The revived Saratoga hit the streets in 1957, with Chrysler trying to focus mainly on engine options and power. The base unit on the Saratoga was a 354 (5.8-liter) Spitfire donated by the Windsor.
Customers who wanted a power upgrade could go for Chrysler’s 383 (6.3-liter), while the top-of-the-range configuration came with the 392 (6.4-liter) FirePower V8. The carmaker used the same engine on the Chrysler 300, fitting it with dual four-barrel carburetors for more power and zero interest in fuel economy.
The new Saratoga performed well in its first year on the market, with Chrysler selling over 37,000 units in 1957. The production numbers gradually declined towards the end of the decade, so in 1960, the last year of this Saratoga generation, the output fell to 15,000 cars.
A fourth-generation Saratoga made its way to eBay earlier this week, trying to convince someone to give it a second chance to return to the road.
However, the listing includes almost no information, with seller antiques4yfl not even sure the vehicle is a 1960 model year. You’ll have to do the detective work and figure out more details, but the safest way to tell if this Saratoga is worth a complete overhaul is to check it out in person.
Let’s start with the VIN. The numbers reveal a 1960 Saratoga assembled at the Jefferson Ave. plant in Detroit, so at least we know the production year. The engine under the hood looks like a 383, but its condition is unknown. It doesn’t look good, but a good mechanic should inspect it in person to tell if it deserves the work, effort, and resources to get it up and running.
The metal condition is challenging too. Considering the seller didn’t share any information regarding the body, the undersides, and the trunk, it’s safe to assume you’ll have to deal with the typical amount of rust. The owner says they pulled the vehicle from a barn, and I wouldn’t expect anything else than rusty floors. Unfortunately, the Saratoga isn’t the most common restoration project, so finding missing parts could become a significant challenge.
The interior has wrecked seats, so you must replace them altogether. The dashboard doesn’t seem to be cut but requires massive work. It’s unclear if everything else is original.
The selling price is a little too ambitious, given the lack of information and the challenging shape of the car. The owner hopes to get $3,000 for their project, but I don’t believe that’s possible without someone checking out the Saratoga in person and figuring out more details. To do this, you must travel to Newark, Ohio, where the vehicle is sitting. A trailer is the only way to take it home.