I got a late start this morning and after a third cup of coffee, my wife said, "You're going to be on the ceiling if you have any more coffee". I responded, "Yea, 3's my limit for sure". Saying the number 3, gave me the trigger I needed for this mornings "Coffee Talk". For some reason my mind flashed back to the popular 300's that Chrysler cranked out in the 50's and 60's. Seems in those decades, auto makers figured that if they put a number after a cars name, it gave the illusion of it being better. And sometimes they were.
Though there are way too (or should that be 2? Just kidding, but too or to, could also be two), many to name, some of the more famous "number" cars that come to mind are the Buick Electra 225, the Oldsmobile 88's and 98's, and hey we can't forget the Roman Numeral designations like Lincoln's Mark II and so on. Not to mention Plymouth dubbing its Fury's I, II, and III's...sort of "Good, Better, and Best" scenario I guess. Even Chevrolet got in to it with their Chevy II.
There were many, many more number cars throughout time, but, but arguably the most revered were those 300's from Chrysler. According to car lore, the hottest car of all-time, was the CHRYSLER 300 which was built on the "top of the line" New Yorker's chassis. The Hemi engine was the big rage for Chrysler at the time and the 300 was a new version of the 331 cubic inch Hemi with 8.5:1 compression which turned out (of course) 300 horsepower. It became such a popular car with the sales numbers proving it, that Chrysler continued on with the popular "300" for a good many years. And each new model year, the NEW 300 would be followed by a Letter.
In the example shared in our photo below this morning, it is the 1958 Chrysler 300D. It came as a convertible and a hardtop which sold for a hefty $5,173 with only 618 built.
Yes I love Chrysler 300's. As far as numbers go, being a Dodge Coronet of the late '60's lover, there is what is confusing to most people the '440' call out on the side which is the model designation and yet a lot of people believe it is the cubic inches of the engine, since the hot rod Coronet with the 440 cu in engines also have '440' call outs . Back when I was playing with cars there must have been at least a dozen Coronet 440's I looked at that the owner swore was a 440 cu in engine when it was in reality a 318 cu in. Which in no way other than being a V8 looks like a 440 cu in. Confusion in numbers.
As I mentioned, the numbers for cars were probably endless, but for sure the Chevy 409 is near the top of any list of favorites. Not to mention that forever classic from the Beach Boys. Takes me right back to that glorious era.
