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.
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.
1956 Chrysler 300B
Chrysler 300C
Chrysler 300C
If there was a car that revived the entire Chrysler brand, it was the 300C. The beautiful sedan did something everyone else was scared to do in the 2000s. Chrysler went with an unconventional boxy design and the car ended up becoming a hit. One of the reasons for this was that it came with a Hemi V8 engine. The 300C was a modern V8 sedan that took inspiration from a Mercedes (via Car & Driver).
The SRT-8 edition of the 300C continued this tradition with a radical departure from any other Chrysler model that had come before it. The 300C became a cultural phenomenon, with music artists featured in thousands of music videos over the years. There’s also a vast enthusiast community and hundreds of aftermarket accessories that have been made for this car over the years.
1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst
One of the great unknowns about the 1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst is exactly how many cars were built. Estimates put the total as low as 485, and as high as 502 cars. Regardless of what the figure actually is, the car itself is a pretty special piece of machinery.
The 300 Hurst is a giant of a car at 19′ in length. All of the Hursts rolled off the production line finished in Spinnaker White. The cars were then shipped to the Hurst factory in Warminster, Pennsylvania, where a substantial transformation was performed. The first change to be made was the removal of the standard Chrysler steel hood skin, which was replaced with a fiberglass unit. This featured a decorative hood scoop and the obligatory set of recessed hood locks. The deck lid was also removed, and once again, a fiberglass replacement, complete with a spoiler integrated with the rear quarter panels, was also installed. The White paintwork was complimented by the addition of Satin Tan highlights and contrasting pinstripes, and the wheels were adorned with the same Satin Tan color in the centers. This Hurst is a clean car, with a small area of rust visible in the lower section of the driver’s side front fender, and surface corrosion present on the car’s underside. The Spinnaker White paint appears to be in good condition, but there has been some deterioration of the Satin Tan paint on both the hood and the deck lid. The exterior trim and chrome all look good, while the tinted glass is close to perfect.
The 300 Hurst was a premium car at a premium price, so naturally, it required a premium interior. In this case, seat upholstery was available in a single type and color. Continuing the exterior theme, the color is Saddle Tan, and the material is leather. The plush front seats are not standard 300 items but have been pilfered from the Imperial parts bin. While the original intention was for a Hurst shifter to be part of the interior features, this is something that never eventuated. The interior of this Hurst is close to perfect, with a single discolored spot on the dash pad being the most obvious fault. The rest of it presents in virtually as-new condition, and as befits a luxury car, it is loaded with luxury touches. These include air conditioning, power windows, six-way power seats, cruise control, a remote trunk release, and I think that there also might be an 8-track player hanging under the dash.
The 300 Hurst was the biggest of the muscle cars, and as such, it needed a big motor to get it moving. In this case, it is the TNT 440 engine, pumping out 375hp. The Hurst also features a 727 TorqueFlite transmission, a 3.23 rear end, power steering, power brakes, heavy-duty rear springs and front torsion bars, and sway bars. The exhaust was a full dual system, ending in quad tips. This Hurst hasn’t seen a lot of recent use, and documentation confirms that between 1986 and 2019, it managed to accumulate a grand total of 20 miles! Since being removed from its climate-controlled storage, it has undergone a meticulous mechanical check and recommissioning, and it is now said to run and drive perfectly. The owner does suggest that while the tires look good, they are pretty olds, and replacing them might be a good idea. He also says that the Hurst may need mufflers fairly soon. The car does come with a fair collection of documentation, including the original Build Sheet and Window Sticker, a pristine Certi-Card, Owner’s Manual, as well as dealer paperwork and other assorted items.
While there has always been some question surrounding the build totals for the 1970 300 Hurst, one thing is certain, and that is that there are less than 300 cars in existence today. Pristine examples can fetch sums in excess of $30,000, and even a rough example in need of restoration can still sell for anywhere around $13,000. This one doesn’t need a major restoration, but it does require some cosmetic work. I’m not sure where bidding is eventually going to go with this one, but I would suspect that it will be somewhere around the low to mid $20,000 mark. Even at that price, it probably wouldn’t be a bad buy.
1959 Chrysler 300E Convertible
In place of the 300D’s heavier and more complicated Hemi, the 300E uses a 380-horsepower, 413-cubic-inch “Golden Lion” wedge-head V-8 crowned by dual four-barrel carburetors. Those who have not yet sampled this model from behind the wheel will be pleasantly surprised—a 300E in proper tune is a truly fast machine once underway, and not merely by old-car standards.
1955 Chrysler 300 Coupe
The Walter Chrysler Museum's Amazing Cars Collection
1966 Chrysler 300 Convertible
1966 Chrysler 300 Convertible 1 of only 2500!! LOADED A/C PS PB PW PT 383V8 Auto
Chrysler 300 “Letter Car” Series
Even before muscle cars were a thing, Chrysler produced a series of high-performance coupes and convertibles. They delivered unbelievable performance with unmistakable style. Chrysler named the model the 300. They followed it with the letters of the alphabet, with the C300 being the first model in 1955. Chrysler called it the Letter Series.
They made those fast and powerful upscale cruisers between 1955 and 1965 when they discontinued the series. They equipped the first models with early Hemi engines that could produce 300 HP; hence, the name. Those early Chrysler “Letter Series” models were the first American made cars with 300 HP ratings. With the introduction of advanced intake setups, power levels rose, so those big, heavy cars achieved impressive acceleration times.
This glorious machine captivated the automobile public with its elegance and uncompromised performance. It even broke a few records on the Bonneville speed trials. Chrysler only made 618 coupes and 191 convertibles that year. However, this model is the perfect example of an early luxury muscle car.