The Chrysler 300 “letter series” of performance cars were built between 1955-65. After the 300-C of 1955, the sequential lettering began with the 300B in ’56 and ended with the 300L years later. Early 300s found success on the NASCAR racing circuit, which would have included ones like the seller’s car. It’s a running car with a Hemi engine but will need some cosmetic work. Located in Mechanicsville, Virginia, this Chrysler is available here on craigslist for $32,000. Thanks to Gavin for this tip!
The 300B had styling borrowed from other Chrysler products. The front clip and grille were taken from the Imperial, while the midsection was from the New Yorker hardtop, and – around back – the cars used Windsor rear quarter panels. Only 1,102 of the 1956 models were built, so the number remaining today may be relatively few. 300B buyers could choose between two versions of the 354 cubic-inch Hemi V-8, producing either 340 or 355 hp. The 300B became the first volume American car to output at least one horsepower per cube, thus a stock 300B could exceed 140 mph. Hot Rod Magazine called it “America’s Hottest Stock Car.”
This Chrysler is said to be a “barn find” but that term could cover a lot of territory. Suffice it to say the car has likely been off the road for some time but remains original in appearance. There is some rust on the frame and more may be elsewhere, but the photos provided don’t provide much help. It’s a running automobile, but we don’t know how well. Given the “batwing” air cleaner, twin carburetors should be found below.
Though the GTO is often credited with being the first muscle car, the Chrysler 300 “letter series” beat it to the bunch by almost a decade. According to Hagerty, resale values remain high and fine examples can be worth six figures. When restored, this automobile might get into that neighborhood, but the tab for restoring 1950s Mopars can quickly add up.
We’ll let the “Hemmings ” guy, who got paid big bucks to write this, tell the story.
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/carls-1956-300-b
Should have better pictures for that asking price.
One horsepower per cubic inch. Take that, ’57 Chevy fans. And this car is a whole lot more interesting.
Are those leather seats?
That must have been a beautiful interior once upon a time.
Full reproduction interiors are available for these. And they’re beautiful.
“The Beautiful Brute.” I once bought, and sold, the parted out shell of a ’56 that was titled to Fonnie Flock, of the Flock brothers who raced them at Daytona. Found it sitting in a field in NE Tennessee back in 1975.
That’s a decent price for a “B”, as long as the frame is not badly rusted.
It would be nice to know which transmission it has. Some of these were early Torqueflite recipients, I believe.
In 1967, single, good job and USAF Reserve officer, money to burn, looking for a toy, just off the base was the kind of car dealer that preys on single service men. On the lot was a ’57 300D. He saw me coming (haircut would give it away back then) and I took it for a test drive (alone, I might have looked trustworthy, but he kept my USAF ID card). It clearly, even with the Torqueflight automatic, was the fastest car off the line I had ever driven at that point. The body was beat, as was much of the paint, but the torsion bar suspension was also far ahead of the competiton. But I bought a ’54 Corvette instead. And that was clearly a toy. I also almost bought a ’63 Chrysler hardtop with the big engine, that was the car I should have bought, fast and plenty of room for stuff and people.
Is it nitpicking to point out that the first 300 Chrysler, in 1955, was the C-300, not 300-C?
1956 was the 300B (note — without the hyphen) and incremented year-by-year through the 1962 300J, skipping the letter I, so 1964 was the 300K and the final year was the 1965 300L
You are absolutely correct. The 300C was the 1957 model.