2005 Chrysler 300C

Launched way back in 1955, Chrysler's original C300 was a factory-stripper hardtop with a then-outrageous 300-hp Hemi V-8. The name came from the car's hemispherical combustion chambers—their crescent shape encouraged oversized valves and efficient combustion. At the time, it was the most powerful engine you could buy. Packing twin 4bbl carburetors, a hot camshaft, and a raucous exhaust note, the C300's distinctive checkered flag emblems underscored its performance potential. Its top speed, in an era when most cars were hard-pressed to top 100, was over 140 mph.

The new 300 is a solid appearing 5-seater with an upright grille, chiseled muscular shoulders, big wheel openings, oversized wheels and tires, and a tough-looking, low roofline.

Hemi-powered Chryslers ripped up NASCAR tracks and consistently won at the drags. At the same time, Cunningham sports cars, built in West Palm Beach, and running modified Chrysler Hemi engines, nearly won the Le Mans 24-hour race. That first C300 spawned a long line of powerful Chrysler "Letter Cars," but their performance eroded over the years, as did their exclusivity. The earlier cars became collectors' items. Sadly, the last modern reiteration of the letter cars, the 300M, was an attractive front-drive, V-6-powered sedan, but it was nothing really special in the performance arena.


For years, with its sleek LH sedan series, Chrysler's stylists championed "cab-forward," wheels-to-the-corners styling. While roomy and good-looking, the LH cars never caught on with the buying public. As an exit strategy, former head of styling, Tom Gale, himself an enthusiastic hot rodder, encouraged his designers to take an entirely different direction. The new 300C is a solid appearing 5-seater with an upright grille, chiseled muscular shoulders, big wheel openings, oversized wheels and tires, and a tough-looking, low roofline that appears to have been chopped three inches.


With its long hood, the 300C's design is best described as "cab-rearward" in appearance. It's much more reminiscent of a Continental design than anything from a rival domestic automaker. The bold styling turns heads, and has a polarizing effect on viewers, which is what happened a few years ago with Dodge's futuristic-looking Ram pickups. After some initial wobbling, buyers took to them enthusiastically and rivals began to copy them. Expect the same effect here.

With supportive bucket seats, tasteful wood trim and big, easy-to-read analog instrumentation, the 300's classy cabin equals anything from Europe at twice the sticker.

The 300C is billed as a world-class performance sedan, and a review at the long specifications list underscores why. There are no corners cut. You get high performance four-wheel ventilated disc brakes (13.6-inch front, 12.6-inch rear) with ABS, the Mercedes-inspired Electronic Stability Program (ESP senses a skid and applies a combination of brakes and throttle to help maintain directional stability), Chrysler's unique and very clever multi-displacement cylinder de-activation (the engine electronically switches from eight to four cylinders at small throttle openings in just 40 milliseconds, decreasing fuel consumption by 10-to-20 percent), plus Brake Assist (electronically adjusts braking force as needed to shorten stopping distance), all-speed traction control (it's actually effective up to 85 mph), 18-inch 9-spoke alloy wheels, power rack-and-pinion steering, tilt-telescope steering wheel, dual-zone temperature control, 8-way power driver's seat, heated driver and front passenger seats, and a Boston Acoustics sound system with 288-watt digital amplifier. And that's all standard equipment!