The End Of The Line - Rare 1965 Chrysler 300L With 413 Big Block Power

Did someone say Elwood Engel? I swear I heard someone say Elwood Engel. This gorgeous, yet understated car clearly bears his mark. From the (mostly) flat slab sides, the (mostly) flat windshield, the uninterrupted body lines, and the no-nonsense straight line styling of the grille opening and tail light panel to the conventional interior appointments, this car recalls the time period when Elwood "righted the ship" at Chrysler, and round filed Exner's unique and over-the-top designs in favor of something completely different. Specifically, kinda boring (but handsome) rectangles. Anyway, it's a 60s Chrysler product, it's got a big block, and it's blue. What more could you really want? Oh, and if you noticed the nod toward "the last of the interceptors," you get a cookie.

[@willythewave]

"Remember...these old boats float just fine". I like that. :)

[@TimothyRussell-uv7uv]

That 300 is so nice. Super clean!!!

[@beljames1563]

The mid 60's Mopar interiors were gorgeous. I love all of the chrome and crisp lines. Great car.

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

I agree, they were!!

[@leehouston5436]

These boats were fun, I’d take my grandmas out, flip the air cleaner lid and spin tires for half a block. Wasn’t fast but sure could put on a smoke show

[@SeanJoseph-s2s]

Very nice C-body....tons of fun.....thanks for showing it.

[@rickrice3221]

In 1965 I remember a Chrysler ad in my folk’s Readers Digest with the tag line:”This is the most beautiful Chrysler ever built.” I agreed and cut out the ad and saved it for many years - odds are good I still have it somewhere, and that ad may still be correct. Another fun console light fact: while the bezels are radically different, the plastic lenses are exactly the same as the rear seat courtesy lights in my ‘57 New Yorker convert! I enjoy your channel - keep up the good work!

[@jamesonpace726]

What glorious collosus of a car....

[@josephkay7785]

That's a real beauty. Love the white interior.

[@craigbenz4835]

Man I love that dashboard. Very similar to a 66 Newport I had.

[@user-KrackerJack]

Love that dash , very cool

[@dantupper1784]

You can kinda see where the '66 Charger interior was a continuation of this 'Aircraft' interior styling. The shifter handle looks like the '65 A-body. So using bits and pieces from different production lines makes sense from a savings standpoint. Maybe disc brakes may be a reasonable upgrade with modern traffic. These are big, cool cars.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Yes! I talked about that a lot with the 300G - the electroluminescent lighting and the four bucket seats. But there is definitely a line that could be drawn between the exterior of this car and the Charger as well. Thanks Engel.

[@dantupper1784]

@@DeadDodgeGarage A book about the interior/exterior styling post-Exner, maybe with a list of all the parts swapped around, inspiration for designs, etc.

[@fubarmodelyard1392]

Beautiful 300. Love the C's.

[@damonmeibers4164]

I never really liked C bodies, but this summer I had a chance to do a bunch of work on a 68 Newport Fastop, now I want one!

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I have always thought the same, and have also recently come around to it. I think the ‘68 Fury fast top is my guy! Although i really like the ‘70 Sport Fury as well.

[@lukepokrajac1057]

I own a 68 sport fury convertible - h-code 383 - 4-speed. Talk about a fun car to drive. All original short block from 67 with 133K miles. Put a Lunati Voodoo 256 cam in it and 440 source heads. It really runs awesome. It definitely is a fast car. Handling was upgraded with Bilstein shocks and Borgeson steering set. Had 3.5 degrees of positive camber dialed into upper control arms through offset bushings. It weighs 4240...about 500 more than a comparable b-body. @@DeadDodgeGarage

[@musclecarmitch908]

Cool car! A friend of mine had a green one like it back in the 80's! Great memories!👍

[@vermontguy7692]

Thanx for the good look and the ride along in a nice example of an underappreciated car. Seems like it could benefit from some front end work, at least an alignment, possible lower ball joints and/or control arm bushings, but the first thing I would do if it was mine (I wish!) would be to dump those Hancook tires and put a set of Michelins on it. BTW, the first 300 production car was called the C300 because Exner built a Chrysler concept car in 1952 called the C200. It was basically a convertible version of the K310. P.S. We had a '65 Newport four door sedan as the family bus in 1966. 383/2 bbl., $2964, out the door. First car we ever had with A/C and that big compressor could freeze you out of the car on the hottest day of the year. It stepped along pretty well, too. I passed my driver's license test in it on my first try including parallel parking!

