CHRYSLER C-300 (1955) CHRYSLER 300 B (1956) CHRYSLER 300 C (1957) CHRYSLER 300 D (1958) CHRYSLER 300 E (1959) CHRYSLER 300 F (1960) CHRYSLER 300 G (1961) other 300
info
Where to find
parts
?

 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, CURRENT PRICES

Technical and descriptive information on the Letter Cars is brought together on this page, as follows:

Sommaire:
- Performance comparaisons
- Recent prices
- Technical publications.
- Promotional material from the years of the 300s
- General bibliography
- "300s" in France
- E-mail.
from readers is now collected in a special Guest Book section (click here to go there) to shorten download time for this information page. My E-mail address is webmaster AT amerisud.fr   Please don’t transmit pictures (.jpg, .gif or, worse, .bmp or .tiff) because they have a way of blocking my E-mail. Mail me a photographic print – I’ll scan it and mail it back to you.

COMPARAISON of Chrysler 300 performance

Times given are the best recorded in a trial with multiple runs.

 

C-300

300 B

300 C

300 D

300 E

300 F
400 hp

0 - 30 mph

3,9 s

3,5 s

3,4 s

3,4 s

3,4 s

3,2 s

0 - 60 mph

9,5 s

8,2 s

7,7 s

8,4 s

8,3 s

7,2 s

¼ mile , final speed

?

?

17 s at 84 mph

16 s at 85 mph

17,2 s at 92 mph

?

 

 

300 G

300 H

300 J

300 K

300 L

0 - 30 mph

3,5 s

?

3,8 s

?

3,2 s

0 - 60 mph

8,3 s

7,7 s

7,9 s

?

8,8 s

¼ mile , final speed

16,2 s at 87,4 mph

16 s at 88,5 mph

16,5 s at 97 mph

?

17,3 s at 82 mph


PRICES OF THE LETTER CARS

  • Grade 1 means in show condition, at least 95 points out of 100. It amounts to a new car as it came off the production line. Cars in this category are seldom taken on the road.
  • Grade 3 corresponds to a Very Good Condition of French origin (= .... Grade 5 or 6). A running car with some imperfections (chrome, upholstery, paint etc.)
  • Grade 5 means a restorable parts car, drivable or not, with parts missing. It’s on the verge of being consigned to parts scavenging. Only Grade 5 models of exceptional rarity are usually considered for restoration.

    The costs given below are samples, to be taken into account only for a rough estimate, not as bases for a final price. A fuller list may be consulted in the VMR site under "Collector" http://www.vmrintl.com or the Gold Book site http://www.manheimgold.com/index.html

Two-door hardtop coupé

 

C-300

300 B

300 C

300 D

300 E

300 F *

300 G

# 1 $ 33000 $ 33000

$ 35000

$ 34000

$ 28000

$ 36000

$ 35000
# 3 $ 20000 $ 20000

$ 20000

$ 19000

$ 15000

$ 19000

$ 17000
# 5 $ 4500 $ 4500

$ 5000

$ 5000

$ 4000

$ 5000

$ 4000

* : + 30 % for the 400-hp models. (or maybe a lot more than that: one such was put up for sale at $ 185 000…)

Convertible

 

300 C

300 D

300 E

300 F *

300 G

# 1

$ 65000

$ 60000

$ 55000

$ 68000

$ 60000
# 3

$ 32000

$ 29000

$ 23500

$ 32000

$ 30000
# 5

$ 10000

$ 9500

$ 8500

$ 10000

$ 8500

* : cost of a 400-hp cabriolet can’t be estimated. The only known example was offered in 1996 for $ 225 000 !


TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS

Technical Chrysler publications (as distinguished from the promotional):


SHOP MANUAL
This is the indispensable book for dismantling, adjustment and modification. It’s a thick volume running from 500 to 800 pages. It explores in detail all the mechanical, electrical, bodywork and accessory aspects of the cars. The Shop Manual isn’t devoted exclusively at the 300s. You buy the one for the model year you want (not hard to find, in the original or a copy), then obtain the 300 Supplement for that year (harder to find). The Supplement is of 20 to 40 pages, devoted to 300-specific operations, differences from other models, etc. Addresses from where it can be ordered are given in the "Where to find parts" section.
PARTS MANUAL
Still more technical, this volume lists all the parts of the car, from the smallest windshield bolt to pistons, transmission etc. Each part has its reference number, which you must have when you place an order or need to look something up. There are many illustrations and highlighted details. The Parts Manual may be found year by year, or in editions that group several model-years, e.g., 1955-’58.
OWNER MANUAL
This is the familiar "glove compartment booklet" presented at the time of purchase with other documents. It explains how to drive the car, raise and lower the windows, check the tires and so on – more a decorative thing than a reference book.
COLOR SAMPLER
This simple chart shows factory paint colors. All Chrysler-built cars had them and they’re not hard to find. The colors shown on them haven’t always aged well, so don’t expect 100% exactness. A Ditzler (PPG) reference number or code is given with each sample, and that generally leads you to the right restoration color.
MISCELLANY
Various paper documents may be collected, often with difficulty: the "First Day" envelope of purchase papers that the new owner received to back up the warranty, and the window sticker applied by the dealer with information about the car, including price. Such things are of little use except to someone engaged in a 100% U.S.-style restoration.
Separate attention should be given to a copy of the factory microfiche which identifies a certain car exactly, its options, dates and serial numbers shown by punches . A copy of the microfiche is available free to members of the Chrysler 300 Club International. Others may get a copy by sending $35 to Chrysler Historical Foundation, CIMS 410-11-21, 12501 Chrysler Freeway, Detroit MI 48288-0001.


