Story
1964 Chrysler 300K
The 1964 300K was Chrysler's ninth letter-series performance car and the highest-volume letter car to that point. Buyers could choose a two-door hardtop or convertible, both on Chrysler's 122-inch-wheelbase unit body. Production reached 3,022 hardtops and 625 convertibles. The ordinary Chrysler 300 remained a separate model; badges alone do not turn one into a 300K.
Two versions of the 413
The standard FirePower 360 used a 413-cubic-inch RB wedge, one Carter AFB four-barrel, 10.1:1 compression, hydraulic tappets, and dual exhaust. Chrysler rated it at 360 gross horsepower and 470 lb-ft. Optional package 332 brought the FirePower 390: dual Carter AFBs on ram induction, 9.6:1 compression, mechanical tappets, 390 horsepower, 485 lb-ft, and heavy-duty chassis equipment. The two configurations share this page but retain separate specifications and authentication markers.
Automatic or four-speed
The A-727 TorqueFlite was standard and used a selector in the center console. A floor-shifted four-speed manual was optional with its own pedals, linkage, controls, and application limits. Both transmission paths used a 3.23 standard rear ratio, while Sure-Grip was optional. A transmission swap or added limited-slip differential must be described as a later change unless the car's records and physical evidence agree.
Torsion bars, leaf springs, and drums
Independent front suspension used Chrysler's longitudinal torsion bars, control arms, hydraulic shocks, and an anti-roll bar. The live rear axle rode on semi-elliptic leaf springs. Power-assisted, self-adjusting 11-inch drums handled braking at all four wheels. Package 332 added heavy-duty springs, shocks, anti-roll bar, brake equipment, and larger tires alongside the 390-hp engine.
Bucket-seat letter-car cabin
Front bucket seats had molded foam padding and adjustable headrests, while the passenger seat reclined through five positions. The center console carried the shifter and a vacuum-operated Performance Indicator. Vinyl and leather upholstery were available in documented color combinations. Current upholstery, console equipment, or gauges need support from the body plate, protected material, and restoration history before they are treated as original.
Colors and the Silver 300
The model-year record lists 17 paint colors, from Formal Black and Persian White to Royal Ruby, several blues and turquoises, and Silver Mist. The midyear Silver 300 was a hardtop appearance package within the 300K family, not a separate model. Silver paint or package-style trim alone cannot establish that identity.
Identifying a real 300K
Start with the 8443 serial pattern and style 842 hardtop or 845 convertible body record, then reconcile the complete car. The standard engine uses the V41 stamp pattern and single AFB hardware. Club records identify a C300K stamp pattern, dual AFB 3505S carburetors, mechanical tappets, ram induction, and package equipment for the 390-hp path. Transmission controls, axle, suspension, brakes, paint, trim, cabin, dates, and ownership records should all tell the same story.
Price and market context
The reviewed club page contains conflicting original-price pairs: $4,056 and $4,522 in its narrative, but $4,228 and $4,694 in its table. Both are preserved until a dated Chrysler price schedule resolves the difference. Public auction observations also span different bodies, conditions, restorations, and equipment. They are historical context, not a current appraisal or evidence for another car.