Exploring the Legacy of the Discontinued Chrysler 300

The legendary Chrysler 300 is discontinued and likely won’t ever return. We associate size, power, and comfort with this car, but now it’s gone.

Production of the 2023 Chrysler 300C ended just before the calendar turned to 2024. The 300C represents a more powerful version of this large and impressive sedan with the big 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine under the hood, making it a fitting tribute to the end of an era of Chrysler sedans. Until this brand brings us new EVs, the only model wearing the badge is the Pacifica minivan.

The end announced in 2022

The Chrysler 300 name has been around for 70 years, but many of those years were void of this nameplate. Still, this car was first introduced in 1955, and its end was announced at the North American International Auto Show, also known as the Detroit Auto Show, in 2022. Once the final model was announced to be a limited-run 300C, reservations for this car were filled in only twelve hours. This limited-production model sent 2,000 models to the US market, with 200 available for drivers in Canada. That was an impressive response to a slow-selling car on its way out the door.

Was the early model powered by a Hemi engine?

Although the Chrysler 300 has been discontinued, it’s fun to think about where this car came from and its legacy. It was first introduced in 1955 as an impressive American luxury and performance sedan. The 300C version arrived first in 1957, bringing with it a 392-cubic-inch, 375-horsepower Hemi engine.

Fifty years after the first Chrysler 300 hit the market, a new version appeared in 2005. This time, the 300C came along for the ride right away, adding a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 to the mix. This engine produced 340 horsepower during its first year but was tuned to 363 ponies in 2011.

The final model of the 2023 Chrysler 300C returned after being gone for two years. This final model brought with it 485 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque. This power was enough to rocket the car to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and finish a quarter-mile in 12.4 seconds at 160 mph.

What do the final Chrysler 300 models include?

The last year of production gave us only the high-powered 300C versions. During its time in the market, the Chrysler 300 also featured the 3.6-liter V6 and 5.7-liter V8 engines. Performance items for the 2023 Chrysler 300C include:

• Red four-piston Brembo brakes
• A limited-slip differential
• An active damping suspension
• Round exhaust tips
• Active exhaust system

Other than performance items, this impressive Chrysler sedan included tricolor 300C badges, exterior black chrome accents, black headlamp and taillight bezels, and a set of black Laguna leather front seats with the 300C logos on them.

Why was the Chrysler 300 important?

Although the Chrysler 300 is now discontinued, we can look back at its legacy with admiration. This wasn’t a run-of-the-mill car with nothing going for it. Here are some highlights from the many years this Chrysler was in production.

1950s

• The new Chrysler 300 dominated NASCAR
• Chrysler 300D set a Bonneville land speed record in 1958 at 156.387 mph

1960s

• Several added letter versions are added with the 300, 300G, 300H, 300J, 300K, 300L, and 300S

1990s

• Chrysler 300M arrived in 1999 and was named MotorTrend’s Car of the Year

2000s

• 2005 – Chrysler 300 returns to the market
• 2005-2010 – Added Models, 300S, 300C, and 300C SRT8 Touring are added

2010s

• A new bold style is introduced in 2015

2020s

• Final 2023 Chrysler 300C rolls off the assembly line in Brampton, Ontario on December 8, 2023

What’s the future like for the Brampton team?

Now that the Chrysler 300 has been discontinued, the brand will move forward with sustainable all-electric models. Some of these new vehicles will come out of the Brampton Assembly Plant in Ontario as part of the Stellantis Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan.

The legacy of a legend

Although the final run of the Chrysler 300 was more about this car being a larger, more comfortable cruiser than the performance-oriented machine of the past, it has always been an impressive car to drive. Whether you remember the early models with pure muscle and NASCAR roots or only know this car from 2005 forward as a cruiser with a powerful Hemi engine for some versions, it’s an impressive car. The Chrysler 300 is now discontinued and won’t likely see a return to the Chrysler lineup unless one of the future EVs is lucky enough to wear the 300 badge.