My buddy in high school had a 65L. The rear subframe was completely rotted out. He had to get rid of the car but before he did he stripped every single part he could, including the engine. He bagged and tagged everything and stored it for 30 years. A few years ago he finally found a solid Newport and used that ad a foundation to rebuild his L.
Your buddy was pretty advanced thinking for a young man. I mean, at that age,, I would have started removing and tagging parts till something in some tight jeans walked by and that would have ended my car project. Come to think of it, that's pretty much what happened to my entire life. I should have stuck with the cars😂
@@giggiddy I hear you there. I have a few car projects that I unfortunately am not likely to finish due to severe back problems, but even today although I am pretty much disabled, all it takes to sidetrack me is for tail to show up and suddenly nothing else matters.
Hey Adam, once again you chose a car that is one of my all-time favorites. I was just 10 years old in 1965. I was born in East Detroit, but my parents moved to Southern California in 1958. Up until then, my mom's side of the family all worked at the Chrysler Corporation, dad's side was at Ford. My family all drove Chryslers until the early 70s, so I was heavily influenced by Chrysler Corporation products. I clearly remember the Chrysler products from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. My dad had a 63 Newport, and my uncle had a 64 300. When the 65s were introduced, I was quickly impressed with the new styling and larger size. They made the 63 and 4s look like mid-size cars. I thought the 65s were gorgeous, yet bold looking, just what Chrysler needed. The sculpted sides were elegant and smooth, and the headlights under glass were so beautiful and a Chrysler exclusive look that set them apart from Ford and GM. I never really understood why Chrysler didn't sell better than they did. Chrysler's engineers developed industry firsts that later became industry standards. They had a good reputation for being reliable as well as powerful. Between Exner and Engle, Chrysler styling was definitely unique, and not for everyone, apparently, but I have always been a fan. I loved the push-button drive, the squared off steering wheels, and of course, Astrodome dash with Chrysler's Panelesent lighting. It was mesmerizing, especially to a kid, Gearhead like me. I loved the sound of the iconic Chrysler starters known as the Highland Park Hummingbird. You knew when you heard that sound that there was a Chrysler coming to life nearby. I love the 64 through 66 Imperials and still do to this day. No matter how beautiful or unique the styling was, when you looked at a Chrysler head on, they seem to look back at you, and all the while all Chrysler products had the Chrysler look, sorta a powerful innocence if you know what I mean. I know the Chrysler Corporation has had some pretty close calls from being discontinued in the past, and I'm always pleased that they manage to survive and are still with us today, even though they are owned by Stalantis, they are still one of The Big Three. I hope it stays that way for a long time to come. We need the Chrysler Corporation as much as we ever have in the past. Thanks for the review of the 65 300 L.
Finally a 🎥 about my very favorite era of Chryslers. My late father owned a 1965 Chrysler Newyorker 4door hardtop Persian white for 18years no rust, never broke down etc it was a 413 V8 so smooth quiet and dependable. ❤
I absolutely love that instrument panel. I had a very similar one on a '66 Newport. The '65 - '68 full sized Chryslers are my favorite years for those.
Yup, everything carried over. In the 80's, when I was a kid, even girls thought the dash was so cool. No better car to pile a ton of kids into for a concert or a cruise. Miss my car, as well. Had a 66 300, with all optioned but A/C, as the banker (he really was and a customer of my Dad's repair shop who sold it too me in 83: he was the original owner). It had the HO 440 with dual exhaust and tach on the floor. Loved that car: Newport, 300 and New Yorkers in 66 were so damn mechanically sound and fast for such huge cars. Miss the 65-67 cars and they are so damn rare these days.
AGREE!! At 13 years old was mesmerized by my Dad's '62 Crysler and its Astrodome Dash and unique lighting! Today, at 73, still has to be in the top 5 of all time!
The lighting on the dash and speedometer I think were too beautiful, distracting to me. I never armor-all my dash because when I’m at a stoplight I can’t stop admiring it. I just leave it regular-clean but no sheen. Imagine a breathtakingly beautiful 62 Chrysler speedometer at night, I would crash.
My dad had a '62 Newport . At13, I was mesmerized by the "electro" lighting whereby electric circuitry illuminated the gauges. The '66-'67 Chargers had a similar feature. Nothing like it!
My dad's last Mopar was a '65 Nee Yorker 6 window sedan with the 340 hp 413. It too had the glass covered headlights as well as white tail light lenses that shown red with red bulbs. It was a beautiful car.
Growing up I was not a Mopar fan. Now older and wiser, I can appreciate the many things they did that set them apart from the others. They were innovative and had many "firsts" as well as cool designs. I guess better later than never...
My parents had a 66. I remember standing in the floor in the back seat late at night looking over dad's shoulder going to las Vegas when i was seven watching the speedometer reaching 100 mph. Love those cars when I got my drivers license my sister had the car and I got to drive it on Las Angeles freeways.
Oh Adam, my FAVORITE Chrysler of all time, was the '64 Imperial > REMEMBER: Green Hornet! > Yeah!!!!! My Uncle had a '68 Imperial Coupe that was very similar to this car you show tonight.
The 64 to 66 T-Birds also had some complex side sculpting, a bit more than the Chrysler 300. Thanks to Adam for another fine "Mopar" watch on American automotive history....
