Tribute Drop-Top: 1970 Chrysler Hurst 300
The Hurst 300 is an extension of the Letter Series Chryslers of the 1950s and 1960s. With a consult from Hurst Performance, fewer than 500 of them were built for only the 1970 model year. But – except for one or two convertibles – they were all assembled as 2-door hardtops. Based on a “regular” Chrysler 300 convertible, this beauty is a one-off tribute to what may have been. Numbers matching, this nifty Mopar is in Braceville, Illinois, and is available here on eBay where bids of $10,100 have yet to crack the seller’s reserve.
Chrysler produced more than 260,000 automobiles in 1970, of which 21,000 were the Chrysler 300. 1,077 of them were convertibles, the last year that Chrysler offered the body style in that car. The seller’s car likely began life as one of those drop-tops and someone added the Hurst look later on. We’re not told much about that part of the Chrysler’s life and as a Hurst tribute, it’s not 100% accurate (for example, all Hursts had a tan leather interior lifted from the Imperial, whereas this one is black but very, very nice). This auto has a 440 V8, but it may be slightly milder at 350 vs. 370 hp that came in the Hurst 300.
Some of this car’s history is known, at least from 1973 forward when it was in Southern California. In 1997, it moved north to Oregon and relocated to Illinois sometime after that. We’re told it’s in solid mechanical condition, running quite smoothly for 135,000 miles (no mention is made of any rebuild or restoration). Recent updates include the convertible top, brakes, battery, radiator, and a rebuilt carburetor. It’s also well-optioned with most of what was available that year added to the sticker price.
We assume this car began life painted white and all the gold stuff was added. But we don’t know how long ago this tribute was born. This machine looks like it would be a great entry for Cars 8 Coffee and even at some Mopar events where it should be quite the topic of conversation, especially if the car it was based on shows up, too!
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Comments
Depending on the final price / reserve its a real sweetheart & what a hoot to drive! There is a lot here to like with little downside except you would never leave this baby in the wrong neighborhood but that with a y car of this caliber! The air conditioning would not be wasted in my neck of the woods nor the convertible either! If you could afford the gas this would make one heck of a daily driver in the deep south!
Has a Ford rear wing(the Mopar wing was more rounded at the ends) The Hurst 300 had a beautiful integrated spoiler.I consider it Hurst’s most stunning creation,but ima big car boy :P
Forgive me for being naïve but wheres the hurst shifter or logos to make their brand stand out?
It a pretty beast.
Brand Please, I read an article that said the Hurst shifters weren’t ready when the cars were on the production line, so they weren’t added.
Also, there were many of these sold with column shift, making the point of it being a Hurst kind of pointless.
That is what I remember reading, could be incorrect.
This identical car was reviewed in September of 22 and the ask at that time was 28.5
A year and still not sold, wonder what the issue is…price?
Supply and Demand,
No Hurst on the hump makes this Tribute less then honorable.
Also, the fact that the interior is way wide of the mark.
*than
Thunder Rob I am glad somebody else said something about that atrocious hokey looking spoiler the original is unobtainable but just leave it without instead of the ill fitting boy racer wing. Just my opinion and To each their own though Otherwise a gorgeous car but I also always wondered why the didn’t put some kind of hurst shifter or wheels on this model
The real ones did not have Hurst shifters either, so why would they do that?
Being a Mopar guy the ultimate Chrysler convertible always has been the 1970 Hurst 300 with a 4 speed. I was lucky to be at the Car Craft National in the 80’s and seen 6 300 Hurst convertible and hard tops. It was a beautiful site. I do see them now and then at shows. They made a very low number of 4 speeds mostly automatics. The engine vin code was a U 400-4 HP. Just love the special fiberglass spoiler that was on the back of the 300 H. But this rear spoiler got to go!! Looks better without it! I would try to make one close to looking as factory as possible with fiberglass. Or leave it off. It’s a shame it didn’t have white (or tan)leather interior. I seen one and it was beautiful. This ride was for sale a while back. I guess it didn’t make the reserve he was asking. Also the 300H had special exhaust tips. So this ride is very good looking clone. I wish a lot of luck to the seller. 🐻🇺🇸
Bear,
Is that U code 440 the same as the one in that fabulous 71 Charger on BarnFinds last week?
That is a COMPLETE and utter untruth. They NEVER produced a single Hurst 300 with a 4-speed…nor any other Hurst-labeled vehicle, be it a Hurst/Olds, Hurst Pontiac Grand Prix SSJ, or otherwise. Hurst modified some other cars that were 4-speeds but never any that were labeled “Hurst”.
