1959 Chrysler 300E

Full-size performance powered by 1959 Chrysler 300E 413 Golden Lion wedge V8.

Copper Spice 300E hardtop, front three-quarter view

Bodies 592 hardtop and 595 convertible

Engine 380-hp dual-quad 413 CID Golden Lion V8

Transmission Push-button three-speed TorqueFlite

Production 550 hardtops and 140 convertibles

Original price $5,319 hardtop; $5,749 convertible

Story

1959 Chrysler 300E

The 300E brought Chrysler's letter car into the wedge-engine era. Its new 413-cubic-inch Golden Lion V8 replaced the 392 FirePower Hemi, shed substantial weight, and retained the formula of two four-barrel carburetors and 380 advertised horsepower. Factory specifications list 450 lb-ft of torque, hydraulic lifters, 10.1:1 compression, and Carter AFB carburetors numbered 2798S and 2799S.

Every 300E used the push-button three-speed TorqueFlite and a standard 3.31 rear axle. Sure-Grip was available, while dealer-installed gear choices require individual documentation. Torsion-Aire front suspension, rear leaf springs, power drum brakes, a 126-inch wheelbase, and 9.00x14 tires carried the performance-luxury chassis.

Chrysler sold the 300E as model 592 hardtop and model 595 convertible. The red grille, driver-side hood emblem, forward-mounted 300E quarter medallions, natural-tan Living Leather swivel seats, and 150-mph speedometer identify the model visually, but none of those removable or restorable features authenticates a car by itself. The vehicle number, body plate, MR413 engine stamp, components, finishes, and history must agree.

Factory production records support 550 hardtops and 140 convertibles. Those two bodies, all factory options, and the single 413 powertrain belong on this page rather than separate engine or body-style pages.

**Copper Spice 300E hardtop, rear three-quarter view**Herranderssvensson via Wikimedia Commons · CC0

Specs

Car type: Full-size performance
Body: 592 two-door hardtop sport coupe or 595 convertible
Engine: Chrysler 413 CID RB-series Golden Lion wedge-head V8
Horsepower: 380 gross hp at 6,000 rpm
Torque: 450 lb-ft at 3,600 rpm
Carburetion: Dual Carter AFB four-barrels, 2798S front and 2799S rear

Equipment

126-inch wheelbase and separate body-and-frame construction
independent Torsion-Aire front suspension
semi-elliptic rear leaf springs
power-assisted four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes
standard swivel bucket seats and natural-tan Living Leather upholstery
9.00x14 tires

Linked Parts

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Original Price

Base MSRP $5,749

1959 Chrysler 300E convertible (1959)
Club model profile list price; retain the factory price sheet as the preferred reconciliation source.
1959 Chrysler 300E Model Profile Chrysler 300 Letter Car Specifications
Base MSRP $5,319

1959 Chrysler 300E two-door hardtop (1959)
Club model profile list price; retain the factory price sheet as the preferred reconciliation source.
1959 Chrysler 300E Model Profile Chrysler 300 Letter Car Specifications
Other price $5,252

1959 Chrysler 300E convertible — club matrix Base Price (1959)
Chrysler 300 Club technical matrix figure labeled Base Price. Preserve separately from the club profile's $5,749 list-price figure until a dated factory schedule defines the charge composition.
Chrysler 300 Letter Car Specifications
Other price $4,852

1959 Chrysler 300E two-door hardtop — club matrix Base Price (1959)
Chrysler 300 Club technical matrix figure labeled Base Price. Preserve separately from the club profile's $5,319 list-price figure until a dated factory schedule defines the charge composition.
Chrysler 300 Letter Car Specifications

Market Observations

Price guide value $43,600

Jul 31, 2026 · Hagerty Valuation Tools · Current guide point
July 2026 #3 good-condition benchmark for the exact 1959 300E two-door hardtop with the standard 413cid/380hp dual-four-barrel engine. · unknown · good Hagerty showed $43,600 for the exact hardtop and standard dual-quad 380-hp engine selection when accessed on 2026-07-31. The unadjusted value excludes the listed factory-air adjustment and does not apply to convertibles.
1959 Chrysler 300E hardtop valuation
Auction sale $35,200

Mar 20, 2021 · Mecum Auctions
Turquoise hardtop M591100117 with a 413, TorqueFlite, original Beige interior, power equipment, tinted glass, Autronic Eye, and cruise control. · survivor · good Mecum records the $35,200 completed sale. A separate exact-VIN sold archive describes the car as virtually stock, surviving, straight, and rust-free with minor lower-bumper oxidation; together those sources support a survivor/good comparison without treating the claims as independent authentication.
1959 Chrysler 300E hardtop M591100117 1959 Chrysler 300E hardtop M591100117 sold archive
Auction sale $92,400

