Walter Percy Chrysler (1875-1940)

Born April 20th 1875 in the small town of Wamego, Kansas, he was always passionate about all things mechanical. One of his first encounters with the automobile was in 1908 when he visited the Chicago Auto Show. This excitement and curiosity towards the automobile started the beginning of a life-long passion.
In 1925 he founded the “Chrysler Motor Corporation” and started producing its first car, the Chrysler Six. In 1928 he makes the acquisition of the “Dodge Brothers” company and becomes the third biggest automobile company in the US, behind Ford and GM. Two new names are added to the Chrysler Corporation line up that year; Plymouth as an entry level car and DeSoto as a medium priced car.
In 1951 Chrysler introduced the first power steering system for cars and comes out with its first V8 engine; the 331 cubic inch Firepower “Hemi”, so called because of its hemispherical combustion chamber. With names like Dodge, Plymouth and DeSoto, Chrysler will create some of the most emblematic cars in the United States.


Chrysler Prototype 300C 1957

The chief stylist at Chrysler in 1955 is Virgil Exner. He is the creator of the famous "Forward Look" cars that were successful from 1955-1961. Because of the styling cues of his car design, the nickname "Finman" was applied to him. Less known is that in 1955, Exner and his team were secretly working on an innovative concept car cope name 613. That concept car was to be powerful and fast and had very pronounced tail fins on the rear end of the car.
The 1948 Cisitalia must have inspired him much, and nothing resembling this car had ever been seen in America.
A clay model was first made then they worked on a 1957 Chrysler chassis with a shortened wheel base from 126 inches to 122, onto which the famous competition 392 cubic inch engine with 375 horse was installed. The engine was fed by two 4 barrel carburetors and was mated to a three speed automatic transmission and a 3.23/1 ratio rear end. We can easily imagine this "race car" with its impressive looks! For the body of this recreation, a 1957 Plymouth 2 door hard top body is going to be used. The front end is from a 1957 Chrysler 300C, but from the B pillar to the rear of the car is where this car will be very different. That rear section must be sensational. It is entirely handmade, from the sheet metal to the rear bumpers, including all the trim and of course those huge fins.
After some test drives on closed course and some other road tests, some corrections and modifications are made to the car.
Virgil Exner was thrilled with the results of his efforts and made this car one of his personal favorites. Prototype 613 never made it into regular production, it remained a concept car. Today we can see and admire that concept car at the Walter P. Chrysler museum in Detroit.
Being a passionate guy about Chrysler Corporation products, I wanted as an ultimate challenge to recreate this "concept car" for myself. Quite a challenge indeed! After collection needed parts for this ambitious project for the last 25 years, I completed the recreation of prototype 613 over a 6 year period, with the help of my good friend Normand who did the body work.
So I did realize a lifelong dream of creating a replica of the famous 1957 Chrysler 300C prototype initially imagined by Virgil Exner. It is 95% identical to the original prototype. Every detail of this recreation has been respected with the help of era documentation. I was also in contact with specialist from Chrysler who have been of great help making this recreation possible.
I can now say that I'm very proud of this identical "re-creation" of the 1957 Chrysler 300C prototype.
What a challenge!
Edouard Rodrigue






Virgil Exner, chief stylist in 1955, liked this car so much he made it his personal car.



To make this car, a 1957 Plymouth 2 door hardtop body was used.
The front is the standard Chrysler 1957 300C.



Spacious interior with 4 bucket seats, front seats swivel out.



The sensational rear end treatment is all handmade, from sheet metal to bumpers and trim.



For this concept car, the theme was a very powerful car with
massive tail fins on the rear of the body.



392 cu. in. Hemi engine developing 375 HP fed by two 4 barrel carburetors, attached to...

a three speed automatic transmission and a 3.23/1 rear end.
Brake cooling ducts under the headlights help cool the front brake drums.

A very satisfied man, after 6 years of hard work and perseverance.



"I have finally realized a replica of the unique prototype for the 1957 Chrysler 300C."
Edward Rodrigue