1955 CHRYSLER C300-3N551001-FIRST CHRYSLER 300 BUILT!-DAYTONA RACE HISTORY-DOCS

Description for Chrysler 300 Series 1955

CHRYSLER ENTHUSIASTS, LEASE READ THIS AD THOROUGHLY. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE HOLY GRAIL FOR THE EARLY CHRYSLER COLLECTORS. THIS IS ALSO A TRUE BARN FIND. 1955 CHRYSLER C300, IN NUMBER 3N551001. THAT'S CORRECT, HIS IS THE FIRST REGULAR PRODUCTION 1955 CHRYSLER 300! THIS CLASSIC WAS PURCHASED IN THE EARLY '70'S BY WELL KNOWN CHRYSLER COLLECTOR STEVE MCCLOUD, F TENNESSEE.
MR. MCCLOUD ALSO OWNED THE ONLY 1970 CHRYSLER 300 HURST CONVERTIBLE BUILT. THIS CAR IS ALSO ON EBAY. CHECK OUR OTHER AUCTIONS.
FOR YEARS THE STATUS OF THIS CLASSIC HAS BEEN UNKNOWN. WHETHER IT WAS JUNKED, ARTED OUT, R JUST MISSING, O INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. HERE IS YOUR ANSWER. MR. MCCLOUD PARKED THE CAR IN A BARN IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES, ND IT HAS REMAINED THERE SINCE, NTOUCHED FOR YEARS. SADLY, R. MCCLOUD PASSED. THE CAR IS STILL IN THE POSSESSION OF MR. MCCLOUD'S IMMEDIATE FAMILY. NOW AVAILABLE FOR SALE FOR THE FIRST TIME. THIS CAR WAS LITERALLY TAKEN OUT OF THE BARN ON MAY 31, 015. THIS CAR IS IS PART OF MR. MCCLOUD'S ESTATE LIQUIDATION. IN ADDITION TO THE VEHICLE, HE ORIGINAL BUILD SHEET, ARTIAL INVOICE FROM SAN JUAN MOTORS, ERIOD PHOTOS, ND MAGAZINE ARTICLES ARE ALSO WITH THE CAR! THIS IS AN UNBELIEVABLE BARN FIND, HE RAREST CHRYSLER 300 EVER BUILT. NUMBER ONE. A 1955 331 HEMI FROM A NEW YORKER (#NE55-11684) WAS INSTALLED IN THE CAR BEFORE MCCLOUD PURCHASED IT. HOWEVER, HE ENGINE WAS UPGRADED TO 300 HP SPECS WITH THE ADDITION OF DUAL FOUR BARRELS AND INTAKE, EADS, ND CAM. ALSO, NOTHER CHRYSLER 300 ENGINE (3NE55 PREFIX) IS WITH THE CAR. THE CAR IS JUST AS IT WAS WHEN PUT AWAY OVER THREE DECADES AGO. NEEDS TOTAL RESTORATION.
PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK. THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW KNOWN ARCHIVAL PHOTOS OF 1001 WHEN IT WAS STILL ON THE ROAD, ND THE LAST KNOWN PHOTO BEFORE MR. MCCLOUD PUT THE CAR IN STORAGE. BELIEVED TO BE FROM 1984.
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CLICK ON THIS LINK TO VIEW MR. MCCLOUD AND THE CAR FEATURED IN THE CHRYSLER 300 CLUB NEWS, ALL,1980. PHOTO WAS TAKEN AT THE FALL MEET IN GATLINBURG, N:
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THIS IS THE CAR DELIVERED TO BREWSTER SHAW'S SAN JUAN MOTORS GARAGE PRIOR TO NASCAR DAYTONA SPEED WEEK IN 1955. THIS IS ALSO THE CHRYSLER, ILOTED BY BREWSTER SHAW HIMSELF, HAT FINISHED SECOND ONLY TO WARREN KOECHLING, N THE DAYTONA FLYING MILE RUN. KOECHLING WAS DRIVING THE 300 WITH VIN NUMBER 3N551002, ROM THE MEGA DOLLAR CARL KIEKHAEFER CHRYSLER TEAM. ALTHOUGH THE WHEREABOUTS OF 1002 IS WELL KNOWN AND THE CAR HAS BEEN RESTORED, 001 HAS BEEN OUT OF CIRCULATION UNTIL NOW. THIS CAR IS CURRENTLY UNRESTORED. THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME FOR THE CHRYSLER COLLECTOR. NOT ONLY IS THIS THE FIRST CHRYSLER C300 SCHEDULED FOR PRODUCTION ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE, HERE IS A RECORD SETTING RACE HISTORY BEHIND IT. ONLY 1,725 CHRYSLER C300'S WERE MANUFACTURED IN 1955. EXPERTS ESTIMATE THAT LESS THAN 10% OF THESE STILL EXIST TODAY. THIS IS NUMBER ONE.
CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR ANOTHER MAGAZINE ARTICLE ON THE CAR. THIS WAS ALSO TAKEN SHORTLY BEFORE THE CAR WAS PARKED:
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CLINK ON THIS LINK FOR DOCUMENTATION. THERE ARE THREE PHOTOS. ONE IS THE ORIGINAL COPY OF THE MICRO FILM OBTAINED FROM CHRYSLER HISTORICAL. ONE IS AN ENHANCED COPY, ITH INFORMATION FILLED IN FOR CLARITY. THE LAST IS A PARTIAL DEALER INVOICE, ROM SAN JUAN MOTORS, ADE OUT TO ORIGINAL OWNER JAMES GILLEY, F WELCH, .V.:
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CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR SOME MORE PERIOD PHOTOS OF THE CAR:
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1955 marked the beginning of a new era for auto manufacturers. The Korean War had ended. The U.S. economy was back on track. All major automakers had transitioned back from war production and were anxious to get back to full time auto production. 1955 was the year that they would bring out their totally redesigned vehicles. Some of the styles hadn't been totally redone since World War II.
In February, 955 Chrysler released the first mass-produced, igh-performance supercar to the motoring public. The brainchild of Chrysler-Imperial Division Chief Engineer Bob Rodger, he C300 was also the first American production automobile to generate 300 hp from a V8 engine. Rodger's dream, ombined with designer Virgil Exner's visionary creativity, roduced a vehicle recognized by many enthusiasts as the first American muscle car.
The car's "Forward Look" styling can be attributed to designer Virgil Exner. The front clip, as borrowed from the Imperial of the same year. The midsection was from a New Yorker, ith a Windsor rear quarter. Exner wanted to create the image of a sleek performance car. Therefore, e removed many exterior elements such as back-up lights, ood ornament, ide trim, nd exterior mirrors. Power was provided by MOPAR's top engine, 331 Cu. In. Hemi V8 with two four barrel carbs, full-race cam, olid lifters, pecial manifolds, at dual exhausts, nd 300 HP. The Hemi engine derived its name from its hemispherical combustion chambers. These chambers required a pair of rocker arm shafts on each cylinder head, ith the spark plugs fitting between the valves. The Hemi was backed by a special performance Power Flite automatic. Firm, eavy duty suspension was installed, iving the car superior handling compared to those of the competitors. The 300 was offered in only three colors- Black, ango Red, nd Platinum. Completing the package was a luxurious tan leather interior.
The true fact is, his car was manufactured for NASCAR and other racing circuits, ut marketed as a luxury performance car to the retail market. The 300 was wildly successful on the racing venues. At the retail level, owever, here were a few glitches. Some regular Chrysler customers did not fully comprehend the personality of the car. They were expecting the usual soft, loating luxury ride. The aggressive horsepower, erformance exhaust, eavy duty suspension, nd even a lope from the solid lifter cam at idle on the new 300 took some by surprise. Some even traded their 300's in for other models.
CHRYSLER C300 IN RACING:
The success of the 300 in racing is undeniable. In fact, any racing experts have deemed the 1955-1956 Chrysler 300's as the most dominant car model in racing history. Remember, n that era, tock car racing was exactly that. These cars were factory stock models with some safety components added, nd only slight modifications allowed.
