Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present an absolutely stunning example of this very rare, 1 of only 625 ever built, 1964 Chrysler 300 K 'Letter Car' Convertible with its original 413 2x4 barrel carbs short cross ram option engine bored and stroked to 472 c. i. and mildly customized with chrome wire wheels and upgraded Edelbrock carburetors and air cleaners and boasting a no expense spared restoration at reportedly well over six figures in 2020 and fully loaded with factory options and rarities including:
1 of 625 produced
No expense spared restoration completed in 2020 by Fenders and Fins in Woodinville, Washington exclusively utilizing rebuilt and NOS parts
Refurbished or replaced wiring, suspension, exhaust and convertible top components
Rebuilt 472 CI Wedge V-8 engine--originally a 413 that was bored and stroked
Cross Ram option with dual 4 barrel carburetors
9. 0:1 compression ratio
Balanced and blueprinted
Cross-Ram option
Dual Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetors with electric choke operation
Rebuilt 727 3-speed automatic transmission
Upgraded torque converter
Upgraded clutches
3. 34 Limited Slip rear axle
Factory Air Conditioning
Console with floor shifter
Power steering with tilt column
Power 4 Wheel Disc brakes
Power windows
Power bucket seats
Power soft top in Bright White with White boot cover
Full instrumentation & courtesy lights
Correct White pinstriping
Chrome bumpers with overriders
Dual fender mounted rear view mirrors
Factory tinted glas
White leather upholstery
Clear Acrylic steering wheel
Console mounted tachometer
AM/ FM radio with USB connectivity
Chrome wire wheels with Whitewall radial tires
Metallic Royal Ruby exterior finish
Original owners manuals
Authentic Chrysler sales literature
Service records and receipts
The Chrysler Letter Series cars with the highly desirable and legendary High Performance 413 CID 2x 4BBL V8 'Short Cross Ram' engines with dual 4 bbl carburetors which were matched to the legendary A-727 HD Torqueflite automatic transmission were cars that were extremely powerful for their day and which became the basis for a successful racing engine in Chrysler's future and cemented Chrysler's reputation for engineering great engines that would serve Chrysler well in various forms for the next 20 years.
This particular car was recently restored with no expense spared and is one of only 625 300-K Letter Series convertibles built in 1964 and marketed by Chrysler as 'Chrysler's fiery spirited full size sports car' and 'The High Performance Luxury Chrysler' and this particular model was the flagship model and the top-of-the-line!
The car has its original 413CID 390HP Short Ram V8 engine with upgraded Edelbrock carburetors and air cleaners but with original cast iron intake manifolds and its original legendary Heavy Duty cast iron case Torqueflite transmission. The 3 speed Torqueflite was Chrysler's mainstay transmission from its 1956 introduction on the Imperial and was also sold to other luxury automakers including such European marques such as Facel-Vega and Jensen. The first Torqueflite automatic transmission was the revolutionary A-488 which was lauded at the time as being the best automatic transmission in the world until the A-727 aluminum case which replaced the A-488 in 1962.
The flagship model for the Chrysler lineup in the late fifties and early sixties was the Letter Series convertibles and coupes and were called the 'Beautiful Brutes' by the renown writer Karl Ludvigsen and produced two of the most memorable performance cars ever made. Unabashadely created for NASCAR which they dominated until 1957 when US manufacturers shied away from competition support. Originally powered by the most potent V8 Hemis yet, the 1955 C-300 (1, 725 built) and the 1956 300-B (1, 102 built) had a New Yorker Newport fine body styling with an Imperial eggcrate grille. Off the track the 300 proved to be about more than just performance with a luxurious leather interior and all modern factory options.
