Hooniverse Obscure Muscle Car Garage – The 1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst

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Welcome to the Hooniverse Obscure Muscle Car Garage, a regular feature which aims to expand the notion of what a muscle car is, and have some fun in the process. It wasn’t the Pontiac GTO, Ford Mustang or Chevy 409 that began the performance car wars, it was arguably, the Chrysler 300. Making its debut in 1955, the 300 was so-named because of its 300hp Hemi V-8. The 300 Letter Series, as they would be known as, were produced as limited edition, factory hot rods, through 1965, when the last 300 “L” was produced. After an absence of four years, a full-size Chrysler muscle car made an appearance once again in 1970. Introducing the Chrysler 300 “H” Hurst edition.

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The Chrysler 300 Hurst was a special model and is seen today as a legitimate member of the Chrysler 300 Letter Series. At a total length of over 18 and a 1/2 feet, it was also one of the largest 2 door coupes ever produced. At that time, the still independent Hurst Company not only manufactured shifters and other performance enhancing products, it also produced car concepts based on regular production cars. Many of the concepts were never realized, though it seems that this one was destined for production.

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There seem to be a lot of theories as to why there were only 485 (or maybe 500) cars built, but one that has been widely circulated was that the approval came well after the regular 1970 Chryslers were already in production. Apparently, it was a scramble to get the Hursts’ made, and to add gasoline to the fire, Chrysler thought Hurst would promote the model and Hurst assumed Chrysler would. As a result, most dealers were unaware of the model, until one showed up on a carrier in their lot. Speculation is that only a few were actually ordered. However, there have been published reports that most 300-Hs’ were customer-ordered, some were designed for dealer stock, and a few were built for the sales bank, so why there were so few sold is still open to debate.

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The cars were run through the Chrysler plant on Jefferson Avenue in batches, as two door hardtops in Spinnaker-White. They had Imperial leather interiors in “Saddle” color installed as they went down the Chrysler line. They were then sent to Warminster, PA, where Hurst did the conversions. Originally, the cars were to get deeper oil pans, special ignition systems and of course, Hurst shifters. However, none of that was realized. So it seems that there was very little performance enhancing equipment installed. What Hurst actually did was to cut off the sheetmetal hood skin and replace it with a fiberglass part. Then they installed the fiberglass trunklid plus rear fender end caps and painted the car in the one available color scheme. What appears to be gold color is actually “Satin Tan” which graced the hood, trunk and a beltline streak (this also explains why the interior was in tan and not in gold, which would have been feasible). Where Satin Tan and white bordered, a brown-orange-brown decal stripe could be seen. This stripe also found its way on the lower body side.

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The fiberglass hood had a non-functional power bulge scoop (with a “300-H” emblem on either side) and functional recessed twist locks. An interesting fact is that these locks were Oldsmobile parts! The decklid featured an incorporated rear spoiler and no trunk lock. This required the vacuum remote trunk lock as standard, operated from the dashboard, in the glove compartment. It was accompanied by a cable operated emergency unit under the dash. The spoilers were structurally deficient, and many either sagged, or broke, so Chrysler dealers offered support blocks sandwiched between spoiler and lid.

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The whole package left room for some additional options, but most characteristics could not be altered. Almost all of the 300-Hurst Models feature power windows (Some of the Car Magazines that tested a 300 Hurst noted that their particular car had manual crank windows) and one is known to have come with a sunroof. The steel road wheels were also part of the deal. However, they didn’t come all chromed but were painted Satin Tan color and had decals applied along with the stripes in brown and orange. The regular 300 grille with hidden headlights sported orange instead of red accent paint stripes. No vinyl tops could be ordered. In the back, square bright tip exhausts were optional. There were two Convertibles produced as well.

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Under the hood, the 440 cubic inch “TNT” engine with 375 gross horsepower. It breathed through a dual snorkel air cleaner, had dual exhausts and required a beefed up TorqueFlite transmission. No other powertrain was available. Ride was enhanced with a firm suspension due to heavy duty rear leaf springs and larger diameter torsion bars up front (this suspension was also available to other Chrysler models as part of the trailer-towing package). Power front disc brakes were standard, as was the 3.23:1 final drive ratio. Road tests at the time clocked one at 0-60 at 7.1 seconds with the 1/4 mile in 15.3 seconds. Top speed was around 127 MPH.

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The interior came in “Saddle” (tan) with leather seats, the same that were optional in 1970 Imperial LeBaron two-door hardtops. The front saw bucket seats with center seat cushion. The drivers’ seat was power actuated, while the passenger seat could recline. The rest of the interior was the regular Chrysler 300 dress-up. Column-shift was standard while the Chrysler console with gear selector was optional and would replace the center seat cushion with armrest. A Tilt-and-Telescope steering wheel was another option, as was air conditioning.

