1963 chrysler 300 (rare?)

69monaco said:
Scrolling through the pictures i see very rare parts!!! Never seen before ; is it Original /proto type /homemade ? If it is factory/proto it must be worth some money i guess!!??

For Sale: 1963 Chrysler 300 in New Ulm, Minnesota
Click to expand...

The actual Chrysler 300 J for 1963 is a rare car. I can not tell with the information given and the pictures supplied if this is an actual letter car or not, my first impression is that it is probably not. Closer inspection and a vin number verification would be needed. The cross ram setup could be ordered on other models besides the letter series if the dealer knew what he was doing. The fact that the seller is unwilling to part with the air cleaners is big turn off for me. The car is might be a non letter 300 series with the 390 horse engine. These cars are worth a lot less than the letter series. If the car can be verified as a letter series car, it is probably worth close to the asking price WITH THE AIR CLEANERS!

Dave
 
Yes he is the seller...…….
But what i like to know if anyone ever seen these exhaust parts , of course i,ve seen the crossrams but never these exhaust manifolds……

14014939-1963-chrysler-300-std.jpg
 
Last edited:
Davea Lux said:
The actual Chrysler 300 J for 1963 is a rare car. I can not tell with the information given and the pictures supplied if this is an actual letter car or not, my first impression is that it is probably not. Closer inspection and a vin number verification would be needed. The cross ram setup could be ordered on other models besides the letter series if the dealer knew what he was doing. The fact that the seller is unwilling to part with the air cleaners is big turn off for me. The car is might be a non letter 300 series with the 390 horse engine. These cars are worth a lot less than the letter series. If the car can be verified as a letter series car, it is probably worth close to the asking price WITH THE AIR CLEANERS!

Dave
Click to expand...

Actually, this car does appear to be a real letter car to me. The letter cars did not have the stainless molding at the belt line like the non-letter 300s nor did they have the small triangular trim piece at the front intersection of the C pillar to the quarter panel.

Chrysler1.jpg


Rather the genuine 300J had dual painted pin stripes at the belt line only and they did not have the triangular trim piece at the front lower edge of the C pillar to give a more sporty, clean appearance:

chrysler-300-1963-8.jpg


It was a subtle, but very effective distinguishing difference in my view. The 300J was also standard with the cross ram 413 engine. It was an excellent car in my opinion. Very well balanced to drive, and was on a shorter wheel base than the 1960 and 1961 models and therefore felt lighter an more nimble in terms of handling and quicker too.

I don't like that the underhood has been messed with on the car for sale and the a/c parts are missing in action as well. Otherwise, it would be worth the asking price, but when a car has been messed with like that one, it gives me pause.
 
You can get cross ram cars with a/c‽
 
They are.... they went up the the base the carburetor aid in warm-up.
Steve @saforwardlook would know way more about these than me for sure. I had a long ram setup but never the exhaust manifolds. Tried install them on my '60 Desoto. Was an experiment that didn't work out so i took them off. I was only 17 at the time and was still learning... And I'm still learning....
 
My Gawd. The pix are comin' out of the wood work. Seamz I waz talkin' to someone here ah couple weekz ago 'bout the TRI-Yz and the J+K headerz and here they both are in all their beautyfullness, lol. Davea, FWIW. 300 statistics on file say there were 400 300js Produced for the entire run in 1963 and All 400 of them came with the short rams and and those 60lb per side cast iron Beauties
 
Side Bar Group: I bought an entire Ram 300K with that complete setup(way bad cancer victim) just to have the complete set for the Batwagon Build in the '80s. I won't comment on the set our friend in W.V. haz F/S, or hiz asking price other then to say if I had what he haz I don't think it would F/S 'cuz I'd probably be building another 1 of None. Oh Yeah. and the heat risers for those headers were re-popped shortly after I scored that Ram K and I bought the first set sold of those. Problem with the heat riser set up waz that the exhaust gasses ATE the aluminum on the bottom heat chambers of both ramz. I had plates made with hose connections installed and went Water Heated on my car. Ah couple salt racers including Andy Granatelli plus maybe a hand full of other "Hot Shoes"did the same thing with '62 300 carz. Worked out fine but I think Mother went the heat riser route because of the cost more then any other reason but that's only conjecture on my part? Long time ago and I'm fillin' in ah few blankz, Jer
 
Davea Lux said:
I can not tell with the information given and the pictures supplied if this is an actual letter car or not, my first impression is that it is probably not. Closer inspection and a vin number verification would be needed. If the car can be verified as a letter series car, it is probably worth close to the asking price WITH THE AIR CLEANERS!
Dave
Click to expand...

According to the VIN listed in the ad, it is a letter car. Second digit on a 300 in '63 is either a 2 or 4, the latter being a letter car.
 
The advertised serial number does indicate it is a genuine 300J. The 390 horse short ram engine was the only option. If this car still has the original engine, the stamped engine number will begin with C300J and a build date. The heat cross over tubes were used as they offered the fastest warm up cycle. They did tend to rot the aluminum on the intake manifolds. My car had been stored for several years because it had a serious backfire problem that the previous owners couldn't determine. Pinholes in the intake floor on one bank had been dripping raw gas into the exhaust manifold. That explained one non original muffler and exhaust pipe. I installed freeze plugs in my exhaust manifolds to block off the manifold heat, just left the tubes in place for appearance and intake support. I also went with a water heated system on another car I had with good results. The complete blockoff was just as effective and a lot less work and expense. The price on this one seems pretty high for it's condition. There has been a few for sale in the last year or so in driving condition in the 12-18k range.
 
For what it's worth, I remember reading that the 63 300"J" was one of, if not the, lowest run of the letter series. If this one is legit will require some digging and research.
 
Davea Lux said:
The actual Chrysler 300 J for 1963 is a rare car. I can not tell with the information given and the pictures supplied if this is an actual letter car or not, my first impression is that it is probably not. Closer inspection and a vin number verification would be needed. The cross ram setup could be ordered on other models besides the letter series if the dealer knew what he was doing. The fact that the seller is unwilling to part with the air cleaners is big turn off for me. The car is might be a non letter 300 series with the 390 horse engine. These cars are worth a lot less than the letter series. If the car can be verified as a letter series car, it is probably worth close to the asking price WITH THE AIR CLEANERS!

Dave
Click to expand...
Yes Dave it is a 1963 300J letter car, which now lives in Australia.
l am currently restoring it, will post build pics as l go.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

marty mopar
NOT MINE 1963 Chrysler Imperial Crown Convertible in Repentigny, Quebec, Canada - CA $70,000 (approximately $51,100 US)
Replies
2
Views
614
MoPar~Man
MoPar~Man
Samplingman
NOT MINE 1970 CHRYSLER 300 H HURST C BODY RARE FIBERGLASS TRUNK LID $1,995
Replies
9
Views
1K
cuda hunter
cuda hunter
marty mopar
NOT MINE 1966 Chrysler 300 Convertible - $13,500 - Knoxville, TN
Replies
3
Views
856
fury fan
fury fan
dart165
  • Locked
For Sale 1963 Chrysler 300 convertible
Replies
2
Views
2K
dart165
dart165
marty mopar
NOT MINE 1965 Chrysler 300L 2dr Hardtop, 78K miles - $19,900 - Aledo, TX
Replies
3
Views
842
mr gtx
mr gtx
Back
Top