It seems to be C-body month at the ClassicCars.com Journal. We’ve seen a lot of love with Dodge’s final full-size convertible and a Fury II sedan that’s not often seen anymore, so why not pony up for Chrysler’s version of the platform? To boot, not only is the Pick of the Day Chrysler’s final full-size convertible, but it’s the final Chrysler convertible period until the advent of the 1982 LeBaron: the 1970 Chrysler 300 Convertible. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Lithia Springs, Georgia. (Click the link to view the listing)
The 300 series was created in 1962 to replace the Windsor, Chrysler’s mid-level series. Part of a grand tradition in Detroit of cannibalizing a strong model name by association, the new 300 series borrowed the equity of the performance-oriented 300 letter-series. Sometimes called the 300 Sport series, the 300 shared the same grille, badging, and side trim with its high-performance cousin. “Puts race-bred performance well within your reach!” claimed Chrysler, though looking like a 300-H and offering 305 horsepower standard doesn’t seem enough to make that true. That being said, the 380-horsepower 413 was available, just like the letter-series, but they were still two distinct models. Three body styles were available: two-door hardtop and convertible, and four-door hardtop. Interestingly, after starting out as a fancy personal luxury coupe in 1962, the Buick Wildcat was mainstreamed as a sporty mid-line series for 1963, very much in a vein like the 300 Sport.
Starting in 1968, the 300 series acquired hidden headlights, something that would be a trademark through 1971 when it was discontinued. Nineteen sixty-nine would bring a redesign, ushering the “Fuselage” design philosophy, with the 300 continuing to offer hidden headlights and now displaying full-width taillights that were distinct from those of the Newport and New Yorker.
A 350-horsepower 440 four-barrel was standard, with a 375-horse 440 TNT with dual exhausts as an option. All-vinyl bucket seats were standard and featured a “buddy seat” with armrest, which could be substituted with a console. Other seating choices for hardtop models included beige cloth-and-vinyl buckets for hardtop models, or contoured bench seat with arm rest in vinyl or cloth-and-vinyl.
Along with the lesser 1970 Newport Convertible, this 1970 Chrysler 300 Convertible is the last of the Chrysler ragtops, one of 1,077 built. Painted “ER6” Crimson with a white convertible top and matching vinyl bucket seats with buddy seat, this Chrysler looks as big as a whale and rides on 15-inch Styled Steel Road Wheels. Braking is handled by power discs up front. Under the hood lies the standard 440 paired to a TorqueFlite automatic with modern shift kit.
The seller claims the “ample body rides proudly on an A-arm front/leaf spring/air shock rear suspension” Other features include power windows, air conditioning, AM radio, hood-mounted turn signal indicators, power trunk lid, and black longitudinal protective molding. It appears a dual exhaust system was added along the way, which is something that is always welcome. Considering this vehicle is a veteran of the Hot Rod Power Tour, this is one 300 rag that was built to cruise AND bruise. For $43,995, it appears you can have your cake and eat it too.
Click here for this ClassicCars.com Pick of the Day.
Those cars were HUGH !!! The looked like aircraft carriers. My favorites were the 1962 and 1965 300’s.
My dad was a used car dealer. He had a 300 that was fairly identical to the red one pictured. We had that beautiful beast on the lot for about 2 years & finally wholesales it into Arkansas. Beautiful car very powerful & it provoked zero interest.
Uh, I believe the 300 debuted in 1955. That would have been the 300A. I think it ended with the K. The C was the first for the Hemi or it’s predecessor. That’s why they named the modern version the 300C, due to a Hemi available. Beautiful boat by the way.
Nah, that’s not how it happened.
The 300 letter-series started in 1955. It’s a different model than this. It also was called the C-300.
I Love it!
I had a 1970 Fury III with a 440 ‘highway interceptor’.
The 290 rear end broke 2 motor mounts, because you Can Not jump on it standing still.
I have a 2011 300. It flies! You’re over 100mph fast….almost too fast, but it’s still heavy like a Chrysler!
How much for this beauty?
I’m guessing… $43,995. Oh wait that’s what the listing says, I was right!
Dual exhausts were an option on the 300, and were standard on higher HP versions of the 440.
Didn’t see it on the fender tag but I also know not all codes appear on the tag.
These are beautiful and elegant cars that I truly enjoyed seeing on the highways when I was young. I don’t know what it looks like underneath but it looks really nice on top and inside. All things considered it seems like a pretty steep ask. As Mr. George’s father discovered way back then, no matter how beautiful they are when it comes to shelling out the cash for them, these cars don’t draw much attention. Don’t tell anyone but I always wanted one of these Chryslers instead of the big Plymouths I owned. By the way Diego, I read both articles for the Dodge Polara convertible and Fury sedan. I also wish I kept my ‘73 Charger instead of trading it in for a new ‘91 Mustang GT. I guess like most guys my age back then I didn’t have room to keep it and my family too.
Glad you enjoyed them!
Montréal neighbors had one…triple black IIRC. It was huge.
I grew up in a Mopar family. I was born in Detroit in March of 1955, and at that time it was very fashionable to work in the auto industry and my family worked at Chrysler’s Highland Park headquarters location, so they all drove Chryslers. My dad’s last Chrysler was a 1969 300. I learned to drive in that beautiful big Chrysler, and my mom’s 64 Valient station wagon. I loved that 300, and that 440 was fantastic. I could get rubber as it would shift from first to second, pretty impressive for a huge car with an automatic transmission. My dad used that 300 to tow our 17 foot Aristocrat Land Commander trailer. That Chrysler was a great tow car. That 440 handled that trailer like it wasn’t even back there. It was a great looking car, I was a big fan of the fuelsage styling introduced in the 69 model year. I really liked how Chrysler lit up the dashboard, it was a cool aqua blue color floodlights that lit up the entire dash, actually it lit the entire front seat. Very cool. The hidden headlights were behind a black grill with a red white and blue 300 medallion in the center with beautiful turn indicators and running lights in a rap around bumper that surrounded the entire front end, and out back there were wall to wall taillights, with a stylized 300 logo in the center. It was the last of the Big C bodies, a 4 door hardtop, white with a dark blue vinyl top and interior. I really liked that 300. In 1976, my parents bought a new Lincoln Town Car. As big as that Chrysler was, it was dwarfed by that Lincoln.
Where do you find authors like this? Was “…..created in 1962…..”? What about the ’55, ’56, etc. 300’s? This guy should stick to his euro-cars. Obviously knows nothing about the history of Chrysler 300’s.
If you want to know about the history of Chrysler 300s, you’re at the right place.
Considering you read the article, you clearly know the 300 Sports Special (as it’s sometimes called) bears no relation to the 300 letter-series. Chrysler simply made a bad decision (though a common decision) to milk the equity of a more prestigious model, which happens to lead to cannibalization.
Stick around and you’ll be an automotive expert in no time!
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