The Chrysler 300 was a full-size automobile produced by Chrysler from 1962 until 1971. It was the replacement for the 1961 Chrysler Windsor, which itself filled the place in Chrysler's line previously occupied by the Saratoga just the year before that. At the time, it was considered a luxurious "muscle car", with all the performance of the Dodge and Plymouth products of the time, but with the luxury features expected of the Chrysler name. The 300 was positioned as a cheaper rendition of the 300 "letter series", and a sporty variant of a full-size automobile, adding 4-door hardtop version and running alongside that model until its discontinuation in 1966. It became the sole 300 model until 1971, when production ended. The 300 name returned to the Chrysler line in 1979 as an option package on the Cordoba coupe.
1962–1964
The non-letter series was introduced in 1962; it expanded the letter series on the 4-door hardtop, adding 383 V8 as a choice. For Canadian market there was similar Chrysler Saratoga offered instead, also as a 4-door sedan, from 1964 named Chrysler Saratoga 300 and bearing a similar trim.
1965–1968
In 1966, the Chrysler 300 letter series was discontinued, the 440 V8 replaced the 413 V8, and there was a mild facelift. 1967 brought makeovers which changed front and rear styling extensively. The 4-door sedan was dropped from lineup, the 440 V8 became standard and only available powerplant in two guises: base and more powerful TNT. 1968 facelifting brought concealed headlamps which were to be 300 trademark until 1971.
1969–1971
1969 was first year for "fuselage styling", there were two engine options; 440 and 440 TNT. For 1970, taking a cue from Oldsmobile, a Hurst300 was offered in Spinnaker White trimmed in Satin Tan with leather interior, powered by a 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.
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 with a red-leather interior and red pin stripes. The model came with the code E58 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, but was instead called the "LS".
