Before the Pontiac GTO created a muscle car stir in 1964, there was the Chrysler Letter Series from nearly a decade earlier. The 300 combined performance with luxury, paving the way for a full-blown muscle car movement in the 1960s. Each 300 had a letter suffix that changed every year, and the 300L was it for 1965, which would turn out to be the last of the line for the Letter Series, giving way to the nimbler B-bodied intermediates. This serious 300L is rare in that only 440 copies of the convertible version ever left the assembly line. Located in Newberg, Oregon, this solid driver-quality Mopar is available here on craigslist for $25,000.
The 300L received the same redesign as Chrysler’s other full-size automobiles, including the top-of-the-line New Yorker, the 300L’s most similar sibling. Sales of the ’65 300s would be the 11th and last for a car whose production numbers were never large or broad. The autos were longer and wider than ever before, still powered by a 413 cubic inch V8. The “Cross-Ram” version had been dropped, leaving a 360 hp 4-barrel as the only way to go. Most were built with a TorqueFlite automatic transmission, though a 4-speed manual would cost you nothing extra.
We assume this big Chrysler is numbers-matching, but no such references are made. The odometer quit working at some point, so the mileage on this “L” is merely a guess. The machine runs well, per the seller, and has new brakes and tires, with more than one choice of wheels for the buyer to choose from. The carburetor and air cleaner have been swapped out, but the originals are in the trunk.
The body is practically rust-free, and the paint is an older respray that’s not perfect but presentable. Indoor storage has prolonged the life of this 60-year-old Mopar. The upholstery has been redone along with the canvas top and boot. Cash is king, but the seller would consider a trade, perhaps for an earlier Chevy Corvette or a pre-World War II Chrysler product. Delivery is an option, probably dependent on distance. Looking for a muscle car that no one else at Cars & Coffee will have? Well, here you go. Thanks for the tip, T.J.!
The second mid ’60’s Chrysler (and a letter car, at that!) this week that has “Rex Kahrs” all over it. This is a real beauty here’s hoping its next owner will continue to preserve it! GLWTS!! :-)
Thanks for the shout-out Moparman. I guess I’ve gotten a reputation for being a Mopar guy, but despite the fact that I own two C-bodies, my tastes are very eclectic.
I’ve owned bullet Birds, flair Birds, Ramblers and Beetles. BMW 2002, Volvo 1800 and 122, and a Renault Caravelle. Mercedes 180D (Ponton), MGB, 67 BelAir, 74 Nova, and 65 Skylark. Old Ford trucks, old Chevy trucks, and of course my 63 Riviera. I’ve never owned an Audi, and don’t plan to, either!
My current dream car is a ’58 Lincoln. I’m all over the place.
I don’t believe there was anything such as ‘numbers matching’ back in ’65. If I’m correct, Chrysler started stamping partial VINs on blocks in 1968. The best you could do on an older model was a date coded engine to assume it was original to the car.
Nice car, does anyone know what that large gray contraption is that looks like it’s attached to the master cylinder?
It’s the brake fluid reservoir.
It’s a Cruise Control unit.
It’s part of the cruise control. You can find pictures via Google.
It only looks attached to the master cylinder in one of the engine pictures, there is a second picture from the passenger side shows it’s attached to the inner fender.
Steve R
Ah, I was wondering what that contraption is. That explains why my old girl doesn’t have one. She doesn’t have cruise. But she does have the 4 speed and A/C in the hardtop.
Holy quarter panel(s) Batman.
Two cars within twenty miles of me today. Must be an omen.
Just a wonderful old Chrysler convertible. I would love to have it. But other priorities currently demand attention.
Interior seems special, starting with what I think is a tach in the console.
It’s a vacuum gauge in 300s with automatics, tach with 4-speeds.
Vacuum gauge in auto 300s, tach with 4-speeds.
Looks like Ray Liotta’s car in Goodfellas.