Joined: Sat Nov 27 2010, 12:16AM
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 135
I saw an add on Kijiji posted as a 1966 300 2 Door HT with electric bucket seats, center console with "performance gauge" and electric windows, seller stated "better as a parts car but could restore", of course no price and no pictures. I sent him an email asking for the price and pictures and was pleasantly surprised when he said he was asking $1000 obo. I started vibrating as I always felt bucket seats and a console shifter would just add that final touch to my 66 Windsor (US Newport) resto-mod ...
When he sent me pictures it turned out to be a 1965 300 but since the bodies are basically identical I felt the 2 hour drive was worth it to go have a look. I took my trailer and some cash and about 3 hours later loaded it into my trailer for $550 (plus about $100 in diesel for the round trip).
It is a nicely optioned car with: - power bucket seats (drivers side makes some noise and a little movement, passengers side nothing right now) - power windows (only drivers is working) - vacuum operated trunk release - power steering and power drum brakes (maybe this is standard on all 300's) - 383-2 bbl (he said he had had it running but mysteriously it wouldn't start. It's turning over but not firing so it may start yet) - drivers floorboard rusted through and passengers almost there - trunk pan rusted through in many places - both rear quarters rusted through - almost all the trim is in excellent shape, the rear quarter panel 300 emblems and the 300 emblem in the package tray all look really good - grill is in fair usable shape - quite a bit of bondo on both C-pillars and no vinyl roof - rear tail lights are fair at best - newspapers in car indicate it has sat since 1990 - found a plastic grocery bag full of letters and birthday/valentines cards from 1966 through 1969 between the rear seat and the trunk, unbelievably mice had not touched them.
So the game plan over the next year or so will be:
- Order new bucket seat foam from Legendary Auto Interiors and have them finished in the same material/pattern as my current seats. I think I will keep my factory rear bench since the package tray in the 300 is quite dry and warped (as much as I like the shape of the rear 300 bench) and I do believe my existing rear bench will look fine with the buckets ...
- Clean up and repair any issues on the floor console and use all the mounting brackets and hardware to install it in my car, using the 65 as a template for cable runs, etc. I should be able to use the available conversion kits so that I can keep my 1973 torqueflite.
- Remove the entire steering column from the 65 and have Paul do his magic with prep and painting and transfer over the "filler plate" in lieu of my current PRND21.
- Transfer over the vacuum trunk release as a neat little option.
As nice as it would be, I will probably stay away from the electric windows to save money and plenty of frustration.
If you see any flaws in my plan of transferring the 1965 Chrysler 300 bucket seats, steering column and console shifter over to a 1966 Chrysler Windsor (Newport) please let me know.
Keep in mind that the 65 console and auto trans use a cable shift arrangement - you could most like fab up something. The 66 and up console is quite different looking, so some will feel the need to point that out.
The 65 buckets are much squarer in shape, and will work nicely when reupholstered to match your rear bench, so that's a nice bit of luck.
There's an NOS power seat motor on eBay right now. I love my power windows, and given the choice, I'd refurb them and put them in. I understand your reluctance though...
Sounds like a great score, and a fun project to mix the stuff into your car.
Joined: Tue Oct 11 2005, 01:33AM
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 5893
Wow, it looks even better than you described! I think the buckets will look great and as Ross points out, the square backs are a perfect match. The rear seat speaker cut out could use a chrome insert like mine to avoid changes to the package tray. I have a spare grill for you to play with.
Paul completely rebuilt my power windows and they actually work better than they did when new, so I would definitely use them. The only down side, you'll need to redo the door trim panels to lose the window crank holes and add PW cut outs. Maybe make a new interior and sell the old one.
I'd go with an electric trunk release, much easier to install and no risk of vacuum leaks.
A thought, one thing that I wanted to do but it never quite happened add electric door locks. With doors and trunk electrified you can then install one of the new fancy alarm systems which includes remote entry. I had a inside hood lock release and a bunch of electric door lock parts, but Paul decided they were nfg. I may yet get a door lock kit from one of those CA street rod guys.
Joined: Tue Nov 06 2007, 04:01PM
Location: detroit
Posts: 41
Ditto the comments above on the seats, comfy once you put new foam in them. Shop around for the foam kit, i beat Legendary's price by a bit from ProFit Auto interiors (www.profitautointeriors.com/) . Any idea how the tan steering wheel looks under the cover? Mark