Good morning! It’s Friday, the day when I can do whatever I want here. (Actually, who am I kidding? I can do whatever I want every day. This is the least-supervised gig of all time.) And what I choose to do is show you two cars for roughly ten grand each that I just thought were cool.
Yesterday, we looked at two friendly little four-wheel drives, inspired by a toy car I found. There was a lot of talk in the comments about Stomper 4x4s, and some about the two vehicles in question. When it came time to vote, the happy yellow Plymouth Arrow pickup just ran away with it, leaving that little gray Subaru in the dust.
Honestly, I can’t choose between these two; I love them both. I think I’d give a slight edge to the Subaru, however, just because it would more closely match the repair steps outlined in its Haynes manual, and I just can’t get over how much I hate the wheels on that Arrow. I know, they’re easy to change, but it’s a huge flaw in an otherwise really cool little truck.
I rarely know what cars I’m going to feature here before I sit down to write. I’ve tried selecting cars ahead of time, and it has come back to bite me when one of them sells before I get to it. But when I find something that resonates, I know it right away, and then the race is on to find a suitable competitor for it. For today, I couldn’t really find two cars that went together, so I just went with two that were about the same price and looked cool. If you are the sort of person who would actually consider cross-shopping these two, congratulations; you’ve come to the right place. Let’s check them out.
1962 Chrysler 300 Sport – $9,500
Engine/drivetrain: 383 cubic inch OHV V8, three-speed manual, RWD
Location: Folsom, CA
Odometer reading: 11,000 miles (probably rolled over at least once)
Operational status: Daily driver, they claim
In the 1950s, Chrysler Corporation had no fewer than five divisions: Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler, and Imperial. After 1961, DeSoto went away, leaving Dodge and Chrysler to fill in the hole left in the lineup. Chrysler created a simplified version of its 300, minus the annual letter designation, called the 300 Sport. Available as either a two- or four-door hardtop, the 300 Sport gave up bucket seats for a bench, and made do with less power, but still featured Virgil Exner’s wild Jet Age styling. I need to point out, though, that the seller has the year wrong on this car; it’s a 1962, not a ’63. You can tell by the angled headlights.
In place of the 300H’s 413 with dual four-barrel carbs, the 300 Sport has a 383 cubic inch V8 with a single four-barrel. You would expect a Torqueflite automatic to reside behind it, and that’s what most 300s had. But a three-speed manual was standard, and this car has one. It has a floor-mounted shifter that curves gracefully back over the bench seat, and it ups the cool factor of this car by an order of magnitude. The seller claims it is daily driven and runs well. It has all new brakes, a new starter, and more.
Seat belts weren’t required in cars until 1968, and this car doesn’t appear to have them. You’d be mad not to install some, though. The interior looks really nice; I get the feeling it has been redone. The seller says the headliner needs replacing, but a new one is included.
Outside, it’s an older repaint, but it’s holding up well. All the chrome is present and in good condition, too. The slotted mags and white-letter tires suit it perfectly, and while I’m not crazy about the tinted windows, they’re probably a good idea on a car without air conditioning in California. It’s a four-door hardtop, too, so you can roll down all four windows and get plenty of fresh air.
1991 Toyota MR2 – $10,000
Engine/drivetrain: 2.2-liter DOHC inline 4, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: Forney, TX
Odometer reading: 113,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The idea of taking the transverse drivetrain from a humble front-wheel-drive sedan and putting it in the back of a wedge-shaped sports car was originated by Fiat with the X1/9, which took its drivetrain from the 128. Pontiac followed suit with the Fiero, using the whole X-body front end in the rear, and Toyota, not to be outdone, stuck the hot version of the FWD Corolla’s drivetrain in the back of its sporty little doorstop, the MR2. A larger second generation came along in 1991, with a correspondingly larger engine from the Celica and Camry.
This is the base model MR2, with a 2.2-liter naturally aspirated engine, driving the rear wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox. You could also get a 2.0-liter turbocharged version, which introduced a new generation of enthusiasts to the concept of “snap oversteer.” The standard version is fast enough to be fun without scaring its driver quite so badly. This one runs well and has only 113,000 miles on it, which for one of these engines is barely broken in.
