Driving the Chrysler 300B with manual transmission

Chrysler built 30 of these with the manual transmission. Some went to Nascar racing with Carl Kiekhaefer. This one did not although Erick Lieder drove it 127 MPH in 1959 at the Bonneville Salt Flats. These days it is mostly a museum piece with occasional use around the lot.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

These cars, and their stable-mates - the DeSoto Adventurer, the original Plymouth Fury, and Dodges with the D500 package are the first true muscle-cars, before the term "Muscle-Car" even existed. They came stock with up-rated engines, stiffer springs and shocks, and bigger brakes. Everything needed for high-performance driving.

[@salninethousand2496]

These Mopars had performance goods but were full-size vehicles with comfort at the fore, i.e., too big and expensive to be muscle cars. These Mopars were in the vein of the '64+ Riviera, '66+ Toronado, etc.; full-size executive hotrods (i.e., big and expensive). IMO the closest the '50s had to a muscle car would be something like the '56 Chevy 150 2-door with the 265 4 bbl, but it was not quite there as it was just a base sedan with a big engine (i.e., no performance options and not marketed as its own performance trim). The first muscle cars were indeed in 1964 (GTO, 442, Chevelle SS).

[@mescko]

@@salninethousand2496 Some would argue that the 1960 Galaxie with the 352/360 qualifies as the first muscle car.

[@djplonghead5403]

Impala was what many consider the first muscle car

[@loumontcalm3500]

Some claim the '49 Olds 88, or the '57 Rambler Rebel were the first

[@robjaimes8830]

Somewhere in heaven, Tom McCahill is smiling ear to ear. ❤

[@carlinshowalter1806]

I used to sit in my Grandfathers garage and read McCahills tests in Popular Mechanix😊😁

[@tombrown1898]

"Solid as Grant's tomb and three hundred times as fast!" Uncle Tom sure 'nuff loved a 300.

[@pjwood67]

Such a beautiful car! My dad actually owns this beauty now and is enjoying it very much. ♥️

[@edwardhalpin7503]

Such a beauty. When I was younger, manuals were all I ever wanted to drive. Keep her going!

[@waggitnshaggit6592]

That’s all my son and I buy

[@fredwalt2282]

Great looking car. Super great condition. I wanted to see it on the road !

[@chrisjeffries2322]

Wow, she is in wonderful shape, thanks to the caretaker. Thank you for the share.

[@TheTreasureGuard]

What a treasure that's worth guarding. I wish they would have built those rocker drain holes in my 1964 Chrysler.

[@markd1810]

The Chrysler letter cars are some of the best cars we put out. This is a late 50's car and for its time it was one of the fastest, best looking cars out there. The early 60's cars are rare too. Great car!

[@JoeBob461]

For a 66 year old vehicle, your 300B is in beautiful condition. She might be a dinosaur, but a bada$$ beautiful dinosaur! Thanks for the video!

[@michaelbenardo5695]

She is not a dinosaur, she is a beauty. Horse-drawn wagons are dinosaurs.

[@frederickmorabito6829]

I came across this video on my IPAD this afternoon, and was very impressed with this Chrysler 300B . This is the first time I seen one with a manual transmission. I enjoyed the ride. I was very impressed , too with the horn, people will know that car is coming. It even is well kept, too.

[@davidszakacs6888]

The long-gone three on a tree! Love it!

[@michaelbenardo5695]

So much better than the old floor shifter. Much safer.

