Well, lightning has struck twice, again! Yesterday it was another Chevy-powered Triumph Stag and today, it’s the second 1961 Chrysler 300 G that I have encountered, replete with a manual transmission – how unusual! And, to add to the rarity, this is one of only 337 convertibles assembled in ’61. As to how many saw the light of day with the shift-it-yourself arrangement, I can’t say, but it can’t be many. This forlorn barn find calls Fort Worth, Texas home and it’s available, here on eBay for a BIN price of $11,000. There is a make-an-offer option too.
The listing images, and they’re not very comprehensive, tell the story, this ragtop, and it’s mostly missing its top, is in rough shape. The seller tells us, “My father had bought this about 50 years ago in West Texas (Monahans, TX). It has been sitting in this barn for about 40 years of that.” It’s dented, rusty, has a broken windshield, and rusted through floors – and that’s what’s visible or described, so the deleteriousness is likely worse. Most of the stainless trim appears to be either attached or residing on the trunk lid so that helps – a little. Back to that folding top, the frame assembly is still in place but the actual fabric has likely been gone for many moons.
The engine room is in possession of an unknown. It should be a dual four-barrel carburetor equipped 413 CI “RB” V8 engine but the seller states, “Not sure what engine it is. I did find what looks like one of the original air breathers from the 2×4 setup…” It is a big-block Mopar engine but as to which one, an identifying deep dive will be required – it would be nice to know if it will turn over. As for the three-speed manual transmission, it’s still in place, with the shift mechanism attached, but the shift lever is broken off.
Fuggetaboutit is one way to describe the interior, it’s truly a rat’s nest. The bucket seat frames and center console are still in place but boy-oh-boy, we’re talking about a major, major redo that will be needed. The environment’s condition is so dilapidated that it makes me think this 300 spent a lot of outside time in top-down mode – perhaps it did in the time before its barn slumber commenced 40 years ago.
All told, there were only 1,600 300Gs produced in ’61 (only 1.6% of Chrysler branded output) so these are exceedingly rare cars. And, they just ooze Virgil Exner’s outsized design elements. This is a car that definitely needs to be saved, but… it’s going to be a monumental undertaking, and expense, to bring this one back to anything worthy of the 300G’s lofty reputation. The engine issue, alone, minus those missing outrageous intake runners could become a holy grail search. But, restorable? Sure, at a monumental outlay – anyone up for the challenge?
Oy, some may not like my “in your face” attitude, but only a maroon would let a car like this deteriorate to this level. I mean, were not talking a Newport here. Chrysler letter cars have always been collectible, 40 years ago, even more so. A ragtop, floor shift letter car, it had to be a classy car. It looks terrible, but stripped down may not be that bad, but a restoration like this would be costly, and in this “take advantage of someone elses loss” era, I’d have to think a restored one would be half the cost, and none of the heartaches of the previous owner.
I read, all 1961 300Gs came with 413s and cross Ram, so either different motor or the cross ram went missing. Too far gone, that dash alone would cost a fortune. A bloody shame, it is.
People who think “preservation” means putting it in a drafty old chicken coop with a tin roof over it – WITHOUT putting at least a good quality car cover on it!! – and maybe some dessicant in an opportune place – make my molars grind. Restoration of even solid survivors these days costs a HIDEOUS amount of money, including paint and body which used to be the least expensive part of a resto. Only a tiny few can afford to bother with it.
Howard, in today’s dollars this would be nearly a $200K restoration–if not more. That to me makes it an unfeasible proposition. You even said a restored one (likely an automatic) would be alot cheaper and none of the headaches this one has. A real shame this was left to degrade to such a level, but it happens.
It’s cooked. Forget about it. The best part of them are the interior, especially the dash, and the cross ram.
The interior pieces are unobtanium and a working lit dash is even more impossible.
The driving experience is where the term big iron must have originated.70 mph is effortless.
Chrysler really was out there with the 300.
Is it a 3-speed or 4? Some of these came with a rare French-made (really!) 4-speed transmission.
The french-made 4 speeds transmission made by Pont-A-Mousson (also on V8 Facel Vega models) was only available in 1960.
When did the A-833 become a car tranny? I know it started life in trucks. I have heard about these cars having 3-speed floor shifts.
1965 model, in late 1964.
If you remember a 1964 300 was sold here earlier (I don’t remember if it was this year or last year) with an experimental Borg-Warner T-10, 4 speed. I imagine this was a test vehicle to determine if it would last in the big car behind the Short-Long Ram Induction 413, with 480 lb-ft of torque. As Chrysler went with New Process Gear 4 speeds, engineering specification A-833, one can only suspect it didn’t meet Chrysler’s engineering durability requirements.
Lets dive into this, the panels don’t look to bad. Will needs some work but they are all there with minimal rust and damage. Good starting point. Interior, well lets just say it will be a challenge. Some important part are there with others MIA. Not sure what is there until you make a good inspection. The engine, that will be the big concern and money. Nothing else to say on that. Overall this 300 can be restored and should be restore. How much $$$$ it will take is anybody’s guess. One more thing, pull the car out in the light and give it a wash. People are so lazy.
It’s really painful to see a 1961 Chrysler 300 G, especially with a manual trans in this condition. Without the crossover setup, is it a 413 or not? Body looks reasonably straight, and with engine problems and trashed interior, you may as well consider this a rolling chassis only. A reasonable offer depends on what the buyer is willing to gamble.
It’s agonizing to see this car in this condition. Too little way too late. The seller is extremely ambitious to want $11K for this – free towaway, is more like it, no matter how rare.
Rare? How about well cooked. No really, could still be a nice car if you threw enough money at it. Would have been a better project 40 years ago.
Oh the horror, the horror! This car must have been a sight to see when the top still kept out the rain and the engine ran.
So sad. One of these in pristine condition sold at auction in 2023 for $184,000. The ad there started that it was one of only 4 known 300G convertibles with the factory 3 speed. Rare car indeed but will take lots of work and $ to being it back.
The 3 speed floor shifter in these was really different. It wasn’t located in the middle of the console but along the side of it. The shifter itself looked like it came from J.C. Whitney and with bucket seats and a console looked even worse. 1st time I saw that setup I thought somebody put in a junkyard console, but nope that was the way they came. Too bad about this one, been rode hard and put away wet.
Sadly, it’s obvious this one sat outside for a LONG time (maybe the barn was without a roof for a couple decades?)
Noticed the dealer tag on the trunk lid is from Denver so maybe a southwest car all its life(?)
Re: 3-speed stick: just because it’s rare, doesn’t make it more desirable/or a better driving experience. Cross ram-torqueflite are a perfect Drive train that absolutely belong together. Maybe the stick makes the car worth a couple more bucks, and exclusiveness. I suppose if this car ever did get restored, it will never actually be driven anyway, other than off and on the trailer so I guess my above point is mute.
Although this one is about as sad of state as it gets, at least it did get saved and Will provide parts or a mighty ambitious restoration for someone……
I saw two 61 300Gs a week ago, my neighbor’s garage door was open. He has a real nice one, and a project under a tarp, although I’ve never seen it. He did just get a 59 Caddy convertible, and he mentioned the project may be up for sale. He once said it had almost every option available on it.
A restomod makes sense to me, maybe a custom interior with Recaro seats, a six speed gear box with a 440 six pack or an 8 stack injection, put on some disc brakes and get it on the road…
could of at least drug it out and took some real pictures of it for the asking price of 10k
This makes that ’54 Pontiac look cherry!