1966 Chrysler 300

Chrysler introduced the 300 Model Name in 1955 and at the time, was the most powerful automobile of the year. Offered as a hardtop coupe, the $4,100 price tag made them one of the most expensive vehicles in the lineup. The 331.1 cubic-inch Hemi engine offered 300 horsepower, providing the inspiration for the model name. The following year, the 300 name continued, this time becoming the 300B, followed by the 300C in 1957. This incremental lettering earned these '300' models to become known as the 'Letter Series,' and production would continue through 1965 with the 300L. Adding confusion to its range, Chrysler introduced a second '300' model in 1962, this one a 'non-letter' model. While the letter series was an exclusive model, with production rarely topping 2,000 and prices among the highest in the lineup, the 'non-letter' 300 Sport Series was offered in a variety of body styles and served as a replacement for the Windsor model.

With the 300 Letter Series ending in 1965, the 1966 model year was the first time the 'non-letter' version was the only 300 in the lineup. It continued to wear the designs introduced in 1965 with minor trim alterations and changes to the front and rear facades. Within the lineup, it was priced above the entry-level Newport and below the New Yorker. Power was from an overhead-valve, 383 cubic-inch V8 with 10.1:1 compression, five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, and a Carter four-barrel carburetor helping to produce 325 horsepower at 4,800 RPM. A three-speed manual transmission was standard with an automatic offered as optional equipment. Body styles included a hardtop coupe, hardtop sedan, convertible, and sedan. The 2-door hardtop had 24,103 sales and the hardtop sedan had 20,642 sales. The convertible and sedan had similar sales, with the convertible having 2,500 and the sedan at 2,353.

Production of the 300 Non-Letter series continued until 1971, briefly returning in 1979 as an option package on the cordoba coupe.

By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2020