1965 Chrysler 300L

Factory 4-Speed • Factory A/C • Dealer-Installed Dual-Quad 413

Imperial Motorcars is proud to offer this exceptional 1965 Chrysler 300L, finished in beautiful Silver Mist Metallic (NN1) over black leather.

The 300L was the final year of Chrysler's legendary original Letter Series and combined luxury, performance and dramatic styling in a way few American cars of the era could match.

Only 2,405 300L hardtops were produced for 1965. Factory 4-speed cars were extremely rare, with period documentation reporting approximately 96–98 hardtops equipped with the manual transmission. This particular car has long been documented as one of only nine reportedly combining the factory 4-speed with factory air conditioning.

The Silver Mist finish shows beautifully, with deep gloss and an exceptionally straight body that highlights the 300L's long sculpted quarters, crisp character lines and distinctive pillarless hardtop profile. With all four side windows lowered, the car has an especially sleek and open appearance.

Under the hood is Chrysler's legendary 413-cubic-inch V8. The standard 1965 300L 413 was factory rated at 360 horsepower, but this car is equipped with a period dealer-installed dual four-barrel carburetor setup. Historical documentation accompanying the car describes this dual-quad configuration as producing approximately 390 horsepower. Twin satin-gold air-cleaner housings complete the period performance appearance.

The engine received an extensive documented rebuild in May 2020. A Motorworks invoice totaling approximately $8,075 records the work at 39,009 indicated miles. During the rebuild, all eight cylinders were sleeved, the engine was returned to standard-size pistons and rings, and a previous performance cam and rocker arrangement was replaced with a stock-style camshaft and rocker setup. Additional work included rocker components, water pump, clutch-related components, gaskets, hoses, fluids and associated hardware.

Approximately 1,000 miles are reported to have been driven since the engine rebuild. The exhaust system was also replaced in May 2020.

Behind the 413 is one of the most important features of this car: its highly desirable factory 4-speed manual transmission, operated through a long Hurst floor shifter with cue-ball knob and leather boot. The interior also features the factory console-mounted tachometer found on 4-speed cars.

Power is delivered through a 3.23 Sure-Grip limited-slip rear differential, and the car is equipped with heavy-duty suspension.

Another particularly unusual feature is the car's single-headrest configuration, consistent with Chrysler's rare Code 506 right-front headrest option offered on bucket-seat cars. The car has previously been advertised as “one of one” with the headrest, but we are conservatively representing it simply as an exceptionally rare and period-correct configuration.

Additional equipment includes:

* 413 V8 with dealer-installed dual four-barrels
* Factory 4-speed manual transmission
* Hurst floor shifter
* Factory air conditioning
* 3.23 Sure-Grip limited-slip rear differential
* Heavy-duty suspension
* Black leather bucket seats
* Rare single-headrest configuration
* Full center console
* Factory console-mounted tachometer
* Power steering
* Power brakes
* Power bucket seat
* Adjustable steering column
* AM/FM radio
* Rear-mounted power antenna
* Day/night rearview mirror
* Adjustable outside mirror
* Fender skirts
* Redline tires
* Mag-style road wheels

The black leather interior complements the Silver Mist exterior beautifully and gives the car the upscale feel that distinguished Chrysler's Letter Series from the typical muscle car. The bucket seats, full-length console, factory tachometer and long Hurst shifter immediately identify this as something very special.

The car is accompanied by extensive documentation including historical photographs, service invoices, engine-rebuild records, previous advertisements, original and reproduction literature, ownership-history material and period articles featuring this specific car.

This same 300L was publicly documented as far back as 2014, when its unusual combination of factory 4-speed, factory A/C, dealer-installed dual quads and 3.23 limited-slip rear axle was already being discussed in the collector-car community.

Mileage / Odometer

The original odometer is currently inoperative. Historical service documentation records 39,009 indicated miles in May 2020 at the time of the engine rebuild.

A new factory replacement odometer accompanies the car and is ready to be installed.

Because the original odometer is no longer operating and actual mileage cannot be conclusively established, the vehicle is being sold as TMU — True Mileage Unknown.

The 1965 Chrysler 300L marked the end of Chrysler's original Letter Series, and this example brings together an extraordinary combination of Silver Mist Metallic paint, black leather, dealer-installed dual-quad 413 power, factory 4-speed, factory air conditioning, 3.23 Sure-Grip, rare single-headrest configuration, documented engine rebuild and extensive historical documentation.

A truly special final-year Letter Car that is impressive in photographs and even more commanding in person.

Please visit www.imperialmotorcars.com for additional photographs and a full walk-around video.