CONTEMPORARY PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL (information sheets and brochures)
To obtain them, see the "Where to Find Parts" section

 

C-300 300 B 300 C
- Folder CS 339 (02/55), 4 pages color. Dim: 11 x 9": The Chrysler 300.
- Sheet 1 page 8 1/2 x 11" B&W race records / specs.
- Facts book 9 pages 5 x 7". Published by Ross Roy. Complete specs and comparisons with other 55 cars.
- Folder CS 369 (01/56) 4 pages color 14 x 11": The Chrysler 300 B, America's most powerful car.
-  Facts book 8 pages 5 x 7". Published by Ross Roy. Complete specs and comparisons .
- Folder CS 386 (12/56) 4 pages color 13 1/2 x 9 ": The Chrysler 300C America's greatest performing car.
- Facts sheet: 2 pages 8 x 10". Published by Ross Roy. Complete specs / option list
300 D 300 E 300 F
- Folder CS 415 (12/57), 8 pages B&W. 14 x 11": Presenting the Chrysler 300 B for 58. - Folder CS 427, 8 pages, B&W. 12 x 12 1/2 ":
"E" Chrysler 300 E, the International Classic that's made in America.
-  Facts sheet: 1 page both sides, published by Ross Roy; complete specs / option list.
- Folder CS 349 (2/60), 12 pages B&W; 13 x 10 1/2 ": an exciting story for those who appreciate greatness in an automobile: Chrysler 300 F
- Facts sheet:  3 pages  published by Ross Roy (1/60); specs, options, equipment.
300 G
- Folder CS 446, 12 pages B&W; 13 1/2 x 10": Chrysler 300 G
-  Facts sheet:  3 pages published by Ross Roy (9/60); Complete specs / option list.

 


LATER PUBLICATIONS

 

Many books have the 300 cars for their subject. They’re available at Motorbooks International or Dragich. Addresses are given in the Where to Find Parts section.

- CHRYSLER 300, 55...61, by John Gunnell, a Motorbooks edition. 80 B&W pages, many photos, specifications, etc... It’s been a great help to me in assembling this website!
- CHRYSLER 300, 1955-1970, by R.M. Clarke, a Brooklands edition.100 B&W pages in which are collected articles from the motoring press of the period.
- CHRYSLER 300, America's Most Powerful Car, by R. Ackerson. 156 B&W pages.
- 300 C HANDBOOK by Wayne Graefen, self-published by the author. Invaluable for the 300C owner.
- CHRYSLER & IMPERIAL 46..75, The Postwar Years, by R.M Langworth. 216 B&W pages. Many factory photos but not exclusively of the 300s.
- CHRYSLER CHRONICLE by James M. Flammang and the editors of consumer guide, 420 pages color. Complete histories of Chrysler, DeSoto, Imperial etc.. More than 2500 photos.
- STANDARD CATALOG OF CHRYSLER 1924-1990. 480 pages. Specifications, production figures, prices etc. for all MoPar vehicles.
- ILLUSTRATED CHRYSLER BUYER'S GUIDE by R.M Langworth. 128 pages.
- CAR & DRIVER on MoPar 56-67. 85 pages. Compilation of articles in Car & Driver, including those on the 300B, 300E and 300J.
- AMERICA AUTOMOBILE PAINT CODE Manual de P.C.Sessler. 160 pages. All paint codes from 1945 to 95, with PPG reference numbers.


LIST OF FRENCH CHRYSLER 300s 1955-61

 

This census, necessarily incomplete, lists the 300s in France that I knew as of May 1999, either by personal inspection, or from interviewing the owner, or on the word of a trusted friend. Cars listed in italics are those known to have resided in France, but whose continued presence I have not been able to confirm. Names and addresses of the owners are withheld out of respect for their privacy.

Entries followed by * may be seen in photos on this site.

Model

Color

Year

Condition

French ZIP code

Observations

Chrysler 300 B

White

56

very good

75

 
Chrysler 300 B * Black (fact. White ?) 56

Good

75 for sale !
Chrysler 300 C 2 dr metallic white 57 Very good

Paris vicinity

Non original color
Chrysler 300 D 2dr *

White

58

Parts car

64

 
Chrysler 300 F 2dr *

White

60

Very good

44

 
Chrysler 300 F 2dr

?

60

parts car

59

 
Chrysler 300 F convert.

?

60

Good

39

Not a real "F" ..
Chryler 300 G convert. White 61 Very good

?

Formerly Brioude Museum.Now in Italy.Owner: Antonio Gelitro.
Chrysler 300 G 2dr Blanc 61 Very good

Southeast

 

 


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Page actualisée le 24-août-2011

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