The Legendary 300s
Wow. That was the first word out of my mouth when I saw this car in a book. I said it again when I saw the figures. This is everything I feel a muscle car should be. Big, heavy, and really, really fast.
The series was first introduced in 1955, and the car was labled as the 300, because it had 300 horsepower. The engine was a 331 with two four-barrel carbs. In 1956 the size was increased to 354 with dual quads, and in 1957 to 392 cid hemi with dual quads. With the optional 10:1 compression ratio, stick shift and power nothing (just the way I like it) it cranked out 390 hp at 5,400 rpm. With the standard compression ratio of 9.25:1 and 375 hp, this car could do a mesured 145.7 miles an hour, but with minor tweaks, it could be pushed over 150. This in a huge car that weighed over two tons, could seat four people luxuriously in their individual leather bucket seats, and had a trunk big enough to fit a Yugo. Beat that, cheap little japanese imports!
The Chrysler 300 is also one of the best looking big cars ever made. No matter what angle you look at it from, it's great. The 300C and up could do 0-60 in 7 seconds, and at 100 miles an hour still had plenty of acceleration left. This car could hold it's own against even the heaviest modern SUVs in crashes.
This car is a marvel of engeineering, not only from a power point of veiw, but in everday driving. If the second carb isn't opened when the pedal hits the floor, the car acts smooth and demurely.
It was rumored that the huge front grill wasn't for taking in air, as most people thought, but for eating anything that got in the 300's way and spewing the remains out the dual exhaust. I hope to own one, some day.
A recent correction: The hemi engine ended in '59 with the 392. When the 413 first came out it was a wedge engine. the main difference between the hemi and the wedge was the placement of the spark plug. In the hemis, it went thru the valve cover. In the wedge, it is located in the head by the exaust port. The hemi was continued in 64 with the 426 and ended again in 71. There were four 426s avalible: the 426, 426 Max Wedge, 426 hemi, and 426 race hemi. Thanks to the person who sent me this new information! I hope to have sections for each year on this car soon.
Factory Price: About $4,929 w/automatic and some power options
Overall length: 219.2 inches
Width: 78.8 inches
Hight: 57.4 inches (55 for convertible)
Weight: 4,235 pounds
Wheelbase: 126 inches
Engine: OHV V-8 hemi 392 cid/5.9 liter *
Miles per gallon: 12
Carb: Two 4 barrels
Horsepower: 375 @ 5,200
Bore x Stroke: 4 x 3.90
Compression: 9.25:1 (10.0:1 optional)
Transmission: Manual
Automatic (optional, for those to lazy to shift)
*In 1959 and up, the engine was a 413 Wedge.