Inside, it’s a snug little space for two, with nice bucket seats and a tall center tunnel between them. Toyota interiors from this era always seem to hold up well, and this one looks good. It could use a little cleaning, but it’s in good shape. There’s a Pioneer aftermarket touch-screen stereo, and an air freshener stuck in one of the vents, which always worries me a little bit. What smell is it covering up?
Outside, it’s neat as a pin, and it has some aftermarket wheels that actually suit it really well. The first MR2 was a sharp-edged wedge, but this one has a softer but somehow more serious-looking shape. It’s a little bit Ferrari-like, not what you’d expect from a purveyor of sturdy sedans and hard-working pickup trucks like Toyota. You don’t see many second-generation MR2s anymore, and it’s always a little bit of a surprise when you’re reminded of just how good they look.
Ten thousand dollars is kind of a sweet spot for fun cars; it’s enough to lift you out of project-car status, but not so dear that you end up with a car you’re afraid to drive. Either one of these would be a car you could drive and enjoy, and be proud to show off. They appeal to wildly different markets, but I like them both. And now that I think about it, they do have one common thread: they both have aftermarket wheels that improve their looks, which is tricky to do. Which one would be your pick?
I love both of these but usually lean older classic cars so gotta go Chrysler…even though I’ve never liked that headlight setup. What a cool cruiser! Plus stick and big ol’ V8. Nice body style, I’ll have fun driving it. The MR2 is a legendary icon and looks fun too
I’m probably going to get yelled at for this, but I always thought that version of the 300 was hideous. Especially in the nose.
Unless the MR2 needs to be fished out of a hog confinement manure lagoon, I’m going with the Toyota all day long.
The Chrysler. Get rid of the mags and go back to the original style wheels and tires. Yeah, it’s rough around the edges but it’s going to be a fun car at any show or C&C meet.
I like both but the MR2 is more my style… so it got my vote.
This is the first tough one, the 300 looks really nice, and would attract a lot of good attention. But the MR2, even this base model is just such a great driver’s car.
I picked Senor Dos, but now I regret is, but I bet if I picked the 300, id be second guessing that too
I just have trouble with what MR2’s are going for these days. I’ve driven a base model like this one a lot (stepbrother had one for years). Don’t get me wrong, they’re super fun and stupid reliable. The stock exhaust sounds amazing, and it’s literally a Camry engine…my brother’s lasted until a cracked tail light in a fender bender totaled it, at nearly 300k orig miles. They have decent trunk space all things considered, and this one skips the fun but leaky T-tops. They’re not as awful to work on as you might expect, basic maintenance is pretty straightforward.
They don’t have a ton of ‘oomph’, if that’s what you’re looking for in a sporty car, but that’s a good thing since these early second-gen models in particular will snap-oversteer you into a ditch if you’re not careful. Best to get to know it in a rainy parking lot before you hit the mountain twisties.
Anyway, that 300 just looks FIRE, and that is what I must have today.
Leaky T-tops are easy to fix with the eccentric T-top guides from TwosRUs. 15 bucks and leaks are sharply reduced if not eliminated entirely.
I have sports cars, but I don’t have a big block four-door hardtop with a stick. Chrysler wins this one, but the wheels need to be changed.
Take three friends to a car show, or take an occasional drive on a twisty road? I’d rather drive the Toyota. I’d rather own the Chrysler.
Not voting because you didn’t give us a “both” option
“The idea of taking the transverse drivetrain from a humble front-wheel-drive sedan and putting it in the back of a wedge-shaped sports car was originated by Fiat with the X1/9″. I think it might have been originated by the Unipower GT which had a Mini engine & transmission at the back of a tiny glassfibre sports car. It was slightly wedge shaped.
Anyway: Heart says Chrysler, head says Toyota
This is the only MR2 generation I dig for, so it gets my vote. Of course I wanted it to be a turbo model, but the unmolested interior, mechanicals and non-offensive wheels make up for most of it.
Tougher choice today than I thought. Had to go MR2 esp. since it seems unmodded and in decent shape. That 300 though is pretty interesting. I would have to upgrade the brakes in it and maybe grab some aftermarket seat belts.
I like the Chrysler, but something isn’t working for me. Maybe the hot rod red? I’d actually drive the Toyota, though I prefer the tiny first generation MR2.
