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

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ghost in the Machine: 1996 Callaway Supernatural 450 C9 Impala SS

Image
After my brother briefly drove my dad's 455-equipped 1975 Trans Am and found out how terrible it was on gas, he switched to a 1995 Chevrolet Caprice 9C1 decked out to look like an Impala SS. Furthermore, my dad worked at a junkyard where the owner has a 1995 Callaway C9 sitting in his yard, albeit rotting away. To summarize, I've been a huge fan of 1994-1996 Impala SSs for a long time now, especially ones modified by Callaway. This 1996 Impala SS is not only a Callaway C9, it's also been upgraded to a Supernatural 450 model. Find it here on Hemmings in Leesburg, Virginia, with an asking price of $50,000 obo. After getting his start as a driving instructor for Bob Bondurant's driving school in 1973, Reeves Callaway got his start in modifying cars by making turbocharger kits for BMW through Car and Driver's Don Sherman. After Sherman told Callaway that he had neither the manpower nor the equipment to build the turbos, Callaway founded C...
Read more

T-Topped G-Body: 1981 Pontiac Grand Prix

Image
One of the coolest options that I hope will return to production one day are T-tops. Last used in the early 2000s, T-tops were the practical and economic way to enjoy the great outdoors while driving without the fuss and worries of the convertible. It would be really cool to see a new six-gen Camaro or Mustang (heck, even the Challenger would look cool) to feature T-tops from the factory, but until then, take the wildcard route and buy this needy 1981 Pontiac Grand Prix. Find it here on Craigslist in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, with an asking price of $1,595. After a full redesign in 1978, Pontiac's G-body Grand Prix was given a major facelift in 1981. The sheetmetal was given a more aerodynamic design, the tail section was revised, and a new grille was fitted. This 1981 Grand Prix is a LJ model, and is one of 46,842 cars built for the year. Painted a two-tone blue, the grille is cracked, the landau roof needs replacing, the bumper...
Read more

Mint Baja: 1991 Chevrolet S10 4X4

Image
There are certain vehicles that one rarely sees in nice, unmolested condition out on the road. Finding one for sale, however, is like trying to find the proverbial needle-in-the-haystack. One of those vehicles is the Chevrolet S10, especially 1982 to 1993 versions. An even harder version of the S10 to find is the Baja appearance package, which is a rare sight in any condition, let alone one as clean as this truck is. Find it here on Craigslist in Dallas, PA, for $13,750. Introduced in 1988, the Baja was an appearance option that was available on any S10 that had four-wheel drive. Available in Midnight Black, Apple Red and Frost White, the Baja option included  a roll bar with off-road lights, a front tubular grille guard with fog lights, a tubular rear bumper, an under-body shield package (transfer case shield, front differential shield, fuel tank shield, oil pan/steering linkage shields), a suspension package, a Chevrolet windshield ...
Read more