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I actually didn’t know about the C200. I’m hip to the K310, and the lineage is pretty obvious from that to the first Exner bodies. I’m sure this could use some front end work. But it’s not toooo bad. We did the brakes last year or something, and at that time things looked alright.

[@mykd2999]

my first car was a 66 newport 4 door with a 383. i was 18, and i had it in the 80s. i LOVE this jukebox dash - it's the same as my newport. i had the body painted bright red (i stripped the trim and sanded and primed it MYSELF before i sent it to my local earl scheib) and i partially re-did the interior door panels MYSELF with black fabric from the fabric store in the mall where i worked. i put 57 plymouth wheel covers on it. jamie, i love what you do and i am thankful that there are young guys like you and rocket tom who keep the vintage chryslers alive. we will never have an america like that again. just... thanks, man. currently, i have a 67 dart 4-door 225, 3 on the tree (thanks for the info on my power steering question, too). it's not a classic car by any definition, just a regular car, but i love her and i drive her for all local errands. i also listened to your music on... um, soundcloud? you rock! you're a good man. god bless you and your family. -mike, san jose ca.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Thanks Mike! And I have to disagree - your ‘67 might not be a muscle car or super car, but it is *absolutely* a classic. More than that - it’s a piece of American history. That’s how I view all of these cars. I’m happy to be helping to keep the love for them alive. Thanks for watching.

[@milokerrigan7256]

beautiful! I have a full white interior in my 64 New Yorker wagon, with electric everything! and a 413 that goes hard! :-)

[@gasser66]

A luxurious cruiser with a bit of pep. Perfect! Digging the orange Chrysler steering wheel center thingamabob.

[@stuckinmygarage6220]

U saw it, too. Not original, or the paint ain't.

[@mikeeiben3430]

The first car of my dad's that I really remember was a 65 Newport of the same color. Really love the dashboard. I also remember that it had a "cold" light. He always let it warm up till the green cold light went out before he pulled out.

[@auteurfiddler8706]

I had that on my 68. It is well hidden when it is off. The first time I drove the car I was surprised because B bodies had nothing like it.

[@pcbullets8726]

Sweet cruiser! I bet it was pretty fun to drive!

[@kellismith4329]

Beautiful old car!

[@lovetocrank]

Love the sound of the starters on these videos!

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

You and me both!

[@jonboy9912]

What a lovely car - great review!

[@stevenbean9706]

beautiful

[@jasonlavertu6894]

Very nice cruiser! Thanks for sharing.

[@bgd73]

beautiful. I work on vehicles in a driveway with a steep hill main road at the end..maine coastal tourist route. Everything drops a gear and goes asian screaming ninny for decades. I heard a super big bass tube of barrels, and a tall gear climb dig in.. one of these cars sailed by at speed , just like today. On par with diesel tractor trailer rpms...as a gas v8. Amazing engines. They did give them a real torque line once upon a time.

[@DamnItBoyGarage]

Sweet Ride...😎

[@briane.5656]

Beautiful car. My favorite would have to be the 300G with the angled headlights. Just so cool!

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I did a video on one of those! It was awesome!

[@wrenched90405]

LOVE that dash man!

