This 57 Chrysler 300 is an incredible example of one of Mopar’s finest creations. The beautiful Gaugin Red exterior paint shows excellent and the chrome and brightwork are in great shape as well. This car has all of the standard features you would expect on a top-of-the-line model from 1957 such as power steering, power windows and a factory AM radio with rear view mirror. Inside the luxurious tan leather seats are in excellent condition and the dash is in stock configuration. An electric clock, fuel, oil, temp and amp gauges as well as a 150 MPH speedometer round out the instruments available to the driver.
The car rides on 4 wide whitewall tires mounted on the original wheels and has a spare and jack in the trunk. The engine and undercarriage are also in great condition and the transmission shifts like it should. This Mopar is a pleasure to drive and it will turn heads wherever you go.
Car experts generally agree that in 1957, Chrysler 57 Chrysler 300 took over the automotive styling leadership from General Motors, largely due to the work of chief designer Virgil Exner. Among his many accomplishments that year were the new tail fin designs, which both looked good and offered stability at high speeds.
Exner’s influence continued with the introduction of the 300 C, a larger, more powerful version of the sedan that was intended to be the standard bearer for the entire Chrysler lineup. It boasted a 392 cubic inch Hemi HEMI with two four-barrel carburetors and 375 horsepower, making it the fastest production car in America that year. The 300C also offered a high-performance option with a higher compression ratio, bigger exhausts and a more radical cam.
It was a big, heavy car that weighed about 4,700 pounds. That might explain why it handled so well and was such a capable performer, even in its base configuration. It was also the only full-size car with front-wheel drive at that time, which helped it achieve such amazing straight-line performance.
Traditional Detroit thinking was that radical styling and engineering shouldn’t be introduced at the same time, but that didn’t stop Chrysler from pulling it off in the case of the 300. Its success was ultimately based on more than just looks, though.
Its suspension absorbs even the most severely rutted pavement without feeling overly soft or floaty. Its steering is quick and precise, and its acceleration is impressive for such a large car. It doesn’t have the refinement and luxury of a Mercedes, but it’s still an incredibly enjoyable car to drive.