I grew up with a 1968 300, which we brought new at the end of 1967, and was my Mom's car. That year featured fully concave side lines, but had a conventional column shift and horizontal speedometer, Forest green with a black vinyl roof, and black nylon on vinyl upholstery. This is the last year before they went to the fuselage styling which I thought was bloated. The car had this almost subsonic rumble when it pulled into the driveway. My Dad put us on an airplane to Chicago in for Easter vacation where Mom's parents lived, after Mom received death threats during the riots following the Martin Luther King assassination, he and drove out to meet us in Chicago. It is family legend that he made the 726 mile run in 8 and a half hours from Baltimore to Chicago and across Ohio in 2 1/2 hours, an average speed of nearly 100 miles an hour including gas stops. We later got a 1970 Town and Country used when the four of us kids approached driving age. Mom was a very timid driver but her first remark when driving the Town and Country was that it had no power climbing a hill. Being the smart lackey teenager I was at the time I told Mom she needed to actually step on the gas at least half way to accelerate up a steep hill, going from high compression 4 barrel 440 to a merely adequate 383 with a 2 barrel carburetor that ran on regular gas. I imagined her disappointment when her next car was a 1976 Ford LTD wagon that with a 400 choked with smog equipment, that made only slightly more than half the horsepower of the 383. My brother and sister went off to college in the wagon to Pittsburgh, and with a dual exhaust and some creative tuning he squeezed a few more ponies and MPG out of the old 383. He swapped the good tires and radiator out of the 300 into the wagon, and we were seriously considering dropping in the 440. The second oil embargo squashed his dreams of a super hot wagon. For a while there was a 1968 300 Convertible that looked like it had been junked, but still straight and mostly complete where mom got her car serviced. Unfortunately I was a broke teenager who was instructed to save his lawn cutting money for college. I couldn't even think about playing with cars until my late 30's. I mildly riced a beater Civic I had, and got my first motorcycle instead of finding another 300 to play with. The bike was fun until I had one too many close calls. They are a rare bird to find in the wild or even as a barn find anymore, even the Newports and New Yorkers are almost impossible to find in any kind of restorable shape. The 300 got sold in 1979 for $300 to someone where my mom worked, who wrecked it 3 weeks later. I was kind of upset at the car's ignominious end. Maybe it's engine made its way into a Charger and lived on for a while longer.
1970 Chrysler 300 "H" hurst was the last letter series I thought. And it is my personal favorite. PS: I really like the glass covered headlamps on the "L" for sure, very nice.
@@kbj12106 Sorry, blowzero. '65. Someone added the round Mopar red bulb for safety, me thinks. The '66 has wrap around brake lights, and the front turn/running light moved to bottom corner of bumper, again, in anticipation of safety regs coming.
I think you captured and featured this model car perfectly. I had never noticed the roof line accent until you pointed that out. Now I appreciate the design even more.
And speaking of cool features at the time....something to note besides the "covered" headlamp assemblies was the grille emblem itself. The "L" in the middle actually illuminated. Supposedly early cars were wired so the "L" lit whenever the ignition was on, but due to issues with state lighting laws, dealerships had to perform a wiring modification so the emblem only illuminated with the exterior lamps when they were turned on.
That’s interesting that they had to modify the lit L because during the early ‘60s there was a fad to install an aftermarket small round “running light” in the center of grills that illuminated whenever the engine was on.
I got a chance to see a 55, 300. On the glove box was a warning...It states. Warning, Do NOT lower windows at speeds in excess of 120 mph. The owner said this warning was put on every 55, 300.
"The Most Beautiful Chrysler Ever Built" as the slogan goes. I owned a '65 hard top sedan. It was truly a beautiful car. Although, the ride and performance couldn't touch that of my 63 Pontiac Star Chief with the 389 engine.
I'm the proud owner of a red 66 300 2dr HT and I absolutely love it. What a cruiser. While it may not be a letter car I think the grill and tail lights are better looking than the 65's. I've been hoping you'd do a video on a 65-66 Chrysler. Thanks.
YES SIR!!!! My first car, in the early 80's was the same year 300, with all options, including reverb, but NOT A/C. The guy I bought it from was the original owner who ordered the 440 with dual exhaust, tach, and sure grip. The car flew and was a total sleeper for the poor, plastic fantastic, smog/de-tuned, Camaro and Mustang drivers of the 70's and early 80's. My Dad owned auto repair shops and even his old timer mechanic didn't know why Chrysler didn't Letter the 66-70 300's, since the 440 was way more powerful than the 413 and was an OPTION!!!! There was no real difference between a 300 and a Newport mechanically: both base models had the 383 but a 440 was an option for the 300. It was a ridiculous decision that killed the entire concept. Just sad marketing.
im partial to the 300m. i loved this car the moment i set eyes on it. my 80 yr old mother gave me her arizona garage kept 300 earlier this year. its in near showroom condition with only 80K miles. thanks for the video.
Always loved these beautiful cars with the glass-covered headlights and the turbine speedometer; side sculpture VERY similar to the 1967/68 Mercury Cougar.
Probably the hottest C body from that era would have been the 1970 Plymouth Sport Fury GT with the optional 440 6 bbl. Not many made but the engine was rated 425 HP in the B bodies by NHRA at the time.
Always LOVED the Chrysler letter series car. A high school friend had a 300K, which was the 1964 version. It also had the single 4bbl version of the 413. This was 1971, so it was still a relatively new car and in very good condition. As I recall, it could out accelerate the 383 Road Runners and 340 Dusters of the day, so it had plenty of oomph. Probably not the 440 or Hemi versions of the same cars. Very comfortable drive and ride. Overall a great car. I always wanted one..
An oft overlooked and underappreciated letter series year. Yet, I think Chrysler was right 'the most beautiful Chrysler- - very handsome year, and rewarded by great sales. Peformance large cars were on the way out however, as the muscle cars took over, and the 300 name of course had been diluted by the non-letter series. No need to continue, and it had been somewhat decontented by this point as well. I'd say the 57 was the looking, then the 60, but then this (maybe tied with the 55). Don't know where the collector market is now, but they were cheap for a looong time. My driving experience is with other 65-66 full size Mopars, and I never drove them consistenly enough to adjust to the hyper sensitive power brakes or the absolutely numb power steering (wheels, what - it's connected to something?) I'd be totally pleased to give one an extended audition! The 'L' in the grille lights up - except that it was illegal in a couple of states......
Grandfather had the 1965 New Yorker hardtop w/ bucket seats. Read that Chrysler engineered them to be better built than the competition and they were according to various sources. Sales boomed and Chrysler decontented them in succeeding years. You could actually push start the 1965 Chrysler automatics - a feature removed in 1966. And yes, the a/c was the best I've ever experienced in a car.
