A link to a picture and the rest of the story: http://tinyurl.com/875xw39 A direct ancestor of the Beautiful Brutes! Eight cylinders, two-door "hardtop", massive grille, prestigious, rare, comfortable and high style. My friend Terry serves as the President of the Greater Omaha Region of the WPC Club, is a generic MoPar enthusiast and displays a special affinity for 300's and (real) woodies. Hatzoff and thanks to Terry for parts, advice and friendship! C300K'ly, Rich Barber Brentwood, CA From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Terry and Andree Hoeman Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2011 6:32 PM To: 'C Bilter'; 'Don Warnaar'; Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; Lettercars@xxxxxxx Subject: [Chrysler300] 1946 Chrysler Town and Country--predecessor to the 300's The Town and Country hardtop was in fact built in 1946. Not exactly mass production but 6 are reported to have been built. Only one is still known to exist. The existing one was specially modified for David Wallace who was president of Chrysler division from the late 30's through most of our 300 model years and he retired in 1964 I believe. Interestingly he had a ranch here in Nebraska and the 46 left his ownership while here in Nebraska. I first saw it while living in Ohio and it was owned by Al Bridle who bought it sight unseen in the early 70s or late 60's and flew into Omaha and took possession of the car and drove it back to Ohio where it resided for many years. After we moved back to Nebraska we had the pleasure of knowing George Boehlert who sold it to him for many years. I also met the man who had bought it originally but have lost his name of course. It is shown in all of the original 1946 sales literature and was shown again in 1949 but only one was built and it appears to be lost. In 1950 it was the only body style available and some 701 were built. We had the privilege of having three of them here till earlier this year when one went to the left coast. Terry--with 5 T&C's left and 3 300's plus a few others. -----Original Message----- From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> ] On Behalf Of C Bilter Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2011 5:56 PM To: 'Don Warnaar'; Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> ; Lettercars@xxxxxxx <mailto:Lettercars%40aol.com> Subject: RE: [Chrysler300] 50's Car Test On the topic of hardtops (the weak link to 300 related material), I believe it is generally considered that the 1946 Chrysler Town & Country was the first American car designed as a 2-door hardtop (it didn't actually make production until 1950, but was used in advertising I think). Some AACA guys try to claim that "hardtops" go all the way back to a customized 1915 Packard, but I'm not buying that argument. And the last American hardtop was the Chrysler New Yorker in 1978 (4 door model; the 2-dr model wasn't really a hardtop anymore). That sound right? Some might argue it was the 1983 Imperial (or Cordoba & Mirada) as they were described as "two door specialty hardtops" by Chrysler, but they weren't really 2-dr hardtops in the traditional sense as the rear windows were fixed. Little known factoid- the 1974 and 1975 Imperial 2-dr with the rare "Crown Coupe" option (later called St. Regis on the New Yorkers) were actually 2-dr hardtops of sorts because it was a post-assembly line conversion. If you removed the rear trim panels on these cars, you'd find "virgin" power window motors on the rear windows and if you hooked up a pw switch, the rear windows would raise and lower within the "crown coupe" roof. Something only a lunatic Mopar guy would do. Been there, did that. Carl Bilter _____ From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> ] On Behalf Of Don Warnaar Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2011 4:47 PM To: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> ; Lettercars@xxxxxxx <mailto:Lettercars%40aol.com> Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] 50's Car Test Gil and all, Actually we both spelled it wrong. Yours was probably a typo. Belvedere, no extra e. Most makes of cars used special names for their hardtop models in the '40s and '50s. Chevrolet brought out its first hardtop in 1950 and named it the Bel Air. Other GM makes: Pontiac Catalina, Olds Holiday, Buick Riviera, Cadillac Coupe de Ville. Chrysler Corp. - Dodge Diplomat, DeSoto Sportsman, Chrysler Newport, Plymouth Belevedere Ford - Ford Victoria, Mercury Monterey. Lincoln used the Capri name but it appears that it was used for "non hardtop coupe" models in the line also. Others: Packard Mayfair, Hudson Hollywood, Nash Country Club, Studebaker Starliner, Willys Bermuda Several of those hardtop names were extended to a full line later on, such as Bel Air, Belvedere, Newport and Monterey. Ford later used the Crown Victoria name for sedans, but not Victoria alone.. Anyone have anything to add or correct? Actually this subject relates to 300 Letter Cars quite well. All the Letter Series coupes during the '50s and '60s were pillar-less hardtops. Don Warnaar ----- Original Message ----- From: Lettercars@xxxxxxx <mailto:Lettercars%40aol.com> <mailto:Lettercars%40aol.com> <mailto:Lettercars@xxxxxxx <mailto:Lettercars%40aol.com> <mailto:Lettercars%40aol.com> > To: 300country@xxxxxxx <mailto:300country%40msn.com> <mailto:300country%40msn.com> <mailto:300country@xxxxxxx <mailto:300country%40msn.com> <mailto:300country%40msn.com> > ; Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2011 2:45 PM Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] 50's Car Test Don and All: I think the Bel Air in 1952 was Chevy's name for their hardtop. (Like Victoria for Ford and Newport for Chrysler.) Yes, the "Savoy" was a Belevedere---correct spelling Don??? Got it out of my old Motor Trend. Yes, this old guy got them all right too. Don't want to try my hand at any other decade, though. If they had both the '52 and '53 Mercs, I might have been in deep do-do. Well, enough of this illegal list server talk! 300ly, Gil Cunningham Absolutely beautiful day in Tally, FL In a message dated 11/9/2011 8:23:41 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, 300country@xxxxxxx <mailto:300country%40msn.com> <mailto:300country%40msn.com> writes: I got all of them also. There were a few models that were identified with the wrong series - such as the Savoy vs. Belvidere. 1953 wasn't one of the choices given for that Mercury quiz, thus making it much easier. Don Warnaar ----- Original Message ----- From: Rob Kern<mailto:robkern@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:robkern%40sbcglobal.net> <mailto:robkern%40sbcglobal.net> > To: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> > ; Larry Jabin<mailto:larry@xxxxxxxxxx <mailto:larry%40pwbsfo.com> <mailto:larry%40pwbsfo.com> > Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2011 9:32 PM Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] 50's Car Test I scored 100% The '52 and '54 Mercury's almost got me! Rob Kern From: Larry Jabin Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2011 12:41 PM To: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> > Subject: [Chrysler300] 50's Car Test Sorry 300s but thought everyone would enjoy this Larry Jabin I missed one 50's Car Test All right you young & older whipper-snappers, let's see how you do. Be honest with yourself..no cheating. See how you do. The average score is 73% This will really rattle the cobwebs in the 'ol brain. http://www.americantorque.com/game/car-show-50s/<http://www.americantorque.c om/game/car-show-50s/> -- = [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To send a message to this group, send an email to: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> <mailto:Chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:bob%40simplexco.com> <mailto:bob%40simplexco.com> or go to http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/join and select the "Leave Group" button For list server instructions, go to http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm For archives go to http://www.forwardlook.net/300-archive/search.htm#querylangYahoo! 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