In 1957 the 300-C and in 1958 the 300-D were even more potent extensions of Chrysler's hotrod and were the last of the Hemi powered Letter Series cars and sold in both coupe (618 built) and the new convertible form (191 built). The '57 Hemi produced around 375HP and the '58 optional 'Hi-Po' engine was a fuel injected 392 conservatively rated at 390HP. In 1959 the fifth edition of the Letter Series 300, the 300E was released and was a very low and limited production run with only 550 coupes (of which 16 were reportedly exported) and 140 convertibles built (of which 9 were reportedly exported). From the Chysler300country website statistics from 6/ 2009 only some 130 cars have survived with 104 of them coupes and 26 convertibles and 11 parts cars. Basically the same car as the 300-D but with a new horizontal bar grille instead of the previous eggcrate and a new 413 cid Wedgehead V8 instead of the fabled Hemi. Neverthless the new 413 was a true High Performance engine with 380 HP and a good second quicker than the D up to 60mph and 3 seconds faster to 90 mph. By 1962 the 300H's engine was the most powerful standard engine in any American car, yet a difficult sales year for the industry as a whole led to very low production figures of only 435 coupes and 123 convertibles.
The 1964 300K was the letter car of the mid sixties and performance again drove the fully unitized body with the ram induction system which boasted 390HP with 2x4 barrel downdraft 'Carter AFB' carburetors mounted on a wild looking cross ram manifold with one air cleaner on each side of the engine with an automatic choke, special heavy duty torsion bars, sway bar, rear leaf springs and shock absorbers for the same type of front suspension as most Indianapolis race cars, large dual exhausts with special mufflers to reduce back pressure, the legendary 727 Torqueflite 3 speed automatic power steering, power brakes, genuine hand rubbed leather bucket seats with separate power seat adjustments and with a full length sports console with built in tachometer, breathtaking acceleration, power windows, 34c. i. size trunk, Astradome style 'Stewart Warner & King Seeley' instrument panel clusters with most dials and gauges in one location, tilt-type inside rearview mirror, electric clock, factory applied undercoating and hood insulation pad, bumper guards, chrome stainless steel wheel covers, dual headlamps and optional pushbutton 'Golden Touch Tuner' AM/ FM radio, power antenna, pushbutton heater, rear window defroster and tinted glass.
The 413 with ram induction (the original standard long rams 375 hp engine) had more torque, at lower rpm (495 lb ft @ 2800) than the later 426 Hemi (480 @ 3200). At low speeds the "long rams" 375HP engine was superb but over 4000 rpm performance would suffer and to solve this issue Chrysler engineers removed a section of the inner walls of the manifolds to create the optional "short rams" 400HP engine. This option was obviously quite redundant for the street and only really intended for Daytona bound cars that competed in the 'Flying Mile' there and only about 15 of these ultra rare 'short rams' were actually factory built. This $800 option also included a 4 speed manual gearbox made for the Facel Vega, a Chrysler powered French luxury car. One of the short ram 400HP cars driven by Greg Ziegler set a 'Flying Mile' record of over 144mph in 1960!
The 300K delivered more performance in a luxury car than any other American production car, no matter the price, and compared favorably with the most costly European Gran Turismo automobiles in its ability to maintain very high speeds over any type of road, rough or smooth, flat or hilly, or twisted with hairpin curves but whilst also remaining a luxuriously appointed and comfortable ride at the same time!
Survivors from this era are rare making this fully restored with no expense spared car an asset to any dedicated Chrysler or MOPAR enthusiast. The car sounds absolutely magnificent and must drive better than when new - must be driven to be fully appreciated - does not miss a beat and purrs like a kitten - drives straight as an arrow with no strange road wobbles, shakes or rattles - a truly remarkable daily driver that will give any modern day car a run for it's money!
Simply put, the 300K was one of the most exciting American cars ever produced, combining iconic styling, performance and luxury, or as some would say 'the total package', and with very few remaining Chrysler 300K's remaining on the road, this is an extremely unusual opportunity to own a comprehensively restored and great daily driving example of this extraordinarily rare and very desirable 19604 Chrysler 300K 2 door Convertible in very turn key ready driving condition ready and for any classic American car or Mopar enthusiast to enjoy or collect today!