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The 1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst saw between 485 and 500 copies, experts are not sure. There is a Chrysler Corp. letter from 1972, circulated on the web, that states the smaller figure. Hurst kept a pair of parade/promotional vehicles; one was the convertible and the other was a hardtop with a power-operated, sliding steel sunroof. With a base price of $5,939 it was the most expensive Chrysler in 1970 (except for the Imperials).

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Well, once again, I’m asking you, our readers, if the Chrysler 300 Hurst is an Obscure Muscle Car? Would you define it as a muscle car, or just a large luxury barge? Is it too big to be even considered a muscle car? Or, do you think that it’s rarity, and brawn is exactly what a muscle car is? Comments are always welcome, and let’s see what you think.

[poll id=”152″]

Please Note: All Images are screen grabs from around the web. If you want credit for any image, please let me know in the comments section. Thank You!

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34 responses to “Hooniverse Obscure Muscle Car Garage – The 1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst”

  1. muthalovin Avatar

    The Obscure Muscle Car Garage is quickly becoming one of my favorite series of posts on the whole of the internet.
    Thank you, Jim.

    1. danleym Avatar
      danleym

      Yep, there's been some good stuff in this series. I'm not surprised when there's a European or Japanese car featured on here that I'm not familiar with, I grew up with muscle cars and they're still where my main attraction lies. But you continue to amaze me by featuring muscle cars I've never heard of. Keep it up!

    2. kingcrowing Avatar
      kingcrowing

      I love muscle cars, but I must admit beyond the mainstream ones (my personal favorite being the Chevelle) I'm not really up-to-snuff as I'm more a German car guy so it's awesome to get to see some of these fringe muscle cars!

  2. MVEilenstein Avatar
    MVEilenstein

    Jim, I have to be honest; I had no idea this car existed. Now that I do, I like it. I want it.
    Definitely a muscle car.

    1. mseoul Avatar
      mseoul

      Very interesting article. Oddly I was reading a period "Car Life" magazine during a garage cleaning yesterday! I had never heard of the car either and when I saw this article I was floored: Did Jim just read an old "Car Life" too? I think its June, with the photo of Parnelli Jone's Boss Mustang on the cover. "CL" gave it a pretty nagative review of an honest nature that I don't think can be seen in today's similarly mainstream car mags. They said their tester had crank windows but Chrysler assured them "the other 499" had power…

  3. Spring-heeled Jack Avatar
    Spring-heeled Jack

    The modifications are kind of tacky, but I love the Mopar "fuselage" cars. Obscure Musclecar Garage is brilliant.

  4. Irishzombieman☆ Avatar
    Irishzombieman☆

    Oh, dear Lord. H.A. question o' the day has me lamenting all the awesome old Chryslers my family has owned and you go and post this sucker.
    This is awesome. This is really, really awesome.

  5. $kaycog Avatar
    $kaycog

    You forgot Miss Hurst on the convertible.
    <img src="http://theselvedgeyard.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/70_hurst_vaughn_2s.jpg"width="500"/&gt;

    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      Linda Vaughn FTW!

  6. OA5599 Avatar
    OA5599

    Some people claim the "H" stood for Hurst, but I tend to believe it was a reference to cup size.
    <img src="http://blogs.discovery.com/.a/6a00d8341bf67c53ef017615356123970c-800wi&quot; width=500>
    I had heard stories that one of these ended up with a 426 Hemi under the hood–it may have been a dealer conversion instead of a Hurst project. Not as easy to do in a C-body as it would have been to swap a Hemi into a B, E, or even A body, where it would be a relatively simple matter to swap to a Hemi K-frame.

  7. topdeadcentre Avatar
    topdeadcentre

    Awesomely obscure. Obscurely awesome. I must have one.
    I wonder, how many can possibly still be on the road?

    1. jimdandy 99 Avatar
      jimdandy 99

      My father had one second hand about 1973. When I drove it I would always get stares. Awesome ride. Felt like you were cruising at over 100mph. My father sold it to a cousin who had kept it at least into the late80's. Think she finally sold it but what memories I have.

  8. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    I remember when these came out, and I'm sure it was written up in Hot Rod magazine, for which I walked down to the local drug store every month, to plunk down my 50 cents.

  9. Shant Jaltorossian Avatar
    Shant Jaltorossian

    I love the design of the fuselage Chryslers.

  10. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
    C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

    I NOW HAVE AN INFINITE AMOUNT OF WANT!!!!
    Though…I'd work with a '69 Imperial LeBaron 2-door as well. Both hidden headlamps and sequential turn indicators FTW!
    FWIW, the '73 Imperial 2-door holds the record as the longest production car.
    Off to the Craigslists!!!

