1957 Chrysler 300C

HIGHLIGHTS

Iconic American automotive design by Virgil Exner
Prodigious power from the stock 392ci HEMI V-8, with dual 4 barrel carbs
Extensive cosmetic and mechanical work just completed
The 300C was often noted as “having no equal in it’s day.”

SPECIFICATIONS

VIN - 3N571414
Engine – 392ci, 8 cylinder, dual 4 barrel carbs
Gearbox – Push Button Automatic
Drivetrain - Front engine, RWD
Price - SOLD

OVERVIEW

…but then I knew what I was getting into when I bought the car. First, there was the reputation. In 1957 the Chrysler 300C was the most powerful car on the road. Chryslers were known for speed, power, brute strength, pure engineering, NASCAR triumphs, and vulgar displays. This was that car that launched a thousand social protests. When shrill voices carped about phallic symbols, tail fins, wasted resources, and pushbutton appliances, they were talking about the 300C. Naturally, I had to have one.” – Allan Girdler, Automobile Quarterly

The Chrysler Letter Series cars were the epitome of American design and engineering in the late 1950s. As the third in the series, the 1957 300C is heralded as one of the most prolific of the letter series cars - Artful design backed up with prodigious power. With a design penned by the legendary Virgil Exner, the 1957 model pushed the tail fin design as far as it could be carried – from the front bumper to the taillight.

A total of 1,918 hardtops and 484 convertibles were made, making it, the most popular of the 300 series. These were not mass-market vehicles, however they were the best Chrysler could offer, and were recognized as being able to run with the best in the world.

The 1955 C300 and 1956 300B had won the 1955 and 1956 NASCAR Grand National Stock Car Championships respectively. The 1957 300C was starting with a strong lineage from its older siblings.

The heart of the 300C is the 392 cubic inch Hemi V-8 engine. Boasting dual 4 barrel carburetors and a 9.25:1 compression ratio, this beast puts out 375 hp, and 420 ft.lb. of torque. The dual air filters were a direct descendent of the NASCAR winning 1956 300B. Before the official launch of the 1957 300C, Chrysler beat the unofficial stock car record at the Chelsea Proving Grounds with an average speed of 145.7 mph. Later it also won the "Flying Mile" at Daytona with a top speed of 134 mph. This was heady stuff in 1957!

The car offered here has just completed a thorough restoration making this car ready for whatever event you might consider it for – from local car shows, to a cross country adventure.

New/Rebuilt Items of Note: