Download Print Special Report: Chrysler 300 50th Anniversary at the 2005 Goodwood Revival Chrysler 300 Letter Series Timeline Auburn Hills, Mich. September 15, 2005 - Chrysler Corporation, the American car company that merged with Daimler-Benz in 1998, from its founding was known as the “engineering company” of American “Big Three” auto manufacturers. Although Chrysler cars, entered privately, had considerable success in European races into the 1930s, the American companies had agreed amongst themselves to avoid direct performance competition. Chrysler Corporation’s decision in 1955 to offer a 300 horsepower sports coupe with performance suspension represented a change in attitude. The first Chrysler 300 founded a decade-long series, each year’s model designated by a successive letter. 16,857 were built in all—a pittance by American market standards. All were distinguished by specially modified high horsepower engines—for several years 300s were America’s fastest production cars and 300s from all years typically had 0 to 60 mph times in the eight second range. Besides raw power, 300s featured heavy duty suspension, special interiors, instrumentation, and badging. Today they are esteemed by collectors, especially the first four models in the series that were powered by specially prepared versions of Chrysler’s HEMI® V-8 engine. 1955 300 (Also known as the C-300 within Chrysler Engineering) The first year of the limited production 300, the first American production car with 300 horsepower. Because of its speed, handsome but dignified styling and premium price, it was dubbed “The banker’s hot rod.” A 300 set a Flying Mile record of 127 mph for production cars in 1955 Engine: V-8 with overhead valves and hemispherical combustion chambers, 2 four-barrel carburetors and race-type camshaft Displacement: 331 c.i.d./5.4L Horsepower: 300 Chassis: Heavy duty suspension (front coil, rear leaf), solid rear axle, drum-type brakes, 2-speed automatic Powerflite automatic transmission Weight: 4005 pounds; Wheelbase: 126 inches Total production: 1725, all hardtops Base price: $4109 1956 300B A team of 300Bs dominated U.S. stock car competition in 1956 and a 300 set a World Record for Passenger Cars of 139.9 mph. Engine: V-8 with overhead valves and hemispherical combustion chambers, 2 four-barrel carburetors and race-type camshaft Displacement: 354 c.i.d./5.8L Horsepower: 340 or 355 depending on compression ratio Chassis: Heavy duty suspension (front coil, rear leaf), solid rear axle, drum-type brakes, pushbutton 2-speed automatic Powerflite or 3-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission (manual 3-speed by special order). Weight: 4360 pounds; Wheelbase: 126 inches Total production: 1102, all hardtops Base price: $4242 1957 300C Dramatic new styling was matched by an even more powerful engine—during tests 300s went from 0 to 60 mph in about 8 seconds and achieved 145.7 mph. An automotive writer dubbed the 300C “The Beautiful Brute.” Engine: V-8 with overhead valves and hemispherical combustion chambers, 2 four-barrel carburetors and race-type camshaft Displacement: 392 c.i.d./6.4L Horsepower: 340 or 355 depending on compression ratio Chassis: Heavy duty suspension (front torsion bar, rear leaf), solid rear axle, drum-type brakes, 3-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission (manual 3-speed by special order). Weight: 4235/4390 pounds (convertible); Wheelbase: 126 inches Total production: 2251 (1767 hardtops/484 convertibles) Base price: $ 4929 or $5359 (convertible) 1958 300D “The big ‘D’ is a true sportsman’s car, built with the velvet precision of a fine gun and loaded with a V-8 powerhouse designed for one purpose—to go, and go and keep on going until you run out of road.” -- Motor Trend magazine, February, 1958. Engine: V-8 with overhead valves and hemispherical combustion chambers, 2 four-barrel carburetors and race-type camshaft Displacement: 392 c.i.d./6.4L Horsepower: 380 Chassis: Heavy duty suspension (front torsion bar, rear leaf), solid rear axle, drum-type brakes, 3-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission Weight: 4305/4475 pounds (convertible); Wheelbase: 126 inches Total production: 810 (619 hardtops/191 convertibles) Base price: $5173/5603 (convertible) 1959 300E For the first time the 300 used an overhead valve V-8 that did not contain hemispherical type combustion chambers. Engine: V-8 with overhead valves, 2 four-barrel carburetors and race-type camshaft Displacement: 413 c.i.d./6.8L Horsepower: 380 Chassis: Heavy duty suspension (front torsion bar, rear leaf), solid rear axle, drum-type brakes, 3-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission. Weight: 4290/4350 