American cars are known for their growl and grant when it comes to muscle cars. Some of the best examples of these cars are Camaros and Mustangs. However, there is a class of high-end cars that were said and believed to belong to the social elite. These cars included Cadillacs and Chrysler. These cars not only represented class but flamboyancy as well.

First, let's take a closer look at Chrysler.

Who Are Chrysler?

Chrysler is one of the longest-running American car manufacturers. The company was founded on 6 June 1925 in Detroit, Michigan, by Walter Chrysler. Chrysler was largely involved in the building and maintenance of government vehicles during the Second World War and this went on earn the company recognition as the eighth-best of United States corporations during wartime.

Chrysler is one of many brands that fall under the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles umbrella. However, in recent times Chrysler’s, popularity and notoriety have declined. This is because Chrysler enthusiasts have seen and experienced the decline of the quality of cars over the years. This American car company is currently making its way into the history books for all the wrong reasons.

One of the many cars that plenty of people believe did nothing but tank Chrysler’s reputation even more was the Chrysler 300 SRT8. On the other hand, some car enthusiasts believe that this car had a lot going for it but was failed by the carmaker. This car was a joint production of Chrysler and the Dodge SRT team. This performance sedan made its debut in 2006. Here is a detailed look back at the Chrysler 300 SRT8.

Debut Of The Chrysler 300 SRT8

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The Chrysler 300 SRT8 made its debut in 2006 and was in production for four years before it was discontinued in 2014. This car made its entry into the market as a high-performance sedan that was key ongoing head to head with the BMW M5 and the Mercedes E63AMG.

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In 2006, its heft price tag of $42,095 was considered decent, seeing that this car promised power, class, and refinement. The SRT8 was built for the social elite and middle-class. However, some people found this to be pretentious and a total waste of money. This was because despite how cool and flashy this car looked from the outside, it had very little going for it on the inside.

The interior featured cheap, tacky plastic upholstery that took away from the leather seats. The engine, too, did not do it any justice, seeing that it could only hit a 173 mph top speed. As time went by, the demand for this ride died down, which, coupled with the price tag, led to the discontinuation of this car in 2010.

Chrysler 300 SRT8 Powertrain

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When it comes to American cars, the concept of big engines in small cars does not just apply to muscle cars but to sedans as well. The Chrysler 300 SRT8 is a good example of this.

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This car is powered by a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine. This engine was paired with a 5-speed automatic gearbox. The power output from this car was rated at 477 horsepower at 6000 RPM and 470 lb-ft of torque at 4300 RPM. All this power was pushed to the sedan’s rear-wheel-drive drivetrain.

Design and interior of the 300 SRT8

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If you look at the exterior of this car, you might be convinced that it a Chrysler 300C. However, the black mesh-grill and the deeper bumper at the front and rear told a completely different story. This ride was an advanced 300C in all aspects when it came to the design.

RELATED: A Detailed Look Back At The Chrysler 300 Hurst

Via: Gravity Auto Sandy Springs

The lowered ride height paired with 20-inch light-alloy wheels gave it a sinister look. Badges were fitted on the front fenders of the car to display the power that it bore. A small wing was added to the rear of the car. While this did seem to help at all with downforce, it did add to the aesthetics of the vehicle.

The interior was fitted with leather seats that were high-bolstered. A coolant temperature gauge was fitted at the Chrysler 300 SRT8’s branded tachometer. Chrysler also added an 8-inch infotainment unit at the center stack of the car. This unit was used to display data whenever someone was hard driving. These included transmission temperature, oil pressure, and oil temperature.

Here's How Much An SRT8 Costs Today

If you are thinking of getting your hands on this beauty. Or if you are looking for an estimate on yours, then you have come to the right place. Although this car has been out of production for 11 years now, it still has massive support and following. Many people have turned their Chrysler 300 STR8s into custom mod jobs.

Today the price tag set on this ride is anywhere between $10,000 and $23,000. This varies depending on the condition of the car and the mileage. This is cheaper compared to its original price of $ 42,095 back when it was in production.

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