Jan 22, 2016 · Mecum Auctions
Formal Black hardtop M591100137 with the 380-hp dual-quad 413, TorqueFlite, and a documented body-off rotisserie restoration completed in 2014. · restored · excellent Mecum records the $92,400 completed sale. The extensive recent restoration, rebuilt drivetrain, reproduction interior work, and fewer than 100 post-restoration miles make this an excellent restored-hardtop comparison rather than an originality benchmark.
1959 Chrysler 300E hardtop M591100137

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Engine Details

Factory output 380 gross hp at 6,000 rpm and 450 lb-ft at 3,600 rpm · 1959 Chrysler 300E · engine assembly / specification
RB-series dimensions 4.18-inch bore, 3.75-inch stroke, 10.1:1 compression · 1959 Chrysler 300E · engine assembly / specification
Dual Carter AFB carburetors 2798S front and 2799S rear · inline dual-four-barrel 300E induction · carburetor / part number
300E engine-number prefix MR4131001 and up; the R can resemble P · 1959 Chrysler 300E · engine assembly / assembly code · machined engine-number pad

Transmission

Factory transmission A-466 cast-iron three-speed TorqueFlite: 2.45, 1.45, 1.00; reverse 2.20

Options

413 Golden Lion dual-quad engine specificationsClassic Muscle · Reference illustration

592 Two-door hardtop sport coupe standard · appearance · The fixed-roof 300E body; 550 were produced.
595 Convertible optional · appearance · The open 300E body; 140 were produced.
Sure-Grip Sure-Grip limited-slip differential optional · performance · Installation and final-drive ratio require individual-car evidence.
Air-Temp Air-Temp air conditioning optional · comfort · Factory comfort option; verify against the original order and surviving hardware.
Auto-Pilot Auto-Pilot speed control optional · comfort · Period factory speed-control option.
Power equipment Power seat, windows, and antenna optional · comfort · Available separately; an installed component does not prove original fitment.
Comfort group Radio, heater, defroster, Solex glass, and washer optional · comfort · Factory equipment choices should be checked against the individual order.

Paint

**Driver-side 300 hood insignia and front detail**sv1ambo via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

AAA Formal Black factory · solid
KKK Turquoise Gray factory · solid
RRR Radiant Red factory · solid
WWW Cameo Tan factory · solid
XXX Ivory White factory · solid
ZZZ Copper Spice factory · solid

Appearance

**Red, white, and blue trunk medallion**sv1ambo via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Revised red grille and driver-side 300 hood insignia standard · other
Red, white, and blue 300E quarter medallions standard · badge
Outlined roof and body-side sweep treatment factory · stripe
14-inch wheels with 300 medallion covers and 9.00x14 tires standard · wheel

Interior

**300E dashboard, 150-mph cluster, and swivel-seat cabin**Herranderssvensson via Wikimedia Commons · CC0

Natural-tan Living Leather swivel bucket seats standard · seat
150-mph speedometer and full instrument cluster standard · gauge
Left-side TorqueFlite push-button selector standard · shifter

Chassis

Independent Torsion-Aire front suspension Suspension · standard
Semi-elliptic rear leaf springs Suspension · standard
Power-assisted four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes Brakes · standard
Semi-floating hypoid rear axle Rear axle · 3.31 · standard
Sure-Grip limited-slip differential Rear axle · configuration dependent · limited-slip · optional
Sure-Grip limited-slip differential Rear axle · 3.31 · limited-slip · optional

Production

**Radiant Red 300E hardtop with preserved finish**dave_7 via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

TorqueFlite, 3.31 axle, and Sure-Grip pathsClassic Muscle · Reference illustration

592 two-door hardtop sport coupe by body · 550 · documented
595 convertible by body · 140 · documented
All 1959 Chrysler 300E bodies total · 690 · documented

Authenticity

Torsion-Aire suspension and power drum brakesClassic Muscle · Reference illustration

Vehicle number M591100 followed by three digits; Detroit-built sequence begins M591100001. · Vehicle-number plate on the driver-side front door hinge pillar. · fraud detection
Engine number MR4131001 and up; the stamped R may resemble a P. · Machined engine-number pad on the 413 block. · numbers matching
Body data plate Model 592 identifies the hardtop and 595 the convertible; paint should use one of six 300E codes. · Radiator-support body data plate. · trim correctness
Dual-quad engine equipment Carter AFB 2798S front and 2799S rear with 300E-specific high-performance engine equipment. · Carburetor tags, intake system, air cleaners, valve train, and engine bay. · numbers matching
1959 exterior identity Red revised grille, driver-side 300 hood emblem, forward-mounted 300E quarter medallions, and correct 1959 fins and body sweep. · Front sheet metal, hood, quarter panels, and exterior trim. · fraud detection
Interior identity Natural-tan Living Leather swivel bucket seats, 150-mph instrument cluster, and push-button TorqueFlite controls. · Seat frames and trim, instrument panel, controls, and body plate. · trim correctness

Still Researching

option packages Major factory equipment is documented, but a complete dealer order form with codes, prices, and compatibility restrictions is not attached.
authenticity markers Model-level records cannot authenticate an individual car or establish born-with drivetrain, paint, trim, and options.

Codes & names