Brewster Shaw, wner of San Juan Motors, he Daytona Beach Chrysler dealership, as a fixture at the Daytona Speed Week events. Shaw took delivery of the Platinum colored 1001, s well as other C300's, efore Speed Week started. When delivered, o one paid much attention to the VIN number, nd few realized it was the first C300. Shaw himself piloted his cars in various speed week events, ut not in the Grand National (As the series was called at the time) race. Shaw held the existing record for the two way Flying Mile, et in 1954, t 117.065 MPH. The day of the Flying Mile event was filled with excitement and anticipation. Mercury Outboard magnate Carl Kiekhaefer had entered number 1002, he second C300 off the assembly line, riven by Eastern Airlines pilot Warren Koechling. Shaw made his run, nd set a new record at a blistering 126.542 MPH average. This shattered his own record for the previous year by nearly 9.5 MPH. Chrysler 300 number 1001 had shocked the spectators. The record was not to stand, owever, s Koechling's run edged out Shaw by 1.038 MPH at 127.580 MPH. Car 1002 and 1001 finish first and second in the event. Chrysler dominated the Speed Week events, nd finished first and second in the 160 mile Grand National beach race.
DOMINANCE OF THE CHRYSLER 300:
The 1955 300 was virtually unbeatable in competition that year, inning its first NASCAR Grand National race. It took the checkered flag at 37 NASCAR and AAA ( Later known as USAC) races of more than 100 miles.
Much of this credit also goes to Carl Kiekhaefer, he Mercury Outboard magnate. Kiekhaefer appeared virtually overnight with a powerful Chrysler 300. He brought the car to Daytona without a driver, ut quickly approached Tim Flock. A deal was struck, nd Flock won the 1955 Daytona race in his first start with Kiekhaefer. During the 1955 NASCAR championship season, lock won 18 races and Kiekhaefer Chryslers won 22 of the 39. Kiekhaefer assembled what is commonly recognized as the most successful race team ever, ncluding Tim and Fonty Flock, rank Mundy, nd Buck Baker. Their record is unparalleled. In 1955, im Flock won the NASCAR Grand National Championship, rank Mundy won the AAA championship, nd in 1956 Kiekhaefer Chryslers also won the NASCAR Championship and AAA Championship. In 1955 and 1956, iekhaefer Chryslers won 51 of 101 races entered, nd 11 more with Dodges. After the 1956 season, iekhaefer abruptly disbanded his race team. Tim Flock's departure and disagreements with other team owners were noted as contributing factors.
The original C300 was a performance icon of its era, howcasing the abilities of the early Hemi engines on the hard-packed sands of Daytona Beach. Production ended June 24, 955 with serial number 3N552725.
CLICK ON THIS LINK FOR A FILE OF ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
http://s514.photobucket.com/user/redeuce/library/1955%20PHOTOS%204
After Chrysler 1001 had completed the Daytona events, t was made available for sale. James Gilley, f Welch, V., raveled to Daytona to purchase the car from San Juan Motors. Mr. Gilley kept the car until February, 969, hen it was sold to F.E. Hearne, f West Virginia. In the early '70's Steve McCloud bought the vehicle. Since then, t has never been offered for sale, nd the car is now in the possession of McCloud's immediate family. Mr. McCloud at the time was an active member of the Chrysler 300 Club, lthough in later years he ended his membership. Mr. McCloud drove the Chrysler, ttended many Chrysler events, nd displayed the vehicle at many shows.Some time around 1984, e parked the car in a barn, nd that is the last time 1001 was in the public view.
As stated, he car needs total restoration. Blocks were placed under the frame, o the bottom of the car hasn't been buried in mud for years, otting away. It has been elevated, ry, ith air circulating underneath.
The frame is solid. There is long term oxidation from storage that could easily be bead blasted off. The trunk floor needs replacement. Front driver's pan could use one patch. All components are on the car, t has not been cannibalized.
The body is basically solid and in good shape. The bottoms of the front fenders and bottoms of rear quarter panels need some work. Passenger rocker needs replacement. Driver's can be repaired.
The interior is in good shape for the age and circumstances. Everything is there. Dash, peedo, ontrols, tc. in good shape. Glass is all good. Pot metal trim is solid and good shape. Needs buffing or polishing.
