|
At some point in the volumes we have all
contributed regarding the "Hemi Commando" Plymouth, it was mentioned that there
were indeed some Special Order cars produced with uncommon color combinations
both interior and exterior and heavy or unusual on options.
So, lets say you were the chief engineer at
Chrysler; Bob Rodger, "Father of the Chrysler 300" and you wanted something
built for yourself a little out of the ordinary.
Bob Rodger ordered a 300C hardtop for his personal
use. It was two toned Charcoal Gray over Regimental Red over gray
again. The lower body two tone was possible because the car received a
combination of New Yorker side stainless plus some special cast brass (chromed)
Fury-like "hockey sticks" and to get a 300 emblem on the sides a brass
ring was made to hold the stock plastic medallion. Oh, and the
stainless windshield eyebrow "repeater" trim was not to be
installed. Now all but 5 of the 300C interiors were done in beige/tan
leather with black dash pads and carpeting. But this car was done in a
smoke gray leather throughout with the exception of copper basket weave
leather in the seat inserts. Options? Well, just check literally
EVERYTHING in the book except for comfort he had no use for the 390HP motor
which only could be gotten with the 3-spd manual transmission.
Dave Stragand, FL web master extraordinaire, has
posted a photo I took of the car at a Chrysler 300 meet. You can view it
at:
You will likely have two questions. First,
dual fin antennas were not a factory option for the 300C so it has the optional
power antenna on the right front. Second, fender skirts were not a factory
option for the '57 Chrysler or DeSoto, however the current owner of the car, who
did the restoration, has skirts on his entire collection as sort-of his
trademark, and so this car received a set.
This car sat in Rogers home driveway for several
years and then disappeared when Rodger probably special-ordered another car for
his use. Somehow it ended up sitting derelict in a field on the east coast
belonging to a relative of the Chrysler family and was rescued upon sighting by
a member of the Chrysler 300 Club International.
Wayne
| 
Back to the Home of the Forward Look Network
