Chris' Object of Automotive Desire - 1/18

Today's Chrysler 300C Hemi is an intimidating car, with more than 300 horsepower from a bellowing V-8 blunt lines that marry elegance and brutality in the manner made popular by Armani-attired Mafia goons. But as remarkable a car as the 300C is, it was not the first Chrysler 300 to master that combination.

The 300 nameplate, resurrected several years ago for use on the front-wheel-drive 300M businessman's cruiser, has long been one of Chrysler's most famous. Decades before Chryslers sneeringly became known as the make of the K-car and the minivan, the 300 letter-series were some of America's most famous supercars - muscle cars before the term came in vogue and legendary for their elegance and their rip-roaring V-8s. In fact, the 300 series bore the very first Hemi-head Chrysler engines before the legendary 426 Hemi came into its own in cars like the Charger, Challenger, and Barracuda.

The 300C Hemi carries on the tradition well, but it owes a debt to the original 300 letter-series cars.

Here's the 1960 - one of the most popular of the letter series.
http://www.chrysler300site.com/cgibin/history.cgi?1960

A gallery of all the years of different 300s http://www.chrysler300site.com/cgibin/history.cgi

A particularly nice 1968 example - by this time more of a cruiser than a muscle car - note the Chateau St. Michelle photo (local for us Washingtonians)!
http://www.dealsonwheels.com/search/detailbig.cfm/Autos__ID/000038-200503-000002