At the start of the 1950s, nobody had heard of the term “personal luxury car.” It was a new category in the market, and the most recognizable member of this group was the Ford Thunderbird. However, Chrysler’s 300 Letter Series brought a new player to the table because it offered all of the luxuries most buyers sought but wrapped in a mechanical package that offered class-leading performance. This 1964 Chrysler 300K Coupe is one such car, and it is ready to be driven and enjoyed by a lucky new owner. Located in Gardena, California, you will find it listed for sale here on eBay. The bidding has reached $7,066, but the reserve isn’t met. If the car happens to be on your “must-have” list, there is a BIN option of $11,900. Barn Finder Larry D has had his radar operating well to spot this one for us, so thank you so much for that, Larry.

Stylistically, the 300K was an evolution of the previous year’s 300J. The “J” was the last offering from Chrysler to have styling input from legendary designer Virgil Exner. Even though Elwood Engel had slipped into Exner’s role when Chrysler fired the latter, there are still traces of his work visible in vehicles like our feature car. It is finished in Persian White, and its presentation is hard to fault. The paint has a great shine, with no significant blemishes or problems. The panels are straight, while the gaps are tight and consistent. The owner makes no mention of rust issues, and there are no problems visible in the limited photos that the supplies. All of the exterior trim is present and in good condition, and there are no visible flaws with the glass. The wire wheels that the owner has fitted might not be original, but I believe that they suit the car’s character. If the buyer would prefer the factory look, I had no trouble locating a spotless set of original hubcaps for $200. They could expect to pay similar money for the correct wheels, and together these would have the car looking factory fresh.

For the 1964 model year, leather upholstery became an extra-cost option on the 300K. This vehicle was ordered by its original owner with that option, and it looks stunning. Car interiors from this era featured styling that seemed to be designed to make every journey feel like something special. Chrysler managed to ramp up that feeling with the 300K, especially when trimmed in deep red leather. It is a shade that makes every piece of trim and brightwork stand out and accentuates the appearance of items like the pearlescent wheel rim. This interior is in excellent condition, and it would seem to need nothing. The leather looks beautifully soft, with no signs of wear or cracking. The remaining upholstered surfaces and the dash look perfect, while the same is true of the carpet and headliner. The door trims and rear parcel tray have been cut to fit aftermarket speakers, and I find that to be a shame. Otherwise, it looks as it would have when the original owner drove the Chrysler off the showroom floor. The buyer will benefit from the original owner’s desire for luxury whenever they slip behind the wheel of this classic. They will find that the vehicle comes equipped with air conditioning, power windows, a power driver’s seat, a remote exterior mirror, and a tilt wheel.

This is the only photo that the owner supplies of this Chrysler’s engine, and I think that’s a shame. The engine bay of this car is filled by a 413ci “Wedge” V8 that should be producing 360hp. Those horses find their way to the rear wheels via a 3-speed TorqueFlite transmission, while the car is also equipped with power steering and power brakes. This V8 was the “entry-level” motor offered by Chrysler in the 300K range because buyers could also choose to order the car with the 390hp Cross Ram version. The natural competitors to the 300K were Ford’s Thunderbird and the Buick Riviera. From a performance perspective, the Thunderbird wasn’t in the same league as the “K.” Where the Chrysler could utilize its 360hp to cover the ¼ mile in 15.3 seconds, it took the T-Bird 16.8 seconds to complete the same journey with a mere 300hp on tap. The Riviera also lagged at 16-seconds in standard form, although a buyer could run neck-and-neck with the 300K if they ordered the Power Pack option on their car. If the 300K buyer ordered the Cross Ram V8, it was well and truly “Game Over” for the competition. That might not sound that important, but this was an era when power was king, and performance credentials helped boost sales. The good news for potential buyers is that this Chrysler is in excellent mechanical health. The owner says that it starts the first time and that it runs well. It seems that the buyer won’t need to spend any money on this classic’s drivetrain.

Thanks to a decision by Chrysler to move the Cross Ram engine and leather upholstery to the options list, the company managed to reduce the retail price of the 300K by nearly $1,000 compared to the previous year’s 300J. The result of this strategy was plain to see at the end of the year. While the company managed to sell 400 examples of the 300J, this figure skyrocketed to 3,647 when the numbers rolled in for the 300K. The 300K is another car that could be classed as an affordable classic. In Convertible form, it is common for respectable cars to easily fetch prices over $30,000. The Coupe was built in greater numbers, and they generally lag behind the Convertible by around 40% in the current market. That still means that figures over $20,000 are there for the right car, although the occasional gem will appear for under $15,000. If this one is as good as the photos and listing would tend to suggest, it could be one of those gems. If you’d like a luxurious slice of Mopar muscle, perhaps you need to investigate this classic more closely.