[@tonyb3864]

Awesome car. What a tank. Love it man. Hey every car deserves a performance tune. That 413 with a cam and a little higher compression pistons would kick ass. It reminds me of my 68 Newport 383 I owned for about a month back in 1976. My older brother gave it to me for free. Somebody owed him 300 bucks and instead of just writing off the debt he accepted that car. But it had no title so I had no plates and it was getting me stopped by the fuzz all the time. Now me and the fuzz did not get along too well. I was way too stoned to be dealing with that shit so I sold it for 150 bucks and gave the money to my brother. It was silver and had a set of cragars on it with white wall polyester tires. It was a nice summer fling. A taste of independence. Then I went back to driving my parents 66 sport fury. Keep up the good work Jamie. Oh the courtesy lights were also the same in the 66 sport fury.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Hey, at least these were 10.1:1 or so. Better than the standard 383 by a measure. That sounds like a party. Haha. Yeah, I’m thinking I’m just going to have to allegedly tune this thing up while it’s in the shop for other things.

[@tonytavolieri1663]

Glad to see it still has the 413. So many of theses cars were striped of their drive train and sold for scrap back in the 80's and 90's. Now all that's left is the RV blocks if your trying to get a big block mopar to rebuild

[@canadian4wd654]

Definitely a cool cruiser ! Road trip car

[@clutchkicker392ison5]

Nice !!. haHA shit flyin across the dash and fallin at ya foots , i kno it well. Cheers

[@greedo2660]

Gorgeous dash!

[@roberttoews2775]

Gorgeous ride. That colour and the chrome works beautifully together.

[@kellycassutt3165]

I just disconnected the battery cable from my classic car. Thanks, Jamie!!!

[@TimothyRussell-uv7uv]

When it’s not fast we call that spirited!!! Lol

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

That’s right!

[@ericball6000]

nice ride, my mom had a 1966 Chrysler 300, same dash, was a fun car to drive at 18 years old in 1976.

[@p38kris]

That car has back😂 I really like the color

[@trojan440]

Had a 66 Newport,383, beautiful cars.

[@noberet]

Very cool car!

[@MoparJeff]

Hi Jamie really enjoy your channel , As I own a 65 New Yorker 4 dr hardtop this particular post was much appreciated! Was my first hand me down car as a teenager and still enjoyable to drive Evan though these are sort of Grandma cars, they are affordable mopar goodness 😎. Thanks for the post 👍

[@murraymeekel7842]

So this might be off topic today. I tend to use Marvel's Mystery Oil to un-seize engines (works with acetone / marvels 50/50 also), so on my last OHV engine I removed the valve train and gave each valve a hit with a deadblow hammer to ensure they were closing. Then I had a spark plug hole adapter and put shop air in the cylinders one at a time to force the oil past the rings etc, did it once and added more Marvel's and let it sit overnight again. The next day I did the shop air pressurization again and by the 3rd cylinder on a V8 it turned over!!

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Nice! Evan and I were discussing something similar during that ‘61 Polara debacle. But I’ve never tried it.

[@parrishpatterson6780]

That is a sweet ride! I love C body Mopars, my first car was a 69 Fury III. Even though it had a 318, it moved it along pretty good. I installed a 4 barrel carb and manifold, drove it as my daily driver for years, until one day I decided to use it as a bulldozer to plow down a tree.....should have rented a real bulldozer.

[@WalterPidgeonsForge]

My Grandmother had one.. gold with a black top.. My Dad put dual quads on it and opened up the exhaust a bit.. (he was always a Ford guy and used to work for Holman-Moody on the Carrera Pan and GT40 projects)..When my Grandmother stopped driving, my Dad drove it for a couple years on and off.. then it got stolen and stripped, set on fire out on a Jersey shore back road. Still makes me sad to think about it’s demise.

[@auteurfiddler8706]

This particular car is pretty much perfect. The only thing to do would be to put on a dual pot master cylinder from 1967, or better yet, disk brakes from a 69-73 C Body. The disk brakes are not compatible with the 14 inch wheels or the original hubcaps and there were no 15 inch hubcaps and wheels offered in 65. As for the hockey puck steering joint, I was lucky to get one for 65 bucks about 35 ago. Once I bought a whole steering column to get one. The one on this car is relatively good. It is customary to see a worm and screw radiator hose clamp clamped to the outside, just for back up. I think it is still a better system than the more common mopar rag and mystery pot type as far as giving less slack in the steering. Oh, they had a heat shroud from the factory to protect the rubber hockey puck coupler from heat from the exhaust manifold.

