
300G Convertible finished in Marti Gras Red over Tan Leather
interior with White convertible soft top! Powered by its original,
code correct 413ci High-Performance Ram Induction V8 and pushbutton
3-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission to produce 375
horsepower and 495 lb. ft. or torque! Options are abundant to
include Astradome instrumentation panel with electroluminescent
lighting, power steering, power brakes, power convertible top &
windows, power driver seat, swivel seats, remote outside mirror,
Jiffy Jet windshield washer, Golden Tone pushbutton AM radio,
pushbutton heat/defrost controls, Remington L78-15 4-ply polyester
wide whitewall tires, full chrome wheel disc covers, Sparton horns,
and reverse lights! The 300G is the second production year
utilizing a unibody chassis design providing an incredibly rigid
foundation for a solid sports car feel! In total, Chrysler would
produce 1,617 300G vehicles, or which only 337 would be in
convertible form.
Our special 300G Convertible carries option code 387 on its build
sheet referring to a closed crankcase ventilation system, so it
would have been sold in California when new. This example was
maintained by a longtime California collector, Bill Caffey, for
nearly 35 years. He located this Chrysler in Los Gatos, CA in
November 1974 with only 56,000 miles on the odometer. While in his
care, he elected to have the exterior professionally refinished in
1976 along with re-plating the bumpers. The front seat leathers and
interior carpet would be next for replacement, all performed by
interior specialist, Gary Goers, in 1981. It would be shown often
earning dozens of awards at regional shows surrounding his home in
Ventura, California, adding nearly 20,000 miles to the car over 32
years. In 2006/2007, he elected to have a complete overhaul of the
entire drivetrain to freshen internals and replaced all seals and
gaskets. This included all ancillary components like the water
pump, re-cored radiator, new belts, ignition components, and
rebuilding the carburetors as well. It continues to run and operate
splendidly!
Soon after the mechanical overhaul, it would sell after over three
decades of ownership with 79,000 original miles to the Menlove
Muscle Car Collection based in Utah in 2008. They would continue
the proper care and upkeep of this rare 300G Convertible for the
next 6 years, then pass the torch one more time in 2014 to a
private collector until its arrival here at the St. Louis Car
Museum in August 2024. The odometer reading now reads just 80,455
actual miles. It continues to start, run, and operate wonderfully
in all respects, but does ride on older bias ply tires. You will
have a very hard time finding a nicer example to choose from in the
open market, so don't miss this opportunity as they don't come
along often! Please feel free to call with any additional questions
or to schedule a chance to review it in person. Thanks for
looking!
