The number 300 was a popular moniker for Chrysler products over the years, including automobiles in both its letter-series and non-letter-series offerings. The latter included full-size cars available between 1962 and 1971, with that particular 300 name taking a long break before returning one last time for a single year in 1979. However, it was well worth the wait, as the 1979 Chrysler 300 was an excellent performer during the malaise era when many vehicles were at or near an all-time low in this department. This one on here on eBay also features the rare factory T-Tops, or T-Bar Roof, as Chrysler officially called these removable glass panels. It’s located in Alexandria, Louisiana, and you can buy it today for $22,400. The seller has also enabled the make-offer option, so they may be open to some negotiation.
This 300 was based on the Chrysler Cordoba, a fashionable personal luxury coupe typically considered within reach for buyers in that segment, with an MSRP of just over $6,000 for the base model in 1979. However, selecting the 300 package raised the cost by about 25%, which may be why only 4,292 units were produced, according to Mopar Insiders. This site also reports that of that number, only around 200 were equipped with T-Tops, which added another $675 to the list price, so this one was a fairly expensive automobile for its time. The exterior still looks very nice, and the seller believes the Spinnaker White paint is original, though they just recently added the additional striping from Phoenix Graphix.
The 300 didn’t just include a revised front end and special badging. Much of that extra cost went toward improved performance, including a 360 V8 engine, with a corporate code of E58. That’s the same powerplant Chrysler used in police cars during the period, and while 195 HP sounds tame by today’s standards, it was more than respectable for the late seventies. The 300 also featured better shocks and an upgraded suspension, so its handling was also significantly more satisfying than a standard Cordoba.
Every 300 also included red Corinthian leather, bucket seats, and a center console. The owner describes the interior as being in very nice shape overall, and the factory 8-Track player is said to still function, so plan a trip to your local thrift store to pick up a few cartridges by popular artists from this period to blast at car shows! Except for those protruding exhaust tips, I’m certainly not finding much else to fault here, and I’d be quite pleased for this 1979 Chrysler 300 to occupy a permanent space in my garage. How about you?
That’s decent HP for 1979. Nice car!
Those ridiculous looking tail pipes, need to be removed.
Nice 300. It’s got the sports and luxury look going at the same time. Like stated before, the chrome exhaust doesn’t help. Hopefully they’re extentions that you can remove.
Good luck finding 8-Track tapes. I can not remember the last time I saw one, including at a garage sale or thrift store. I bet they got tossed decades ago as non sellers since the players were extinct. Not a big loss, plus that comes from a guy who had one in his car in the 70s. Annoying things. Cassettes were so much better. Actually, they were better in a car over CDs to, for a long time, until they fixed the bump problem. It was what it was. Back then, before satellite radio or net streaming on your phone, 8-Tracks were the only entertainment in your car in certain parts of the country, esp out west. Big patches of the radio dial were empty, and if there was anything, all you got was the local farm report or some hillbilly singing about his love for his pick up truck and sheep. Hard to be on the road for work in those days. So, given the alternative, an awful skip in a song as the tape jumped a track was not so bad.
There are plenty of 8 tracks left.
I have just one. It’s The Hot Ones, a K-Tel collection from 1978. Now if I only had an 8 track player I could listen to “Living Next Door To Alice” by Smokie and “This Time I’m In It For Love” by Player.
Yeah, the cassettes were nice until they barfed in the tape player. You carefully pulled the tape out, and if you were lucky the tape wasn’t stuck on something. Then you got out your bic pen to rewind it.
I’ve got a box full of them. Not sure why, just memories. Wonder if they still play. Boston. Fleetwood Mac. The Cars. Gary Numan. The list is interesting, to say the least. (Showing my age. Class of ‘81.)
Hello Neuman
I have an 8 track that has never been used
Back in the day my Dad hauled Cordobas out of the assembly plant in Windsor Ontario where they were built. They would often find radios and wrenches and screwdrivers left a behind. No real inventory control back then
If it’s a factory 8-track player, it will have some value. Aftermarket one, not so much.
if you were to lose the hood stripes and the ridiculous tail pipes it would be a decent looking ride. even go as far as to put the factory wheels back on it. price is on the heavy side.
This monstrosity of a 79 300 is WAY overpriced! Yes, it has T-Tops but it also will need paint and good luck finding the original 300 wheels that were replaced with cheap Duster rally wheels which is like putting Ford Van hubcaps on a Bentley! These cars never really caught on for Mopar collectors and a SWEET original with low miles and ALL the factory goodies can still be found for under $17,500 fairly easy not looking like a hippie got a hold of a Cordoba and striped the hood and roof, then changed the far better looking wheels, added goofy tailpipes leaving the only piece that looks like a 300 at a glance was the grill! $5,000 TOPS because it’s going to take over $10k to make it worth $15k! After owning one of these myself just looking at this one makes me feel dirty, but that’s just IMO!
Egad what an ugly Post Disco Era Car – it’s rolling Puke every inch of it.
I’m no expert on these, but I do own one that I bought new (also showing my age). I bought mine just before the 1980 Chryslers came out. I wanted a T-top car , the clever salesman told me there were none available, but he had a sunroof car in stock which I bought. Re this one for sale: lose that fugly black stripe on the side and hood. Gag. The original wheels can still be had. Strangely equipped with tilt wheel but wind-up windows. No cruise, no clock, and what appears to be an after market CB radio. A couple of things off in the engine compartment; the old RV2 compressor has been replaced by a non original but presumably more efficient one, and the ‘Thermoguard’ that goes around the battery (that also has the windshield washer pump/reservoir built into it) is gone, almost impossible to find. Plus the silly tube that goes from the fresh air inlet to the air cleaner, but I’m sure that could be replaced. I love these cars, but I think the seller is dreaming on the price…I’ve seen low mileage pristine cars with and without roof options sell in the $12,000 range. If someone is looking for a nice one of these, I’d say “keep looking”.