[@allanperryman388]

Thanks for a c300 tour.

[@dans8287]

Having owned a 66 Polara I can vouch for the old 60's C-body brakes being terrible. Hitting the brakes over 50 mph could be a little bit scary. I would do a disk brake conversion if I still had it

[@kenjohnson3641]

What a cool car

[@marc11467]

big thumbs up. Love my 67 300 convert.

[@steveash9831]

Well damn. I just came out of the garage after installing a silver Simpson parachute to my '69 Super Bee street freak gasser with a blown 426 Hemi, zoomie headers and a straight axle. I was super charged with adrenaline and freaked out! I was riding high... and then your video brought me down for a crash landing in two seconds flat! Don't get me wrong. It's a good video about a super cool Mopar. Just the wrong video for my state of mind at the moment. I suppose I could remove the parachute and re-install it later. Yep. I really do have such a Mighty Mopar monster project. That's why I am so freakin' CRAZY! And crazy enough to drive it on the street in the near future!

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

😮 ok that sounds insane and indeed mighty. I once saw a street freak straight axle GTX with T tops. This sounds like that, but with some poop… I might need to see that one

[@steveash9831]

My evil plan is to eventually start a KZbin channel, and show case the Super Bee build, my '72 Satellite build, and dangerous antics in my '73 Charger with 3 Weber carbs and Tremec 5 speed. The Super Bee is finally painted with bass boat flakes of the era. I never thought about installing T-tops. I hope I don't have a nightmare about it, since you mentioned it. Probably your evil plan!@@DeadDodgeGarage

[@0004612]

@@steveash9831Do it man! We gotta see that terrorizing your neighborhood streets. I’ll subscribe to your channel for sure!

[@steveash9831]

Thanks for the encouragement! I'm in the process of moving to another state and building a big shop to work in. Afterwards, the sparks will fly! Probably causing more burns and bloods fingers! I have always been a human accident, looking for a place to happen! @@0004612

[@steveash9831]

The channel will be called, "Bad Ash Garage".@@0004612

[@linwoodlane7006]

Beautiful

[@wrenchinwithgrandpa4586]

Beautiful old lady!

[@drewschumann1]

One of these in pretty original shape was for sale in Clarksville Tennessee for most of last year.

[@Daniel-fd3wp]

Thats definitely a rare cruiser you don’t see those here in San Diego. 👍

[@Christianpreaching]

That trunk is Huge

[@craigbowley6783]

What a beautiful car👌🇺🇸

[@glenbo2464]

Love the 65's , my friends Mom had a dark green 2 door newport we loved to ride in. Wrong air cleaner ?

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Not sure on that. Noticed the plugged breather hookup. I’m not an expert

[@brucenichols540]

AWEsome car... Friend has a '65 413 / L with a factory 4-Speed!

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

That’s awesome! I don’t know much about C bodies with four speeds, but I sure know they’re few and far between…

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

😍Beautiful 300👍

[@patrickmonaghan8555]

I love these 300 Letter Cars. I have 1963 300J with the Cross Ram Induction under going restoration. It's got full power and A/C . A few other comments, the interior of these cars are so beautiful. Check out International 300 Club, tons of history and information. Beautiful example in this vid.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

That’s awesome! I know, I really love the interiors. This one is a little understated compared to the 300G I did a video on a while back, with the four buckets, full length console, swivel seats, EL lighting, etc. But still very classy. I happen to know that the second video I did on this car which was released on Thursday was shared in the International 300 Club’s mailing list. Haha.

