Chrysler C-300, 1955

Location: Auburn, Indiana

$81,400 USD | Sold

The first of the fabulous Letter Cars to appear in Chrysler showrooms was called the C-300. It represented a brutally different kind of American car in the mid-fifties. The C-300 was built as a limited production model with European design influences, racecar power, sports car agility and country club appointments.

The basis for the Letter Car powerplant was the standard 331 cubic inch hemi block. It received a full-race camshaft with long-duration valves that increased the peak power range by 600-rpm. The cam was ground to provide above average performance. Twin Carter WCBF carburetors were mounted on special intake manifolds designed to encourage optimum breathing. Solid lifters rounded out the package, which had the same 8.5:1 compression ratio as the New Yorkers. Dual exhaust was bolted to the engine and had pipes measuring one-quarter-inch more in diameter than those used on the New Yorker. This unit is mated to a PowerFlite automatic transmission.

With all of this equipment, a rating of 300 horsepower resulted. It was the first American production car to churn out so much power and the model designation emphasized this fact.

The current vendor has owned this beautiful car for over 20 years. He purchased the Chrysler out of Washington State as an “original survivor” with only 19,000 miles and its original tires still mounted. This superb car now has less than 21,000 miles registered on the odometer. It was on display for a two year period at the Museum of Transportation in Brookline, Massachusetts along with a Buick XP300.

It is reported to run like a brand new car, a true survivor. Some paint may have been touched up before the current owner’s time with the car, but it is mostly original and appears so. The engine compartment presents itself as original and is detailed as such. The interior has had new carpets and leather seat covers by Gary Goers, the premier 300-Series interior reproductions. This beautiful C-300 has Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels and comes with five original wheels and appropriate hubcaps. The original tires have been gone 10 years into this second ownership, but were replaced by Coker original specification wide whitewalls. This is a spectacular, highly original Letter Car; one of only 1,725 produced in this model year.

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