A Lesser-Known Mopar Muscle Car: Sub-$4K 1964 Chrysler 300K





























When it comes to Mopars, the cars that typically come to mind are the Plymouth 'Cuda, Dodge Charger, Dodge Challenger, Plymouth Road Runner, and the Dodge Super Bee. However, Mopar had been building high-performance models well before those models even appeared. Perhaps the most notorious was Chrysler's Letter-Series cars, which were built from 1955 to 1965. This Letter Car is a 1964 Chrysler 300K, which was the second-to-last year for Letter Car production. Find it here on Craigslist in Grover Beach, California, with an asking price of $3,890.



























With the exception of the convertible model returning to the lineup, not much changed for the 1964 300 Letter-Series car, though the designation was changed from 300J to 300K. Thanks to a base price being reduced by $1,000 dollars, this was the highest total of production for the Letter-Series, with 3,022 coupes and 625 convertibles built. This 300K is a coupe, and looks to be fairly straight. There is some rust on the rocker panels, but otherwise, this car is pretty solid. The maroon paint is an attractive shade for the exterior, and I would leave it untouched for a bit before springing for a repaint. For now, I would address the rust and swap the BF Goodrich Radial T/As for a set of white-line tires.



























Though a cross-ram 413 was still available as an option, this 300K is powered by the four-barrel 413 V8. Rated at 360 horsepower and 495 lb-ft of torque, performance is definitely sprightly. Backed by a three-speed 727 Torqueflite, the engine is currently out of the car and is non-numbers matching. In need of a rebuild, the seller makes no mention of whether or not all of the components for the 413 are included, so I would inquire with the owner. I would rebuild and restore the 413 with all of the necessary components and put the drivetrain back together before engaging in some cruising.


























I've always thought that Chrysler did a nice job designing its interiors. Spec'd with a black, bucket-seat interior with console, this 300K's interior is fairly decent. There are tears in front driver's-side bucket seat and the rear seat, but the seller does include new seat covers for an extra $1,150. The instrument panel and steering wheel are pretty cool, as is the console with the clock mounted front and center. Though in need of a bit of attention, this 300K does not need a whole lot of work, and is a bargain considering the price. What are your thoughts on this affordable, second-to-last-year Letter Car?
Location: Grover Beach, CA, USA

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