Is this true? You could push start a 1965 Chrysler with Torqueflight transmission? How did that work, exactly? Push it in neutral and pop it in 'Low' ? or 'D' ? Did that apply to all Chrysler models, or only the 300 L ? Inquiring minds want to know. (Family member had a 1965 New Yorker)
Yes you could push start it! We had a 65 new Yorker and dad pushed me with his truck that had a push bumper. We did this in a harvested wheat field and I turned the key on and put it drive and after we picked up a bit of speed it started!
Enjoyed this Adam. I'm a Charger fan and especially the 66 model as it is super cool and all chrome and steel compared to the later models (which are still super cool looking until the early 70s). But this 300L is as cool in its own way as the 66 Charger is. Everything about this car, interior/exterior is super cool. You keep educating us brilliantly. Thank you sir..
Handsome indeed. Thanks for giving props to a Mopar. 👍🏻 My first car was a ‘66 Newport my dad found for me. Sure wish he found a 300L instead! But the ‘66 was nice. Excellent visibility and a smooth drive. As a young lawyer I bought a 300K from Richard Carpenter. Cool car but by no means a sport car as soon as you tried to take a turn at a high rate of speed. 😮
Great video on the beautiful 300L, including the history of the 300's. The mention of Karl Kiekhaefer and his achievements in racing the 300B shouldn't be overlooked. He founded Mercury outboards in 1939 and was regarded as a brilliant engineer with numerous patents to his name. He started with racing a modified C-300 and Lincoln. His modified 300B's resulted in wins of (I believe) 52 of 90 NASCAR races over 2 years with a record 16 straight victories. His 300B's far outperformed all other factory sponsored participants. The cars sported large "Kiekhaefer Mercury Outboards" lettering to promote his outboard brand. His "larger than life" persona and racing involvement is detailed in the book "Iron Fist, the lives of Karl Kiekhaefer".
The '65 Chrysler probably had one of the nicest body side sections of any US car. Ever. Today it still looks great and the front and rear ends are so well executed. I really think it surpasses the '61 Lincoln although that car will always be considered the "icon".
@@tomm1109 LOL. My grandfather got me liking Chrysler cars. I never could like this one. I was very disappointed in Engles early designs for CC excepting Imperials. I didn't like the V-roof c-pillar overall. The V-roof 1966-67 Satellite version was good but not the others. I thought Chrysler Corp should do better.
65-68 gets my vote for best Chrysler. There were plenty of other great Chryslers, but I think these were the best blends of looks, transmission, and engines.
Great video Adam. I have always been amazed that Chrysler could produce so few units of certain models such as their 1960s convertibles to justify the tooling cost. Today a US manufacture would most likely discontinue a car if it sold less than 10,000 units!
I’d have to argue with you the 1970 300H is the last letter car was one of the most beautiful painted automobiles I’ve seen the 300 H came in 70 with hurst edition gold and white paint with tan interior. The 440 TNT and the 727 automatic transmission . The only Chrysler muscle car fit for any gentleman
Boyz no arguments please 😆. Opinions and and behinds. We all have them, and thank goodness they are different. Like what you like, just don’t tell me what to like 🤷♂️😎👍🏻
Be it an awesome car, that was a 300 Hurst (per Chrysler) Not at all a letter car, it was never officially given a letter from Chrysler even if some called it the "300 H"
To correct the record, it was called “the 300” because the car was the 1st American production vehicle that had a 300hp engine, thus “the bankers hot rod”. These car were not cheap.
I have a 21 300 Touring L, and I really like it a lot. That ZF 8 Speed is really one hell of a transmission and makes the 300 feel pretty zippy while giving 20mpg in the city.. Plus the car it's self feels really Refined and is pretty nimble with responsive Handling for its size, but yet Drives with a Luxury feel..
I had a '13 300S, 220 ci, 300 hp which was important to me on a heritage basis because the 300 was named after it's hp rating. Other 300 models got the 292hp V6. It wasn't until 2015 the 8 speed ZF was available with the Hemi. I traded the '13 300S V6 for a '16 300S Hemi. Since 2003 I've had a '69 300 convertible. In 1973, I had to choose between a '68 Fury Convertible I still own and a '69 300 2dr ht, it only took 30 years to get the '69 300 I wanted but couldn't afford as a 17 year old. Fury payments, 18 @ $40.66, 300 payments, 24 @ $70.
It really was the road salt, back in the day! Had a 66 (same body), in the Pacific Northwest, in the early 80's. No RUST!!! But, that's the difference: only rain exposure and a well cared for car, all it's life. Granted, thanks to Exner's rush to market, of the 50's and his early designs of the 60's, Chrysler has never lived down that well deserved reputation of rust buckets..... But, there are fare worse: Chevy Vega, Fiat 124, and on and on I could type!
@@bouncingthebouncer I agree with you completely. My 1968 Newport and my 1982 Dodge died of old age and not of rust. My 2005 Crossfire is still rust free. I guess that it comes down to use and automotive hygiene. Thank you,
Had a 66 300 for about 5 or 6 years, red with white interior. Smooth and comfortable and I liked the styling. But too many cars or not enough storage at the time so sold it when I could buy a 1966 Impala conv with just 18k miles which I just had to have ...., I always felt they where underappreciated.
@@MarinCipollina Well aware of that, had several 65's, and most years between 47 and mid 80ties for that matter as well, however being in Europe coming across a low mileage documented example of a 66 convertible is not an everyday thing, neither is it in the US I would say. So at that time I had to make space and sold the Chrysler. ^5 and 66 are pretty similar with the exception of the taillights, which is not something you notice when driving ;)
My father owned a 1966 300 convertible for a number of years. Similar styling but no longer a letter car. It was peppy with a 383 4bbl but not a screamer. It had too much rust and was sold instead of being fixed up.
For those looking for a convertible to restore, Desert Valley Auto Recyclers in Phx Az has 3 of them, 2 of which are very complete, for sale. All 3 are L cars.
