Photo: Great Lakes Classic Cars & More
We love the Chrysler 300 around here. It'll never be as refined, comfortable, or quite as pleasant to drive as a 3-Series BMW or a Lexus. But we don't see many 300 owners complaining about this; they were just happy to drive a big, comfortable sedan at a discount compared to the competition. But the 300 name's been all over the place in Chrysler's history; it wasn't always hip-hop video fodder on an outdated sedan platform.
Not only was the 300-letter series a stalwart of Chrysler's lineup in the 50s and 60s, but the non-letter series built around the same time culminated with the 1970 Hurst 300, sporting a 440-cubic inch (7.2-L) V8. But neither of these represents the 1979 Chrysler Cordoba 300 in front of us today. As if to make the lineage that little bit more complicated, the separate Cordoba line of full-sized luxury coupes saw the moniker return as a limited-edition trim package exclusive to the high-end of the model range.
With a funky crosshair-style front grille reminiscent of the modern 300's cousin, the Dodge Charger, a 5.9-liter V8, and a revised police-spec suspension, all the pieces were in place for a decently competent sports coupe. That'd be if the engine didn't jet a measly 195 horsepower from the factory, owing to archaic and frankly embarrassing emissions restrictions that ended the muscle car era a few years earlier. All in all, the Cordoba 300, its red leather seats and red pinstriping included, hit the scene with all the impact of a wet noodle.
The recession of the early 1980s dulled American's appetite for a big, thirsty American sedan and saw the beginning of a societal switch preferring smaller, more efficient European and Japanese automobiles. In short, the Cordoba 300 was doomed from the start. But all that means in 2024 is that these one-year wonders are exceedingly rare, let alone in good condition like this one for sale on eBay out of Monroe County in Western New York. This part of the country often isn't kind to classic cars, or even modern ones for that matter.
But it's nice to see a genuine survivor in such amazing and pristine condition in such a salty and inhospitable winter environment. From nearly all angles and with the exception of only a few blemishes, this Cordoba looks much the same as it did when it was brand new. Long after most of its brethren were driven till the wheels fell off and crushed or left to rot in a shed or field, this one lives on. It carries a legacy that can't be taken away from that of the larger 300. It's also bound to only be slightly less reliable than a modern one.
With a funky crosshair-style front grille reminiscent of the modern 300's cousin, the Dodge Charger, a 5.9-liter V8, and a revised police-spec suspension, all the pieces were in place for a decently competent sports coupe. That'd be if the engine didn't jet a measly 195 horsepower from the factory, owing to archaic and frankly embarrassing emissions restrictions that ended the muscle car era a few years earlier. All in all, the Cordoba 300, its red leather seats and red pinstriping included, hit the scene with all the impact of a wet noodle.
The recession of the early 1980s dulled American's appetite for a big, thirsty American sedan and saw the beginning of a societal switch preferring smaller, more efficient European and Japanese automobiles. In short, the Cordoba 300 was doomed from the start. But all that means in 2024 is that these one-year wonders are exceedingly rare, let alone in good condition like this one for sale on eBay out of Monroe County in Western New York. This part of the country often isn't kind to classic cars, or even modern ones for that matter.
But it's nice to see a genuine survivor in such amazing and pristine condition in such a salty and inhospitable winter environment. From nearly all angles and with the exception of only a few blemishes, this Cordoba looks much the same as it did when it was brand new. Long after most of its brethren were driven till the wheels fell off and crushed or left to rot in a shed or field, this one lives on. It carries a legacy that can't be taken away from that of the larger 300. It's also bound to only be slightly less reliable than a modern one.
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