The Pick of the Day is a 2008 Chrysler 300 convertible conversion listed by a Connecticut dealership on ClassicCars.com.
Back in the mid-2000s, two DaimlerChrysler vehicles seemed to be everywhere: the Dodge Ram 1500 on the available 20-inch chrome wheels and the revived Chrysler 300, which was brought back for the 2005 model year. It didn’t take long for people to start customizing the new 300. As this 2008 model shows, someone went as far as turning one of the sedans into a convertible.
If the 1980s was Chrysler’s decade of the K-car and 1990s was its cab-forward era, then the 2000s can be considered its time of reinvention. Dodge entered the supertruck segment with its Viper V10-powered Ram SRT-10. The Viper itself went into its next generation with sharp looks and more power. And Chrysler brought back the 300 as a bruiser of a cruiser with slab sides, a seemingly chopped roof, rear-wheel drive, and an available Hemi 5.7-liter V8. Right off the lot, it had the presence and authority of a mobster’s car. It looked special and glamorous. Thanks to the DaimlerChrysler merger, the 300 even shared components with Mercedes-Benz vehicles, but it didn’t carry the price tag of European cars.
That didn’t stop owners from trying to make the 300 even more distinctive by adding Rolls Royce-style custom grilles and big, flashy wheels. Coach Builders Limited in Florida topped all of those mods – by chopping the top off of this one. This one-owner 300 started life 32,910 miles ago as a Bright Silver Metallic Touring model, which came standard with features such as a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, an eight-way power driver’s seat, and an AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo. According to the included window sticker, the Dark Khaki and Light Graystone leather interior is equipped with an options package that includes power-adjustable pedals, heated front seats, a power front passenger seat, the MyGIG infotainment system with navigation, and a touring suspension.
Coach Builders Limited added the ultimate extra: a power-operated black soft top that’s equipped with a heated glass rear window and can be stored under a vinyl top boot. The custom shop compensated for the missing roof by adding reinforcements to certain areas, such as under the floor and trunk.
Everything in the engine bay is just as it was before the roof-ectomy. The 250-horsepower, 3.5-liter High Output V6 remains and sends power to the road through a four-speed automatic.
Back in the day, the 300 was a car to be seen in. Nobody will be able to miss you in this one whether the top is up or down. No word on how much money it took to turn this sedan into a custom drop-top, but you’ll need $35,000 to turn this one into your next car.
Click here to view the listing for this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com.
Source: www.classiccars.com