I had been browsing through some photos of the recent Detroit auto show and came across one of a 1957 Chrysler 300C convertible. It might well have been my car back in the early 70's - maybe I'll find out who now owns it but it is too coincidental to not wonder.

Anyway, I was married in 76 and drove that car up to Detroit where my new bride and I were relocated from Pittsburgh. I had contacted the Riehls previously to talk 300's and he had me join the club. George and his wife treated me as if I were a long lost relative. They helped us get familiar with the area and we landed in Belleville in some apartments along I-96 and I believe they lived in nearby Ann Arbor.

George introduced me to Duane DeButts as well. I had to sell that old car since we lived in an apartment and, just starting out, I did not have it's restoration as a priority. It is one that I still wish had not "gotten away". The Riehls and Duane found it a new home. If it's the same car, it was truly a barn find I located in Latrobe, PA while working in that area in 1973 or so. There were not that many cream white C convertibles with beige interiors I suspect so, there's a fair chance that car was once owned by me. I also had a 65 300L coupe too - maybe also rare as it was not the most desirable and last of the letter series but, it did have a 4 speed - and factory reverb radio too!!

Having been out of the 300 "loop" for decades, when that old 300 (now fully restored at the Detroit show) popped up, I looked up the club and then learned of George's passing. I guess Eleanor had preceded him. My, how time flies and my sadness is only tempered by the memories of the hospitality the Riehls extended to us during our time in Detroit.

Best Regards: Ted Brine, Pittsburgh, PA