1957 Chrysler 300 C Convertible – Cloud White (Maroon When Purchased)
Serial Number 3N572734
–one of 484 300 C Convertibles built.
Paul
Del Grande- Purchased February 3rd,1975.
I
had contacted Alan Peaslee in Lakin, WV in 1974, about 2 Chrysler
1961 300 G’s he had for sale. He informed me that the cars were
sold, but mentioned he had a 1957 300C Convertible, but was not
prepared to sell at that time. I asked him to contact me if was
thinking of selling the car. Well, about 6 months later he called and
informed that his wife was pregnant - that was the deciding factor.
In the beginning of February,1975,I purchased the 1957 Chrysler 300C
Convertible in Maroon, and a 1957 300 C Coupe in Parade Green as a
parts car ( although I didn’t need parts from the parts car for
the Convertible ).
The
convertible was complete with original top and interior, slight
damage to front bumper and grille, with approximately 29,500 original
miles. The car was always stored inside by the previous owners,
evident by the condition of the original interior. I was not aware of
the ownership by Nelson Rockefeller until we started to restore the
car. A stainless nameplate with Nelson A. Rockefeller on it, was
sitting loosely in the glove box. An old girlfriend found it and she
wrote to Nelson Rockefeller (without telling me) and asked if he
owned the car. She received a letter about a month later from one of
his aides in Pocantico Hills, NY, confirming ownership by Nelson. The
letter stating the car was sold to Richard Haynes on October 23rd
1968. I was able to contact Haynes Garage who were still operating a
service garage. Haynes Garage looked after the Rockefeller Estate
Vehicles. I was forwarded a letter with a copy of the title transfer
from Nelson Rockefeller to John Gardner in Roanoke,VA on December
4th
1972. The car was then sold to Alan Peaslee in Lakin, WV (unsure of
the date).
The
car has Factory Air Conditioning which was extremely rare given the
fact Chrysler had supplier problems with the air conditioning
components and weren’t able to build air cars until late in the
model year. This vehicle came off the line in June 8th, 1957. Another
interesting note on the colour of the car. It was Maroon when I
bought the car. The car was specified as Cloud White per the ID
plate. The car was at a show at the Chrysler Proving Grounds,
Chelsea, MI in 1980, and this older gentleman commented on the
condition of the car. I had told him the car was Maroon when I bought
it and mentioned to him it was white underneath. He said it must have
been a Rockefeller car. This gentleman was the Manager at the
Chrysler Jefferson Assembly Plant (where all 11 years of Chrysler 300
Letter Cars were built) and looked after special projects after
vehicles came off the assembly line. The car was built white but he
was responsible for changing the colour to maroon before the car was
delivered to Nelson Rockefeller on July 18th,
1957 by Chrysler Manhattan Company, New York.
The
300 C Convertible was restored and completed in May,1976. The first
concourse it went to was in June of 1976 at Indianapolis Motor
Speedway. The car was a First in Class, judged by the Chrysler 300
Club International, Inc concourse judges. The car went to several
judged events over the next 20 years, and garnered several major
awards.
The
300 C Convertible went through another complete restoration in 2005.
The restoration was completed by Len Woodrow and Howard Barclay of
Jordan Station, Ontario. Car was invited to Eyes on Design in Grosse
Pointe, Michigan in 2008 and took First in Class.
Car
was invited to Meadowbrook Concourse, Rochester Hills, MI in August
of 2009 and was awarded a 2nd
in class.
Purchase
Price: $190,000.00 USD
Click here for documentation to Nelson Rockefeller.