Great car from the glory days of Chrysler. Boy, I bet it was hard to get those bumper-to-fender margins right. That air cleaner looks like it came off of a slant six!
Years ago an old guy up here had one that was in what I would think was a very rare color as that car was the only one of any type of car I had ever seen..kind of a lavender type purple color.
A half-step above the Riviera and Thunderbird, it wasn't until the Eldorado and Mark III came along that well-heeled playboys had something comperable to drive.
I had forgotten how the mid 60s full sized and mid sized Chysler/Plymouth/Dodge shared the C-pillar design. At least on the 65-66 full size and 64-67 mid size (B-body)
I'll be the black sheep, but I think the 1968 was the best looking year of this body style. Letter car or not, you could still get it with a big block. The hideaway headlights just gave it a sinister look. An extremely underappreciated 60s car in my opinion.
I remember our family had a '66 Newport which had almost the exact same body. A lot of trips to grandma's in the '70's in that car. I think the '64 Impala had a similar kink in the roofline near the c-pillar.
Having driven some of the big Chryslers from this era, I have to say that they DID handle better than the competition - and I wonder if the 300's got stiffer springs & torsion-bars. Too bad that the electroluminescent dash lighting didn't continue...
What’s extra confusing and probably didn’t help sales (although the L would be one of the best selling in the series) was how Chrysler offered a “300 Sport” or just “300” series that essentially replaced the middle series Windsor for 1962 and ran through 1971. This model from 1962-65 looked almost identical to the letter series cars, with its sporty trim and crosshair grille, but cost far less, with only a mild performance penalty. Curious choice by Chrysler back in the day.
Those cars where big but boy could they perform and hold the road with their torsion bar front suspension and short front/long rear leaf spring rear suspension.
Don't really understand those cake box air cleaners. Where does the air go in? Are they open on the bottom? I really dig that L emblem in the center of the grill trim. Sweet.
I've seen a lot of Chryslers but I've never seen one of these. great looking car. my neighbor had a 65 Polara that was a great looking car. can you do an episode featuring the 65 Polara, my other neighbor had a 68 Monaco that was also a beauty
I'm a ginormous Mopar fan but oh, boy, do I not like the '62 - '67 styling. Things didn't recover till '68 with the B-body, and then accelerated with the C-body in '69 and E-body in '70. Imagine this going up against the Riviera or Toronado? Uff da.
Hello. Awesome video. Thank you. I have a 1965 300L. Was in my dads garage for the last 20 years. Runs and looks good. Anybody know how much they are worth?
It is a beautiful car indeed. I remember my friends parents had a 65 Chrysler wagon, they were a chrysler family. So much cooler than our stripped down 64 malibu wagon. Oh yeah, our old arch rival "Carl K" from Mercury, I do remember now that he had some sort of affiliation with that early C300 Chrysler racing.
My buddy in high school had a 65L. The rear subframe was completely rotted out. He had to get rid of the car but before he did he stripped every single part he could, including the engine. He bagged and tagged everything and stored it for 30 years. A few years ago he finally found a solid Newport and used that ad a foundation to rebuild his L.
It was the suspension attachment points that killed many a unibody.
Cool 🥰
@@James-hd4ms Or many times everyplace EXCEPT the suspension points. Rust is a mysterious mistress.
Your buddy was pretty advanced thinking for a young man. I mean, at that age,, I would have started removing and tagging parts till something in some tight jeans walked by and that would have ended my car project. Come to think of it, that's pretty much what happened to my entire life. I should have stuck with the cars😂
@@giggiddy I hear you there. I have a few car projects that I unfortunately am not likely to finish due to severe back problems, but even today although I am pretty much disabled, all it takes to sidetrack me is for tail to show up and suddenly nothing else matters.
Hey Adam, once again you chose a car that is one of my all-time favorites. I was just 10 years old in 1965. I was born in East Detroit, but my parents moved to Southern California in 1958. Up until then, my mom's side of the family all worked at the Chrysler Corporation, dad's side was at Ford. My family all drove Chryslers until the early 70s, so I was heavily influenced by Chrysler Corporation products. I clearly remember the Chrysler products from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. My dad had a 63 Newport, and my uncle had a 64 300. When the 65s were introduced, I was quickly impressed with the new styling and larger size. They made the 63 and 4s look like mid-size cars. I thought the 65s were gorgeous, yet bold looking, just what Chrysler needed. The sculpted sides were elegant and smooth, and the headlights under glass were so beautiful and a Chrysler exclusive look that set them apart from Ford and GM. I never really understood why Chrysler didn't sell better than they did. Chrysler's engineers developed industry firsts that later became industry standards. They had a good reputation for being reliable as well as powerful. Between Exner and Engle, Chrysler styling was definitely unique, and not for everyone, apparently, but I have always been a fan. I loved the push-button drive, the squared off steering wheels, and of course, Astrodome dash with Chrysler's Panelesent lighting. It was mesmerizing, especially to a kid, Gearhead like me. I loved the sound of the iconic Chrysler starters known as the Highland Park Hummingbird. You knew when you heard that sound that there was a Chrysler coming to life nearby. I love the 64 through 66 Imperials and still do to this day. No matter how beautiful or unique the styling was, when you looked at a Chrysler head on, they seem to look back at you, and all the while all Chrysler products had the Chrysler look, sorta a powerful innocence if you know what I mean. I know the Chrysler Corporation has had some pretty close calls from being discontinued in the past, and I'm always pleased that they manage to survive and are still with us today, even though they are owned by Stalantis, they are still one of The Big Three. I hope it stays that way for a long time to come. We need the Chrysler Corporation as much as we ever have in the past. Thanks for the review of the 65 300 L.
Finally a 🎥 about my very favorite era of Chryslers. My late father owned a 1965 Chrysler Newyorker 4door hardtop Persian white for 18years no rust, never broke down etc it was a 413 V8 so smooth quiet and dependable. ❤
I absolutely love that instrument panel. I had a very similar one on a '66 Newport. The '65 - '68 full sized Chryslers are my favorite years for those.
