Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present an exceptionally straight
and beautifully restored only as required over the years and always
rust free great daily driving survivor of this very rare and
original 'Mopar Big Fin' 1958 Chrysler 300D Letter Series 2 door
Convertible with the legendary High Performance 392 CID 380HP V8
Golden Lion 'Wedge-Type' engine with dual Carter 4 bbl carburetors
which was extremely powerful for its day and which would become 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.
The option list was extensive and this particular car is loaded
with AM radio, power steering, power seat, power windows, heater
and these luxurious amenities of their day gave rise to these rare
and expensive vehicles becoming renown as the "Banker's hot-rod"!
The flagship and most expensive models for the Chrysler lineup in
the late fifties 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 with the 392/375HP V8 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. This particular
1958 Chrysler 300D Convertible example boasts a roster of desirable
factory options including; power windows, power brakes, power seats
and heater with the body in very solid and original condition and
with the chrome and bright trim all complete and intact including
the 300D emblems.Survivors from this era are rare making this car
an asset to any dedicated Chrysler or MOPAR collection. The 392 /
380HP V8 engine runs strong and sounds absolutely magnificent and
this particular car drives really well - must be driven to be
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! An All-New Body for 1957 and one of
just 191 1958 Chrysler 300D Convertibles BuiltPowered by the
Unbridled 392 CID 380 HP Dual 4BBL Carbs Hemi EngineRestored in
Original 300D Color of 'Matador Red' with Natural 'Beige'
LeatherEngineered for High Performance, Outfitted for Pure Luxury
Restyled for 1957/8, Chrysler completely redesigned their flagship
300-Series with the 300C amp; D, which combined clean, aggressive,
forward-look styling with comprehensive, high-performance
engineering. Designer Virgil Exner described its sleek, dynamic
profile as the new shape of motion. Its considerable $4,924 list
price delivered each fortunate owner with a high-performance
vehicle built to win the rapidly advancing horsepower race outright
at 375 hp with the new, larger 392 cid Hemi engine. The newest
Chrysler 300 engine was uprated in many ways when compared with the
standard Hemi in the New Yorker line, including dual-quad
carburretion, 9.25:1 compression, solid lifters, a hotter cam,
double valve springs, hardened crankshaft, and tri-metal bearings.
This beautifully presented 300D was originally dispatched in
October 1957. It was retailed through 'Canoga Chrysler/Plymouth' in
Canoga Park, CA, and finished in 'Ermine' with Natural 'Beige'
leather. It was restored over the years as required and repainted
once in the stock and date correct 300 color of 'Matador Red' (Code
PPP), with a Natural 'Beige' leather interior. The paint and
bodywork are of very high quality and the engine bay is beautifully
finished, abounding in correct details. The dashboard and
instruments are a work of art and the 300 trim on the door panels
and the 300 glovebox emblem remind the driver of the high
performance nature of this luxury convertible. The plating,
stainless trim, and emblems are bright and vibrant, and the 300D
wheels make a bold visual statement. The trunk is beautifully
finished with carpeting; with original spare wheel and jack are
stowed to the right. As expected, the 392 Hemi V-8 produces plenty
of power, and integrates seamlessly with the push button
TorqueFlite transmission. In 1957 the starter switch was integrated
into the 'Neutral' position so to engage the starter the driver
pushes 'Neutral' in the pushbutton nacelle. The 58 300D combined
clean and aggressive forward look styling with comprehensive and
legitimate high performance engineering.The car was rare, only 191
built in 1958, and an obviously very expensive flagship model for
Chrysler, with over 380HP with the newer and larger 392 cubic inch
Hemi engine. For comparison the Corvette boasted only 283HP, the
Lincoln 300HP, the Cadillac 325HP and the Lincoln 330HP! Even the
Packard Hawk at 275HP couldn't match the Chrylser.The Chrysler 300
engine was special in many ways even compared to the New Yorker
Hemi , including the dual quad carburation, 9.25/1 compression,
solid lifters, hotter cam with 0.444 lift intake and 0.435 lift
exhaust, double valve springs, hardened crankshaft and tri-metal
bearings. The suspension had thicker front torsion bars and heavier
rear springs that anticipated high speed driving with 'Motor trend'
magazine in March 1957 going as far to say that "Nothing goes like
the Chrysler 300C!" The Chrysler 300 Club International has
provided a factory build code interpretation summary of the factory
stats and build for this particular car which shows the car was
built on October 15th, 1957 and shipped on October 29th, 1957, and
sold new at the 'Canoga Chrysler/Plymouth, Inc' dealership (Dlr #
6889) of Canoga Park, CA with an extensive option list including
the following factory options: Body 595 - 1958 Chrysler 300D
Convertible Engine Code 402 - 392/380HP Dual 4BBLS V8 (Eng #
583N1084), no A/C, PS Beige Leather Interior (016)Power steering
Electro Touch Tuner AM Radio (443) $125 Power Antenna (334) White
Convertible Top (322) Custom Air Heater amp; Defroster (345) $99 6
Way Front Power Seat (303) $102 Power Windows (304) $125 Sure Grip
Differential (399) Left Outside Rear View Mirror (401) Vanity
Mirror (405) Solex Glass with shaded windshield (467) $40 Axle
ratio 3.31:1 (55C) 30 amp 4 1/4 " dia frame (578) LHD Domestic
Build (611) Torqueflite Automatic TransmissionPower BrakesFull
floor carpetingElectric clock2 Speed Electric windshield
wipersLuggage compartment lightSpecific wheel covers with 300D logo
Dual HeadlampsWhite sidewall tires 1 of 191 built For much of its
history, Chrysler had been the frontrunner building some of the
most exciting high-performance cars Detroit had to offer. Foremost
among them are the formidable early Hemi-powered Chrysler 300
letter cars of the 1950s which, by virtue of their cost and long
list of standard and optional features, were reserved for the
wealthiest and most discerning buyers. Cloaked in handsome Virgil
Exner-designed bodies and carefully engineered, the 300 series
offered the ultimate in American luxury and performance.
Performance was stunning right off the showroom floor, with the
large an...for more information please contact the seller.
