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1957 Chrysler 300C
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1,767 coupes, 484 convertibles. 387 coupes and 126 converts still exist. The 392 hemi with the standard 9.25 CR produces 375 HP with 2 four barrel WCFB carbs. Standard engine: 392 CID Hemi, 4.00 x 3.90, 375 hp, 9.25 CR. Standard engine: 392 CID Hemi, 4.00 x 3.90, 375 hp, 9.25 CR. Paint code N: Copper Brown metallic, Ditzler 21018. Microfilm exists for this car -- Date built = 2/6/57, date shipped = 2/7/57. Engine number = 1419. Power antenna [351], Solex glass [332], stone shield [353], axle ratio 3.36 [230], sold car [241], leather upholstery [60], Electro touch tuner radio [321], rear shelf speaker [322], heater [323], power seat [326], power steering [327], power windows [328], Solex glass [332], left outside rear view mirror [335], AC [344], power antenna [351], stone shield [353], unknown [391], domestic drive [401]. Body number 10653. Scheduled date 02/08/57, date built 02/06/57, date shipped 02/07/57. Shipped to region 11, Los Angeles to dealer #6254, Barney Miller Inc, Alhambra, CA (out of business 1/31/58). 
Production of the 300C started in late November of 1956. In December they built 55 cars, in January they built 283 more for a total to date of 338. This is the 390th C and was built February 6th, 1957. Production continued to September 5th with 2,251 units. You can consider this car a fairly early build; 83% of the total production was yet to come. The 300C was available in 5 exterior colors: Jet Black, Parade Green, Copper Brown, Gauguin Red, and Cloud White. Cloud White was the most popular color at 61.5% of production (1,386). 19% were black (422), 8% Gauguin Red (183), 5% Copper Brown (111), and 5% Parade Green (103). This car is one of 18 copper brown Cs built with AC. This was heavily optioned car with AC, power antenna, Solex glass, stone shield, Electro touch tuner radio with rear shelf speaker, power seat, power windows, and left outside rear view mirror. With a base price of $5,411, options added $870 (or 16%) for a total of $6,280. We have some history on this car. In 1975 it was listed for sale by Mrs. Clarence Felker of Arcadia, CA. The for sale ad has these notes: "Speedometer shows 61,000 give or take 15 to 20,000 because they don't know when the 150 MPH was installed. Car has been garaged since 1958. Condition is listed as "mint". Side medallion has Fuel Injection medallion. Front and rear seats have been reupholstered and headliner replaced. Clock replaced with tachometer. Originally a factory AC car." The car was sold to John Gardener of Roanoke, VA. John had a collection of ten to fifteen Cs and Ds. Gardener sold the car to Paul Danko, no date listed. Art Danko (Paul's son) is the next owner. In 2022 Darrin Bailey bought it and it came to Golden Lion in 2024. Somewhere along the line it was painted black but we don't know when. Odometer when received here in October of 2024: 79,671. This a nice looking rust free car with a nice tan leather upholstery redone years ago. The bumpers, grille, emblems, stainless and taillights are quite nice. The car has the original engine, carbs, air cleaners etc. The door panels and dash are nice. Some of the factory AC is still there and there is an aftermarket trunk AC unit. It does not look like the installation of the trunk unit was completed.
Both front doors have these clips. You can position the clip to hold the door light switch in the off position. This is likely a modification from a previous owner.
This is also an addition from a previous owner. I have found the green light is (was) connected to the AC system. I have not yet found the wiring for the red light. 
The car was purchased as a project car. It was not running and a quick look showed many things need to be corrected. A thorough bumper to bumper review is required. Let's begin the adventure. To page 2 |