My first car was a ‘66 Newport. Such a good car!
Yup, everything carried over. In the 80's, when I was a kid, even girls thought the dash was so cool. No better car to pile a ton of kids into for a concert or a cruise. Miss my car, as well.
Had a 66 300, with all optioned but A/C, as the banker (he really was and a customer of my Dad's repair shop who sold it too me in 83: he was the original owner). It had the HO 440 with dual exhaust and tach on the floor. Loved that car: Newport, 300 and New Yorkers in 66 were so damn mechanically sound and fast for such huge cars. Miss the 65-67 cars and they are so damn rare these days.
AGREE!! At 13 years old was mesmerized by my Dad's '62 Crysler and its Astrodome Dash and unique lighting! Today, at 73, still has to be in the top 5 of all time!
I still have mine...62 Chrysler New Yorker bought new by my grandfather. The dash is really cool and the lights all still work as new. 413 V8
The lighting on the dash and speedometer I think were too beautiful, distracting to me. I never armor-all my dash because when I’m at a stoplight I can’t stop admiring it. I just leave it regular-clean but no sheen. Imagine a breathtakingly beautiful 62 Chrysler speedometer at night, I would crash.
My dad had a '62 Newport . At13, I was mesmerized by the "electro" lighting whereby electric circuitry illuminated the gauges. The '66-'67 Chargers had a similar feature. Nothing like it!
My dad's last Mopar was a '65 Nee Yorker 6 window sedan with the 340 hp 413. It too had the glass covered headlights as well as white tail light lenses that shown red with red bulbs. It was a beautiful car.
Growing up I was not a Mopar fan. Now older and wiser, I can appreciate the many things they did that set them apart from the others. They were innovative and had many "firsts" as well as cool designs. I guess better later than never...
Absolutely beautiful, classy cars.
My parents had a 66. I remember standing in the floor in the back seat late at night looking over dad's shoulder going to las Vegas when i was seven watching the speedometer reaching 100 mph. Love those cars when I got my drivers license my sister had the car and I got to drive it on Las Angeles freeways.
Writing to you from Los Angeles
Oh Adam, my FAVORITE Chrysler of all time, was the '64 Imperial > REMEMBER: Green Hornet! > Yeah!!!!! My Uncle had a '68 Imperial Coupe that was very similar to this car you show tonight.
The 64 to 66 T-Birds also had some complex side sculpting, a bit more than the Chrysler 300. Thanks to Adam for another fine "Mopar" watch on American automotive history....
Yeah, but their’s was ham-handed.
Gorgeous. Note the front-seat headrests, three years ahead of regulatory requirements. Nice video, Adam.
A rare factory option, that.
On the Modern 300's the Manual shows you how to take the Headrest completely off, so you can recline the Seat all the way back and lay flat.
Just like a Nash lol
I've got me a Chrysler, it seats about twenty.
So come on and bring your juke box money!
big as a whale and its about to set sail
Buddy of mine in the 70s parents had a 1965 New Yorker 4 door. Big and nice car.
413 v8 saw one for sale one time had 200,000 miles
Nice car. I have 68 and 70 Chrysler 300s. Not letter series but 300 models nonetheless.
I grew up with a 1968 300, which we brought new at the end of 1967, and was my Mom's car. That year featured fully concave side lines, but had a conventional column shift and horizontal speedometer, Forest green with a black vinyl roof, and black nylon on vinyl upholstery. This is the last year before they went to the fuselage styling which I thought was bloated. The car had this almost subsonic rumble when it pulled into the driveway. My Dad put us on an airplane to Chicago in for Easter vacation where Mom's parents lived, after Mom received death threats during the riots following the Martin Luther King assassination, he and drove out to meet us in Chicago. It is family legend that he made the 726 mile run in 8 and a half hours from Baltimore to Chicago and across Ohio in 2 1/2 hours, an average speed of nearly 100 miles an hour including gas stops. We later got a 1970 Town and Country used when the four of us kids approached driving age. Mom was a very timid driver but her first remark when driving the Town and Country was that it had no power climbing a hill. Being the smart lackey teenager I was at the time I told Mom she needed to actually step on the gas at least half way to accelerate up a steep hill, going from high compression 4 barrel 440 to a merely adequate 383 with a 2 barrel carburetor that ran on regular gas. I imagined her disappointment when her next car was a 1976 Ford LTD wagon that with a 400 choked with smog equipment, that made only slightly more than half the horsepower of the 383. My brother and sister went off to college in the wagon to Pittsburgh, and with a dual exhaust and some creative tuning he squeezed a few more ponies and MPG out of the old 383. He swapped the good tires and radiator out of the 300 into the wagon, and we were seriously considering dropping in the 440. The second oil embargo squashed his dreams of a super hot wagon.
For a while there was a 1968 300 Convertible that looked like it had been junked, but still straight and mostly complete where mom got her car serviced. Unfortunately I was a broke teenager who was instructed to save his lawn cutting money for college. I couldn't even think about playing with cars until my late 30's. I mildly riced a beater Civic I had, and got my first motorcycle instead of finding another 300 to play with. The bike was fun until I had one too many close calls. They are a rare bird to find in the wild or even as a barn find anymore, even the Newports and New Yorkers are almost impossible to find in any kind of restorable shape.
The 300 got sold in 1979 for $300 to someone where my mom worked, who wrecked it 3 weeks later. I was kind of upset at the car's ignominious end. Maybe it's engine made its way into a Charger and lived on for a while longer.
Great memories of great cars Bruce!!
1970 Chrysler 300 "H" hurst was the last letter series I thought. And it is my personal favorite. PS: I really like the glass covered headlamps on the "L" for sure, very nice.
Yeah and from 3:28 to 4:34 time marks was a 1968 model as the side marker 1968 only were the tell tail there.
@@kbj12106 Sorry, blowzero. '65. Someone added the round Mopar red bulb for safety, me thinks. The '66 has wrap around brake lights, and the front turn/running light moved to bottom corner of bumper, again, in anticipation of safety regs coming.
