New car! Well, to me anyhow

Jakenks

Jakenks

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Just picked up a 65 300 convertible. Solid body, what looks like original interior, and a bad top. My deciphering of the tag indicates a beige exterior with white top and very few options save for a floor console and shifter. Also had a 383, not a 413.

Now, it has a bad white paint job, a 78 440, and a dead top. It runs and drives and stops though. It needs everything pretty much but I can see what I'm doing as it's pretty much all there. I can't find a lot of info on these big guys, but I have found pretty much all the top parts I could need and for reasonable prices. Are vert tops like this hard to install? I read on line at convertible top guys that it can be done.

image.jpg
 
Jakenks said:
Just picked up a 65 300 convertible. Solid body, what looks like original interior, and a bad top. My deciphering of the tag indicates a beige exterior with white top and very few options save for a floor console and shifter. Also had a 383, not a 413.

Now, it has a bad white paint job, a 78 440, and a dead top. It runs and drives and stops though. It needs everything pretty much but I can see what I'm doing as it's pretty much all there. I can't find a lot of info on these big guys, but I have found pretty much all the top parts I could need and for reasonable prices. Are vert tops like this hard to install? I read on line at convertible top guys that it can be done.
Click to expand...
IMO, anyone can do anything... within reason. A rag top isn't rocket surgery to install, to look first rate may require a lot of patience and a little experience never hurts. Most of the stuff I ever played with was much newer and almost all factory parts... the aftermarket stuff can be very different quality. With a whole car, I would get it functioning first and then go for the new top... otherwise get it functioning and pay someone who you've seen the quality of their work.
 
If you want the top to look good get a professional who has installed a c-body top. I had a guy who had installed 100s of Vette tops, and screwed up mine, found out later first c-body he ever did. They are harder than a b or e body.
 
Make sure you do some research on the top......if it isn't working I'd make sure it goes up/down straight before you replace the fabric.......you can still enjoy the car with a bad top if it goes down! You must have good motor, cylinders, frame and cables though or the fabric will be ruined.
 
Very nice car....and I second the opinion of having a professional install the convertible top. When I had my 68 Coronet 'vert I had a local shop do it, came very highly recommended for working on old cars. They ended up wrecking the first top, tearing the second and finally got the third top installed properly....didn't charge me any extra for their mistakes....made no money on that job, but I always highly recommended them and their service, so guess it all comes out ahead in the end. ;)
 
Welcome, love your car. Beige w/ red interior and white top, striking combo.
Best advise I can offer is to strip the top off, as intact as possible. Then refinish the top frame and repair/restore all the componants to working order. Leave the top cover to a experienced trim guy. I've done it a couple of times but the big C bodys are a challenge. Flat rate says 7 hours, so compare that to the shops hourly rate, plus top for cost.
Here is my recommendation for a good quality top.
Will.


CHRYSLER 300,NEWPORT CONVERTIBLE TOP+WINDOW 65-66 - WHITE PINPOINT VINYL
 
Nice car to start with! I'll agree with most on here that you'll definitely want a professional to install the top, curtain and well liner. It was one of the few things on my car I left to the pros. What are your plans for the car? Reason I ask, if you are planning to do a full blown resto, the top should be one of the last things to do, especially a white one. I'd get the back seat out and determine why the top isn't functioning. It could be the motor is shot, cylinders are bad, lines are broke or all of the above. I'd get it working before getting new material. Speaking of the material, what color is the underside of your top? The original top on my Spanish Red/Red/White '65 'vert had an off white underside. All of the reproduction tops have a black underside which, IMO, doesn't look good with a white top frame. SMS made me a top using NOS materials so it is exactly like the original. Granted, it cost 4x more than a Haartz replacement top, but it is correct and I'm a little mentally ill when it comes to correctness. I'm looking forward to your progress. If you've got any questions, don't hesitate to ask. I know every nut, bolt and clip on this car, having taken mine all the way down. You may find some useful information in the restoration thread I started.

1965 Chrysler 300 Convertible Restoration

I can also restore your quarter panel emblems:
Restored 1965 300 Emblems for 10north54

Good luck with your project!
 
Thanks for the information and the offer. Regarding my plans, I don't actually know yet. I'd like to have a nice driver that I could take out on a regular basis. I am planning to diagnose the top mechanism next week, too see if anything is wrong other than a bad fuse box. The PO, who didn't have the car for very long, recalled seeing the car around his little village with the top down, within the last couple of years. Maybe I'll get lucky. And who knows: I might even find the build sheet. :thumbsup:
 
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