[@peteradely885]

I had to add a comment. My Dad bought a NEW 1955 300 2dr HdTp from LF Jacod in Englewood NJ December 1954. It sat on showroom floor and my Dad had to have it. So many bells rang as I saw this video. Dads was a Powerflyte 2 speed with stick coming out of dash on right side of steering wheel. I never saw a column shift or a any stick shift ever. Even 1966 300 versions. I was 14 then and all I did was dream of Cars. Jacod dealer owner was personal friend of Dads. The immense under hood air cleaner is missing. Underside of car to me says RetroRod and someones very nice work. Too many things to make this a believable 100% stock car! OH YES, its a memory thing for me as we rode and lived in it for 5 years. Drove across USA before interstates. In Kansas on 2 way roads I saw 100+ MPH on many passing events. YES, just 2 lanes. Crazy fast traveling. Recall seeing speed posted was "Reasonable and Proper" 100MPH was legal and safe? My Dads 300 was very capable of excessive speeds. Its down side was climbing Pikes Peak mountain 14,110 feet in Colorado and every turn going down hill the bumper scraped the earth road and flattened the exhaust pipes. Now I'm 81+ and have vivid memories of my Fathers love for Chryslers. Thats why I drive a Lexus.

[@waggitnshaggit6592]

Great story except “that’s why I drive a Lexus” part, that’s got no soul.

[@henrikrolfsen584]

My first car, was a 1956 Nash, 3 speed on the column. I learned to drive with that car. I hated automatic transmissions then, and I hate automatic transmissions now. Later, I saved up my nickels, and dimes, and I bough a 1956 Cadillac, and the transmission immediately failed. The GM 1938 through 1955 Hydromatic was unbreakable, but then geniuses at GM decided it was too noisy, and in their attempt to build a "smoother" transmission, they left millions of owners of the 1956 through 1962 models, stranded on the sides of many a road.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

That's messed up, but 56 was the first year for the new Dual Coupling Hydramatic, and some were problem-children. Oldsmobile wisely offered the previous single-coupling version in addition to the new Dual Coupling version.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

You would probably love to have one of the 250 1966 Cadillac Eldorados that were built with a manual transmission - floor-mounted at that.

[@geodavid51]

What a find! Perfect for a guy like me who will not own an automatic and loves luxury cars.

[@Musclecar1972]

I love the old Mopars, my dad bought a brand new Custom Deluxe Dodge Sierra Wagon, had a Hemi, not sure what cu. In. but it had 2x4’s, that same year he bought a Thunderbird, with the 312, also with 2x4’s , that big boat of a wagon was quicker than the T-bird, and that’s no lie, the wagon was an automatic, the bird was a 3 on the floor. He only kept the T-bird a short time, but the wagon until 1962, I remember riding in the rear seat facing the traffic behind us. He loved that wagon. In 1962 he bought a Mercury, S-55 Marauder, with the 406, 405 HP option, that was a fast car for the times as well.

[@mikebristow2084]

A guy that worked for my dad in the late 50’s and early 60’s had one similar. Red exterior and interior, automatic as I recall. Legendary car. On the other hand my dad was a New Yorker man, every few years (a ‘56, ‘59, ‘61 and a 1965) in spite of my pleadings to get a 300. The engine was too loud on the 300s and the two door hard top was noisy and he wanted a four door. My dad never sat in the back seat of an automobile his entire adult life.

[@automatedelectronics6062]

It's sad that the original air cleaners aren't there anymore. If any car would be screaming for an overdrive, it would be this one.

[@larrywood125]

The bat wing air cleaners are in the trunk

[@automatedelectronics6062]

@@larrywood125 KOOL! These just don't look right without the original air cleaners. Those are fairly non-restrictive as the only noise the original buyers wanted was the free-flowing tone of the exhaust system. I know it's great to hear the carbs sucking in air sometimes, but it can be annoying. Thank you!

[@jeremiahchamberlin4499]

Awesome ride; loved watching you shift that ‘three in the tree’ and listen to that engine. It didn’t purr, it growled! Love it.

[@hairylarry6167]

I always thought these cars were really cool looking.

[@user-zi8ux6fy2n]

Makes me wanna 😢 CRY

[@seektruth8662]

Got to love those cars with horns that make you look around to see if a train is coming!

[@DiamondLightning]

What a beauty!!!

