By Natasha Fujimoto
EVOKING the style of two-tone shoes, double breasted suits and fedoras, the 1934 Chrysler Convertible was flashy, sleek and opulent.
Following the lacklustre take-up of its new and provocative Airflow models, which challenged the market with its innovative and aerodynamic design, Chrysler produced concurrently the CA and CB series sedans to boost sales.
Requiring a flagship to ‘wow’ the crowds and to draw attention to the company’s new lines, the emerging automotive manufacturer sent just 250 of its CB series to Briggs Body Works (Detroit), to remodel into vehicles with high appeal.
The redesign process began with removing the roof and replacing it with a newly designed, foldable canvas, new windscreen posts were fitted while aptly titled suicide doors were reconfigured and hinged from the B pillar. The original cloth interior was replaced with leather seats while the internal trim of the cars varied.
Resplendent on completion, the convertibles were an item of envy, twice the price of a Ford with their six-wheel equipment, spectacular running boards, white wall tires, twin horns, enormous headlight glasses and stunning gazelle hood ornaments, an emblematic adornment forever leaping forward.
With just a small number of these convertibles shipped overseas, there are only eight known to exist today, including one in Australia.
Possibly the only RHD, CB Convertible Sedan ever manufactured, the 89-year-old ‘Australian’ model is currently on display at Shepparton’s own Museum of Vehicle Evolution (MOVE), being lovingly (and fully) restored by owner, Ken Muston.
Known to have been used by a family in the 1960s, the RHD convertible was left to rot out in the open following damage in 1964 and was discovered in a dilapidated state by Ken’s brother in 1979.
“My brother discovered the car out in the weather the roof rotted away, seats collapsed, the floor was rusted through, and the car was generally in a very sad state,” recounts Ken.
Beginning restoration in earnest in 2012, Ken’s painstaking and dedicated refurbishment has been an endeavour that has taken him around the globe to source parts.
With all records on file about the rare flagship destroyed in a fire at Chrysler long ago, Ken said, “We couldn’t really get down to what colour this car was, we figured it was beige and we weren’t sure about the bottom part. In the end, I thought there’s only one person I have got to satisfy in this restoration- me!”
Now a stunning beige and burgundy, Ken discovered remnants of walnut woodgrain used as internal trimmings inside the car and has had remarkable luck in being able to reprise some of the vehicle’s original character.
Sourcing a complete, six-cylinder engine displacing 241.6 cubic inches in Cleveland, Ohio, Ken also uncovered ‘bloody big’ headlight glasses in the same state. With fortune on his side, he located an original cylinder head in Portland, Oregon as well as ‘very ineffectual’ vacuum wipers from the era.
From acid dipping to remove the rust, to complete reassemble and refurbishment, the 1934 CB Chrysler Convertible took over ten years to fully restore.
With an exquisite vehicle imbued with especial, historical significance, Ken said, “I think to have purchased this car in 1934 would have been very flash, even to drive it down the street. This car deserved to be restored, even more so because of its rarity. Taking this car from being dead to something so alive, that’s been great!”
