[Chrysler300] R7 Revision- Diamond Jubilee 300 Circus

Hi Tonty,

It looks fine except that you have “390hp” mentioned twice in the second sentence of the 300 J section. It only needs to be mentioned once. Your call on whether or not we mention the 140+ top speed twice or only once. With the airfoil wiper sentence back in, I would mention the top speed there and delete it in the sentence with the quarter mile times, but again your call.

Carl

From: Tony Rinaldi

Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 11:47 AM

To: C Bilter

Subject: Re: More revisions for 1963

Took some small liberties- Section now reads:

Fourth Generation: 1963-1964

Fourth Generation: 1963-1964

A major restyling came to all Chryslers for 1963, and the Letter Series 300 was no

Exception. However, the company decided to skip over the letter “I” and named

this car the 300-J. And it was available only as a two-door hardtop with a 390-hp

version of the 413 Wedge under its hood. Sales shrank to a total of just 400 300-Js, making it the lowest production letter car produced.

At the same time, 24,665 300 Sport Series models were shipped — including 1,861 replicas of the 300 convertible that paced that year’s Indianapolis 500.

The convertible returned to the Letter Series for 1964, but the 300-K was otherwise identical to the 300-J. Still, Letter Series sales rebounded to 3,022 hardtops and 625 convertibles, while 26,887 Sport Series cars found homes.

300 J (1963)

Chrysler skipped over “I”, going straight to “J” in its continuing production of the letter car. Its line up was also simplified somewhat this year. Only one engine was offered this year, the dual 4 bbl 413 V8 with short rams and 390hp with cast iron exhaust headers producing 390 hp. This was the most powerful standard equipment engine ever supplied in a letter car and it provided spectacular performance, with quarter mile speeds up to 97mph or higher in under 16 seconds and a top speed of 140mph or greater.

A heavy duty TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission was standard, and a 3-speed manual was optional, with only seven cars so equipped. A new Bendix brake system provided better stopping ability. Gone was the “letter car” convertible for this year. The Sport Series non-letter cars had two engines to choose from: the base 383/305hp V8 and an optional high performance single 4bbl 413 V8 with 360hp.

The 300-J featured a unique “square” deluxe steering wheel that some found uncomfortable, but it allowed an unobstructed view of the redesigned instrument cluster for 1963 and easier ingress and egress for the driver. A new wiper was used on the 300-J too. Airfoils were designed into the blade to press it harder against the windshield at higher speeds. This was important since the “J” could now reach over 140 mph.

Five colors were available: Alabaster, Formal Black, Oyster White, Madison Grey, and Claret. A claret red leather interior was standard with all exterior colors. Two pinstripes ran the length of the body, and “J” medallions were placed on the C-pillar and rear deck. Chrysler was selected to pace the Indianapolis 500 race in 1963 and a 300 Sport Series convertible was used fitted with 300-J wheels and tires as the actual pace car. In commemoration of that event a special run of “Pace Setter” Sport Series 300's were produced. The majority were convertibles painted Pace Car Blue with special checkered flag emblems and a “300 Pace Car” emblem on the center console.

Letter Cars:

Production: 400 Coupes

Non-Letter Cars:

Production: 2 Door HT 9,423

2 Door Convertible 1,535

4 Door HT 9,915

4 Door Sedan 1,625 (These were Saratoga’s built for Canada)

2 Door HT “Pace Setter” 306

2 Door Convertible “Pace Setter” 1,861

From: C Bilter <cbilter@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, Mar 12, 14 at Wed, Mar 12 - 12:13 PM
To: Anthony Rinaldi <awrdoc@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: More revisions for 1963

Hi Tony,

After a good night’s sleep, I again reviewed the 300-J section and have made additional revisions and corrections, attached.

Thanks for putting this together!

Carl