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A "B" For The Boss' Son
By Jim Treat
Reprinted
from the 1987 Club News Volume XIII Number II
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The 1956 300B was in many ways the
last of the line of conservatively engineered Chryslers. Very elegant
and purposeful in their heritage though honestly built to race. I had
envied having one since they were introduced, and when I found that
there was one available locally with an alleged pedigree going back
to being built for and owned by the son of Walter P. Chrysler…well,
it surely added to the interest (and detracted from my practical
sensibility, my family might add.)
I was only vaguely sure of the car’s
past history initially,
but several things make it fairly certain
that this history is authentic.
First, the car itself: It has a
special body code number designating it as a non standard build
(I believe they call it “forecast” at the plant.) There is
factory air and Torqueflite, and an unusual arm-rest in the front
seatback. This is similar to the Imperial seat, but upholstered in
standard 300B colored leather.
As well, the bolsters and trim on the
“entire” seats are of leather. It seems to have all of
the accessories except one or two.
I have only driven the one B, but
this car is potentially dangerous in its performance. At about 55 it
says “let’s go!” in loud and certain terms then
hits the “ton” as my English friends would say, in about
two blocks. The entire car and drive train are largely stock and
untouched.
It has several dings and a dented left hand front fender,
the engine compartment is grimy and at present there are some split
seams and frays in the front seat.
We have been able to collect
enough extra parts to do 2 or 3 300Bs, but I haven’t had the
irreverence to begin to rebuild it. I’m unsure at this point if
I even want the car “restored” which sometimes equates to
“embalmed.” I’ve been very happy just driving it.
At 88,000 miles she’s still a ground rocket.
Briefly then on its history. Jack
Chrysler received the car new in mid-production year; I have his
owners certificate from Southampton, NY where the car was delivered
dated 3/23/56. It is serial number 3N561489. The next bit of trivia
is a 1000 mile inspection receipt from Bruce W. Strong, Inc. in West
Palm Beach, FL dated 3/28/56. That’s 5 days later if you didn’t
notice. Evidently, Jack liked to drive. He purchased four “Kar-Rugs”
(which are still there), and had the cigar lighter and half dozen
other items fixed. The whole deal cost him $66.62, but $50 of this
was a strange entry that reads, “CK & see if we can hook up
both exhaust unit to dash control, off vacu..(illegible word).”
I have always wondered about this. What strange engineering changes
were installed? Ah!..no, it doesn’t get 100 MPG.
Click to enlarge
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Click to enlarge
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Anyway, to get on with this, Jack
drove the car for a reasonably short time then sold it to another
Southampton resident, a Mr. Charles Tucker …see Henry Clark’s
column on page 8 of the August 28, 1986 issue of “Old Cars
Weekly.” Subsequently, in the summer of 1979 at the club meet in
Watkins Glen, after much negotiation, a local boy and 300 enthusiast,
Steve Barentine, flew out to New York, bought the car and drove it to
that meet and then home. Rumor has it that he tore up the track with
the machine, and I definitely believe that both he and the car were
quite capable.
Regrettably, Jack Chrysler died about
this time and I have been unable (and unwilling) to pursue any
history there. Mr. Tucker did get hold of Steve while he still had
the car. He felt sorry in having sold it and discussed possible
options, but there were none until a couple of years ago when Steve
unloaded his whole collection of Adventurers and 300s. (Steve has
owned one or two of every model I think.)
It was just luck to be there at the
right time. So, when looking for a moral in owing the cast off toys
of the right and famous, I can only say that it hasn’t really
changed my life beyond crowding my garage space, but don’t try
to buy it from me just now…if you know what I mean…
Jim Treat
Further Update:
From Burt Bouwkamp:
Bob,
Your letter reminded me that built a 300B for Chuck Yeager.
I wonder what happened to that car?
I remember the car because we had to create an X-1 hood ornament.
We gave that job to Paul Mehall in our Production Research Department. Paul was one of those guys that could do anything with his hands. He created a wood model and then cast, finished and plated a one-of-a-kind hood ornament. Paul did a beautiful job! I would guess that Chuck kept the hood ornament when he disposed of the car.
Burt
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