[@billyfoster3223]

It's all good! Great car and a beauty it is!😁👍🛠️⚒️

[@passinggear]

Excellent vehicle. Thanks for the video of it. It would love to live in Nevada....

[@larrywood125]

Nice Classic

[@bobdavis3357]

What a beautiful car. Lil Hemi was a beast

[@zanemcfarlane6087]

Back when cars where cars awsome old classic a friend of mine in new Zealand sent me a photo of his grandads 3ooB I think by the looks of it might even be the same year

[@opera93]

Thanks,nice tour, GREAT CHRYSLER*, *& warm up, etc. Interestingly, my second car ( for through , Pharmacy School), was *1956 * Ford/ 4 Door/White , BLUE DELUXE( ?)interior: 4 BBL/TBIRD/ dual,EXHAU/ Skirts/Fender Deluxe/auto( boo), PS/ PB ETC, “not driven”( suppos) Florida Car ( NO RUST, couple window erosions). We bought in **1965, freak totalled in Summe4 1966……should have been a keeper : not quite this 300B league , but close enough

[@weskirkland5850]

Such a beautiful car!

[@stevelee5724]

I want one..... Cheers from New Zealand 🇳🇿 😊

[@stephendavidbailey2743]

Not just a manual, but three on the tree! Far freeking out!

[@billyjoejimbob56]

What a beautiful car. and rare combination. Keep driving her regularly!

[@vtjmproductionsusa2390]

Nothing better than the rumble of an American V8. Great video 👍 wonderful Car.

[@shanew.williams]

NASCAR pioneer & 2 time champion Tim Flock was the impetus (via Karl Kiekhaefer) for the first manual transmission on the Chrysler 300. At the Daytona Beach race of 1955 Flock informed Kiekhaefer that the 300 letter car could not win on the wet sand beach with the gearing of Chrysler's automatic. Soon after, Kiekhaefer's NASCAR team received the very first manual transmission Chrysler letter cars (before they were ever available for sale to the public).

[@davidpaul5465]

Yes Sir! That indeed is the premium exemplar of the first muscle car. Thank you for sharing this. That such a pristinely serviced vehicle can still be heard on start bespeaks the service of an American.

[@androidtexts6948]

Probably one of the best looking Chrysler ever

[@carlinshowalter1806]

I built a 56 Desoto Fireflite Sportsman that I saved from the crusher,same color. Desoto was kind of like Ford sharing parts with Mercury. The body was pretty much the same as Imperial and Chrysler but different grille,tail lights,trim etc. This car had almost every option you could get.Power seat,windows,A/C,power steering,brakes. Never failed to draw a crowd any where it went.

[@bobdavis3357]

Sounds like a solid lifter cam.

[@garycamara9955]

I like this car.

[@soyounoat]

2:06 That HORN!

[@MrAndyLocksmith]

An American that calls an engine an engine and not a “motor”. 👍🏻

[@Chrysler300Club]

Youbetcha.

[@daryllect6659]

The later 4 speed Chryslers had a French transmission, manufactured by Pont-à-Mousson .

[@Chrysler300Club]

1960 was the year for the French transmission 4 speed. In 1964 Chrysler began using their own 4 speed built in Syracuse NY by New Process Gear.

[@donaldpowers5557]

Wow oh wow!

[@user-zi8ux6fy2n]

I love The 300series but my favorite is '57 300C🤙😎... Awesome AWESOME enginuity...a work of art👍...move over Picasso 👋

[@Chrysler300Club]

Yes, the 57 is stunning. I park the 56 next to the 57 to illustrate the difference.

[@user-zi8ux6fy2n]

@@Chrysler300Club YOU🫵 are also a genius, BRO'🤙😎🥃

[@harrymayhugh3401]

Beautiful car

[@larrywood125]

This 300B3S you can drive anywhere.don't let the yard drive fool you.I drive it every week on the open highway!! Come take a ride with me.