[@patrickmonaghan8555]

The bucket seats are so damn attractive. I watched the later video after you tuned the '65. Well done! and yes a club member put it up on the list serve. I'll check out the one you did one the G. That model is my wish upon star list. @@DeadDodgeGarage

[@gilbertwashburn7095]

I love the 65 300L I'm drooling bad that's an awesome car I love interior women like that white interior you can pile a lot of women in that car I had a 63 Impala in high school I painted a copper bronze I did the interior in pearl white the girls loved it wish I had it yet it was a nice car it was a real 409 dual quad car with a 4 speed but I was a dumb kid what did I know I wanted a Camaro I did get some Camaros but I miss the 63 I love 65 300 l what happened to the world new cars are so mundane in garbage have a great day thanks for the video

[@craigbowley6783]

Those clocks are easy to make work. Usually all you have to do is clean up the connections in the back and it should work.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I’ve heard that. I tried to disassemble a B body rallye dash clock once and it did not seem to be so easy. Couldn’t see the guts at all without drilling rivets or something, and think the needles had to come off. Looked to be above my pay grade.

[@milfordcivic6755]

I miss the Sport-Luxury segment of the automotive market

[@randyman828]

Love it 😁

[@brianlewis6926]

On a 55 Chevy factory 6 cylinder came with the coil mounted upside down

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Yes! On flathead Chryslers, they aren’t straight down, but they are angled downward.

[@auteurfiddler8706]

I always say that, having driven B bodies, which are great, driving a C body always seems like a reward and driving an A body always seems like a punishment. The 65 has the best feeling of quality. The 69 and newer get a bit plasticy in the dash area.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I think B bodies are the sweet spot. I just love the way they drive. Some A bodies are really not great, but I have found some to be perfectly acceptable. The C body rides quite nicely, but I have found them to be quite floaty in the handling department - which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

[@auteurfiddler8706]

@@DeadDodgeGarage There are upgrades, particularly with the torsion bars and front sway bar. Availability is spotty. But you are starting from a firm foundation. Try a 65 Galaxy for comparison. I told my brother that my C bodies drove nearly as well as b bodies once the tires and wheels were up to spec. But with the disconcerting length behind the driver, it was "like driving a B body pulling a trailer."

[@danielventura8073]

Every auto parts store has 134a and 1234yf refrigerant in stock.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Not in Washington anymore… it was removed from shelves. I worked at O’Reilly auto parts for five years and not only sold it, but charged systems in the parking lot. I am well familiar. You are supposed to be licensed to buy it here.

[@youtubecarspottersguide1]

"hope in my Chrysler its a big as a whale and about to set sail " b -52s 1989 n

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

It seats about twenty! So come on and bring your juke box money.

[@bigwrenchtech]

I made it! What's for lunch?

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Omg I don’t know, but I’d like to

[@bobdavis3357]

Love it😊

[@clembob8004]

Very nice old Chrysler! These make very good demolition derby cars, which I know is a shame because it cuts their life span down drastically, but I've see these things destroy everything in their path. The Imperial is even better, so much so that they are banned from demo derbies in some places.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Oh yeah… they’re legendary for that. There are no C bodies left out at the Mopar ranch for this reason.

[@Pvt.Parts13]

it has littlebit of wobbly wobbly on the steering, nice cars when everything is tight. littlebit tune and maintenance wouldn't be a bad idea for that car 😆 i've had a 1966 440 new yorker for 8 years and ill planning to keep it till i die or world runs out of gasoline, wich ever comes first 🤣 the 66 models front and back looks littlebit more of a musclecar and clean than the 65.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

The rag joint was toasted. We have since fixed that. Nice!

[@stuckinmygarage6220]

@9:37. 😂. Thank you.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Proud of that. Haha.

[@stuckinmygarage6220]

@@DeadDodgeGarage Amen! Please don't change. 👍

[@robertspence831]

Love. It.

[@mediamain6]

Humongous? It's literally 10 inches longer and 3 inches wider than your 68 Charger. I dunno about humongous... love these vids though!

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

It sure feels humongous from behind the wheel… the Charger sure is large for a “mid size” though.

