The famed “Letter Series” of full-size Chryslers debuted in 1955. They combined luxury and performance in a single package. To sell more cars, Chrysler added the 300 “Sport Series” in 1962, similar cars with less power and more body styles. This 1965 edition of the 300 Sport Series is one of 40 being sold out of a collection. It hasn’t run in a couple of years, but with some TLC and cleaning, it might be a nice driver. Located in Oceanside, New York, this mild project is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $3,500.
Originally, the 300 Letter Series was what you’d have if you took a New Yorker and gave it Chrysler’s hottest powerplant. Sales were never huge (by design), and the company retired the car in 1965, so the Sport Series simply became the 300 going forward. Chrysler built about 12,500 300 4-door hardtops like this one in 1965, and we assume a 383 cubic inch V8 lies under the hood (no photos). It’s a one-owner car that’s been forgotten about the last couple of years (too many other cars?).
This vehicle looks to be in good physical condition overall. The white-over-burgundy paint is okay except for one spot on the trunk lid. Rust doesn’t appear to be a factor. The interior is dirty and could stand some detailing and should be serviceable after that. The odometer reads 85,000 miles, and that sounds legit.
The listing was placed by a friend of the owner who has dozens of autos to get rid of. So, he/she hasn’t spent much time with each machine and admits to making no attempts to see if this Chrysler runs. So, you might get lucky with a fresh battery and new gas. It was driving when it was parked on a bed of gravel rather than dirt. If you’re a fan of Chrysler’s 1960s land yachts, this one might be a nice catch at the asking price. Our thanks to “Zen” for this Mopar tip.
Certain cars from the 1960s (many, in fact), despite being well-built and well-engineered cars, just don’t have good resale value on the open market.
This looks like a nice ’65 300, and I’m sure the 383 will run again. Hopefully at a paltry $3500 there is a buyer out there. Lord knows I’ve done my part to keep the slab-side C-bodies on the road, without a thought to profitability!
Just a downright shame, a fantastic car like this, relegated to the impound yard, with all the other cast offs of society. These cars drift through with alarming regularity, but in ’66, this was a fancy car. I read this car cost about $4grand, above the Newport,($3800) but below the New Yorker($4250) when a measly Plymouth was about $2800. Somebody knew a nice car and didn’t skimp. This original buyer had bigger trips planned than just around NYC. This was, and still could be, a road car that made traveling a breeze.
BTW, I take no pride in saying how the classic car hobby is, making a turn. We all know this 5 figure mumbo jumbo won’t fly much longer, but sadly, great cars like this, that I would consider affordable, have little, if any chance of being saved. Really now, who do you know wants an old gas guzzling Chrysler these days that doesn’t even run? These were great cars.
Oops, ’65, you know with all the “improvements” the site has undergone, we still can’t correct early access.
That car is actually a ’66 model.
This Chrysler really needs to be saved. The color combination is great. I know I’ve said before about an old family friend having a ’66 Newport and how beautiful that dashboard looked lit up at night. Its one of my all time favorite dashboard designs, ever since I was a little kid. Personally, I’d be ecstatic to own one like this. It’s all there, and I think it could be cleaned up, especially the interior. And like Rex already said, it probably wouldn’t take much to get that 383 running again, they’re reliable as an anvil. I hope someone saves this one.
Chrysler had its styling –it together in the early through mid sixties, especially these “slab-sided” ones of 65-67, styled by the under-appreciated Elwood Engel. He’s the fellow who saved ChryCo products from the “plucked chicken” look. These cars had great drive trains as well, especially the 383 and Torque Flight. For the price, this unit would be definitely worth a flyer in the right hands.