The Chrysler 300 was discontinued in 1993, but a prototype reviving the name was built. This car is still around and is currently listed in the Hemmings classifieds at just $35,000.
The 300 is one of Chrysler’s most recognizable nameplates, with an original production run from 1955 to 1971 (with a brief return for 1979). “Letter car” versions like the 300C and 300D gained a reputation as upscale performance cars in the 1950s and 1960s, and Chrysler eventually brought the 300 name back in 1999 as a tribute to those cars.
1993 Chrysler 300 prototype (photo by Hemmings)
However, this prototype is older than these production cars. It is based on the first generation LH sedan platform that underpinned the Concorde, New Yorker and LHS, as well as the Eagle Vision and Dodge Intrepid.
The prototype has the more formal roofline and upright taillights of the LHS, but with a different front-end treatment that includes round headlights and a new grille, as well as a custom interior with Italian bronze and black leather upholstery.
According to an accompanying article published on Hemmings, the car may have been built by ASC as a proposal for an all-glass roof for the LH sedans, with the company giving the car the full 300 treatment to really sell the idea.
1993 Chrysler 300 prototype (photo by Hemmings)
Power comes from a 3.5-liter V-6, likely the same engine fitted to the LHS. The ad doesn’t give other mechanical details, but the LHS’s 4-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive are likely to carry over, too.
The car is currently in Minot, North Dakota, has 1,000 miles on the odometer and is listed in running condition. What appears to be the same car was put up for sale in 2010 with 350 miles on it. That ad said the car cost $145,000 (in 1993 dollars) to build.
It’s still possible to get a new 300, but not for long. The 2023 Chrysler 300C gets a 6.4-liter V8 and a limited run of 2,200 units to mark the end of production, although the 300 will reportedly live on as an electric vehicle.
