My unexpected Hurst 300 Find

[Boydsdodge]

I had great success with using acetone in small squares 2" or 3" as it evaporates quickly. I would use the small disposable brushes, rub, wipe, repeat.
This first pic is the start of removing paint from original leather, someone in Tux's past thought spraying the interior white would freshen it up. Uugh.

 

[Boydsdodge]

This what was under some crappy paint after the acetone with the disposable brush. I then used plastic/vinyl primer and SEM to finish. No harm done to the plastic or the original paint on the metal trim from the acetone. I did not have to repaint the metal trim as it came up so clean.

 

[Trace 300 Hurst]

Thanks Trace, that gives me some good feed back. My concern was the best quality dye or paint that didn't have too heavy a spray pattern and build up on the surface.

As I recall, the SEM stuff sprays a bit thin, which is good. Multiple coats, etc. I used it for the BLACK door pulls that @70 Sport Suburban provided to me. As you can see, it's a better shade than the repro armrests from ABC Moparts!

 

[ayilar]

As I recall, the SEM stuff sprays a bit thin, which is good. Multiple coats, etc. I used it for the BLACK door pulls that @70 Sport Suburban provided to me. As you can see, it's a better shade than the repro armrests from ABC Moparts!

View attachment 644283

The repops are the correct original color. The door panel vinyl may be original, but it is faded.

 

[Big_John]

The repops are the correct original color. The door panel vinyl may be original, but it is faded.

That door panel is not original and not quite the correct color. IMHO, the color is close enough that most won't notice and also more pleasing to the eye. Mine is also done in that color.

Note the physical differences. I found a nice pic of an original white panel.

 

[Big_John]

Here is a kicker that I need an answer to. What color are the front bucket seat backs supposed to be painted. Is it the saddle Tan or the hurst gold. Is there an exact paint color code that supports this. I just want to restore this w/ no mistakes. I started to clean them and a lot of color came off w/ the dirt.

I'm not sure what the color actually is. The console in my car, along with a few other pieces I believe came from a 300Hurst that was parted out years ago. It was originally tan but had that gold color sprayed on it.

Here you can see that the compartment wasn't painted. I can't say 100% this is correct, but this is what I believe is right...

Funny, I took these pics a few years ago just in case anyone ever asked. That said, anything cosmetic from my car is not what I would call "reference original".

 

[Trace 300 Hurst]

The repops are the correct original color. The door panel vinyl may be original, but it is faded.

That door panel is not original and not quite the correct color. IMHO, the color is close enough that most won't notice and also more pleasing to the eye. Mine is also done in that color.

Note the physical differences. I found a nice pic of an original white panel.

Indeed, my door panels are not originals....no chrome trim like Big_John's picture. In fact, I added the "300" emblems and the pulls, otherwise they were VERY plain when I got the car in 2018. (pic below) My whole interior was redone in 1998 by the second owner by some upholstery shop in Texas, long before anyone was thinking "concours original" for an old car from New Mexico with what was probably a VERY sunburnt interior. But they did pretty good, considering.

As for the SEM, that's their paint on the pull handle and it's miles from the ABC armrest. Which one is most correct? Dunno. But I thought "we" were big on the SEM stuff as being correct.

And as I mentioned above, if we could examine a Hurst (or any other saddle Chrysler) that has been in a dark, climate-controlled warehouse for 54 years, I'm betting we would see an assortment of shades in that interior.

Plain Jane!

 

[Trace 300 Hurst]

Here's an assortment of interior pics that I've gathered over the years. Who knows which one shows "correct" colors?

 

[Big_John]

But I thought "we" were big on the SEM stuff as being correct.

I don't believe "we" ever stated that. You can get SEM custom mixed, but the places that mix SEM paint are few and far between. The SEM is very a good interior paint though. There are other options that may be better color wise.

My color comprehension isn't the best, especially with browns and reds, so I'm really the wrong guy to ask. (I used to have a brown shirt until Mrs. Big John informed me it was actually maroon). So keep that in mind when I talk about color.

These images that @Trace 300 Hurst posted are of my car. The color of the seats (Legendary sourced by a previous owner) are closer to the original color of the door panels (I think) and my door panels are actually SEM 15173 Camel color. As my door panels had already been painted before I had it, I went back and forth on the color, finally deciding on the camel as being a nicer color, matching the convertible top. I did come close with another color, but my color consultant (Mrs. Big John) said it looked awful and referred to it as "Baby **** brown", so I went with the camel. I was going to dye the seats, but the slight mismatch in color looked pretty good.

I also sprayed the dash and console with SEM camel.

I had spray out cards of the different colors, but I think I finally tossed them. The SEM color chart is good, but get the real chart... Don't depend on the color settings of your monitor.

 

[Mbaird]

Does anyone know the breakdown of floorshift vs column shift cars ?

 

[Trace 300 Hurst]

Does anyone know the breakdown of floorshift vs column shift cars ?

