Pick of the Day: 1959 Chrysler 300E, a rare lion-hearted coupe

Numbers-matching luxury vehicle has large tailfins and 380 horsepower under the hood

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1959 Chrysler 300E
1959 Chrysler 300E advertised on ClassicCars.com

Chrysler introduced the 300E model, the fifth edition in the 300 letter series, in 1959, and despite its prominent design features and powerful Golden Lion wedge-head V8, sales were less than satisfactory.

The automaker sold just 550 300E coupes and 140 convertibles, making the Pick of the Day, a numbers-matching 1959 Chrysler 300E, a rare find.

The 300E model’s wedgelike design didn’t look much different from the previous 300D line with the exaggerated tailfins, large horizontal grille with red accents and deep-set dual headlights – a result of automotive designer Virgil Exner’s “forward look” style.

1959 Chrysler 300E

“Walking around the car, you instantly notice the bright-white gloss paint, chrome wire wheels with whitewall tires and chrome accent trim,” says the Tampa, Florida, dealer advertising the car on ClassicCars.com.

According to the dealer, this 300E underwent a frame-off restoration between 12 and 15 years ago in which it received new paint, a new front suspension and new interior.

The interior is upholstered in tan vinyl and cloth, and features power steering, brakes and windows, an AM radio and Vintage Air A/C.

For 1959, the 300E replaced the Hemi engine with Chryslers’ new Gold Lion wedge-head 413cid V8, nicknamed “lion-hearted,” with 380 horsepower and 525 pound-feet of torque.  

“This numbers-matching engine is mated to the original 3-speed automatic transmission that is actually push-button operated and puts the power to the ground through a posi-traction rear end,” the dealer adds.

1959 Chrysler 300E

The odometer shows 80,043 miles, which the dealer believes to be the total miles on the chassis, including pre-restoration driving.

This 1959 Chrysler 300E is being offered for $67,000.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

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