While gearheads often point to the 1964 Pontiac GTO as the first true muscle car, the Chrysler 300 is the granddaddy of them all. When the 300 launched in 1955, it was all about NASCAR, and Chrysler was king.
In the 1950s, NASCAR rules mandated that cars run “strictly stock.” Chrysler introduced a new C-300 in 1955, a luxurious powerhouse with the 331 CI hemispherical head V8 engine (the “Hemi”) under the hood that could produce 300 horsepower. No American car had ever produced that much power.
– Chrysler Blog
The 300’s displacement grew in each of the first three model years. The 1956 300B landed a 354 cubic inch Hemi, earning a world speed record at Daytona with a 133.9 mile-per-hour run. The 1957 300C’s Hemi grew to 392 cubic inches. The 300 set another speed record in 1958, clocking 156.387 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Chrysler pulled the Hemi in 1959, replacing it with a 413 cubic inch Wedge.
This stunning 1958 300D listed on eBay checks all the boxes. The numbers-matching 380 horsepower FirePower 392 cubic inch Hemi V8 is topped with dual four-barrel carburetors. The original beige leather interior is remarkable. Notable features include power seats, power windows, cruise control, and Chrysler’s push-button three-speed TorqueFlight automatic transmission. The car is rust-free, having spent many years in a Midwest museum after undergoing a full frame-off restoration.
With every classic car, there’s a peak year. The 1958 model delivers pure American style: from the nose of the car, with its bulging fenders, quad head lamps, and egg crate grille—to the tail with its red, white, and blue 300 badges, outrageous fins and monumental tail lamps. While sales numbers were tiny, the 300D nails it on style, performance, and desirability.
Chrysler head designer Virgil Exner’s teams took bold chances. Take a long gander at the scrumptious interior. Where else have you seen a transmission gear selector placed to the left of the steering wheel or the rearview mirror on the dash? The Coral paint is truly unique—neither pink nor orange. It’s a day in the tropics.
The Los Angeles/Maywood Assembly Plant built a scant 618 300D hardtops for 1958 model year. With a mere 44,312 miles on the odometer, you might never see another example quite like this one.
See Vintage and Classic Parts for 1958 Chrysler 300 for sale on eBay.
