In the early '60s and before, the letter series of the Chrysler 300 dominated the track, and the streets, with high-performance muscle cars that could leave the competition in the dust. Of course, some other cars did their best to take the top-dog spot, and some even did, but not without a fight. Starting in 1962, the Chrysler 300 lost the letter designations that had separated them from other models. They grew into a pavement-pounding car that was designed for one thing: to win in any race, at any time. Let's dig into this car, the 1970 Chrysler Hurst 300, and find out why it is such an awesome car.
10 The 1970 Chrysler Hurst 300 Was Upgraded At Chrysler Assembly Plant
The 1970 Chrysler Hurst 300 was a collaboration between Hurst and Chrysler in an attempt to make a statement upon the muscle car industry. Since the car was going to be based on the '70 Chrysler 300, the vehicle started production at the plant in the Jefferson Avenue Plant in Detroit, Michigan. They were built as basic cars but painted in Spinnaker white and a tan leather interior. Along with the basics, the car received some of the optional items as standard, such as power steering and windows, low restrictive dual exhaust, heavy-duty suspension, and power disc brakes.
9 One-Of-A-Kind Convertible Trim Level Was Offered On The Hurst 300
As with most other fast muscle and performance cars, there was a call for a convertible. Unfortunately, the one single 1970 Chrysler Hurst Convertible 300 was not meant to be sold on the general market. It was a car produced to promote several things in or on the vehicle. For example, Chrysler wanted to point out that the power and torque of the 440 big block V-8 could be found under the hood, but most of all, the company wanted to point out the Hurst influence to make it known that they had a hand in producing the mighty Hurst 300 car.
8 Chrysler 300 Shipped To Hurst For More Upgrades
When the Hurst company puts its name onto a vehicle, it is known that that particular car will be a special kind of car designed to outperform, outhandle, and outpower any other vehicle on the streets. In this case, the car was the 1970 Chrysler 300 that was shipped to the Hurst location in Brighton, Michigan. Once there, the car received a functional fiberglass hood-scoop with rotary hood latches, fiberglass quarter panels, end caps, and striping and decals.
7 Chocolate Brown And Gold Striping Makes The '70 Hurst 300 Stand Out
A paint job is not one of the best ways to catch the attention of potential buyers unless it is a flashy, unique color. The Spinnaker White was an attempt at that, but the designers knew that the 1970 Hurst 300 needed more than white paint and accents. They added 21 brown decals around the car's exterior, and gold iridescent paint was brushed on to strategic areas to pop out when a person looked at the car. The idea worked well because once consumers found the vehicles up for sale on the lots, the distinguishing marks made it possible for them to choose the one they wanted.
6 Chrysler Hurst 300: Luxury Inside, Power Outside
Climbing into the interior of the 1970 Chrysler Hurst 300 is an experience in itself, next to climbing into the luxurious Chrysler Imperial LeBaron. The thing is that the six-way adjustable leather seats came from the LeBaron. At the same time, the power windows and brakes were simply additional options that were placed into the car as standard. The engine was also a one-of-a-kind 440 TNT V-8 that could produce around 375 horsepower and could pound out up to 480 pound-feet of torque.
5 Miss Hurst Golden Shifter Advertised For The Hurst 300 in '70
Women have always been a significant part of racing. Whether modeling, driving, advertising, or marketing, they have greatly impacted the racing industry. In the '60s, one of the most well-known females involved in everything that had to do with racing was Miss Hurst Golden Shifter, Linda Vaughn. The First Lady Of Racing was a huge part of the advertising success when it was marketed to everyday consumers.
4 Chrysler And Hurst Made A Huge Marketing Mistake With The 300
Hurst has always been known for its aftermarket upgrades to improve the power and performance of any car it got its hands on. The one aspect of Hurst's influence that can be found is in the Hurst Shifter which simply signifies greatness. The floor shifter was added to the design, but when it came to Chrysler and Hurst building the car, the legendary shifter was left out. This created a vehicle with a huge marketing mistake because that one simple item could have made the car famous.
3 "Your Next Car Should Look This Great," Just Like The 1970 Chrysler Hurst 300
Every great car throughout the history of the carmaking industry has had one thing in common: the marketing ploys used to help sell the vehicle. Marketing executives would come up with some type of slogan that could be associated with the car they were trying to sell. The more catchy the slogan was, the better the car would sell. The 1970 Hurst 300 carried the slogan "Your Next Car Should Look This Great," which helped point out all the unique exterior designs and the luxurious interior that made the driver feel like they were in the midst of greatness.
2 The Interior Of The 1970 Chrysler Hurst 300 Was A Mix Of White And Tan
The 1970 Chrysler Hurst 300 was a unique car based on the base-level two-door coupe that was hitting the market in 1970. Most of the effort in upgrading the car to become the best performing of the line went into the engine, drivetrain, and handling. The interior was designed to be one across the board, which is why the only classic 1970 Chrysler 300 found in original condition has tan leather upholstery. As for the exterior color, it was also limited to just one shade of white, Spinnaker White, that came with the code EW1.
1 The 1970 Chrysler Hurst 300's Production Was Very Limited
For a classic car to be a true collectible worth some money, it needs to have a low production count, which the 1970 Chrysler Hurst 300 has. All total, there were only around 500 coupes ever built, but when taking away the number of cars that have been destroyed or parted out, there is probably much fewer on the market. However, the one thing that can be said about the car is that it comes up in auctions every now and then, with an average sales price of $65,000.
FAQ
Q: What engine was in the 1970 Hurst 300?
The 1970 Chrysler Hurst 300 only came with one choice of engine, which was the mighty 440 TNT big-block V-8. It could produce up to 375 horsepower and had a torque rating of 475 pound-feet
Q: How many 1970 Hurst 300s were built?
There are numerous accounts of how many 1970 Chrysler Hurst 300s were built, but most claim that there were around 501 cars produced. 500 cars were two-door coupes; one was a convertible explicitly built for advertising.
Q: What is the 1970 Chrysler Hurst 300 worth?
The actual value of a classic car can best be seen by going through some of the most current auctions. In this case, the 1970 Chrysler Hurst 300 sold at the end of 2022 went for an impressive $65,000 through Bring a Trailer Auctions.
Q: Why was the Hurst Shifter not added to the Hurst 300?
The original plan with Hurst included the famous floor shifter in the design. Still, for some reason, when production began, it was excluded. The only people that could honestly answer the question would be the people involved, but the most pertinent answer would be to save money.