Story
1965 Chrysler 300L
The 300L closed Chrysler's original eleven-year letter-car run with a completely new body and a familiar formula: a full-size Chrysler with the strongest regular engine, heavy-duty chassis equipment, a bucket-seat cabin, and its own identification. Chrysler offered a two-door hardtop and convertible. They belong together on this model-year family page; the visually similar non-letter 300 remains a separate model.
One high-output 413
Every 300L used a high-output 413-cubic-inch RB wedge rated at 360 gross horsepower. It had one Carter AFB four-barrel, a high-lift hydraulic camshaft, and dual exhaust. Four-speed and TorqueFlite applications used different carburetor numbers. Earlier letter-car cross-ram induction was gone, so those parts on a 1965 car must be identified as a later change unless extraordinary factory evidence says otherwise.
TorqueFlite or four-speed
The console-shifted A-727 TorqueFlite was standard and placed a vacuum-operated Performance Indicator in the console. The optional four-speed used a floor lever, clutch controls, and a console tachometer. Both powertrains used 3.23 rear gearing, with Sure-Grip optional. The transmission, floor and pedals, console instrument, axle tag, dates, and records must agree before a rare manual or limited-slip claim is accepted.
Heavy-duty C-body chassis
The 124-inch-wheelbase C-body used unit construction with an isolated front subframe. Torsion bars and control arms supported the front, while leaf springs located the live rear axle. Heavy-duty suspension and brakes, power steering, and power-assisted 11-inch drums were standard. Later disc brakes, altered springs, modern steering parts, or non-stock wheels can be useful upgrades, but they are not factory 1965 evidence.
Letter-car trim and cabin
The round grille medallion was designed to illuminate, subject to state-law and dealer-wiring differences. A painted upper-molding insert, damascened rear panel, letter medallions, and distinct lower trim separated the 300L from the non-letter 300. Front bucket seats and a full console were standard. Upholstery, power accessories, air conditioning, radio, and steering equipment must be matched to the data plate and records.
Paint, roofs, and tops
The reviewed records document a broad color range, but some codes were cancelled and Daffodil Yellow arrived late, so build date matters. Hardtops could have black or white padded vinyl roofs. Convertibles used black, blue, or white tops with compatibility restrictions. Current paint and roof material are never substitutes for the data plate, protected finish, and original order record.
Production and identity
Production totaled 2,845 cars: 2,405 hardtops and 440 convertibles. Start with a C453 Detroit or C456 Delaware serial, then confirm C42 hardtop or C45 convertible body identity. The engine should carry the A-413 assembly prefix, date, and HP marking. The complete body, drivetrain, chassis, paint, trim, cabin, dates, and history must reconcile; an L badge or 413 alone cannot turn a non-letter 300 into a 300L.
Price and market context
The reviewed club table reports $4,225 for the hardtop and $4,155 for the convertible, but its lower convertible amount and mistaken C42 body label require a factory price-sheet check. Dated auction records span bodies, restorations, modifications, and one no-sale high bid. They provide historical context only, not a current appraisal or proof of another car's condition or originality.