The Chrysler performance Letter Series was marketed between 1955 and 1965. Decked out like the upscale New Yorker, the letter cars were the forerunners of the muscle cars of the mid-1960s. Every year had a separate letter, and in 1964 it was the 300K. Mid-year, Chrysler cooked up the Silver trim package, which was offered on both Letter and Non-Letter 300s. The seller says 700 were made, but for the 300K, the number may have been just 255. Located in Spokane, Washington, the older restoration is available here on craigslist for $23,000.
Though the 300K was offered as both a 2-door hardtop and a convertible, the Silver Series option was only available on the coupe. It included a special metallic silver paint job, a black partial vinyl top, and a fancier bucket seat interior. As you would expect, a 413 cubic inch V8 resides under the hood, as is the case with this example. A push-button automatic transmission is its trusty companion.
We’re told this Chrysler was restored in 1988 but has only been driven 1,000 miles since then. A former show winner, the automobile still looks good, though the photos provided suggest the paint has less luster than it should. Since the odometer reads 99,000 miles, the resto must have been done at around 98k. This version of the Silver has the optional reclining passenger front seat.
The 360 hp V8 should be in good shape, although 28 years have passed since the car’s extreme makeover. The 300k is a rare automobile in its own right, but the Silver Edition is very uncommon (have you ever seen one?). If you’re looking for something no one else has, this Mopar could fit the bill. Our thanks go to “Curvette” for this unusual find.
Never seen a two door or in silver. Very sharp . Our neighbors bought a brand new green 4 door model in 1964. They were the talk of the town back in 64′. The following year my father bought a new burgundy 1965 Dodge Coronet station wagon. Kind of boring , but great for hauling our Go – Karts around to different areas surrounding Detroit to race around until the police would arrive. Driving Go-Karts on ice covered lakes was a blast.
a 413 cubic inch V8 resides under the hood, as is the case with this example. A push-button automatic transmission is its trusty companion. ??????
Looks to have a center console shifter.
Beautiful car that could dust off the ’56 Chevies.
I actually came across a blue Chrysler similar to this a couple of years ago, and I was surprised to see a console shift like this one has.
Correct, floor shift auto was standard on the 300K. Push button was on the other models. Author needs to pay a little more attention to detail…. :)
I have never seen one before. What a rare beauty!.
In my late teens (1968) , I worked part-time as a delivery driver for a neighborhood liquor store recently acquired by an Italian family. The store purchase came with a delivery panel truck, a 1957 Chevy (similar to a suburban, but no windows), 3 on the tree, six cyl engine, but the engine ceased after a few months of service under the new ownership ( truck had issues) so the owner, short on cash at the time, placed his 1962 misty geeen Chrysler 300, 4 door, V8 (?) with the push button automatic transmission. I drove that car hard during my college years making deliveries on weekends and it never let us down, IT WAS A TANK!
Interesting that this 300K has the 360HP 413 4bbl., and not the cross-ram dual quad unit 300K’s were known for. I would check the data plate to confirm this isn’t a 300 “sport” model and not a letter series 300. Letter series badges could from anywhere over the years.
The Cross Ram was an option on the 300K. These badges are very hard to find, maybe not as hard in 1988, but still there were not many of these cars made.
The standard dual quad carburetor setup on the previous “Letter Series” was an option in ‘64,thus making it cheaper and sold more units and secured a sales record of the most “Letter Series “ sold.
A/C would’ve made this a more exciting proposition, especially with all the bovine flatulence warming up the planet as it is. But this is a sweet car otherwise and that’s no BS!
Shes a beauty and I’ve never seen a 2 door with this color option. Im surprised theres no factory AC in this model. Same year Imperials came with the options for the 413 with cross ram induction I believe. Did early to mid 1960s Chryslers like this letter car also come with the option to have cross induction?
That is a 300 Sport, not a “K”. No “K” Emblems for one thing. Non present on this vehicle! See below:
Exterior Emblem Locations Front Grille: Unlike earlier letter-series cars that had a large round emblem, the 1964 300K grille features two crossing bars with a specific, rectangular “Three Hundred K” emblem.Rear Quarter Fenders: A circular “300 K” medallion badge is placed on both the driver and passenger sides near the rear of the car. It features a red, white, and blue design surrounding a bold letter “K”.Trunk Lid: A matching “300 K” rear emblem sits on the trunk deck lid.
Interior Emblem Locations Door Panels: A pair of exclusive “300K” interior badges are mounted directly onto the front door panel trim pieces.Center Console: A “300 K” emblem is integrated into the brushed aluminum or vinyl trim layout of the full-length center console.Rear Seat Divider: Coupe models feature a fixed console or armrest between the rear bucket seats that displays a final coordinating letter-series badge
It IS a ‘K’. If you look at the wonderful Craig’s List photos you’ll see the ‘K’ emblems on the C pillar and on the trunk lid.
RAM Induction was available only as an option on a 300K. That increased HP to 390 and 490 lsb/foot of torque.
This is a beautiful car. Often wonder what the rectangle steering wheel was like to drive with if that’s what it is called. Now the Vette has that kind of steering wheel.
John
I own a ‘K’ convert that I’ve had for right around 50 years (yeah, I’m old), with the square wheel…I’m a little partial of course but I really like the square wheel! It always gets comments…the tilt wheels got a regular ol round wheel. The square ones are kinda like an aircraft steering wheel….
The second number in the VIN is a “4” which designates that it is a 300K. The VIN is listed in the Craigslist ad.
The first big no-fins Chrysler. My friend had a ’61 Newport 4 door sedan. I still wonder why the designers kept the fins for one more year. Sales of the Chrysler had plunged in ’61. The 61 Plymouth had removed them by then. Virgil Exner’s last hurrah went out with a polarizing whimper.
Not sure why the author of this article states “the photos suggest the car’s paint has less luster than it should”…on the Craigslist ad the paint has a brilliant shine; it looks beautiful! And the pushbuttons on the dash are for the climate control, I believe. The gear selector IS in the center console…a very rare and gorgeous Chrysler.
I like everything about this car, the silver color and the style, the price too. It may be a little TOO nice for me though. Looks to be in at least #2 condition, a show winner now as in past?
Interesting that is located in Spokane,as there was a huge fire
raging through the city,taking out entire neighborhoods.
Not a whole lot there,or a lot to do.
After destroying an Econoline, and Volkswagen camper van this is the exact car a high school friends Father bought him as a “big safe car”. To a bunch of teenages this was a grandpa’s car. He drove it in his final year of high school while the rest of us were driving MG’s, Spitfires and Mustangs.
I have a ’64 New Yorker with the same engine and a few less miles but original unrestored condition. This 300K really should be worth more as it is super rare. I think the Cross Ram option would have made it more collectible, but these were just not very popular. The styling was ugly in prior years and soured the marque a little I think by this time. I was at a huge Mopar car show and only about 3 other cars of this 2 year body style were there.
Great looking car! Good luck finding another one as nice.