Ken Muston shares the tale of how he breathed life back into a one-of-a-kind 1934 Chrysler convertible.
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Dogs often hold the title of man’s best friend; however, for Ken Muston, that companion has four wheels and an engine.
To the soundtrack of Olivia Newton John’s timeless tunes, Ken takes us on a drive down memory lane, showcasing an undying love affair between a man and his vintage steel companion, a 1934 Chrysler convertible sedan.
Initially, the car was one of 250 sedans converted into convertibles.
“It was a hard-top sedan, but they (Chrysler) needed to get the public excited because GM was beating them in the car sales range,” Ken said, recounting the origin of this one-off gem that landed on Australian soil as a right-hand drive — the only one of its kind.
But Ken’s Chrysler had a harsh journey to arrive at its current destination; abandoned in 1964, left under a tree for 17 years, found with rotted seats and a gaping hole in the motor, this vehicle had seen better days.
Yet, when Ken’s brother Rob learned of the car’s existence, his fixation on finding the vehicle drove him to chase leads, negotiate deals and finally secure the antique car.
After resting in a container for around three decades, the Chrysler found its hero in Ken.
He worked on the car attentively, reviving every fragment and piece of rust-eaten metal, breathing new life into them.
Recalling the conversation in 2013 that led to him taking ownership of the car, Ken told Rob he would be retiring in a few years.
“I told him I needed something to keep my brain alive,’ Ken said.
The negotiations carried on as Ken was adamant about restoring it to its original state, refusing any modern alterations.
After six months of back and forth, Rob called Ken and told him he could buy it.
However, at that point, the car was essentially a shell of its former self — without a chassis, mudguards and engine.
What remained was a collection of parts gathered in the container, awaiting a skilful hand to rejuvenate them.
For Ken, the restoration process was a labour of love.
“It’s a journey”, Ken said.
“Almost like doing a university degree, but it’s one you love doing, and you do it at your pace.”
Years went by reconstructing the doors, hunting down rare windscreen wiper motors, and even journeying overseas.
In 2022, the car was restored to its original brilliance, showcasing the paintwork done by Maskell’s Customs and Classics owner Greg Maskell.
“I loved working on it,” Ken said.
This, coupled with a rarity that makes it the sole one of its kind in Australia and one of the eight known survivors globally, transforms this Chrysler into a living legend.
It embodies a journey of rejuvenation, a testament to Ken’s dedication to preserving history, insisting on restoring it to its authentic form despite offers to modernise it.
Despite its uncomfortable drive compared to modern vehicles, Ken cherished the restoration process.
Ken’s love of vehicles began in the ’60s as a young lad with his three brothers finding joy in racing pushbikes powered by lawnmower engines around the paddocks of his family farm.
Then, the brothers decided to restore a car, which they finished in about 1971.
“We sold that car for the same price as a new Holden in 1974.
“That was a ’28 Plymouth.”
Ken also shares nostalgic memories of his first car, a 1957 FC Holden, which he bought for $300.
“It’s all I could afford. But mind you, I was earning $14 a week as an apprentice. So it took a long time to save that up,” Ken said.
In 1978, he established Ken Muston Automotive.
“I was a mechanic, and I liked servicing vehicles and wanted to put my skills to work and get rewarded for it rather than having a middleman in the way,” Ken said.
This decision marked the inauguration that saw significant expansion in 1987 with the acquisition of the Subaru dealership.
“It grew from there,” Ken said.
“It was stressful at times, especially because it involved handling huge amounts of money, and I wasn’t an accountant; I was a mechanic.”
“But I loved it.
“I sold it four years ago.”
However, Ken attributes much of his success to the “good people — really, really good people” who stood by him.
Ken also holds a deep affection for his collection of cars, which also features a ’56 Chevy discovered in Pennsylvania and a 1980 Lincoln.
Yet, the Chrysler holds a distinctive place, unparalleled and one-of-a-kind.
Today, this car stands proudly at Shepparton’s Museum of Vehicle Evolution, narrating tales from yesteryear, thanks to Ken’s tireless dedication.
This story originally appeared in Don. You can find the full publication at tinyurl.com/DON-Mag
Cadet Journalist