Re: [Chrysler300] 62 Chrysler 300's converted to 63 Dodge 880's

[Andy Mikonis <r41hp@xxxxxxxxx>]

I think we're talking about '62 Dodge 880s not '63 - I
had one. The rear end is same as '62 Chrysler, the
dash and front end is '61 Dodge. My understanding is
when '62 Dodges were downsized, the dealers complained
because they had no full-size offering, so the 880 was
brought in mid-year. Hence low production numbers.

Ironically, the '62 Chrysler was already evolved from
the '61 Dodge. Collectible Automobile did a great
article on this years ago. Look at the rear door on a
'61 Dodge 4-door - the line on the bottom of the door
matches the '62 Chrysler quarter, so that means the
'62 Chrysler quarter was designed to go on the '61
Dodge body. Slap a '61 Chrysler front end, and a '61
Chrysler dash on there and voila! 

So yeah, your 300H is really a Dodge, short wheelbase
and all.

Sounds like a good article for the 300H feature!

Andy

 




--- Jim Pristelski <ajp002@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> My father was a Chrysler/Plymouth dealer at this
> time.  At the end of the
> model year, Chrysler Corp would make a bunch of cars
> which would be loaded
> up with whatever options were left that would not
> apply to the following
> year's cars.  It was their way of getting rid of the
> surplus inventory.  For
> example, I remember a 1962 Sport 300 4dr HT that my
> dad got at the end of
> the model year.  It was red with a leather interior,
> PW, PS, AC, etc,
> including cruise control.  It came with an
> incredible list of options.
> These cars were offered to the dealers at lower than
> normal prices.  As a
> result, they sold out and none were left.
> 
> With something well over 1000 dealers across the US,
> and with the Sport 300
> being a popular model in 1962, there is no way that
> Chrysler Corp was left
> with some 500 unsold 300s at the end of the model
> year.  This is the first
> time that I have heard of anything like that.  Even
> if they were selling
> slowly, which was not the case, Chrysler Corp would
> have made the price
> favorable enough that the dealers would have
> scrambled for them.
> 
> Perhaps what was meant was that since the 1963 Dodge
> 880 continued to have
> the looks of the 1962 Chrysler, some several hundred
> body shells may have
> been saved for the 1963 Dodge 880.  But built out
> Chrysler 300s did not have
> their nameplates, trim etc removed to be replaced by
> Dodge nameplates, trim,
> etc.  If they were builtout as Chryslers, they would
> have been sold to the
> dealers at whatever price it took to move them out.
> 
> Jim in cold IL
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Carlton Schroeder <schroe99@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Wed, Mar 5, 2008 at 5:26 PM
> Subject: [Chrysler300] 62 Chrysler 300's converted
> to 63 Dodge 880's
> To: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> 
>   In my attempts to track down some Wisconsin old
> car junk yards and Mopar
> parts or car collectors I've been talking to some
> interesting people. I do
> expect to have some sources available in a month or
> so for anyone
> interested, although I've been told by a couple of
> yards that with scrap
> metal at $200 per ton many cars that have been
> sitting for some time are
> being scrapped.
> 
> Anyways, a car enthusiast I talked to today (Wayne
> Dettmering, Brokaw, WI)
> told me that at the end of the 62 model year there
> were 500 excess or left
> over 62 300's that were converted to 63 Dodge 880's.
> Maybe that was a
> practice back then or maybe Wayne is wrong but his
> story sounded unusual and
> was interesting to me. Maybe Gil or another Chrysler
> employeee would know if
> this was true. Also I started to wonder how this
> might or might not be
> reflected in a vehicle no.
> 
> Wayne has a 1950 Jeepster that he has had on display
> at the Auburn Chrysler
> Museum and he said he also would try to visit our
> meet and bring his
> Jeepster. Wayne also gave me a few junk yard leads
> I'm following up on.
> 
> 300'ly
> 
> Carlton Schroeder
> (lot's of cheeseheads crying in their beer with
> Farve retiring)
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
> 
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
> 
> 



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