Garages can produce some of the nicest projects around despite the reality they’re not professional shops.
This 1961 Chrysler Saratoga four-door hardtop is a classic example of a classic garage build.
Jerry Sutherland
Don Kerr has owned the big fin car for over 40 years, but 15 years ago he said he was sitting around with his buddies and said, “We should sand that puppy down and paint it”. That started a roller-coaster ride for Don—and his buddies. He did most of it in a 22 by 22-foot garage.
The car needed some serious bodywork, so Don had a talented sheet metal buddy crank out some new quarter panels and rockers for the big Chrysler. This was clearly a badly- needed game plan for the Saratoga’s survival, and it turned out great.
Don also had another problem when his Saratoga’s transmission blew up as he was boarding a ferry. He could only move forward so the crew allowed him to turn the car around after the other passengers had left.
The final issue was the engine because the factory 383 smoked like a chimney, so Don rebuilt it “from top to bottom”. He wanted the car to run well and look great.
The other details were things like a new dashboard and getting the all the lights working. Don picked up a factory color code book and settled on the unique two-tone paint that makes the Chrysler pop in any kind of light.
The ’61 Saratoga was a highly optioned car, so it came with power steering, power brakes, power windows and power seats. Don added a dual master cylinder and disc brakes to make the Chrysler more civilized in today’s traffic. He likes the security of more stopping power when people like to cut a lane change close—no matter how old your car is.
Don didn’t contract out the restoration work on his steering wheel. He found out it would cost 3900 dollars, so he did the work himself—Don’s a realist.
The interior is close to, but not exactly like the factory version, but again—Don’s a realist. The wide white radial tires have period-correct look with modern tire technology. Don and one of his buddies detailed the extremely rare wheel covers to bring them up to the standards of the new tires.
Don likes driving his ’61 Chrysler because it was built to be a turnpike warrior and it can still handle the freeways. He said it’s smooth and comfortable on the road–that’s all you can ask from a 64-year-old car.
Don has a future game plan for the Chrysler. His 16-year-old grandson is going to inherit the car, but Don isn’t going to throw him the keys anytime soon.
Don said his grandson just got his license, so he wants him to do some more time behind the wheel of a regular car before he even gets to drive the ’61 Chrysler. He believes this: “If you got them—drive them”.
But Don didn’t spend all that in his garage just to see all his work go up in a sickening crash so the kid is going to need more miles behind the wheel before he pilots the ’61 Chrysler.
Jerry Sutherland
. By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
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