Bob Merritt:
One day, back in October of '94 an old buddy and I were having lunch and we were reminiscing about the different paths we have taken since our days in grade school. I had taken the high road with a career in manufacturing while he had lost sight of his goals and was now an attorney. During our lunch, my pal was complaining how tough it was to be an attorney and related the following story:
"Yes, it's tough being an attorney. For instance, right now I have a big problem with an estate I am trying to settle. It seems this old guy dies and he had this old convertible that he bought new - it was his pride and joy. He poured all sorts of money into it over the years and he'd take all his fishing buddies for a ride on Sunday afternoons. Well, he got old and sick and he made his fishing buddies agree that one of them would take the car when he was gone. In time he passed on and we auctionned the estate and held out the car for his buddies. I have spent the past six weeks chasing these guys, showing them the car, and none of them has the cash to buy it. And I have a deadline to close the estate and this car is holding me up. "
"So what kind of convertible is it?" I asked
"1970 Chrysler 300"
After I finished choking on my soup, we made arrangements for me to see it and in no time, this big bronze boat with a nice convertible top arrived on a flatbed. My attorney was happy, I was happy, and the car found a spot in the corner of the garage. Time passed and it became clear that this car needed someone to give it more attention that I could, and that's when John and Bob came in...
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John Hertog:
Bob Merritt and I had been talking about another of my 300's which was advertised for sale... Bob was interested in the car, but wanted to know if I'd consider taking the big bronze 1970 convert. as partial trade... I had seen this car on a previous visit to Golden Lion Grrrges and been impressed with how clean it looked. I already had my 68 Newpy summer beater convertible, but figured I'd have a bit of fun with the '70 300 and resell it as a summer beach car to the Hamptons crowd without too many problems - so The Deal was made, I called up good friend Bob Haag (who's always ready to go for a ride, especially if there are 300's involved!) and off we went, from Long Island to Auburn, during a beautiful summer spell.
Up at Bob Merritt's, registrations were quickly swapped, some minor fussing to the 1970 was attended to, and Bob Haag and I were on our way home - top down, 90 degree day, we stopped at a car show in Auburn on the lake... it was beautiful! A quick stop at Jack Buttino's
and now we're cruising down, through Pennsylvania, I've got my shirt off, we're both getting sunburned, the '70 300 is getting all the attention on the road! It didn't take long for Bob Haag to inquire whether I'd be interested in selling him the car, as he already knew of my plans to dump it quickly. Roughly three hours after taking possession of the convert, the ownership passed to Bob, as we were cruising at 75 mph down I-380....
Bob Haag:
My part of the story starts in the summer of '98. I went on a road trip with my friend John, who was selling his "F" to another Club member, upstate N.Y.; part of the transaction, he explained to me, was a '70 300 convertible taken in trade. Well, John really didn't want the '70 so he offered me a deal I couldn't refuse! With warm weather coming, who could turn down the chance to have a 300 convertible for the summer?
I really love this car - there is nothing like a big convertible. I have had a blast with it, it needed very little mechanical work. Summer turned into fall, and then winter, and I'm still driving it! It sure is great to have the last real convertible Chrysler built...
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