I prefer the ’63/64 styling over the ’62, squircle steering wheel and all, and even more, would love to have a letter car from either of those years. But since that isn’t an option here, the ’62 would be a fun cruiser, and a cruise night novelty with the manual gearbox.
Don’t see power brakes on the 300! Drum brakes. Stop on a …dollar? Not sure if it even has power steering. The stone age or Fast and somewhat Furious. OMG AC! Doesn’t need a headliner! No brainer.
Without even looking at the results, I KNOW I’ll be in the minority here, but give me that Chrysler 300 any day, all day. I still think the MR2 is cool.
I am amazed at how “out of fashion” some of these 50s and 60s era American cars are these days. I get that most people are nostalgic for the cars of their youth now that they might have some money to buy them. I’ve never really followed that trend – the domestic cars of the 50s and 60s are way older than me, but they represent peak Detroit, which corresponded to the height of American manufacturing. Its not just a car, in my mind. Cars from those decades represent the hopes and dreams of the nation.
1962 Chrysler 300 FTW! Exner’s gentleman’s hotrod hardtop would make a great work car. I’d probably stick to the two-lane with the commute given it’s only a three speed, but what fun it would be each day. Certainly a nice upgrade to the ’66 Chevy Biscayne with it’s three on the tree and inline six I’ve logged more than 10,000 miles on over the last few years.
Something oddly handsome about the unusual front end of the Mopar. The angled headlights evoke the piston orientation of a V-configured engine.
The single circuit master cylinder and no power steering makes the dangerous Chrysler a lot more dangerous. And no 413 wedge? C’mon!
Mr. Two, of course. Who the hell wants to see the crappiest-of-the-Big-Three’s iron anywhere but in a museum? Keep that deathmobile off the roads please.
And the Toyota deserves to run ’round the streets forever, or as long as we continue to offer heavily subsidized, convenient petrol refueling here in the States anyway.
Oh about yesterday, y’all were out of your ever lovin’ minds with yesterday’s pick. That stupid truck with its leaf-springed front axle, seriously? Over the noble Sube?
You’d really want to drive that clunker anywhere but maybe in a parade, with a coupla lawn chairs in the back for the minor offspring or niece/nephews, chugging at 6 mph?
I have to assume it was one of those goof-votes and most everyone caught the sillies.
Easy: MR2. It’s no contest really.
MR2, but I could be convinced pretty easily to take the Chrysler if I had the opportunity. For some reason it just looks more interesting than most sedans that get the usual hot-rodder trappings.
But I’d take a mid-engine wedge(-alike) over just about any overweight pile of vintage steel.
How is it that this was even a contest?
Holy cow, that’s a Chrysler 300 v8 with a stick in nice shape, vs an appliance? It’s a nice appliance, to be sure, but damn, people!
I’m with you. That would make a terrific weekend cruiser.
Kids these days, amiright?
I’m going with the Chrysler. It is a damn cool car. Styling is unique in a good way. I also love the color combination and the interior. My first inclination was that it is overpriced, but after looking around a bit, $9500 isn’t unreasonable. Realistically, there are not a lot of ’63 Chrysler 300s around. I am sure you could find one in this condition for a few thousand dollars cheaper, but who knows when that will be and where that car will be located. If you want a ’63 Chrysler 300, this is probably a good option.
The mr2 is also cool, though.
I love a big old boat, but I’m not a fan of most of Virgin Exner’s work, so the Mister Two wins the day for me.
I hope whoever buys the 300, puts some new tires on it immediately. I love raised whites on slot mags, but those tires are at LEAST 30 years old, and 40 wouldn’t surprise me a bit.
Normally I’d agree, but those Coopers are bias-ply, and they don’t age out like radials do. They can crack and dry-rot, at which point they’re not safe, but if they’re still in good shape, they’re not going to come apart. They’ll handle like shit, though, so maybe get a second set of wheels with modern radials for everyday use, and put the Coopers on for shows?
Those old drum brakes are bad enough. They’re not gonna stop for crap with the rubber as hard as it is!
I’m not saying you can’t take a test drive, or putter over to the tire shop, but those babies have to go!
I would put a fresh set of raised whites on it though. BFG Radial TAs, or Cooper Corbras will fix you up.