[Chrysler300] The 1964 "Silver 300" Package

[kmaniak@xxxxxxx]

Greetings All:

Having read a recent e-mail referencing the 1964 “Silver 300” package, I feel it is time to discuss this unique model and put to bed any myths or misconceptions.
 
Chrysler, like other car companies, will offer spring promotional options packages on cars as a marketing tool to clear their shelves of a back stock of accessory items that have collected on their parts shelves.  The “Silver 300” package was created in the spring of 1964 for just that purpose.

The 1964 “Silver 300's” owe there existence to a highly specialized, high priced, and subsequently low volume model called the New Yorker Salon, which was offer in 1963 and 1964 only.  This unique model was introduced in 1963 and could have been considered a "poor man's Imperial Le Baron".  This was a New Yorker that that had every power accessory in the Chrysler book as standard equipment.  There were even some items on this car that were not available on other lesser model Chryslers, including rear passenger reading lights, ashtrays with cigarette lighters, automatic parking brake release, a fold down center front armrest with a lockable console compartment, and a black vinyl canopy top with crown molding.  Also unique to the Salon was a paint color called "Embassy Gold" (code U), a color offered on other Chrysler lines, but not on the full size Chryslers in either 1963 or 1964.  Chrysler built less than 1,000 Salons in 1963 and 1,621 Salons in 1964 according to my sources.

The 1964 model year marked the end of the line of the full size Chrysler platform first introduced with the “Forward Look” in 1957.  Chrysler had to deplete and eliminate all inventories of body parts that would not fit the new full size body platform due to be introduced for the 1965 model year.  By mid-year of the 1964 model cycle, I think Chrysler realized that they had a large inventory of unused black vinyl canopy tops reserved solely for the New Yorker Salon.  Seeing that projected Salon sales would not match the inventory backlog of vinyl tops, Chrysler had to devise a way to package these tops on other vehicles.  This is how I believe they came up with the “Silver 300” package.

The “Silver 300” package was offered on the 300 and 300-K two-door hardtops only with factory order code 329.  It consisted of the silver paint, a shade offered on Dodges and Plymouths, but not offered on the full size Chrysler until then.  It included, too, the black vinyl canopy top and molding used previously on the Salon only.  They offered only one interior color for the “Silver 300”, which was black.  The silver paint and vinyl top gave these special 300's a look similar to the New Yorker Salon, but for much less than the Salon's $6,000+ price tag.  Any option available on a 300 or 300-K was available on the Silver models.  Some were ordered with a heavy list of options and some had very little, if any.  Chrysler produced 2,152 “Silver 300's” and 255 “Silver 300-K's” according to my sources.

At first glance, it may appear that the silver cars are rare compared to the other cars produced that year.  Let me point out that only the silver color has exact production figures verified.  Based on a statistical calculation of remaining cars built, Chrysler most likely produced more silver colored 300's than they did any other specific color that year.  A genuine 1964 “Silver 300” will have the paint code "229".  The number 2 was used to identify the Silver Mist paint color.  In standard Chrysler paint code convention, the first digit identified body color and the second digit identified top color.  The third digit indicates the vinyl top and molding.  A similar paint code format was used on the New Yorker Salon.  Another code on the body plate unique to the “Silver 300” package is code Z5 of the second line.  I believe that Z5 indicates the factory installation of the canopy molding.  My 300-K hardtop with “Silver 300” package is coded Z5 and 229.  It is also coded A3, but that’s another story.  All other “Silver 300” package cars I have seen or verified for others are also coded Z5 and 229.  My gold Salon has paint code "UU9", with UU for "Embassy Gold" and "9" for the vinyl top, as well as code Z5.  One odd story reported by a long time member of the Chrysler 300 Club, Inc. was about a 300-K his family bought used years ago.  This 300-K had the factory black vinyl top, but was painted in "Royal Ruby" red.  The paint code was "RR9", indicating that the paint shade and vinyl top were consistent with the “Silver 300” package with a different color choice.
A question has come up recently as to whether Chrysler built a 300-K convertible in Silver Mist.  My answer would be that it was highly unlikely, but possible.  Any 300 or 300-K convertible, or for that matter, any 1964 Chrysler other than a 300 or 300-K with the “Silver 300” package, painted Silver Mist and/or paint coded 22, 221, or 229, would be an extremely rare car indeed.
 
On this same topic I would like to mention that Chrysler Canada produced a New Yorker 2-door hardtop in 1964.  My sources indicate that only 300 of these New Yorker 2-door hardtops were produced.  A few years ago, I was contacted by a Canadian resident who had just acquired one such car from the estate of the original owner and he sent me pictures.  The Canadian New Yorker 2-door hardtop used the standard 2-door hardtop body, equipped with the canopy vinyl top and roof molding, and the body side moldings used on the USA built Newport 2-door hardtops.  This car was also equipped the same white leather interior used in the USA built 300/300-K hardtops, including console and floor shift automatic.  The only two differences with interior trim were the use of a New Yorker plate on the dashboard, and use of New Yorker trim plates on the door panels in place of the four-pointed 300 star.
 
One thing I have noticed over the years is that some "misinformed" people may refer to the “Silver 300” package as the "Silver Anniversary" or the "Silver Special".  Let me take this opportunity to point out that the color silver represents a 25th anniversary and a "Silver Anniversary" Chrysler would only have been produced or marketed in 1949.  The 1964 model year was promoted in some advertisements as Chryslers 40th year.  Although this package can be considered “special” the package was not produced or advertised to promote any “anniversary”.  Use of these two terms to describe the “Silver 300” package should be avoided.
 
All of this information is based upon my personal research over the years.  Any additional information regarding this topic is welcome.

Chris - the K MANIAC
Concord, California


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