The age of muscle cars most-certainly preceded the Pontiac GTO, and here’s a perfect example, a thunderous Chrysler 300 “letter car” from the legendary series of high-performance luxury machines.
The Pick of the Day is a 1961 Chrysler 300G hardtop, a one-year-only special-order model with such rare options as factory air conditioning, according to the Bridgeport, Connecticut, dealer advertising the car on ClassicCars.com.
Just 1,280 300G examples were built, the dealer notes, and only about 20 percent of those included AC.
“The car is a rust-free car that was restored many years ago,” the seller says in the ad. “It still presents beautifully but shows signs of enjoyment. The interior is nearly mint in appearance, but the paint and chrome show signs of use.
“While not a show car, it is most certainly a ‘go’ car as it is fully sorted, has been serviced by the expert technicians at Blackhorse and runs and drives exceptionally reliably.”
The Chrysler 300 letter series started out in 1955 with the C-300, then in 1956 with the 300 B and continuing alphabetically (skipping “I”) through 1965 with the 300L. These were the hot versions of Chrysler’s luxury family cars, and made quite a statement of power and prestige.
Mammoth V8 engines were key to the series.
“The car is powered by its original 413 dual-quad V8 engine putting out a conservatively rated 375 horsepower,” the seller says. “The transmission shifts smoothly and the brakes are firm and true.”
The hardtop was a West Coast car most of its life, and was owned for the past five years by a Texas collector, the seller adds. Just 43,978 miles show on the odometer, though there’s no word in the ad whether that is original.
The Chrysler includes an interesting piece of documentation, its original IBM build card, so called because it’s an old-school computer punch card with holes signifying its features. The 300G also comes with “a few extra parts,” the original owner’s manual and its old registration, the dealer says.
The Chrysler, which the seller claims is a “well-known car” in Mopar circles, is priced at $46,000.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Is it a push button tranny?
Push button shifters began in 1956 and continued through 1964.
Many years ago we had a 383 Chrysler V-8, Torqueflite auto, dual cross over ram with 4 barrels, squeezed into a Dodge Lancer—–Fun for the young!!———Fearless Freddie
Miss my 61 DeSoto looking at this 300
The first car i feel love with was a 1960 Chrysler 300F….It was the same color as the 300G and it was a convertible….The car was featured in MotorTrend in 1960…
Had a 67 Dodge Polaris 500 two door hardtop with a 440 four barrel what mean machine.
I had a 1963 Chrysler Imperial, with what I believed to be a 413 in it & a transmission that a few people use to comment on, as being special as well. All I knew, is when I took that beauty on the highway, I had a hard time keeping it under 90. It was a pleasure to drive & look at.
Sweet and significant Mopar, but clearly a full sized car.
Isn’t the term “muscle car” intended to describe mid-sized cars with the engines from these full sizers? A big car with a big engine was very common from about, oh, the invention of the automobile (16+ litre Raillton-Napiers ‘n’ such); but the factory offered, full sized engine option in a true, not custom/limited production mid-size still started with the Pontiac GTO.
Still, a great car… except, why does it have the ’70’s highschool airshock stance?
Hi, Wondered if a borg warner York air compressor can be fitted to the 413 wedge engine of 1959 for a 59 imperial crown. Many thanks Chris Perth Australia