The Chrysler 300 letter series was a set of limited-edition high-performance luxury cars manufactured by the Chrysler corporation between 1955 to 1965. They could be thought of as the world’s first muscle cars, or perhaps the first attempt at making them even though they were insanely priced and more exclusive in comparison with the modern definition of the term. Every new version was given the next letter of the alphabet till the model reached 300L in 1965 and subsequently, the luxury model was shut down. Chrysler 300 Hurst launched five years after the letter series was discontinued. The target audience was the buyer segment with handsome income (probably 30 plus corporate executives) who wanted performance without compromising on luxury.

Back in the 70s, Hurst was another name for performance. If your car had a Hurst shifter, you automatically qualified as a sincere gearhead. According to Torq Talk, this aftermarket parts manufacturing company was so popular among the enthusiasts that premium brands like General Motors (Oldsmobile) and Chrysler offered Hurst spares and shifters as factory options. They even collaborated with Hurst Performance to manufacture limited-edition Hurst models of their popular cars. 300H was one such car, created to surf the Hurst wave riding on the success of the previous 300 letter series models. Even though it was not officially included in the 300 letter series, it was essentially the same car in terms of luxury, looks, and performance.

Chrysler 300 Hurst was one of the longest muscle cars of all time. It was manufactured by Chrysler Corporation in collaboration with George Hurst from the Hurst Performance. The car was not only meant to promote the Hurst shifter but also to feature the exclusive Chrysler performance package.

Among the crowd of Mustangs, Camaros, and GTO, there exists a dusty and almost forgotten but truly unprecedented muscle car called the 1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst. Read along for a juicy inside scoop on the brilliant performer.

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Features And Specifications

White 1970 Chrysler 300 hurst
via Mecum Auctions

Luxury was combined with performance in a way that the Chrysler Hurst could compete with way more upscale Oldsmobile 442 (the latter looked more flashy). The 300H package came equipped with a 440 cubic inch four-barrel TNT high-performance V8 engine. It made around 375 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. The engine was mated with the Chrysler heavy-duty TorqueFlite 727 3-speed automatic transmission, for a performance that could beat most of the muscle cars in the market. Despite being such a huge car, it could hit zero to 60 miles in just 7.1 seconds and a quarter-mile in about 15.9 seconds. The top speed was estimated to be 140 mph.

The front grille looked aggressive, and the hood seemed to go on forever. The gorgeous 15-inch steel Rallye wheels on sporty Goodyear Polyglas tires meant business. All the Hurst 300 were coupes, and they came with standard power seats, power locks, and power windows. Strangely, the Hurst shifter didn’t make the cut. The interiors were luxurious and way more upscale than the regular muscle cars. The leather seats nabbed from the Imperial LeBaron Coupe were ridiculously large and comfortable. Similar to the Oldsmobile or the Pontiac Hurst models, the two-toned paint job was a highlight. Most of the inside was a gorgeous satin tan leather embedded with luscious black trims to break the monotony. The car was 225 inches long and 79 inches wide, and the trunk was so spacious it could almost swallow small-sized cars. With such larger than life dimensions, Hurst 300 pretty much looked like an aircraft carrier.

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Some Inside Scoop On The Legendary Chrysler 300 Hurst

White Chrysler Hurst 300 running swiftly on the road in sunset
via youtube

In 1970, Chrysler was looking at the market to cash in the success of the 300 letter series. The tie-up with George Hurst was the perfect opportunity to create a limited edition luxury/performance model considering the massive popularity of the Hurst products in the auto industry at that time. This is how the 300 H came into existence. The car was built by Hurst Performance but sold through the official dealers of the Chrysler Corp. It was always intended to be a limited production model and hence, only 501 pieces were built, out of which 500 were hardtops, and one was a convertible. Unfortunately, the convertible never reached the open market because as per Wild About Cars Online, George had manufactured it for promotions and (of course!) himself. The convertible starred in almost all the promotional events he did for the short-lived car.

Chrysler 300 H Hurst convertible and Linda | Linda vaughn, Auto racing events, Hurst
via: Pinterest

It would be a crime not to mention Linda Vaughn (Miss Hurst Golden Shifter) while talking about the Chrysler Hurst. The first lady of racing had played a crucial role in advertising this beast of a car to common people. However, in absence of more extensive marketing strategies, the car failed to succeed.

The 1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst was a fierce combination of luxury, performance, looks, and style. It was a class apart from the regular muscle cars, which is why even after decades, it draws a good measure of attention.

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