1979 Chrysler 300
1979 Chrysler 300
1979 Chrysler 300
1965 Chrysler 300L
The 1965 Chrysler 300L was the final model in Chrysler's original 300 “Letter Series,” a lineup celebrated for blending luxury with performance. With its powerful 413-cubic inch V8 engine, the 300L was built to deliver both smooth cruising and impressive power. This engine, capable of producing up to 360 horsepower, was paired with a TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission, offering a driving experience that was both responsive and refined.
Stylistically, the 300L maintained the bold, distinguished look Chrysler was known for. Its front end featured a prominent, sleek grille and dual headlights, contributing to a sense of sophistication and strength. The body lines were clean and elongated, embodying the elegance of mid-1960s design trends. Chrysler offered the 300L in both two-door hardtop and convertible versions, appealing to those seeking a more open driving experience.
Inside, the car was outfitted with luxury appointments, such as leather upholstery and a high-quality dashboard, reinforcing its position as a high-end vehicle. The 300L’s cabin was crafted with attention to comfort and detail, making it a pleasure to drive on longer journeys. The Chrysler 300L thus closed the chapter on Chrysler’s Letter Series in style, embodying the best of performance and elegance for its era.
1969 Plymouth Roadrunner
1969 Plymouth Roadrunner
1969 Plymouth Roadrunner
DOHC 426 Hemi
Chrysler 1964-65 doomsday device, a DOHC 426 hemi. Never produced, never run under it's own power. As soon as NASCAR heard about it, all overhead cam V8's were banned in 1966. After the ban, this engine was no longer needed.
1972 Chrysler Newport Station Wagon
John Lennon’s 1972 Chrysler Newport Station Wagon is a unique piece of automotive and cultural history. Known for its distinctive style and spacious interior, this wagon reflects the practical yet stylish choices of the era. Lennon famously customized the car with a bright yellow paint job and added artistic touches, making it a standout vehicle. The Chrysler Newport was equipped with a V8 engine, offering a smooth ride and ample room for passengers and luggage. Lennon’s ownership of this car adds a layer of rock 'n' roll legacy, symbolizing his free-spirited lifestyle and creativity during the early 1970s. Today, it is celebrated by collectors and fans of both Lennon and vintage automobiles.
1973 Chrysler New Yorker Brougham
The 1973 Chrysler New Yorker Brougham was a luxury flagship of the Chrysler lineup, known for its imposing size, plush interior, and smooth ride. This full-size sedan featured bold, formal styling with a long hood and a broad front grille. Under the hood, it typically came with a 440 cubic-inch V8 engine, providing ample power despite the car's large size and weight.
The Brougham trim level emphasized luxury, offering premium features such as plush upholstery, woodgrain accents, and advanced options like automatic climate control. The 1973 New Yorker Brougham embodied classic American luxury, combining comfort, style, and power in a grand package.
The M/T Ford 480 Hemi is a fascinating chapter in hot rod history! Designed by the legendary Mickey Thompson in 1963, this big-block engine starts with a Ford 427 ci block but pushes the boundaries with its impressive 480 ci displacement. While it’s often mistakenly linked to Chrysler, the M/T Hemi heads are entirely unique designs, showcasing Thompson's innovative spirit.
One of the standout features of the M/T Ford head is its equal-sized intake and exhaust valves, both around 2.00 inches, which is a departure from the traditional American V8 design. In contrast, the Chrysler 392 FirePower uses smaller exhaust valves. Even more intriguing are the articulated three-piece pushrods, a radical innovation that allows for larger and more efficient intake passages by navigating around the ports.
In 1964, with the backing of Ford, Thompson prepared drag racing cars, including the iconic ’64 Thunderbolt Fairlane, demonstrating the power and potential of his design. His contributions to performance engineering and drag racing remain influential today!
Chrysler Newport convertible
Chrysler Newport convertible
Chrysler Newport convertibles were available in 1968 and 1969 with a "Sportsgrain" woodie option. They harken back to the Town and Country woodie convertibles of the 1940s and ahead to the LeBaron woodie convertibles of the 1980s. Production was low, under 1200 in 1968 and not disclosed for 1969.
Chrysler 340 Six Pack!
This engine design was guided by none other than Tom Hoover, later known as ‘the father of the Hemi’. For 1970, as delivered in AAR Cuda and Dodge Challenger T/A for use in the SCCA Trans-Am Racing Series, the factory stock Six Pack 340 engine was a well-optioned animal straight out of the box. It meant business, leaving plenty of scope for modifications allowed within the racing regulations that would help it thrive in a Trans Am racing environment. There was no stone unturned, starting with a high nickel stress-relieved engine block, utilising thicker webbing in the pan rails and other areas to allow the option of installing four bolt main caps on 2,3 and 4. High-performance ‘J’ casting cylinder heads were utilised along with large diameter valves, working in tandem with a unique rocker arm/shaft/pushrod assembly. Within this cylinder head design, the pushrod holes were offset to allow more material for oversized porting on the intake runners. Forged crankshaft, heavy-duty conrods and high-performance pistons. A windage tray was also featured. A healthy 10.5 to 1 compression ratio complemented an aggressive 276/284 duration camshaft driven by a dual-row timing chain and the fire in the combustion chamber was ignited by dual points ignition with the spent gasses exiting through a free-flowing exhaust system.
