Sometimes when a vintage auto has ties to somebody well-known in its past, things can go from ordinary to extraordinary on an otherwise average car, but this 1970 Chrysler 300 Convertible here on eBay is so far above average in just about every aspect that you may end up forgetting who the full-size droptop once belonged to and stop thinking about what celebrity passengers may have sat inside over the years. This one’s a beauty, and although the Chrysler spent most of its life in California it’s now in the New England area of Lynnfield, Massachusetts, with bidding up to $16,400 at present but still shy of the reserve.
Perhaps isn’t exactly a household name nowadays, but his work as a Hollywood producer is fondly remembered with the likes of The Beverly Hillbillies and I Love Lucy representing just a couple of the numerous projects he was involved in. It seems Al special-ordered the 300, and while I can certainly understand how the topic of which stars may have ridden with him might be fun to bring up at your local Cars And Coffee, the subject of how well the car still presents would be just as satisfying in my book as how many times Lucy and Desi might have occupied the rear seat.
The seller doesn’t tell us how long he’s owned the Chrysler or exactly how long it was in Al’s hands, nor does he mention if any of the paint outside is still original. However, we do get a good assortment of photos to look at, and not only does the body appear close to immaculate but the finish itself looks just about as good. The only exterior flaw the seller points out is that the bumpers are showing a bit of patina, and even that seems like a relatively minor issue.
Under the hood remains the numbers-matching 440 4-Barrel, with the engine bay detailed and coming across almost as tidy as the outside. The seller lists mileage as 58k, and if the big block has been properly maintained I’m guessing there’s a fairly good chance it’s never been out of the bay. He doesn’t tell us that for sure, but does state that a complete tune-up has been performed along with a recent oil change and that the 300 runs and drives excellently, so all the next owner needs to do is prepare to enjoy it.
Components on the inside are overall nicely preserved, with maybe a couple of cracks in the dash if you look closely but the seat material and even the roof canvas seem to be in fine condition. All of the power accessories are stated as functioning properly, with one modern add-on being a touchscreen with voice recognition and cell phone capabilities, plus there’s even a backup camera to help maneuver the eighteen-and-a-half footer in reverse. I feel confident the price is going to continue escalating upward, but with the reserve unknown it does make me curious how much our readers think this beautiful convertible may end up exchanging hands for. Any ideas?
A set of these wheels (on the pictured car) is the only other addition I would add to this beauty!!
GLWTA!! :-)
Is that your 69 Monaco? Looks like a Superlite in the grille?
Reminds me of watching Mannix and MISSION: Impossible reruns.
Is this the 350HP 440? It didn’t say TNT on the air cleaner. Why did Chrysler 440s have 25 fewer ponies? Awful nice car, just the same. Such a nice ride for the upcoming fall driving season. Wish it were mine (though, not sure how I would pay for the petrol).
Rank… It’s a non HP 440 single exhaust. Which I was surprised. The HP is a U comes with dual exhaust. 🐻🇺🇸
BTW, not sure Luci and Desi sat in there, at least not together. Luci kicked him out of her bed almost a decade before if I recall correctly. Desi had a wandering eye, and Luci, well, she always smelled like cigarette smoke. For me? i want to get in the back seat with Ellie May Clampett circa 1971. Plenty of room back there for whatever comes to mind. Just imagine, her and me, and a star filled California sky!
Would it be ok if imagined me instead of you?Nothing personal but..
Sorry Ger, I had the dream first. Just saying. Ms Douglas (may she rest in peace) was quite a looker. May of us in that age group had such a crush on her.
Get in line.
You just ruined our whole dream of driving through the winding back roads of North eastern Maine, or somewhere in the Appalachian mountains drinking a cold beer listing to some Eric Clapton on a warm sunny summer day. This car belongs on the east coast, all that Hollywood smoke and mirrors money was put to good use when that car found it’s new home in Massachusetts. California can pound sand with it’s fake plastic agenda and propaganda.
You had me until you talked about drinking and driving. Good bye. Around here, we don’t even joke about that.
Curios, look at the photo of the vin plate, when these area cars left the factor did they have paint / tape lines like that?
I think we’re seeing a clear sticker that the adhesive is disbonded at the edges. A little dirt under the sticker edges. Nothing nefarious IMO
Oh, I see it now. Repainted
Al Simon’s association with “I Love Lucy” ended after the first season (1951-52) and Lucy and Desi divorced in 1960 so I’d guess the odds the Arnazes ever rode in this car are essentially zero.
