The hottest thing in the old car market today is originality. At auctions, you will see unrestored cars selling for nearly as much as restored cars, simply because they are untouched survivors that have history on their side. And quite frankly, it’s gotten a little crazy, with auction companies leaving the dirt, rodent droppings, and other debris intact so the new owner can relive the “barn find” magic himself. In truth, the survivors that are most highly prized are cars that have always been loved, maintained, and gently used as intended rather than squirreled away as investments or stuck in a barn and left to rot. It’s even better if those cars have a known history, famous or not, allowing new owners to directly trace the car’s lineage back to day one.

This 1962 Chrysler is one of those special survivors. It’s a ONE OWNER car that was purchased new in 1962 and delivered to our showroom by that original owner in 2014, an extraordinary term of stewardship for any automobile. It shows just 64,888 original miles and wears all its original paint, upholstery, and top, the engine has never been opened, and it even carries a brand-new, never used 1962 Goodyear spare in the trunk. There are many who claim that you cannot restore the factory feel back into a car once it has been disassembled, and this car might be compelling proof of that—it drives, rides, and handles like a luxury car should and the precision of the controls is something that few restorations can duplicate. So if you are a fan of original cars, this one is something truly special.

Classic Oyster White over red leather upholstery is a color combination that is as appealing today as it was in 1962. Only 1848 300 convertibles were built in 1962, making this one rather rare and quite possibly the nicest untouched original available anywhere. You can see the love and care that this car has received throughout the years and it was clearly something special to its owners, because it was the only new car they ever bought. For decades, it has been tucked away as a “special occasion only” vehicle, suitable for parades and shows, but its days as a daily driver were clearly quite limited. It wears all of its original bodywork and sheetmetal panels, and all of the code W Oyster White paint was applied in 1962. Evidence of the car’s above-average maintenance can be seen everywhere you look, and while it is not perfect, it is quite impressive overall. There are minimal chips and other signs of use, and those that might have been most noticeable have been expertly touched up. The doors, hood, and trunk lid fit precisely and open easily, providing a window into the past to give us an idea of just how good these cars were when they were new. The finish has a soft shine, a wonderful patina (that word might be over-used, but it fits this car perfectly) which can only be applied by age. It would surely benefit from a professional compound buff, but even as-is, it looks great from five feet away.

Chrome was less fashionable in 1962 than it was only three or four years earlier, but there’s still plenty of it on the 300. The fresh design highlighted by canted headlights and a big grille with “crosshair” in its center gives the big 300 a sporting look that was purely intentional. The grille in particular is exceptional, looking almost new save for some light fading on the ‘300’ emblem in its center. The bumpers are not damaged or dinged, although there are some moderate scuffs on the passenger’s side front bumper, perhaps from parking too close to the garage wall. The stainless side trim with red insert is quite good and the beautiful taillights that wrap on to the top of the deck surface are very nicely preserved. All of the original emblems glow with gold anodizing to stand out against the background and the factory-issued glass remains clear and free of major cracks and scratches. There is little doubt that this car was always treated as something special.

The red leather interior has the inviting, worn look of WWII leather bomber jackets, a little tattered but all the more appealing for it. The leather is a little dry and we’ve already applied conditioner which softened it up considerably, and future treatments should offer still more improvement. Despite being an open-air car, the red hides still look vivid and aside from a 1-inch split on the lower cushion on the passenger’s side, there are no damaged seams. The door panels show a little discoloration on the armrests, but like the seats, it would be a crime to replace them. We suspect that perhaps the carpets have been replaced at some point, as these are just too nice to be 50+ years old, particularly following years of UV exposure in a convertible. But the 300’s most striking feature is the Astra-Dome instrument panel, which is jet-age tech at its finest. The three-dimensional gauge pod is fully functional, including the turquoise electro-luminescent lighting, with the auxiliary switches just below. The squared-off steering wheel isn’t cracked or broken and the top of the dash itself is extraordinarily well preserved with no cracks or fading. Of course, as a ‘60s Chrysler, it does have a push-button automatic transmission, located just to the right of the steering wheel and with this transmission, it’s critical to have a functioning parking brake, which this car does. Everything on the car works, including the radio, heater, wipers, lights, and the power convertible top, which stows neatly under a matching red boot that has been neatly patched once or twice, but never replaced. And speaking of the convertible top, it, too is original and folds easily with the touch of a button and we really dig the little drain in the bottom of the top well—a feature that is probably critical to keeping this car rust-free. As I mentioned, the trunk includes the original Goodyear spare tire and jacking instructions, as well as a factory floor mat that’s brittle but still intact.

To move all this sheetmetal, you need muscle, and the 383 cubic inch V8 under the hood delivers in a big way. Actually, Chryslers of the period were typically lighter than their GM and Ford competition and with the big block’s torque curve being as flat as Kansas, it feels pretty effortless in everything it does. The engine spins to life with that familiar Chrysler starter sound and it quickly settles into an even idle without any smoke or crankiness. With just over 62,000 original miles on it, this engine is in the prime of its life and a glance under the hood reveals that it has been maintained throughout its life with service parts as needed, but no major alterations from stock specifications. The engine bay is a little dirty, but a dedicated hobbyist could clean things up in a weekend and a few thoughtful touch-ups would pay big dividends if your intention is to show the car in preservation class judging. On the other hand, if you’re just into driving, this one is a very strong runner with no notable issues and it’s not even a leaker, so get in, turn the key, and go! Power steering and power brakes are welcome additions on a car of this size, and it’s easy to wheel around town with a big car luxury ride for eating up miles of highway at a stretch.

More notable is Chrysler’s famous Push-Button TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission, which offers crisp shifts and smooth performance. The pushbutton mechanism works properly, as does the emergency brake, which is important on a car without a Park position. The undercarriage is typical of a 50-year-old car that’s in original condition, but it has obviously never been used in the snow or inclement weather. It was undercoated from new, so it is not sparkling clean, but the seams are good, the sheetmetal is not perforated, and the critical rocker boxes under the doors are in excellent condition. Details are highly visible, not hidden under a layer of tar, and there’s just no question that this car has led a very easy life. The exhaust has a nice V8 burble to it, but it never gets too noisy, and the car handles the way only an untouched, original car can, a feeling that probably needs to be experienced to be fully understood. It sits on a set of modern whitewall radials, but a set of wide whites that are closer to what it wore originally would be a worthwhile upgrade that would transform the look.

This car also includes a factory service manual and a spare Astra-Dome instrument cluster, an item that’s surely worth a good chunk of change all by itself.

Survivors are red hot for a very good reason and this Chrysler is unquestionably a high-quality car that’s led a very good life. With a wonderful history with an owner who was not only an enthusiast but a beloved member of his community, it becomes more than just a cool old convertible. Ready to enjoy, this is a car that has many years of enjoyment built right in. Call now!