1958 Chrysler 300-D Hard Top Chassis no. LC41717

1958 Chrysler 300-D Hard Top Chassis no. LC41717
392ci OHV Hemi FirePower V8 Engine2 Carter 4-Barrel Carburetors380bhp at 5,200rpmPush-Button TorqueFlite Automatic TransmissionFront Independent Suspension - Live Rear Axle4-Wheel Hydraulic Power Drum Brakes*Superb, nut-and-bolt restoration performed to factory correct specifications*Striking factory special-order 'Air Force Blue' exterior color *Multiple Best of Show and Best in Class winning example*Top-of-the-line, rare 300-D 'Letter Series' car, fully loaded with powerful Hemi engineTHE MOTORCAR OFFEREDThis superbly restored 'letter series' Chrysler 300-D Hard Top is one of just 618 top-of-the-line examples made in 1958, and one of just a handful with factory paint code '999', which meant that the first owner special-ordered the exterior color as seen on the car today, in the stunning 'Air Force Blue' color. The 300-D was acquired in 2005 by noted California car collectors Henry Hopkins and Richard Palmer in need of restoration, having sat in in a yard in California and Montana for decades. They would entrust the desirable Chrysler to restoration specialist Bob Hayen of Kalispell, Montana to carry out a full nut-and-bolt, show-quality 2 ½-year restoration bringing the car back to its former glory, with help from noted Chrysler 300 expert Gary Goers for sourcing the right parts. Once done, the 'Air Force Blue' 300-D was shown at the 2007 Big Sky Mopar Club show on Montana, and here basically swept away all prizes, including Best in Show, Best in Class, Sponsor's Choice and People's Choice! The following year, the car won Best in Show at the National 300 Club meet in Reno, Second in Class at the Hillsborough Concours and Best in Class at the San Francisco Concours. Fair to say that Bob Hayden had done a spectacular job restoring the 300-D, which was documented in a 5-page article in the October 2009 issue of Hemmings Classic Car magazine. Today, having been kept in impressive collections since restoration, the 300-D remains in impeccable condition, with the lovely special-order paint in wonderful condition, excellent chrome and bright work, and the tan interior hardly worn in. Period white-wall tires are fitted, with the correct, red-accented turbine-style stainless hub caps in place. Red/white/blue '300-D' emblems are in place, and the car is of course fully loaded with nearly as many power amenities as a modern car, a beautiful Chrysler radio and a/c. The engine compartment is as diligently restored as the rest of the car, featuring the correct decals and markings, and of course houses the 380-horsepower Hemi FirePower V8 engine, topped by two large Carter four-barrel carburetors, mated to the TorqueFlite push-button automatic transmission. This exceedingly rare, special-order Chrysler 300-D Hard Top benefits from the kind of top-level restoration that is normally seen on far more valuable cars, and deserves serious consideration.