pounds (convertible); Wheelbase: 126 inches Total production: 690 (550 hardtops/140 convertibles) Base price: $5319/5749 (convertible) 1960 300F For the first time the 300 employed monocoque body construction while engine performances were enhanced by ram-type induction. Engine: V-8 with overhead valves with ram induction manifolds, 2 four-barrel carburetors and race-type camshaft Displacement: 413 c.i.d./6.8L Horsepower: 375, 400 optional Chassis: Heavy duty suspension (front torsion bar, rear leaf), solid rear axle, drum-type brakes, 3-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission (4-speed manual available by special order.) Weight: 4270/4310 pounds (convertible); Wheelbase: 126 inches Total production: 1212 (964 hardtops/248 convertibles) Base price: $5411/5841 (convertible) 1961 300G “In short, though the sports car bugs will not believe us, this car can whip all but the hottest road racing machinery, around any circuit in the country.” -- Car Life magazine. Engine: V-8 with overhead valves with ram induction manifolds, 2 four-barrel carburetors and race-type camshaft Displacement: 413 c.i.d./6.8L Horsepower: 375, 400 optional Chassis: Heavy duty suspension (front torsion bar, rear leaf), solid rear axle, drum-type brakes, 3-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission (3-speed manual available by special order.) Weight: 4260/4315 pounds (convertible); Wheelbase: 126 inches Total production: 1617 (1280 hardtops/337 convertibles) Base price: $5411/5841 (convertible) 1962 300H This model was the last letter series car reflecting the direct influence of the two men who developed the original 300 — the famed designer Virgil Exner and Chrysler Chief Engineer Bob Rodger. This same year Chrysler introduced models called 300s which were not performance cars or designated by a letter as the performance 300s were. Engine: V-8 with overhead valves, 2 four-barrel carburetors and race-type camshaft (ram induction manifolding was optional this year) Displacement: 413 c.i.d./6.8L Horsepower: 380, 405 optional Chassis: Heavy duty suspension (front torsion bar, rear leaf), solid rear axle, drum-type brakes, 3-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission (3-speed manual available by special order.) Weight: 4050/4105 pounds (convertible); Wheelbase: 122 inches Total production: 558 (435 hardtops/123 convertibles) Base price: $5090/5461 (convertible) 1963 300J “It’s out on the open road that the average owner will feel that the 300J’s worth every penny he paid for it. This is a road car par excellence!” -- Motor Trend magazine. Performance was enhanced by a comprehensive re-design of the brake system. Engine: V-8 with overhead valves with ram induction manifolds, 2 four-barrel carburetors and race-type camshaft Displacement: 413 c.i.d./6.8L Horsepower: 380, 405 optional Chassis: Heavy duty suspension (front torsion bar, rear leaf), solid rear axle, drum-type brakes, 3-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission (3-speed manual available by special order.) Weight: 4000 pounds; Wheelbase: 122 inches Total production: 400, all hardtops Base price: $5260 1964 300K This year the 300K departed from traditions long held within the letter series—leather upholstery was optional, the automatic transmission provided as standard equipment was now shifted via a lever on a floor console instead of by the dash-mounted pushbuttons used since 1956, and the speedometer read to 120, not 150, mph. Engine: V-8 with overhead valves and four-barrel carburetor; ram induction manifolding and 2 four-barrel carburetors optional Displacement: 413 c.i.d./6.8L Horsepower: 360, 390 optional Chassis: Front torsion bar, rear leaf spring suspension, (heavy duty suspension part of performance upgrade with larger engine), solid rear axle, drum-type brakes, 3-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission (3-speed manual available by special order.) Weight: 3965 pounds (convertible 3990); Wheelbase: 122 inches Total production: 3647 (3022 hardtops/625 convertibles) Base price: $4056 (convertible $4522) 1965 300L The end of an era—the last of Chrysler’s original letter series—big, powerful, performance-oriented personal cars. Engine: V-8 with overhead valves and four-barrel carburetor. Displacement: 413 c.i.d./6.8L Horsepower: 360 Chassis: Front coil spring, rear leaf spring suspension, solid rear axle, drum-type brakes (heavy duty suspension and brake upgrade optional), 3-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission (4-speed manual optional) Weight: 4225 pounds (convertible 4155); Wheelbase: 124 inches Total production: 2845 (2405 hardtops/440 convertible) Base price: $4090 ($4545 convertibles)