Re: {Chrysler 300} Re: 1965 Chrysler 300L 4 Speed Production Numbers

Hi Gary,

Thanks for posting your "L" video - love it in its shades of blue! Great to see that you're only its second owner.

A group of us 300 Club members will look for you when we're at MCACN that Saturday. It's a fabulous event, packed with Mopars, though I don't know if we'll see any 300s - other than yours - there this year. Another of our 300 Club members will be displaying 5 of his Mopars - mostly B-bodies - there this year.

FYI - Here's a video of another 4-speed L convertible, formerly owned by our late Club member Rolland Westra, that was filmed here locally 9 years ago at the annual 'Mopar Happening' show our Chicagoland Mopar Connection Club puts on in Belvidere, IL, not far from Chrysler's assembly plant -

1965 Chrysler 300 L Convertible in Black Paint & Engine Start on My Car Story with Lou Costabile

Noel Hastalis

F Coupe

Burr Ridge, IL

On 10/26/2025 8:21 PM CDT Gary Hergert <hergfest@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I didn’t record the VINs, probably should have. Just seems like there are more than 12 out there. The club doesn’t have the IBM cards for the Ls so it’s hard to see the production numbers on them. Here is a YouTube video of my L. It will also be featured at MCACN in a month, shipping it out from Seattle. Awesome to see another 4 speed L convertible out there!

https://youtu.be/s991ZIUWPSI?si=jrjBdlSjvYYNg6AK

From: chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> on behalf of Tom Iwinski <tom@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, October 26, 2025 5:32:09 AM
To: Chrysler 300 Club International <chrysler-300-club-international@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: {Chrysler 300} Re: 1965 Chrysler 300L 4 Speed Production Numbers

Howdy... I am a new member and first time posting to the club. Long time 300 enthusiast. The very first car I ever owned is a 1965 300 2 door hardtop. I bought it when I was 17 years old in 1980. That car is still in my garage.

Last summer I acquired a 300L convertible with a 4 speed manual transmission. So, I am also curious about the source of the production numbers.

I asked AI ChatGPT 5 if it knew the sources. the AI reported the first published instance of "12" came from HotRod Magazine in Dec. 2000. But that the author did not reference the source. You can read that output here:

https://chatgpt.com/s/t_68fc47482b5c8191ba3dcee11a6212b6

I purchased my 300L from a family member in the summer of 2024. The car has been off the road for over 50 years since the early 1970's when it had a slipping clutch and was parked in a garage. This 300L is local to the Pittsburgh its entire life. The PA road salt was not good for its only 10 years on the road. The car has gone through an extensive restoration started by my uncle and cousin. I plan to finish the assembly to have the car on the road in summer 2026. Here are a few photos of the current state of afairs:

https://share.icloud.com/photos/055yQanXWM-MkrYSvJcW89bJQ

Hergfest, here is another VIN to add to your list. (see photos link)

Where can I see some photos of your 300L?

Anyone have advice on assembling a car that arrives as a collection of parts?

All the best,

Tom

On Sunday, August 31, 2025 at 10:46:52 PM UTC-4 Hergfest wrote:

Where did the production numbers for 1965 Chrysler 300L 4 Speed cars come from? I believe the accepted numbers are 98 hardtops and 12 convertibles. Isn't it also true that the club doesn't have the IBM cards for the Ls? So I'm wondering where these numbers came from. I don't have all the VINs but I know of 8-9 four speed convertibles which seems like a high survival rate if there were only 12 built. Curious owner of a 4-speed convertible... Might add that my 4 speed convertible has been accepted to MCACN and will be there in November.

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