300

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Background:

In 1955, Chrysler created the "Gentleman's Hot Rod" buy taking it's 331CI Hemi engine with a 4bbl carb, holding back on the trim excesses, stiffening the suspension, and giving it the Imperial's grill for distinctiveness. It was called the C-300 for Hemi's horsepower rating. It was an immediate hit with the NASCAR Drivers, and the Road Rally Drivers.

Letter Series:

Originally called Letter Series cars, a lesser class of non-Letter Series 300s were introduced in 1962. These cars were basically glorified Newports sold as stripped 300s. They lacked many of the performance, appearance, & sports options, and has more mundane base engine offerings. Sadly, the 300 was bastardized further in the late 60s with the introduction 4-door 300s.

C-300 of 1955 is often confused with the 300C of 1957. Because the 1955 model was listed as the C-300, there was no Letter A. 1956 started with the 300B, 1957 was the 300C, the 1958 was 300E -- and so on through 1965, which was the L. The letter I was not used as it might be confused with the Roman Numeral 1.

1965 was the last of the "True" Letter series cars -- although the non-Letter 300 made it through the end of the decade. 1970 had the white and gold Hurst 300, and in 1979 a white with red interior Cordoba had a dressed up model called the 300. The "Canadian version of the 1979 300 was painted red. In 1999, Chrysler came back with the 300M -- but few consider it a real letter car. In 2005 the Chysler 300C was introduced -- with the SRT8 being the high performance version.

Class

Personal Luxury "Gentleman's Hot Rod"

1955

First year of the Chrysler 300. Made to race in NASCAR, it was stripped of un-necessary chrome, used a stiffened suspension, and the 331 Hemi had a hotter cam and a pair of 4bbl carburetors to reach 300hp and 127.58 MPH in the standing mile. The front clip was borrowed from the Imperial -- but the rest of the car was all Chrysler.

Body Styles

• 2-dr Coupe Only

Engines & Transmission

• 300hp 331ci Generation I Hemi

Production Numbers, and Cost:

1755 built

1956

1956 saw a new tail fin treatment and an engine displacement increase to 354CI in either 340 or 355 hp configurations. The standing mile was a faster 140mph.

Body Styles

2dr Couple only

Engines & Transmission

• 354 CI Hemi 340Hp
• 354 CI Hemi 355HP (breaking the then Magical 1 HP = 1 CI mark)

Production Numbers, and Cost:

A mere 1102 were sold

1957

1957s lower, longer, and wide Chrysler was an instant hit, and generally the more sought after 300. Engine displacement was increased to 392CI and a convertible model was added to the line up.

Engines & Transmission

• 392ci Hemi 375hp
• 392ci Hemi 390hp (only 18 built)

Length, width, height, wheelbase

• Wheelbase 126.0 in
• Length 219.2 in
• Width 78.8 in

Production Numbers, and Cost:

• 1787 Hardtops Built
• 484 Convertibles built

1958

The 1958s were virtually the same offerings as the 1957s, but the last year of the Generation I Hemis. Future years would use the Wedge Motors. The 392CI made 380hp in the base unit, and 35 units built with the Electronic Fuel Injected version made 390hp -- but were troublesome and converted to three 3 barrel carburetor units.

With the 1957s models being rushed to market -- quality suffered and 1958 (also a recession year) saw few 300 built.

Engines & Transmission

• 392ci Hemi 380hp
• 392ci Hemi 390hp (Electronic Fuel Injected, later recalled and converted to 3 2bblo carburetors.

Length, width, height, wheelbase

• Wheelbase 126.0 in
• Length 219.2 in
• Width 78.8 in

Production Numbers, and Cost:

• 618 hardtops
• 191 convertibles

1959

1960

1961

1962

1963

1964

1965

1970

300C

Platform

LX

Related Models

• Charger
• Magnum
• Challenger

External Links

• 300 Club
• MoparStyle C-Body Forum
• MoparStyle LY-LX Forum
• Wikipedia Letter 300s