RE: [Chrysler300] Dave Clelland's G, Concours or show!?

["Knutsen.Mark" <Knutsenm@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Without taking sides, I have to say this is thread of great interest, especial since my G is going through restoration. I have a half dozen items that fall under the category of better than new. Some seem like no brainers (paint type, stainless brake lines) but other start to stretch the envelope for the purist (powder coating the sub frame, increasing the radiator row count, electronic ignition, and possibly front disk brakes). I personally have not reached a decision on most of these items. I really think it comes down to personal choice and respecting the intention of the original builder. A few years ago my wife and I restored a great old Victorian in a small town in Illinois. It still had its wood clapboard and each board had a custom edge routed into it. When it came to time to repair some of the siding I purchased the raw siding and added the edge on each one. Most of my neighbors were still wondering why I didn't just put on vinyl siding. I thought I was crazy. Halfway through the project I read an article about a couple on the east coast who were rebuilding their home after a fire. They were paying an extra $500,000 so that it could be build with the exact methods used in the 18th century. My wife and I commented that that was crazy. I guess it is all relative...

By the way, what is the feeling on powdercoating the sub frame? I'm going to have to make that decision pretty soon.

-----Original Message-----
From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On
Behalf Of John J. Hertog
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2006 5:23 PM
To: 'Lee Meyer'; 'Brandt Jimerson'; Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Chrysler300] Dave Clelland's G, Concours or show!?


Hi Lee, Brandt and all :

Re: Dave Clelland's 300G :  it is definitely an extremely nice, extremely
correct, honest #2 condition car. I know the car intimately, and Dave is my
friend.

Lee, one quick comment.  On 300F's and 300G's, door latches are supposed to
be painted - that goes for the latch assembly in the door as well as the
striker on the doorpost.  Cars left the factory that way. So is the hood
latch assembly. So are the hood hinges. So is the trunk latch - all painted.
Cad plating is for Chebbies. Check out the all the pictures of Steve Albu's
original, never restored 300F on the Club site  (tech section).

What's a #1 condition car ?  Truly, I do not believe that such a critter
exists.   A car can only be original (and perfect) once - when it is brand
new, leaving the factory.  Any "restored" car will be just that - a RESTORED
car. No longer original. 

Brandt:  Dave's car is (was) an excellent, correct, restoration, very well
executed, with extremely minimal wear since it was restored. The car was
mostly trailered to and from shows, and driven very, very few miles.
Everything on that car is correct, period.  Even the painted door latches !
It's a seriously and correctly restored, #2 condition car that anyone would
be happy to own and display or drive. 

John Hertog
Sag Harbor NY
 

   



-----Original Message-----
From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Lee Meyer
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2006 11:52 AM
To: 'Brandt Jimerson'; Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [Chrysler300] Dave Clelland's G, Concours or show!?

Howdy gang, I was at Barrett-Jackson and checked out Dave`s 300G vert in
person. The car was behind ropes most of the time so I could not crawl
underneath it or check out the trunk but I did get to see the underhood,
doorjams and interior pretty well. 
Please understand that I am not picking on or ragging Daves car. It was
a very nice, pretty car overall. I would say the car is a #2, but with
further inspection of the undercarriage and inside the trunk that could
change. I am sure many would disagree and I am sure I will get hate mail
for this but I will explain. Most people look at a car as the big
picture, the whole thing and wow what a nice shiny new car! In the
glossy overall little details are not seen to most. I am a restorer and
I like to look at details as well as the overall picture. It is little
details that will bring a car to a #1 car. Please also understand that
it is very difficult to do a #1 car, as every nut, bolt and part must be
in as new or better than new condition, including all the parts and
assemblies that you can not see. The standards these days are such that
it has to be Way better than new. In many cases to bring a #2 car up to
#1 means to car will have to be partially or completely re-restored. If
your goal is to do a #1 car you should plan for it at the beginning and
stay the course to the end. It will cost quite a bit more time and money
to do a restoration this way. 
I am not going to go on about every little detail on Dave`s car but I
will bring up one thing, as I hope it will lead to some restorer
somewhere building just a little nicer car in the future. When I talked
to a couple friends of mine, also restorers, who asked about the car I
told them it was a nice car but the door latches were painted. That's
pretty much all I had to say and they understood. You may ask, "What's
the big deal about painted door latches?" Here is the big deal: the are
not supposed to be painted, they are either zinc washed or cad plated,
so if they are painted that means they were never removed from the car
during restoration, which means they never were cleaned or rebuilt,
which means the other inside door mechanisms or parts were probably
ignored as well, which means the car was probably not completely
stripped during resto and on and on. It's just a dead on giveaway to an
amateur resto. So let the hate mail begin!
Lee in San Diego

-----Original Message-----
From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Brandt Jimerson
Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2006 10:10 PM
To: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Chrysler300] Dave Clelland's G, Concours or show!?

Hello to everyone! Just wondering if anyone knows the condition of Dave
Clelland's G convertible that sold at Barrett Jackson (for $185K before
premiums). Was it ONLY trailered at a #1 cond. and basically correct to
the last nut, bolt, and washer, or was it at a #2 cond., (show)?
'Melissa' wants know!    Sincerely and 300ly, Brandt H. J. w/ a 'curious
G'.
		
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