C-sational Chrysler
June 17, 1993
The Chrysler C-300's early 1955 debut was an historic automotive event. For the first time, an American car had reached the 300 horsepower level using a modern V-8 engine. The C-300's 331 FirePower V-8 achieved 300 hp at 5200 rpm with the help of the hemispherical combustion chambers, 8.5/1 compression, dual four-barrel carbs, solid lifters, full-race ca, and low restriction dual exhaust system. The potent power plant and sleek "Forward Look" styling made the C-300 a perfect candidate for stock car racing.
Using a fleet of C=300s, marine engine mogul Carl Kiekhaefer and his independent Mercury Outboard Racing Team completely outclassed the competition on both the NASCAR and AAA circuits during the 1955 season. The first of the team's racing accomplishments too place in February 1955 at Daytona Beach, Florida. Carl's best driver, Tim Flock, was the top qualifier for the 160 mile Grand National race, with a record qualifying speed of 130.293 mph. Tim and his C-300 went on to win the 39 lap race with a lap speed average of 92.056 mph, which was another record. By season's end, Tim and fellow Mercury Outboard driver Frank "Rebel" Mundy had skillfully driven their C-300s to the NASCAR and AAA titles, respectively. Overall, The Mercury Outboard Chrysler C-300s won 32 out of 52 NASCAR and AAA races entered during 1955. Impressive!
Proof that the success enjoyed by both driver and machine was not a one year fluke, Tim Flock repeated as winner of the GN rave held at Daytona Beach in February 1956. Tim mastered the 4.1 mile beach and road course in a Mercury Outboard sponsored 1956 Chrysler 300B. He also broke his year old qualifying speed record with a 135.747 mph effort. During the spring, the 300B helped the Mercury Outboard Racing Team to take the checkered flag in 16 straight NASCAR races. Later in the year, Kiekhaefer driver Buck Baker and his 354 CID, 355 hp (15 hp over stock) 300B captured the 1956 NASCAR championship. However, the Chrysler 300's two years of dominance would not carry over into 1957.
In February 1957, the Daytona Beach Speed Trials and GN race took place without Carl Kiekhaefer and his Mercury Outboard racers. Carl remained home in Wisconsin, disgusted, because jealous fans, media and rival stock car teams had openly voiced their displeasure about his talented drivers winning so often. With the Mercury Outboard Racing Team disbanded, individual drivers were responsible for piloting the redesigned 1957 Chrysler 300C against the factory-backed armadas.
The Chevrolet, Pontiac and Mercury teams achieved the best results at Daytona, with a 1957 Pontiac winning the 160 mile race. Not since an Oldsmobile in 1953 had a non-Chrysler won the 39 lap event. 300C victories were limited to the Daytona Beach Speed Trials. Red Byron won the Class 7 Flying Mile attempt with a two-way average of 134.128 mph. Brewster Shaw took the Class 7 Standing Start Mile title with a speed of 86.873 mph. Both men drove 390 hp 300C coupes.
The 300Cs Red Byron and Brewster Shaw drove were outfitted with the "Optional Chassis Package." which was a several hundred dollar option, and it affected a big change under the hood. The 300C's standard engine was a 375 hp, 392 FirePower V-8 with 9.25/1 compression, Chrysler New Yorker exhaust manifolds, 2-1/4" dia. exhaust pipes and 2" dia. tail pipes. The installation of a special high-lift camshaft, Dodge truck four-bolt exhaust manifolds, 2-1/2" dia. exhaust system and 10.0/1 compression heads raised the horsepower figure to 390. Torque increased by 10 to 430 ft-lbs. Both 300C Hemis used solid lifters and 2x4 barrel carburetion -- just like the C-300 and 300B FirePower V-8s. The "Optional Chassis Package" also specified manual brakes, manual steering, heavy-duty suspension, 3-1/2" dia. driveshaft, limited slip differential (3.36 gears were 300C standard fare, with a choice of ratios ranging from 2.92 to 6.17/1) and a 3-speed manual transmission, which was a Plymouth unit with an 11: clutch and failure prone behind the 390 hp V-8.
Specifying a 390 hp 300C with TorqueFlite automatic was not unheard of, but the factory discouraged anyone from ordering a 390 hp 300C convertible due to clearance problems between the beefier frame with X-member and larger diameter driveshaft and dual exhaust pipes. Not surprisingly, the 390 hp drop top production was in the low single digits with no present day survivors, but a few of the 300C coupes originally equipped as specified in the "Optional Chassis Package" still exist, with Ken Mack's tan beauty being a noteworthy example. His 300C was the first one to receive the 390 hp V-8 and 3-speed stick combination, and was the third 300C made, overall. It, along with 300Cs #1001 (white, 375 hp, auto. trans, convertible) and #1002 (white, 375 hp, auto. trans, hardtop), was a factory prototype built in October 1956.
300C #1003 began life as a 325 hp auto. trans, New Yorker (1). The two-tone New Yorker was painted tan and transformed (2) into the 300C hardtop that set an unofficial track speed record when it was clocked going 145.7 mph at Chrysler's Chelsea Proving Grounds. Unlike production 300Cs, #1003 had a 120 mph speedometer (150 speedo was standard) and no undercoating. The car had no optional equipment, not even a heater!
Once Chrysler was done using the car, it was repainted white and sold to employee George Barbat in March, 1957. He blew the transmission the first day he had the car. During the time George owned 300C #1003, he painted it black, bolted on high performance engine parts and installed a variety of transmissions, which included a 4-speed Pont-a-Mousson gear box, Cadillac LaSalle 3-speed stick and TorqueFlite automatics. But none of the transmissions held up, which rendered the hardtop inoperative for long stretches of time and ultimately kept the odometer reading below 7,000 miles!
Eventually, the car ended up in the hands of Bob McCormick, who sold it to Michigan native Ken Mack in 1987. Ken was going to use the 300C coupe as a parts car for a 300C convertible he was restoring until he found evidence that the hardtop once had a factory stick shift set-up. Ken then talked to George Riehl of the Chrysler 300 Club International, Inc., who informed Ken about the car's prototype status. It did not hurt any that Ken's hardtop was one of only 18 stick shift 300Cs made. 300C #1003 was a rare and historic car, but it had its share of problems.
Ken was able to salvage the glass, some interior pieces, suspension system, steering parts, and rear axle with 3.90 gears, but he had to get a frame and rebody the car with the help of a 1957 New Yorker. A transmission also had to be acquired and the engine reconstructed. By 1989, the car had been painted, glass installed, instrument panel and dash pad reconditioned and the engine work completed. But then disaster struck. There was a fire where the car was stored, and 300C #1003 was severely, but not irreparably, damaged.
By 1991, the restoration work was finished, with the 390 hp brute looking just like it did 35 years ago when it boomed down the Proving Grounds' asphalt. Naturally, Ken Mack babies his special 300C, but he does enjoy taking it to the Mopar Nats for some show and go, giving people the opportunity to see one of the most powerful examples of "The Mighty Chrysler 300C."
(1) Ken is not sure about this.
(2) There are no signs of NYr trim holes on the quarters.
Ken Mack's 390 HP 1957 300C