After spending decades hidden away in a barn, this 1928 Chrysler Series 72 Roadster has now emerged back into the light of day. What the light reveals is a solid and clean car that is just begging for someone to return it to active duty. If the listing is accurate, then this might be an easy project to complete over the remaining Winter months. The Chrysler is located in Fort Collins, Colorado, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has now reached $9,600 but the reserve hasn’t been met. There is a BIN option available, and this has been set at $18,000.

The owner claims that the Roadster wears its original paint, but I’m not 100% convinced of that. The paint on the body itself looks like it might potentially be original, but the fenders and running boards wear a color that just looks too modern. There is also some evidence of what appears to be overspray in a few spots around the car, suggesting that the vehicle may have received at least a partial repaint at some point. What can’t be disputed is just how solid the Chrysler is. The owner supplies a great selection of clear photos of the Roadster’s underside, and it is not only free of any rust issues, but it looks to be spotlessly clean. There aren’t even any signs of any fluid leaks, which is really promising. The wooden-spoked wheels look like they are in good condition, while the glass, along with the exterior chrome and trim, looks like it would clean rather nicely. The top is looking a bit dirty, but it is a tight fit and is another feature that I think would respond well to some careful cleaning.

Under the hood of the Chrysler what was, in 1928, considered to be a relative powerhouse of an engine. It is a 248.9ci flathead 6-cylinder engine, and in its prime, it punched out a healthy 85hp. This power found its way to the rear wheels via a 3-speed manual transmission. Just how good were these engines? Four examples of the Series 72 were entered in the 1928 LeMans 24-Hour, and while two of those cars scored a DNF, the remaining two finished 3rd and 4th outright, beaten by a Bentley and a Stutz. When you look at the results, they also left a pretty decent selection of more favored runners in their wake. This Series 72 currently doesn’t run. However, the owner has hooked a battery to it, and the engine does turn freely. He hasn’t attempted to coax the Chrysler into life because he simply doesn’t have access to the equipment to drain and flush the fuel system. There is a very real possibility that with that task completed, that the fantastic flathead might just roar back into life.

The interior of the Chrysler is actually quite clean and tidy and will need very little to make it sparkle once again. The seats, including the rumble seat, are fitted with newer upholstery, and I’m not really convinced that this looks right. However, that all comes down to a matter of personal taste. The vinyl on the kick panels is curling back, but that should be able to be glued back into place. The glass on the gauges is also cloudy, but a good clean might address this. What can be seen is the fact that the green paint from the dash has some visible overspray in a pretty messy fashion onto the steering column support. This is one of those issues that I spotted which makes me believe that the Chrysler has received at least a partial repaint at some point. Overall though, it looks like a few days of just general cleaning, along with a little bit of glue, should have the interior presenting quite well once again.

This 1928 Chrysler Series 72 Roadster represents what could be a very straightforward project car. It would seem that the majority of its needs could be addressed in a home workshop. Spotless and original examples can easily sell for figures in excess of $30,000. If it turns out that this one needs someone to spend time on it, and it doesn’t require any significant cash to be splashed, then it would make a pretty respectable buy at the current BIN price.