AFAIK it was very few, maybe 18 or so, but that's likely tribal knowledge and hearsay. When it comes to the Hurst, I do know that very few were ordered by a private buyer, thus very few had the options of cruise, headlight sentinel, console, clock, or chrome tips. It was already an expensive (and weird) car, so dealers didn't want their allotments to have these add-ons. Also consider that the console makes it a five passenger car instead of a roomy six, so there's that to keep most private buyers from ordering it.

Another hearsay tidbit: some of the first cars had crank windows (I've never seen one), but when the overstuffed Imperial seats were all the way forward in a "small" Chrysler, you couldn't turn the crank. All subsequent cars had power windows.

Also, I don't know if it was NOT optional, but I've never seen one without AC. It's possible that someone somewhere in the north ordered one without it....don't know for sure.

 

[Trace 300 Hurst]

When I grabbed those pics from my files, I thought that 'vert might have been your car because it sure wasn't a Hurst. I have more assorted interior pics showing assorted hues and shades, but ehhhh.....I get my own point.
@Big_John (I used to have a brown shirt until Mrs. Big John informed me it was actually maroon)

I guess I didn't know about the SEM Camel. When I bought the last of the very nice repro "Hurst' seat track covers from ABC, they came in a surprising brown (Camel??) instead of the saddle I was expecting. Maybe ask Mrs. Big_John about the color in this pic:

 

[Big_John]

Also, I don't know if it was NOT optional, but I've never seen one without AC. It's possible that someone somewhere in the north ordered one without it....don't know for sure.

There was one that was for sale here that had an add-on AC. For Sale - 70 CHRYSLER 300 HURST

 

[SportFury70]

Late to the post here, but congratulations on your Hurst David! Hope to see it at Carlisle next year, (as I unfortunately can’t make it this year.) You definitely got a winner there.

 

[Trace 300 Hurst]

There was one that was for sale here that had an add-on AC. For Sale - 70 CHRYSLER 300 HURST

Ahh yes. Good memory, John!

I took about a zillion pics of that car at Mecum in 2019 AND posted them to that thread, so you think I would have remembered. Sheeesh!

 

[Trace 300 Hurst]

I was watching the recent Graveyard S16/E15 (M-O-O-N Spells Orange) last night, and lo and behold Mark did a serious segment on the big variation of color and texture in all sorts of interior parts. He speaks about different dye lots, different vendors and different materials that show differing colors and shades....much like we've been talking about here the past few days. He demonstrates with an assortment of orange parts that look a little different, even on the television. His point is that if everything matches perfectly, it's over-restored. He then goes on to show how he's learned to mix his own brews to approximate the sheens and surface textures of our various Mopars. Interesting and informative. [For a change!]

 

[david hill]

I was watching the recent Graveyard S16/E15 (M-O-O-N Spells Orange) last night, and lo and behold Mark did a serious segment on the big variation of color and texture in all sorts of interior parts. He speaks about different dye lots, different vendors and different materials that show differing colors and shades....much like we've been talking about here the past few days. He demonstrates with an assortment of orange parts that look a little different, even on the television. His point is that if everything matches perfectly, it's over-restored. He then goes on to show how he's learned to mix his own brews to approximate the sheens and surface textures of our various Mopars. Interesting and informative. [For a change!]

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Thanks Trace for the info on dyes and the differences between each.

 

[david hill]

Is this salvageable. My OEM heater control valve has begun to leak coolant. The housing parts appear to be in excellent condition w/ no cracks. Response at the dash controls is spot on. The rub is where to get gaskets to repair it. Are there any underlining failures I need to look for. If it didn't work so well I would just replace it w/ a all steel unit. The steel units just don't perform well as they have less than desired sensitivity at the dash controls.

 

[Northcoast300h]

See my post below. Hope you have better luck. Supposedly, the later mopar steel ones work, but those are $175. And after trying a number of alternatives which all failed, I went with a manual one.

Heater valve - I guess it still looks stock?

From my previous posts, you guys know I was having problems with the plastic Mopar heater valves starting to leak before 3yrs old on my 1970 300 Hurst. You guys also know I'm cheap, so I didn't want to buy a 3rd $120 valve. Maybe I have too much pressure in my cooling system which causes these...

www.forcbodiesonly.com

 

[Northcoast300h]

When I grabbed those pics from my files, I thought that 'vert might have been your car because it sure wasn't a Hurst. I have more assorted interior pics showing assorted hues and shades, but ehhhh.....I get my own point.
@Big_John (I used to have a brown shirt until Mrs. Big John informed me it was actually maroon)

I guess I didn't know about the SEM Camel. When I bought the last of the very nice repro "Hurst' seat track covers from ABC, they came in a surprising brown (Camel??) instead of the saddle I was expecting. Maybe ask Mrs. Big_John about the color in this pic:

View attachment 644345

20yrs ago, I found Ford Thunderbird steel covers are very similar. (forgot which yr). Bought from junkyard for $20. Painted SEM (had to paint almost entire interior SEM from sitting in junkyard for decades). SEM Interior paint still looks great.

No one notices. My car will never win any awards, so no reason to put a ton of money in it.