As a matter of fact, the last 4-speed C-body you could even buy was in 1968.
Hurst/SC Rambler, all were equipped with a 4 speed and hurst shifter, just saying…
1970 300H speed? Rare, none of none.
I think alot of the Hurst 300’s were automatics. I always kind of wondered why Hurst or Chrysler would make a special Hurst edition without a Hurst shifter? It never made sense to me. Otherwise they were great looking cars. This one looks really good but I don’t think the paint job gives it any extra value.
They were all automatic. Manual wasn’t offered
Too many inaccuracies for a tribute. Column shifter? Deck spoiler? No wonder the reserve hasn’t been met (& probably won’t be). GLWTS.
Most came with column shift. Console with floor shift was optional.
Yes sir , Of 485 made it was 36 with console and floor shift . All 300 Hurst is automatic .
Does it have the fiberglass hood like a true Hurst??
It looks like a fiberglass hood, and it looks very wavy even in the pictures. This is a good Cars And Coffee car and I wouldn’t pay anywhere close to the reserve…maybe 20K at most.
The rear spoiler on the 300 Hurst was not an add-on. The deck lid was redesigned to drop under the spoiler so that the same or similar rear quarter extensions could be used. It was a great design as it provided a spoiler and maintained the lines of the rear end when viewed from behind. I was told by a friend who had one that all of these had a console interior between front bucket seats. My understanding is that the factory produced one convertible for promotions and it had a huge Hurst shift handle mounted to a steel deck lid with some young beauty standing next to the handle when the car was driven in parades and events.
Buy it, take off that ridiculous spoiler, paint it back to original , put whitewalls on it. Done!
Bear,
Is that U code 440 the same as the one in that fabulous 71 Charger on BarnFinds last week?
Too bad the seller didn’t put in an Imperial interior, like true Hurst 300’s had. Also, the top should be white. Hurst would never have had a black cvt. top.
I actually knew the old guy who owned this car here in Oregon. He was older, didn’t know he had sold it. I wonder if he died. He pampered this car and took care of it. I think he lived in West Linn.
This is not a Hurst , Wrong spoiler on back , and inside is from 1969 Chrysler 300 . Thanks..
Can’t fool you!
Bossman it has never claimed to be an original Hurst as the ad title states it is not original it is a tribute or clone never is it claimed to be original
It’s still a nice car in my opinion except for that rear spoiler which does not fit the car
Chrysler only built 2 300-H convertible’s according to Chrysler 300 International Club. Members found one in a junk yard too far gone to do anything with. All 300-H came with tan leather seats from the Imperial
RMac , yes it is a nice car . But not a 300 Hurst ! I have one of 485 they have made . And my brother have one ! Best Regards : Hurst Brothers , Sweden .
Id love to see a few pics of your or your brother’s car.
You can ! Where can I send them ?
This isn’t a horrible tribute by any means and I understand that the correct decklid was manufactured from unobtanium, that being said the choice the builder made for a spoiler was extremely poor
I found a Hurst 300 hardtop in a junkyard a few years ago. I talked about it the last time one of these cars was for sale here on Barnfinds. I have pictures of it on my laptop.
Love these B bodies. We had a ‘69 Newport when I was a kid so I have a soft spot for them.
Given how few of these Hurst versions were made I think this car is a really nice tribute. It has the Hurst look imo but I agree that wing needs to go, it’ll give a cleaner look.
Great info here on the 300 Hurst cars, including info on the power train.
https://www.streetmusclemag.com/features/history/musclecars-you-should-know-1970-chrysler-300-hurst-edition/
Kinda weird. The rear trunk area reminds me of the front nose/wing on the electric Dodge Charger coming out.
The car was originally a very light blue metallic (EB1) with a white top (V3W) and a blue interior. The car having started life with a white convertible top makes the choice of a black replacement top instead of white when doing a 300 Hurst clone all the more puzzling, not to mention the black interior instead of tan. The chances of finding an Imperial coupe with the right tan interior is pretty much nil these days, but they sourced a black Chrysler replacement interior, why not tan?
It’s also definitely a standard 350 horse 440 and not a 440 TNT per the VIN, the hemi orange paint and air cleaner applique notwithstanding.
The rear wing is the 1970 style. Virtually impossible to distinguish between a Ford and a Mopar without looking at the part numbers where the pedestals mount to the wing. They started using the more rounded end style as you described in 1971. As you noted, the 300 Hurst has one all it’s own anyway so either of the others is incorrect.
SOLD for $21,500.