1962 Chrysler 300H Hardtop Coupe

Before there was a Chrysler Corporation, before there were HEMIs, before Wedges and dual-quads, there was Maxwell-Chalmers. They'd made cars since 1904 but as happened to many a manufacturer in those early days, they plowed headlong into financial hardship. Walter Chrysler was recruited to rescue them as he'd done for Willys-Overland. Walter launched the immodestly named Chrysler model in 1924, offering sophisticated yet affordable engineering advancements. It worked, Maxwell and Chalmers's models disappeared and the Chrysler Corporation was born.

In the fifties engineers figured a solid lifter, dual-quad 331 Hemi could make 300 horsepower. They just needed a car worthy of showcasing this power. A New Yorker two-door hardtop and an Imperial nose were cobbled together and the 1955 Chrysler 300 was born. That 300 is considered the first muscle car. It could reach 130 MPH and clock 0-60 in just 9.8 seconds. It dominated NASCAR that year and quickly gained a prestigious racing pedigree. The 300 'letter cars' were built from 1955-1965 under the guidance of respected designer Virgil Exner, combining elegance, performance, and style.

But, in 1962 the 300 came in two styles: the 300-H and a four-door 'Sport Series.' The latter looked like the 300-H but with a mild 383 engine and single two-barrel carburetor. The 300-H no longer had massive tail fins but otherwise was similar to the 300-G of 1961. And it still had the 413 CID beast with 380 horsepower and 470 ft-lbs of torque pounding away under the hood. However, Sport Series branding confusion sent 300-H sales plummeting to just 435 hardtops. This car is highly optioned with A/C, rear defroster, and cruise control.