The “H” signifies Hurst on the 1970 300 so it isn’t technically part of the letter series as they’re lettered by sequence of issue.
Correct
Nice. Some of my favorite Chryslers.
I think you captured and featured this model car perfectly. I had never noticed the roof line accent until you pointed that out. Now I appreciate the design even more.
That convertible is stunning!!
This is one of my all time favorites. I think these are absolutely magnificent.
A friend of mine owned 65 300L Coupe with a 4speed. A special car for a special man.
RIP Jim Gross
Nothing better than a big C-body Chrysler with a big block & 4-speed. I have a 68 Sport Fury - HP 383 4-speed...just a great car.
The style of the 300B was a striking from the scalloped headlights to its mild rear quarter fins to the roof line looking like it was perched.
And speaking of cool features at the time....something to note besides the "covered" headlamp assemblies was the grille emblem itself. The "L" in the middle actually illuminated. Supposedly early cars were wired so the "L" lit whenever the ignition was on, but due to issues with state lighting laws, dealerships had to perform a wiring modification so the emblem only illuminated with the exterior lamps when they were turned on.
That’s interesting that they had to modify the lit L because during the early ‘60s there was a fad to install an aftermarket small round “running light” in the center of grills that illuminated whenever the engine was on.
@@Primus54 i love those little details. Thanks for sharing that stuff
@@giggiddy You bet! Showing my age. 😂
I got a chance to see a 55, 300. On the glove box was a warning...It states. Warning, Do NOT lower windows at speeds in excess of 120 mph. The owner said this warning was put on every 55, 300.
A great overview of this unique and wonderful car, Adam. Thank you for featuring it.
"The Most Beautiful Chrysler Ever Built" as the slogan goes. I owned a '65 hard top sedan. It was truly a beautiful car. Although, the ride and performance couldn't touch that of my 63 Pontiac Star Chief with the 389 engine.
On the ride, we definitely agree. And the Pontiac 389 is awesome.
You didn't have a 300L then, as it would outperform most Pontiacs, but did have a much harder ride .
Simply stunning. I've always been a huge fan of the 60-65 "MidMod" era cars and that champagne pink/purple convertible checks all the boxes.
I previously owned a 300L 4 speed manual, one of 108 built. I sold that car when I relocated to USA. I kept the 300D.
I'm the proud owner of a red 66 300 2dr HT and I absolutely love it. What a cruiser. While it may not be a letter car I think the grill and tail lights are better looking than the 65's. I've been hoping you'd do a video on a 65-66 Chrysler. Thanks.
YES SIR!!!! My first car, in the early 80's was the same year 300, with all options, including reverb, but NOT A/C. The guy I bought it from was the original owner who ordered the 440 with dual exhaust, tach, and sure grip. The car flew and was a total sleeper for the poor, plastic fantastic, smog/de-tuned, Camaro and Mustang drivers of the 70's and early 80's. My Dad owned auto repair shops and even his old timer mechanic didn't know why Chrysler didn't Letter the 66-70 300's, since the 440 was way more powerful than the 413 and was an OPTION!!!! There was no real difference between a 300 and a Newport mechanically: both base models had the 383 but a 440 was an option for the 300. It was a ridiculous decision that killed the entire concept. Just sad marketing.
im partial to the 300m. i loved this car the moment i set eyes on it. my 80 yr old mother gave me her arizona garage kept 300 earlier this year. its in near showroom condition with only 80K miles. thanks for the video.
Always loved these beautiful cars with the glass-covered headlights and the turbine speedometer; side sculpture VERY similar to the 1967/68 Mercury Cougar.
Great vid really enjoyed!!! 👍👍
Love the 65-68 300's. Super rare, underrated, hi-performance luxury cruisers.
Probably the hottest C body from that era would have been the 1970 Plymouth Sport Fury GT with the optional 440 6 bbl. Not many made but the engine was rated 425 HP in the B bodies by NHRA at the time.
Master Cylinder says Thank you for featuring this spectacular vehicle!
Your videos are so informative and you have a clear laid back demeanor. I enjoy them.
Always LOVED the Chrysler letter series car. A high school friend had a 300K, which was the 1964 version. It also had the single 4bbl version of the 413. This was 1971, so it was still a relatively new car and in very good condition. As I recall, it could out accelerate the 383 Road Runners and 340 Dusters of the day, so it had plenty of oomph. Probably not the 440 or Hemi versions of the same cars. Very comfortable drive and ride. Overall a great car. I always wanted one..
An oft overlooked and underappreciated letter series year. Yet, I think Chrysler was right 'the most beautiful Chrysler- - very handsome year, and rewarded by great sales. Peformance large cars were on the way out however, as the muscle cars took over, and the 300 name of course had been diluted by the non-letter series. No need to continue, and it had been somewhat decontented by this point as well. I'd say the 57 was the looking, then the 60, but then this (maybe tied with the 55). Don't know where the collector market is now, but they were cheap for a looong time. My driving experience is with other 65-66 full size Mopars, and I never drove them consistenly enough to adjust to the hyper sensitive power brakes or the absolutely numb power steering (wheels, what - it's connected to something?) I'd be totally pleased to give one an extended audition! The 'L' in the grille lights up - except that it was illegal in a couple of states......
Grandfather had the 1965 New Yorker hardtop w/ bucket seats. Read that Chrysler engineered them to be better built than the competition and they were according to various sources. Sales boomed and Chrysler decontented them in succeeding years. You could actually push start the 1965 Chrysler automatics - a feature removed in 1966. And yes, the a/c was the best I've ever experienced in a car.
Is this true? You could push start a 1965 Chrysler with Torqueflight transmission? How did that work, exactly? Push it in neutral and pop it in 'Low' ? or 'D' ? Did that apply to all Chrysler models, or only the 300 L ? Inquiring minds want to know. (Family member had a 1965 New Yorker)
Wonder how many people it took to push start it?
