Mark Osborne
Global Director of Motorsport
LOT 65 ¤
1956 Chrysler 300B Sport Coupe Chassis no. 3N561982 Engine no. 3NE562016
Sold for US$34,720 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 65¤
1956 Chrysler 300B Sport Coupe
1956 Chrysler 300B Sport Coupe
Chassis no. 3N561982
Engine no. 3NE562016
Chassis no. 3N561982
Engine no. 3NE562016
354ci Hemi Head Overhead Valve V-8
Two Carter 4-Barrel Carburetors
340bhp at 5,200rpm
Three Speed TorqueFlite Automatic Transmission
Coil Spring Independent Front, Semi-Elliptical Leaf Spring Live Rear Axle
Four-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes
* The first year of the Chrysler 300 "Letter Cars"
* Loaded with options including air conditioning
* First owned by Harrah's Club
* Preserved in the Collection for six decades
THE CHRYSLER 300B
In the mid-50's the auto drought from World War II had ended. People were on their second or even third postwar new car acquisition. Availability was not a problem and the Big Three were working hard to differentiate their offerings. Performance and luxury became the motivators, even among luxury car builders.
Lincoln had demonstrated its performance with epic wins in the Mexican Road Race, the Carrera Panamericana. In 1955 Cadillac put dual 4-barrel carburetors on its new Series 62 Eldorado convertible. Chrysler, seeing the same opportunity, arrived at what became an enduring legend, the 1955 Chrysler C300 with dual quads on its successful 331 cubic inch V-8 with hemispherical combustion chamber heads. It put out 300hp but more than that it had all the creature comforts that successful professionals who could afford its $4,100 price could desire.
It became known as "the banker's hot rod", capable of embarrassing kids in their hopped-up Chevys, Fords and Dodges while riding smoothly and cossetting occupants in leather seats. Chrysler also paid attention to the suspension so the C300 handled well enough to manage its power. It was so successful in establishing a performance halo for Chrysler that it began a series of Chrysler 300s that continued for years.
THE CAR OFFERED
The 1956 Chrysler 300B was the first of the Chrysler 300 "Letter Cars". The Hemi engine grew to 354 cubic inches with horsepower now 340 (355hp with optional 10:1 compression ratio). Leather upholstery was standard in the 300B, and the options list was long. Production was only 1,102 units but its reputation far exceeded its production.
This 1956 Chrysler 300B was first owned by Harrah's Club, then passed into private ownership. It was acquired by the Harrah Collection from a Reno resident in 1966 with its odometer reading 93,807 miles. It is the kind of car that appealed to Bill Harrah – sedate looking but fiercely powerful when prompted – and the Harrah Collection once had a row of Cloud White Chrysler 300s from every year.
It is now painted in Regimental Red, having originally been delivered in Cloud White, and has its original beige leather upholstery. Its options list is impressive including chrome wire wheels, whitewall tires, original batwing air cleaner, air conditioning, radio, heater, power steering and brakes, power windows, pushbutton TorqueFlite automatic transmission and the charming Chryslermatic 15-jewel self-winding Benrus clock in the steering wheel hub.
The repaint is sound, trim chrome is good, but the bumpers are scuffed. The original upholstery is cracked but usable. The engine compartment, chassis and underbody are remarkably original. The odometer today shows barely more than it did when acquired which attests to its careful preservation during the Collection's six decades of ownership.
This is one of the most desirable "barn find" cars to come out of long-term caring ownership in recent history. Its history is enhanced by its original Harrah's Club ownership. Careful recommissioning after its long dormancy will be rewarded by a dynamic, loaded, Chrysler 300B with an intriguing story to tell.
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