Recently, a fourth-generation Chrysler Saratoga showed up on eBay, looking for someone who would appreciate its value and bring it back to the road, where it had been absent for a long time.
There’s hardly any information given by the seller antiques4yfl, though, who doesn’t even know for sure whether the Saratoga is from the 1960 model year or not.
To find out more details about the car, a potential buyer will have to investigate and do some research, but the best way to determine if it deserves a full restoration is to conduct a personal inspection.
The VIN numbers already tell us that this is a 1960 Saratoga built at the Jefferson Ave. factory in Detroit, so we have the production year confirmed.
The car also appears to pack a 383 engine, although its state is a mystery. So, a competent mechanic needs to see it in person and evaluate if it’s worth the time, money, and effort to make it work again.
The body is another issue. The seller gave no details about the quality of the body, the trunk, or the bottom, so you can expect to see a lot of rust.
It’s worth noting that the Saratoga isn’t a popular choice for restoration, so it could be very hard to find new components for it.
The seats are in terrible condition, so you have no choice but to replace them all. The dashboard is intact but requires a huge amount of work. And it’s not clear if everything is original.
The owner pegs the classic at $3,000, but it’s hard to believe such a price will work without someone checking out the Saratoga in person and figuring out more details.
In that case, anyone interested will need to go to Newark, Ohio, where the car is located. The only way to transport the vehicle is by using a trailer.
Debuting in 1957, the revived Saratoga was built with performance in mind.
Originally, the Saratoga was a sport luxury car available from 1939 to 1952 and once again from 1957 to 1960 within the U.S. market. in Canada, it was produced until 1965 and in Europe from 1989 to 1995.
The first Saratoga officially went to sale a year after the Chrysler New Yorker. In its early days, it bore a higher price tag compared to the New Yorker.
However, shifts in marketing strategy later positioned the Saratoga more modestly, as the Imperial ascended to the summit of the Chrysler lineup, followed by the New Yorker.
Initially, features that were considered premium offerings, such as air conditioning, power windows, power steering, power locks, power-adjustable front seats, and power brakes– which came standard on the New Yorker – were optional on the Saratoga. As time progressed, these features gradually became standard amenities on it.
Sustaining its reputation as a pinnacle of high-performance for Chrysler, the Saratoga played a pivotal role in debuting the 331 cu in (5.4 L) Hemi V8 engine with overhead valves in 1951.
But the New Yorker and later the 1955 Chrysler 300 dethroned it as a performance car, which resulted in its discontinuation in 1953.
The model made a comeback in 1957 and remained in production until 1965. This time it returned as a cheaper alternative to the Chrysler 300.
So, it came in the form of a sedan with a more affordable price point. In 1989, the nameplate found new life in Europe, before being rebadged to become the Dodge Spirit.
This version was equipped with a 3.0 V6 engine and a 5-speed manual transmission, maintaining its presence until 1995.
Its namesake, Saratoga Springs, New York, is famed for being home to the Saratoga Race Course – a renowned venue for thoroughbred horse racing.
The entry-level of the revived Saratoga was powered by a 354-cubic inch (5.8-liter) Spitfire engine sourced from the Windsor model.
Those seeking more power can opt for Chrysler’s 383 (6.3-liter), whereas the best choice was the 392 (6.4-liter) FirePower V8.
The automaker installed an identical engine in the Chrysler 300, equipping it with dual four-barrel carburetors to achieve greater power without showing concern for fuel efficiency.
With a good performance on the road, the new Saratoga attracted over 37,000 buyers in its first year on the market in 1957, making it a profitable product for Chrysler.
As the decade came to an end, the production numbers dwindled, and in 1960, the final year of this generation, only 15,000 cars were produced.