@@12yearssober It wasn't a lightweight.. best to be parked on a downgrade.
Yes you could push start it! We had a 65 new Yorker and dad pushed me with his truck that had a push bumper. We did this in a harvested wheat field and I turned the key on and put it drive and after we picked up a bit of speed it started!
@@MarinCipollina They had a rear pump in the 727 torqueflite up through 65. They could be roll started in low.
Enjoyed this Adam. I'm a Charger fan and especially the 66 model as it is super cool and all chrome and steel compared to the later models (which are still super cool looking until the early 70s). But this 300L is as cool in its own way as the 66 Charger is. Everything about this car, interior/exterior is super cool. You keep educating us brilliantly. Thank you sir..
The 1956 300B is one of my dream cars!
'64-'66 were the most beautiful Chrysler ever built, especially the 2 door hardtops. Still my favourite body style!
Handsome indeed. Thanks for giving props to a Mopar. 👍🏻 My first car was a ‘66 Newport my dad found for me. Sure wish he found a 300L instead! But the ‘66 was nice. Excellent visibility and a smooth drive.
As a young lawyer I bought a 300K from Richard Carpenter. Cool car but by no means a sport car as soon as you tried to take a turn at a high rate of speed. 😮
Wow! The convertible is stunning! I don’t remember ever seeing one on the road.
That's hardly surprising, considering that only 440 were built and sold in 1965.
We are completely restoring a 1967 300 convertible 440 in the shop where I work. No rust anywhere, the guy's parents bought it new and 100% original.
Great video on the beautiful 300L, including the history of the 300's. The mention of Karl Kiekhaefer and his achievements in racing the 300B shouldn't be overlooked. He founded Mercury outboards in 1939 and was regarded as a brilliant engineer with numerous patents to his name. He started with racing a modified C-300 and Lincoln. His modified 300B's resulted in wins of (I believe) 52 of 90 NASCAR races over 2 years with a record 16 straight victories. His 300B's far outperformed all other factory sponsored participants. The cars sported large "Kiekhaefer Mercury Outboards" lettering to promote his outboard brand. His "larger than life" persona and racing involvement is detailed in the book "Iron Fist, the lives of Karl Kiekhaefer".
Beautiful car! Awesome lines. I had a 66 Newport with the 383. Real smooth on the highway. Nice video!
The '65 Chrysler probably had one of the nicest body side sections of any US car. Ever. Today it still looks great and the front and rear ends are so well executed. I really think it surpasses the '61 Lincoln although that car will always be considered the "icon".
the Chrysler is better looking than the Lincoln
i'm glad someone likes that year.
@@tomm1109 LOL. My grandfather got me liking Chrysler cars. I never could like this one. I was very disappointed in Engles early designs for CC excepting Imperials. I didn't like the V-roof c-pillar overall. The V-roof 1966-67 Satellite version was good but not the others. I thought Chrysler Corp should do better.
I really liked the 57-59 300’s especially the red grill in 59. But I think the fins and tail lamps looked cleaner on the 57-58’s though
A handsome car...a man's car
Your channel has class and amazing info. I always enjoy the episodes
65-68 gets my vote for best Chrysler. There were plenty of other great Chryslers, but I think these were the best blends of looks, transmission, and engines.
Yep! My dad had a 67 Monaco Wagon that was a BEAST...440, what a great car.
Great video Adam. I have always been amazed that Chrysler could produce so few units of certain models such as their 1960s convertibles to justify the tooling cost. Today a US manufacture would most likely discontinue a car if it sold less than 10,000 units!
Love that car!
Such a clean and tasteful design for the 65/66 generation.
As an owner of 4 300's (3 different models) if I won the lottery I wouldn't be buying hemi chargers, I'd own every model year of 300's
I’d have to argue with you the 1970 300H is the last letter car was one of the most beautiful painted automobiles I’ve seen the 300 H came in 70 with hurst edition gold and white paint with tan interior. The 440 TNT and the 727 automatic transmission . The only Chrysler muscle car fit for any gentleman
Boyz no arguments please 😆. Opinions and and behinds. We all have them, and thank goodness they are different. Like what you like, just don’t tell me what to like 🤷♂️😎👍🏻
@@tomtheplummer7322 factually speaking the 300H is the last letter car
You might learn something Tom or formulate your own opinion .
Be it an awesome car, that was a 300 Hurst (per Chrysler) Not at all a letter car, it was never officially given a letter from Chrysler even if some called it the "300 H"
The 1970 car was called the Hurst 300. Most people do not consider it an official letter car although it does fit the concept of the letter cars.
Beautiful!
I remember my uncle having one of those cars with the striped glass over the headlights when I was a kid
To correct the record, it was called “the 300” because the car was the 1st American production vehicle that had a 300hp engine, thus “the bankers hot rod”. These car were not cheap.
I have a 21 300 Touring L, and I really like it a lot. That ZF 8 Speed is really one hell of a transmission and makes the 300 feel pretty zippy while giving 20mpg in the city.. Plus the car it's self feels really Refined and is pretty nimble with responsive Handling for its size, but yet Drives with a Luxury feel..
I had a '13 300S, 220 ci, 300 hp which was important to me on a heritage basis because the 300 was named after it's hp rating. Other 300 models got the 292hp V6. It wasn't until 2015 the 8 speed ZF was available with the Hemi. I traded the '13 300S V6 for a '16 300S Hemi.
Since 2003 I've had a '69 300 convertible. In 1973, I had to choose between a '68 Fury Convertible I still own and a '69 300 2dr ht, it only took 30 years to get the '69 300 I wanted but couldn't afford as a 17 year old. Fury payments, 18 @ $40.66, 300 payments, 24 @ $70.
Love this channel
My great uncle owns a 1960 300F that belonged to Junior Johnson. It's in the NC transportation museum.
Where did you find all of those old Chryslers without rust? Absolutely amazing! Thank you,
He found the rust and had it transmogrified into a car. Rust based 3 D printing.