One highlight of this engine combination was the Six Pack (or 6 barrel) carb set-up, running a trio of two-barrel Holleys sitting on top of a factory-fitted Edelbrock intake manifold. A 375 cfm centre carb acted as a primary, then at a given throttle percentage, the two 500 cfm outer carbs would open up and join the party to provide a whopping total of 1375 cfm in total air flow, along with an induction howl you’d never forget.
The factory officially rated the engine at 290hp and 345ft/lbs of torque. The consensus is that it produced at least 330hp, particularly when you consider its claimed 14.4 second quarter-mile capability and 5.8 sec 0-to-60 mph times in a 3500 pound car. In race spec, the engine was de-stroked to just under the Trans-Am regulations 305cu limit and during the development phase across its racing lifespan, was rumoured to have produced between 460 and 500hp.
For 1964, Chrysler’s “regular” 300 series consisted of a four-door sedan, two- and four-door hardtops, and a convertible. The non-letter 300s were not sports cars but found an SCCA event in which to shine.
1955 Chrysler Falcon Concept
In 1951, Chrysler made a strategic decision to hire Virgil Exner, which ultimately saved the company from financial ruin in the mid-1950s. Exner's innovative designs, known as the 'Forward Look,' not only revolutionized Chrysler's product line but also influenced the entire American automotive industry's shift towards modernity. While General Motors (GM) was successful during this period, Harley Earl, GM's design chief, acknowledged the need to catch up with Chrysler's designs. Ford, on the other hand, made costly mistakes, such as introducing the Edsel and discontinuing the two-seater Thunderbird, which resulted in the company playing catch-up. The other automakers, including Hudson, Nash, Studebaker, and Packard, failed to impress consumers with their designs, leading to their eventual downfall. The only exception was the Avanti, which was a well-designed car but ultimately failed in the market. In conclusion, Chrysler's strategic hiring of Virgil Exner and his innovative designs played a significant role in the company's success during the mid-1950s, while other automakers struggled to keep up with the changing times.
Hemispherical Combustion Chambers Weren't Just a Gimmick: The Chrysler Hemi engine is renowned for its hemispherical combustion chambers, which provide an efficient shape with an excellent surface-to-volume ratio and minimal heat loss.
Three Generations: There have been three generations of Hemi engines: the FirePower series (1951-1958), the legendary 426 Hemi (1964-1971), and the modern Hemis (2003-2024).
FirePower Series: The first-generation Hemi, known as the FirePower series, had displacements ranging from 241 to 392 cubic inches and was produced from 1951 to 1958.
426 Hemi Nickname: The 426 Hemi, produced from 1964 to 1971, earned the nickname "elephant engine" due to its large size and heavy weight.
426 Hemi Power: The 426 Hemi was rated at 425 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque, although actual dynamometer testing showed it could produce even more.
Racing Heritage: The 426 Hemi was initially developed for NASCAR racing and made its debut in the Plymouth Belvedere in 1964.
Street Hemi: Chrysler introduced the "Street Hemi" in 1966, making the powerful 426 Hemi available to the general public in various Dodge and Plymouth models.
426 Hemi in Drag Racing: The 426 Hemi dominated NHRA and AHRA drag racing, with its large casting allowing it to be overbored and stroked to displacements unattainable by other engines of the era.
426 Hemi in Iconic Cars: The 426 Hemi was used in some of the most iconic muscle cars, including the 1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda, the Dodge Charger Daytona, and the Plymouth Superbird.
High Compression: The 426 Hemi had a high compression ratio of 10.25:1 in the street version and 12.5:1 in the racing version, requiring high-octane fuel to avoid pre-ignition.
Dual Four-Barrel Carburetors: The 426 Hemi featured dual inline four-barrel Carter AFB carburetors, contributing to its high power output.
Advanced Rocker Arm Geometry: The Hemi engine's complex valve train and large, wide cylinder heads required advanced rocker arm geometry, making it more expensive and challenging to build.
Military Origins: Chrysler's experience with hemispherical combustion chambers began with their development of the XIV-2220 engine for the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft during World War II.
M47 Patton Tank: Chrysler also used hemispherical combustion chamber technology in the air-cooled AV-1790-5B V12 Hemi engine for the M47 Patton tank.
Modern Hemi Engines: The third-generation Hemi engines, produced from 2003 to 2024, featured advanced technologies and displacements between 5.7 and 6.4 liters, continuing the legacy of high performance.