A 1955 Chrysler New Yorker 331 Hemi was in the car when Steve bought it, till in the car. Has been switched over to dual quads and upgraded to 300HP specs. Serial # NE55-11684. There is also a 1955 Chrysler 300, 31 Hemi, 00 HP, hat goes with it. 3NE55 code, ut can't make out the serial number yet. Condition of spare engine unknown. Powerflite automatic.
Don't miss this rare opportunity to own the rarest Chrysler 300 built, umber one.
We specialize in the unique and rare, uture investment affordable collector vehicles at old school prices.Since 1978 we have been a leader in finding rare and desirable cars. Most of our finds have done extremely well for our customers in terms of investments and enjoyment. Here is an example of a rare 1of LS6 Chevelle we sold for 50k in theearly 2000's.
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It was recently on eBay for 129k and has apparently sold.
We sold this car in 1999, e found it, esearched it, ocumented it, estored it. Recently in the collection of internationally known collector Ron Pratte.http://www.barrett-jackson.com/Archive/Event/Item/1970-CHEVROLET-CHEVELLE-SS-396-CONVERTIBLE-178646
Another example, e brokered the only 1968 Camaro Z-28 Convertible in July 1993 for 165K, t sold in 2002 for over 7 figures. These are just a couple of examples of the thousands of cars we have sold, nd many were super investments. We know the rare muscle car market like no one on the planet.This 1955 Chrysler 300 is a rare Vintage Classic Car that fits into this category of an investment and enjoyment vehicle. It is a blue chip investment quality classic. Get in on the ground floor and havea big smiledown the road.
Financing is available to qualified buyers at JJ Best Banc. https://www.jjbest.com/default.aspxContact Peter MacDonald at 800 872 1965 for more information.Call Randy at 847 456 7726 with any questions.The owner of ClassicMuscleCars.com hasbeen collecting for over 30 years. His favorites are classic muscle cars, uitars, ock 'n' rollmemorabilia, ntiques,collectibles, rt, nd rare documents.You can see some ofthe cars thatthey have had and sold here:http://www.classicmusclecars.com/There are over 400 videos to view and some ofhis TV showshe hasdone in the past.He alsoappeared on the TV show "Final Offer" on June 7, 012 onDiscovery Channel with Elvis's hair. The episode is called "Heavy Metal" and re-runs air periodically.http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/final-offer/videos/final-offer-launch.htmIf you have any questions about this item, lease ask. We have been on Ebay since 1998BANK WIRE IS THE PREFERRED METHOD OF PAYMENT. IT IS SAFE, ECURE, ND PROTECTS BOTH PARTIES. OPTIONAL PAYMENT METHODS INCLUDE BANK OR CASHIER'S CHECK, ERSONAL OR BUSINESS CHECK WITH BANK LETTER, ND CASH(IN PERSON). VEHICLES PURCHASED WITHCHECKSWILL NOT BE SHIPPED OR DELIVERED IN PERSON UNTIL FUNDS HAVE CLEARED THE BANK. All other payment methods must be agreedupon by both parties before end of auction.A deposit of $5000 required within 24 hours of auction end, nlessother arrangements are made.Please contact us via telephone or emailimmediately after end of auction to discuss payment arrangements.Payment in full due within one week of auction end unlessother arrangements are made.Please follow all the terms of sale for this auction, ncluding deposit and final payment requirements.BUYER MUST ADHERE TO AND ABIDE BY TERMS OF SALE THAT ARE CLEARLY STATED IN THE PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RENDER THE SALE NULL AND VOID.WE DESCRIBE VEHICLES TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY. HOWEVER, T IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BUYER TO CONFIRM THIS DESCRIPTION. WE REQUEST AN IN PERSON INSPECTION OF ALL VEHICLES PRIOR TO BIDDING. IF IN PERSON INSPECTION IS NOT POSSIBLE, E RECOMMEND A THIRD PARTY INSPECTION OF VEHICLE. WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS DUE TO A "SIGHT UNSEEN"PURCHASE. SOLD AS IS, HERE IS, ITH NO WARRANTIES OR GUARANTEES. ALL SALES ARE FINAL, O RETURNS OR REFUNDS. PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE YOU BID.