It really was the road salt, back in the day! Had a 66 (same body), in the Pacific Northwest, in the early 80's. No RUST!!! But, that's the difference: only rain exposure and a well cared for car, all it's life.
Granted, thanks to Exner's rush to market, of the 50's and his early designs of the 60's, Chrysler has never lived down that well deserved reputation of rust buckets..... But, there are fare worse: Chevy Vega, Fiat 124, and on and on I could type!
@@bouncingthebouncer I agree with you completely. My 1968 Newport and my 1982 Dodge died of old age and not of rust. My 2005 Crossfire is still rust free. I guess that it comes down to use and automotive hygiene. Thank you,
I like your content.
These are very underrated. Still reasonable prices and reliable and great riding and driving!!
Had a 66 300 for about 5 or 6 years, red with white interior. Smooth and comfortable and I liked the styling. But too many cars or not enough storage at the time so sold it when I could buy a 1966 Impala conv with just 18k miles which I just had to have ...., I always felt they where underappreciated.
The 1965 Impala is preferred over the 1966.
@@MarinCipollina Well aware of that, had several 65's, and most years between 47 and mid 80ties for that matter as well, however being in Europe coming across a low mileage documented example of a 66 convertible is not an everyday thing, neither is it in the US I would say. So at that time I had to make space and sold the Chrysler. ^5 and 66 are pretty similar with the exception of the taillights, which is not something you notice when driving ;)
My father owned a 1966 300 convertible for a number of years. Similar styling but no longer a letter car. It was peppy with a 383 4bbl but not a screamer. It had too much rust and was sold instead of being fixed up.
i am not firm in US models, but this car, the Chrysler 300L impressed me already 30 years ago. Impressing shape. And completely uncommon around here.
Those were classy looking cars for sure!
For those looking for a convertible to restore, Desert Valley Auto Recyclers in Phx Az has 3 of them, 2 of which are very complete, for sale. All 3 are L cars.
Great car from the glory days of Chrysler. Boy, I bet it was hard to get those bumper-to-fender margins right. That air cleaner looks like it came off of a slant six!
Happy Easter!
I had forgotten about the reverb wars. And I can’t remember why we wanted reverb. The concave / convex was stunning back then.
My '66 New Yorker had airconditioning too!
Years ago an old guy up here had one that was in what I would think was a very rare color as that car was the only one of any type of car I had ever seen..kind of a lavender type purple color.
Dad had 1967 Newport (which was very similar) back in the day although I cannot remember if it was a 2 or 4 door. He traded it in on a new 1969 300.
DUAL master cylinder - absolutely required.
A half-step above the Riviera and Thunderbird, it wasn't until the Eldorado and Mark III came along that well-heeled playboys had something comperable to drive.
The silver car looks interesting. White interior is nice. Another MOPAR sales success.
I had forgotten how the mid 60s full sized and mid sized Chysler/Plymouth/Dodge shared the C-pillar design. At least on the 65-66 full size and 64-67 mid size (B-body)
i like my 413s -every one of the 5 i have owned and the one i have left -and this ones in an rv
I'll be the black sheep, but I think the 1968 was the best looking year of this body style. Letter car or not, you could still get it with a big block. The hideaway headlights just gave it a sinister look. An extremely underappreciated 60s car in my opinion.
I remember our family had a '66 Newport which had almost the exact same body. A lot of trips to grandma's in the '70's in that car. I think the '64 Impala had a similar kink in the roofline near the c-pillar.
Having driven some of the big Chryslers from this era, I have to say that they DID handle better than the competition - and I wonder if the 300's got stiffer springs & torsion-bars. Too bad that the electroluminescent dash lighting didn't continue...
What’s extra confusing and probably didn’t help sales (although the L would be one of the best selling in the series) was how Chrysler offered a “300 Sport” or just “300” series that essentially replaced the middle series Windsor for 1962 and ran through 1971. This model from 1962-65 looked almost identical to the letter series cars, with its sporty trim and crosshair grille, but cost far less, with only a mild performance penalty.
Curious choice by Chrysler back in the day.
Those cars where big but boy could they perform and hold the road with their torsion bar front suspension and short front/long rear leaf spring rear suspension.
The dash on those has an aircraft look to it.
Note that the 300 B engine beat the 1957 Chevy engine to the 1hp per cubic inch goal by one year. 1956 354 ci, 355 hp vs 1957 283 ci, 283hp.
Don't really understand those cake box air cleaners. Where does the air go in? Are they open on the bottom?
I really dig that L emblem in the center of the grill trim. Sweet.
Yes they are
All the Chryslers, full-size Dodges, and the Plymouth Furies were the best looking cars for the 1965 model year.
@0:11 1999 Chrysler 300M was Originally intended to be the second gen redesign Eagle Vision TSI before Chrysler killed off the Eagle brand.
Not real crazy about the exterior of the ‘65’s, but those interiors were absolutely gorgeous…….!!!!!
I've seen a lot of Chryslers but I've never seen one of these. great looking car. my neighbor had a 65 Polara that was a great looking car. can you do an episode featuring the 65 Polara, my other neighbor had a 68 Monaco that was also a beauty
I'm a ginormous Mopar fan but oh, boy, do I not like the '62 - '67 styling. Things didn't recover till '68 with the B-body, and then accelerated with the C-body in '69 and E-body in '70. Imagine this going up against the Riviera or Toronado? Uff da.
Not in the same league at all, much less an Eldorado.
Hello. Awesome video. Thank you. I have a 1965 300L. Was in my dads garage for the last 20 years. Runs and looks good. Anybody know how much they are worth?
The '65s were very pretty indeed.
It is a beautiful car indeed. I remember my friends parents had a 65 Chrysler wagon, they were a chrysler family. So much cooler than our stripped down 64 malibu wagon. Oh yeah, our old arch rival "Carl K" from Mercury, I do remember now that he had some sort of affiliation with that early C300 Chrysler racing.
You forgot about the 1970 300H. It was a limited production white and gold car with modifications by Hurst.