Chrysler 300B Coupe, 1956
Chrysler 300 Letter Series I (300B) Facelift
Chrysler 300 Letter Series I (300B) Facelift•
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Chassis No.: 3N561621
Engine No.: 3NE561684
US$22,400 USD | Sold
- 354ci FirePower OHV Hemi V8
- Dual 4-Barrel Carter Carburetors
- 340bhp at 5,200rpm
- Push button 2-Speed PowerFlite Automatic Transmission
- Independent Front and Longitudinal Leaf Spring Rear Suspension
- 4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes
- The original Hemi-powered muscle car
- Early Southern California history
- A family friendly road burner
Taking the New Yorker hardtop coupe, they added front sheet metal and grille from the Imperial and dropped in the most powerful engine in the company catalog, a 331 cubic inch hemi V8 with dual four-barrel carburetors, a racing cam and solid lifters. At 300 bhp – hence its name – it was the most powerful American passenger car engine.
For 1956, the new 300B model created the "letter series" that would continue for a decade, and beat the Chevrolet Corvette to the holy grail of automotive engines: one horsepower per cubic inch. Chrysler's 355 hp 354 cubic inch hemi predated the "283 from 283" fuel-injected Corvette by a full year.
The car was elegant and understated on the outside, inside it was trimmed in leather and its driver was provided with power-assisted brakes and steering, making for the perfect combination of power, speed and control. Chrysler's ultimate combination of sport-luxury was nicknamed the "Bankers Hot Rod".
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
This 300B, a push button Powerflite auto transmission example, is understood to have spent the earlier part of its life in sunny Southern California. Finished in the classic color scheme of white over tan vinyl and fitted with the optional chrome wire wheels with center logoed spinner caps, this letter car would eventually join the collection of a Chicago attorney, Mr. J. Riley, who maintained a sizable grouping of fine automobiles. Following his passing, the Chrysler was acquired from the estate by the consignor in 2015.
Reported to have been regularly serviced, the seller states the car is a fine driver. Mellowed over the years, it could easily be enjoyed as is or restored to one's personal taste. Either way, these early muscle cars, which had proven themselves on the track in NASCAR, continue to provide thrills today as one of the few American cars built to do more than float about. Mash the throttle and find out why Chrysler still touts the virtues of the Hemi nearly 70 years later.
Cost
82,264 AED
