Rare Factory T-Tops! 1979 Chrysler 300

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?