Beautiful 300 I was surprised by the non HP set up. The door tag with the information you can tell the 300 had a repaint. Otherwise nice job. Somebody pulled the engine either rebuilt it or freshen the engine by cleaning…paint job and new gaskets. That’s the correct color since it’s a T code engine. A U code would be Hemi orange paint. And the air cleaner cover would read 440 T.N.T .. Love that interior you don’t see them like that anymore! I would say the reserve is North of $20,000. They made some nice road wheels for the 300 . I would put those on with thin white or red walls tires. Otherwise great Chrysler. Good luck to the next owner.. 🐻🇺🇸
Perhaps why “Ricky” shouldn’t lose that number?
It’s a Glamour Profession. “I drove the Chrysler…..”
Now only if our garage was longer than eighteen and a half feet…..
“I got me a Chrysler, she drives like a whale, so let’s get ready to set sail.” Sorry folks but ima Georgia boy and the B-52s were from Athens. Beautiful land yacht. I’d want those road wheels and thin whites as well.
…it seats about 20, so, come on, and get your juke…box…money…
Beautiful car, most of these rotted away. I’m partial to blue, so this one is just gorgeous to me, I wish I could buy it.
Shame that they spent all that money and detail on that beautiful framed poster, only to misspell “Carburetor.”
And “Barrel” I still remember a time when proofreading mattered
I don’t recall two-tone seats in 300s and the lower door panels should be covered in carpet. With the added technology devices, this is more of a custom than a piece of TV history. Interesting non-Mopar colored engine as well.
Exactly correct on the interior. They were monochromatic, no two-toning.
There were no two tone seats in these 300’s. That is a custom interior. Same with the mods under the hood… not factory looking at all. This is a mild custom 300.
I used to own a ’69 300 convertible, that I restored back in the 80’s.
Why wouldn’t a Hollywood big shot spring for an Imperial? Or did they stop making Imperial ragtops by that point? Chrysler sponsored a lot of his shows so he probably got it for free anyway
Sorry the fact that the Producer of the Beverly Hillbillies owned that car doesn’t add value to me. Also it is a land yacht and would not fit in my garage and doubt the homeowners association would allow me do build and extension. My Dad had a four door New Yorker hardtop. I learned to drive in it and parallel parked it to pass my drivers test. It is a nice looking car that I would buy, although I like being married.
My first convertible was a triple white 1970 300 that was repainted red, TNT 440 (long gone) buckets, console, AM 8 track, PW, cornering lights and remote trunk release. I traded it for a F8 70 Challenger SE. Found the 300 years later in R&R salvage in Aurora Missouri.
Hmmm… No trunk seal ??? Hope it was never in a rainstorm or washed without it… Missing the antenna.. Lower door panels look bad..
Nice car, but seller should not represent it as an loriginal car .
Would make a nice cruiser for sure..
It has a power retractable antenna.
At what the 2 cars are currently bid up to, I would prefer taking 3 of these droptop 440 beauties over 1 ’67 Impala 427 SS.
Looking close someone did a lot of work on this it looks ok but sure would like the before pictures a lot going on and not original I guess it still would look good driving down the road most people never know
A “fuselage” 300 convertible is on my bucket list. This car was listed on Ebay for around an entire year in early 2022 (IIRC). I watched it and I think he was looking to get $27k. It was listed in Hollywood, CA. I was very interested and it was a very honest car. All the eagle eyes in here are right. The interior was solid blue and it had a standard bench with a center armrest, not the buckets in it currently. I remember a black top that needed replacing, too. The current seller has cleaned it up nicely. I like the buckets, but I don’t agree with the giant touchscreen stereo or the white trim.
Absolutely not original. As noted by others engine has been out and repainted, A/C compressor painted, incorrect spark plug wires, underside has been mildly restored – looks like a new tank and straps, new undercoating, differential painted, etc. But still a very nice example.
Had one of these in 80’s also 68 convt, 63 convt, and 61 300 G htp. All gone Still have 2 sets of wheels on 61 Phoenix & 62 Dodge wagon. Loved those cars.
Wonderful writing, you mention that it was owned by a TV producer but never really mention his name other than “Al”. I don’t think it really adds anything to the value of this car, it’s not like he was that well known to the general public like say a Sherwood Schwartz or Quinn Martin. Nice car on its own, but being owned by someone who happened to work on some TV shows is nothing other than a curiosity. Would a car be worth more if it was owned by a firefighter who was only owned locally? Probably not.