[@daviddisandro821]

nice. nothing like an old mopar. thats what they were driving the year i was born

[@nicksgarage2]

I knew they used the 1954 steering wheel (and I assume the column) but didn't know they used the 1955 dash panel.

[@alanblanes2876]

I thought that was a 1953 steering wheel - and I'm glad this video got posted. These must be ultra-rare.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

The 56 dash had that pod for the push-button shift, so the 55 dash was a better choice.

[@kipbrown1549]

Nice car //////////////// I would love to have a car like that /////////////////

[@billolsen4360]

'56, best looking Chrysler 300 ever built.

[@aaronwilliams6989]

NEAT!

[@chrisegnatz3668]

I had a 55 with the oil bath air cleaner never able get them to fit.

[@caribman10]

Needs a 4-speed conversion and a Hurst shifter.

[@bikdav]

When did Chrysler move the manual shifter assembly from above the steering column to below? All the later manual shift Chrysler products had the shifter assembly mounted below.

[@Chrysler300Club]

I think it was 1960.

[@billhyde2303]

That may have been a special order car I thought they came with Powerflites only.

[@Chrysler300Club]

25 were built with the Torqueflite, 30 with the manual, and the rest were the Powerflite.

[@seancrowley1065]

Talk about the details of the car.

[@jerrycallender9927]

Pont-a-Mousson French 4-speeds were available as an option on all of the 1950's 300s

[@Chrysler300Club]

Only in 1960.

[@michaelbenardo5695]

@@Chrysler300Club That's what I thought.

[@larrywood125]

4 speeds in 60s

[@KennethSloan]

Love man-trans. Real men to schtick.

[@rickdonnelly479]

How about some narrative? Great car.

[@johnfranklin5277]

Nice classic, but the message i get is its ok for running up and down the yard, but not fit for taking it out on the road..

[@larrywood125]

Come take a ride on the open highway.

[@larrywood125]

Driven weekly on open highway.

[@shanew.williams]

@@larrywood125 Well why didn't he VIDEO it "driven weekly on open highway" ? I would LOVE to see that. These are really COOL cars.

[@larrywood125]

Shane: This 1956 300 B has a rich history.In 1959 Eric Lieder owner at the time took the car to the Bonneville salt flats and ran 127 miles per.hour in the flying mile show room stock.340Hp.the optional Engine was 355Hp.

[@johnfranklin5277]

@@larrywood125 Great, but that didn't answer his question...

[@ceelowcreed7538]

Did these have a Hemi in them?

[@Chrysler300Club]

Yes, the 354 CID.

[@2098elk]

Three on the tree!

[@quagmiredavis4117]

That type of driving is going to sludge up that engine fast needs 200 mile trips don't be scared to drive it ..grandad calls this chicken shit driving

[@nathanpratt3058]

I just can't believe someone brought a 300b with a manual gearbox, it's almost a laughable idea

[@shanew.williams]

Not really "laughable" nathanpratt . For all out performance in a huge, heavy 50's car a manual was the only trans available with enough gear ratios to get that big heavy car up outta the hole. (But i get your point as to a manual in a luxery car.)

[@waggitnshaggit6592]

That’s the one I would want

[@MatthewWilson-vl7qc]

This guy cantget out. of. His Own driveway , not one to road test Anything .

[@justinjoyit13]

Hell we know it has reverse, again and again! Clickbait title!

[@fredflintstone9789]

Grind the shit💩💩 out of the gears🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

[@JrGoonior]

When did he do that? 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

[@larrywood125]

Thats what you have a clutch pedal for!!!!! No grinding Gears.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

At 02:05... grinds reverse and 1st... no synchromesh in 1st... should have used the synchro in 2nd to stop the clutch disc from spinning, then shifted into 1st... Surprised he was allowed to drive it on that gravel drive... This car should do 140 with proper rear gearing...

[@shanew.williams]

"If you can't find 'em, grind 'em.