1962 | Chrysler 300 H

King of the Road - 1962 Chrysler 300

At the end of the 1950s, Chrysler, the third largest car manufacturer in the world, needed help. In 1957, Chrysler brought in designer Virgil Exner to give their 300 model a makeover. The “yawning” wide trapezium-shaped front grille, the “Forward Look”, combined with the dual headlights, is characteristic. Cadillac was the first manufacturer to introduce dual headlights on the Eldorado Brougham. Exner also made sure that technical elements such as the grille and the lights were not concealed, but presented with pride.

As was usual for American manufacturers at the time, a few aesthetic changes followed the major model development every year. In this way, older models became outdated as quickly as possible, while new car purchases were encouraged.

In 1961, the front section was given a “facelift” intended to win over potential buyers. The grille was inverted and designed to resemble a “V”. The headlights follow this shape and are now arranged diagonally one above the other. The rear lights are no longer located in the tail fins, but slide into the rear panel above the bumper.

It was not until 1962 that a four-door sedan first appeared, with a 6.3 litre V8 engine available on request. What's striking is the strong reduction in the tail fins, which are now only hinted at. The day of the large tail fin was over, and American car designers began to focus on functionality. This could already be seen in the 1962 Chrysler 300.

Our auction Chrysler is in very good condition, with various repairs to the engine, transmission and chassis having been carried out in recent years. It is thought that the 300 came to Switzerland in 2012 and has changed hands several times during this time. It was also given veteran status in 2012. An American road cruiser rarely seen these days, a lot of car for a fair price.