1962 Chrysler 300 Sport Series Hardtop

By 1962, the Chrysler 300 name carried considerable weight, having established itself in the mid-1950s as one of America’s earliest performance-luxury vehicles. Originally developed for NASCAR homologation, the 1955 C-300 launched the letter series, which Chrysler updated annually through 1965. After the 300G, Chrysler introduced a substantially restyled generation for 1962, expanding the lineup with the new 300 Sport Series alongside the exclusive 300H. The Sport Series served as a more affordable, broadly available interpretation of the 300, offered as a two-door hardtop, four-door sedan, and convertible, while also filling the space left by the discontinued Windsor and DeSoto. The new 300 traded some of its predecessors’ excess for a cleaner, more restrained design while retaining the sophistication and V8 power that defined the series.

Finished in striking Bermuda Turquoise over a black interior, this 1962 Chrysler 300 possesses exactly the sort of presence that made Chrysler's upper-tier automobiles so compelling. Of the 26,136 Chrysler 300s produced for 1962, 25,578 were the more affordable Sport models, including just 11,776 two-door hardtops like this one. The car has received a body-off, nut-and-bolt restoration presented in concours condition, complemented by chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, and a period Mark IV air-conditioning system that adds welcome comfort without compromising its authenticity.

Few details encompass the 1962 300's personality better than the controversial and wonderfully distinctive front end. Sometimes referred to as Chrysler's “funny face,” the design incorporates angled headlights and a crosshair grille that gives the car an almost puzzled expression. It is one of those styling decisions that could easily have become a period curiosity, yet has instead become one of the defining characteristics of the automobile. From the front, there is simply no mistaking a 1962 Chrysler 300 for anything else on the road.

Chrysler's 383-cubic-inch V8, paired with the company's renowned TorqueFlite automatic transmission, produces 305 horsepower. At the time, that combination represented one of the strongest powertrain packages available from an American manufacturer. The numbers remain respectable even today, with an estimated 0-to-60-mph time of approximately eight seconds, a quarter-mile in roughly 16 seconds, and a claimed top speed of 130 mph. The real attraction is the effortless manner in which the big Chrysler delivers its power, with the V8 providing the authority while the transmission handles the work and gives this full-size vehicle the pace to match its imposing appearance.

Inside, the spacious black cabin is centered around a futuristic dashboard that looks like a science-fiction interpretation of the early 1960s, with its instrumentation and controls arranged in a wonderfully functional layout. Comfort is anything but an afterthought, making the 300 well suited for long-distance travel. This car was designed to make a long road trip feel like an occasion.

More than six decades later, this 1962 Chrysler 300 remains a compelling snapshot of an era when American luxury and performance were beginning to converge. Rather than approaching performance as the muscle cars soon would, Chrysler started with a sophisticated automobile and gave it the power to move with authority. More than simply an American V8, it is an eye-catching piece of automotive history whose dramatic styling, engineering, and individuality remain difficult to replicate and impossible to mistake for anything else.