Chrysler 300 non-letter series

1962–1964

2-door hardtop 2-door convertible 413 cuin RB V8 3-speed manual The Sport Series was introduced in 1962 along with the letter series 300H when DeSoto was cancelled. The Sport Series was the hardtop coupe, sedan and convertible and had only bench seats installed for all passengers, while the letter series was a coupe or convertible with only bucket seats for all passengers and a full length center console.

Chrysler expanded the 300 product line to include a 4-door hardtop, which previously appeared on the 1960 DeSoto Adventurer, adding 383 V8 as a choice (whereas letter cars had a 413 V8 standard).

For the Canadian market a similar Chrysler Saratoga was offered instead, also as a 4-door sedan; from 1964 named Chrysler Saratoga 300 and with similar trim.

1963 saw all-new sheet metal and the canted headlights were no longer offered.

|File:Chrysler 300 1962.jpg|1962 Chrysler 300 Sport Series 2-door hardtop |File:1962 Chrysler 300 4-door hardtop.JPG|1962 Chrysler 300 Sport Series 4-door hardtop |File:63 Chrysler 300 (7154794459).jpg|1963 Chrysler 300 interior |File:1964 Chrysler 300 2-door hardtop, front left, 07-01-2024.jpg|1964 Chrysler 300 2-door hardtop |File:'64 Chrysler 300 (Auto classique Laval '10).jpg|1964 Chrysler Saratoga 300 (Canadian) 4-door hardtop}}

1965–1968

2-door hardtop 2-door convertible 413 cuin RB V8 440 cuin RB V8 4-speed manual

There was an all-new sheetmetal in 1965. When the performance-first Chrysler 300 letter series was discontinued in 1966, the 440 V8 replaced the 413 V8 in this "non-letter" version, and there was a mild facelift.

1967 brought makeovers which changed front and rear styling extensively. The 4-door sedan was dropped from lineup (leaving the 4-door hardtop, 2-door hardtop, and 2-door convertible), the 440 V8 remained and only available powerplant in two guises: base and more powerful TNT. 1968 face-lifting brought concealed headlamps which were to be 300 trademark until 1971.

|File:'65 Chrysler 300 Non-Letter Sedan (Cruisin' At The Boardwalk '10).jpg|Canadian 1965 Chrysler Saratoga 300 4-door sedan |File:1966 Chrysler 300 2-Door Hardtop, front right, 06-03-2023.jpg|1966 Chrysler 300 2-door hardtop |File:1966 Chrysler 300 coupe (15462712009).jpg|1966 Chrysler 300 2-door hardtop interior|File:1968 Chrysler 300 2-Door Hardtop.JPG|1968 Chrysler 300 2-door hardtop

|File:Chrysler 300 BW 2016-07-17 13-14-44.jpg|1968 Chrysler 300 convertible

1969–1971

2-door hardtop 2-door convertible 440 cuin TNT V8 1969 was first year for "fuselage styling", there were two engine options; 440 and 440 TNT.

For 1970, taking a cue from Oldsmobile, a Hurst 300 was offered in Spinnaker White trimmed in Satin Tan with leather interior (borrowed from the Imperial), powered by a 375 hp 440 cid TNT V8, as a limited edition of 485. The single convertible built used a standard Chrysler 300 white interior.

In 1971, the convertible was no longer offered, as Chrysler halted production of convertibles across the entire lineup in 1971.

|File:Chrysler 300 Convertible (4648176381).jpg|1969 Chrysler 300 Convertible |File:Chrysler 300 Hurst 1970 Leimershof -20190907-RM-163623.jpg|1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst 2-door hardtop |File:70 Chrysler 300 (8936797271).jpg|1970 Chrysler 300 interior|File:1971 Chrysler Three Hundred 005 - Flickr - denizen24.jpg|1971 Chrysler 300 2-door hardtop rear }}

Engines

1979

The 300 name returned to the Chrysler line in the spring of 1979; this time based on the Cordoba coupe. The 300 was a $2,040 option package featuring special emblems and traditional "cross-hair" 300-style grille. It was available in Spinnaker White (perhaps 30 were painted Rallye Red) with a red-leather interior and red pin stripes. The model came with the code E58 195 hp 360 cuin V8, featuring a four-barrel carburetor, a performance camshaft, and dual exhausts.

Other features included police-spec suspension with 15"x7" wheels, heavy duty torsion bars/leaf springs/shocks, front and rear sway bars, and a 3.23 rear gear ratio. The deteriorating U.S. domestic economic conditions that led to the early 1980s recession reflected in low demand and less than 2,900 were built. The 300 model was planned for the 1980 model year using the new 2nd-generation Cordoba (based on the downsized Chrysler J platform), but was instead called the "LS".

Notes

References

1. [http://www.chrysler300site.com/cgibin/history.cgi?1962 History Of the Chrysler Three Hundred Series – 1962] {{Webarchive. link. (2012-05-21 . Chrysler300site.com (2000-05-31). Retrieved on 2013-05-11.)
2. [http://www.chrysler300site.com/cgibin/history.cgi?1964 History Of the Chrysler Three Hundred Series – 1964] {{Webarchive. link. (2012-07-17 . Chrysler300site.com (1999-09-16). Retrieved on 2013-05-11.)
3. "1963 Chrysler 300 Sport 4-door Hardtop Firepower 305 full specs, performance and photos (Since middle 1962 for North America U.S.)".
4. [http://www.chrysler300site.com/cgibin/history.cgi?1962 Chrysler 300 History and Gallery] {{Webarchive. link. (2012-05-21 . Chrysler300site.com (2000-05-31). Retrieved on 2013-05-11.)
5. ''[http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/Canada/Chrysler/1964%20Chrysler%20Brochure/index1.html Chrysler 1964]''. Chrysler Canada Ltd., 1964
6. [http://www.chrysler300site.com/cgibin/history.cgi?1966 Chrysler 300 History and Gallery] {{Webarchive. link. (2012-03-21 . Chrysler300site.com (2000-01-18). Retrieved on 2013-05-11.)
7. "1965 Chrysler 300 4-Door Hardtop Firepower-315".
8. [http://www.allpar.com/model/chrysler-c.html Chrysler C Bodies: The Big Guys]. Allpar.com. Retrieved on 2013-05-11.
9. [http://www.chrysler300site.com/cgibin/history.cgi?1967 Chrysler 300 History and Gallery] {{Webarchive. link. (2012-07-17 . Chrysler300site.com (1998-12-12). Retrieved on 2013-05-11.)
10. "1971 Chrysler Features". Oldcarbrochures.com.
11. "1969 Chrysler Data Book". Oldcarbrochures.com.
12. [http://www.fuselage.de/chr69/ 1969 Chrysler]. Fuselage.de. Retrieved on 2013-05-11.
13. [http://www.chrysler300site.com/cgibin/history.cgi?1969 Chrysler 300 History and Gallery] {{Webarchive. link. (2012-03-21 . Chrysler300site.com (2001-02-18). Retrieved on 2013-05-11.)
14. Flory, J. "Kelly", Jr. ''American Cars 1960–1972'' (Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Coy, 2004), p.734.
15. [http://www.chrysler300site.com/cgibin/history.cgi?1971 Chrysler 300 History and Gallery] {{Webarchive. link. (2012-03-21 . Chrysler300site.com (1998-12-12). Retrieved on 2013-05-11.)
16. "1969 Chrysler Data Book". Oldcarbrochures.com.
17. Auto Editors of ''Consumer Guide''. (16 July 2007). "1979-1982 Chrysler Cordoba 300/Cordoba LS". HowStuffWorks.com.