[@mediamain6]

@@DeadDodgeGarage For sure, I had a '66 Town and Country and that thing felt enormous and there was no getting away from it. It reminded me of it every time I used the rear view mirror or turned to look back.

[@johnfitcheard7112]

Dual quad set up was optional on these cars

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

In previous years it sure was. For ‘65 it was no longer optional. You had to go to the parts department at your dealer and buy the setup.

[@majorpayne5289]

👍Nice

[@cowthedestroyer]

God i would love to have been born in the 30s or 40s and enjoy the muscle car era and well having money that isn't totally worthless. Oh well i will stick to slants and 360s that might be overpriced by a couple hundred bucks and then some

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I’m right here with ya… everything kinda sucks.

[@cowthedestroyer]

@@DeadDodgeGarage hey at least alcohol hasn't gone up much in the past 5 years

[@Mr.mopar71]

Where's the merch?

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

DeadDodgeGarage.Com !

[@wilenelson1810]

Sweet! 💀🎃👻🎃💀🎃👻🎃💀🎃👻🎃💀🎃👻🎃

[@mypronouniswtf5559]

Dont think the car performed like it should have..They have a lot of kick..They beat 383 B bodies!

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

I agree. Judging by the billowing fuel smoke… there is a lot of meat on the bone there. I’d start with timing. I haven’t been given clearance for that yet. Haha.

[@0004612]

@@DeadDodgeGaragewe need to hear those secondaries roaring their big block sounds.

[@NathansMoparGarage]

My 68 300 weighs in at about 4500 #s this car is probably close to that.

[@0004612]

Just like a modern day Challenger! A scat pack 6.4 swap would make a great sleeper boat.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

That’s about what I was figuring. So about 1500 pounds on the A body, and about 1000 on the B body. Haha.

[@auteurfiddler8706]

@@DeadDodgeGarage It is not that much less than a B body of the same year The documents list it at 4050 or 4150, I forget which. So, about 4400 total since those always understate the weight by a few hundred pounds. I would bet it weights less than a modern Charger, less than a 79 Cordoba, and far less than a Tesla.

[@markhoffman6861]

First car I ever bought was a '68 300 (way back in '78). It was Sovereign Gold Metallic, White top, 2 dr, TNT 440, w/front disc brakes. Power everything and it had the round vacuum guage at the front of the console. I sure do wish I still had that one. Only paid $425 for it and it had zero rust, and zero dents (Florida car on the Gulf coast}.

[@thomasdeangelo1655]

The end of an error.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Ohhhh I dunno about all that!

[@12Georgia83]

🍺

[@michaelnault5905]

Gas, oil, and mass :⁠-⁠)

[@johnskogman5623]

BTW, when will your voice change?

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Uhhh, I dunno, when will yours?

[@stuckinmygarage6220]

@johnskogman5623. Dude! Wassup with that?

[@klapaucius77]

I have a full size 64 Dodge. This is a much prettier, faster, less doors version. 🤣

[@scottmiller8791]

They made the crappy 300M in 1999

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Yes, that’s the one I decided not to mention - as well as the “300H” Hurst cars from 1970. Tom seemed to think the ‘79 might count as an honorary letter car. It was similar limited enough in production, and had every single production “performance” part they could throw at it at that time. But it doesn’t have a letter.

[@auteurfiddler8706]

@@DeadDodgeGarage There was a lot of snobbery involved in one of the Chrysler 300 clubs about which cars should be included. "Sport series", which is what they called the non letters for only two years, 62 and newer, no. Hurst and 79 maybe. But this was years ago. Eventually I think people figured out that a non letter or even a Newport were 99 percent the same car.

[@fredwalt2282]

Crappy free play in steering gear. Fix it !!!

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

It wasn’t in the steering gear, and we did.

[@johnskogman5623]

Bad quality. Naturally.

[@DeadDodgeGarage]

Just like your attitude! I guess we have something in common.

[@auteurfiddler8706]

Mine was the highest quality car from before , say 1995 that I had ever seen or driven.