    1. stigshift Avatar
      stigshift

      Wow- I never knew the '69 Imperial had sequential turn signals! I actually had to look it up to satisfy my curiosity. I'll be damned. Thanks for pointing it out.

      1. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
        C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

        Yeah, it surprised me, too, being a fuselage Mopar fan from an early age.
        Oh, plus fender-top turn signal repeaters.
        YET MORE WIN!
        [youtube l—tOEuRJE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l—tOEuRJE youtube]
        Near the end, you can see the fender-top repeater.
        The old mechanical systems had a nice beat.

  11. salguod Avatar

    I kick myself because there was one of these sitting forlorn in a driveway on Heatherdowns road in Toledo for years when I was in HS and college. I always said I was going to stop and ask about it and never did. It disappeared years ago, hopefully to a good home.

  12. Todd Avatar
    Todd

    Although this was a great article, how can we answer the question if this 300 was truly built as a muscle car. You discussed the rarity of the car, which I can appreciate. But how can anyone comment if this 300 was built to be a muscle car? Ya it's got the horsepower to be ause car of that era. But what about the rest of the cars setup?

  13. david42 Avatar
    david42

    I've seen one of these in person at a car show, and it's unspeakably menacing even with their rather genteel color scheme.
    A 1970 vehicle that can go 0-60 in 7.1 seconds and also has a "sport" (well, towing-package) suspension is surely a muscle car. A shame they didn't get the real stick shifts, though.
    I would LOVE to own one of these.

    1. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
      C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

      I know I'm in the minority, but vehicles of this size and mass really shouldn't have anything but automatics.
      Plus, the Chrysler 727, if tweaked, can be a clutchless manual. Those transmissions are amazing.

  14. Jay_Ramey Avatar
    Jay_Ramey

    Great article Jim, I saw the Jersey-plated example in the last image at the 2009 Greenwich Concours, where that particular photo was taken. I always wondered why there were seemingly so few of these around.
    I have a feeling we're going to see this one again at Greenwich before long, as it's been a few years and Greenwich only requires a 1-year gap for applications. American day at Greenwich has been pretty strong in recent years, but there's not enough of this sort of thing there I feel.

  15. e46christopher Avatar
    e46christopher

    That has to be one of the nicest integrated rear spoilers I've ever seen. And yeah, I want it!

  16. skitter Avatar
    skitter

    We're like people who definitely shouldn't work at an animal shelter. It's going to be much harder to kick something out of the Obscure Muscle Car Garage than to try to keep them all.

    1. Devin Avatar
      Devin

      I wish I had the dosh to be the equivalent of a cat lady for obscure muscle cars.

    2. Vairship Avatar
      Vairship

      The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Muscle Cars (ASPCMC) needs to get started post-haste!

  17. stigshift Avatar
    stigshift

    I have wanted one of these forever! There was one for sale in Clearwater, FL, about 20 years ago for $5k- with a sunroof… I have yet to see one in the flesh.

  18. Van_Sarockin Avatar
    Van_Sarockin

    It sure is obscure and muscle-ey. And it's beautifully preserved. That said, I don'tlikeit much
    And have even less use for it. Glad it's found a good home.

    1. skitter Avatar
      skitter

      Thumbs back up for dissenting opinion.
      Stay classy, Hooniverse.

  19. Slow_Joe_Crow Avatar
    Slow_Joe_Crow

    I voted thumbs down on this for being primarily cosmetic and for diminishing the legacies of both the letter series 300 and Hurst packages.

    1. RichardKopf Avatar
      RichardKopf

      Perhaps your real beef should then be with the 300H.

  20. Abe Avatar
    Abe

    If this is a musclecar then so is an ElDorado. It is just too big and living room like to be a musclecar.

  21. William Wallace Avatar
    William Wallace

    Curious why did the 1970 Chrysler 300 come with crag-er mags and not the original Chrysler 300 factory mags, also Why did the convertible have the white interior, rather than the typical tan imperial interior?.Is this vehicle the original Chrysler 300 Hurst convertible from the factory, or did someone use parts off of a 300 Hurst to make it look authentic? Does anyone know if this car still exists and who owns this vehicle? I also read where there was a Chrysler 300 426 Hemi convertible converted by the dealer. If you have information regarding any of these vehicals would you please e-mail me at psmuacle295@yahoo.com I would appreciate it.
    Thank you,
    Bill Wallace

  22. Carla Jeffrey Avatar
    Carla Jeffrey

    I own one of these. I’m the 2nd owner. Can someone tell me how to read the VIN number so I could find out what number my car is?