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1963 Chrysler 300 Sport, V-8
300 SERIES - (V-8) The 300 Sport Series continued with the same body types as used in 1962. A later addition to the 300 lineup was the Pace Setter Series, introduced to commemorate the use of a 300 as the Pace Car for the Indianapolis 500 mile race. Pace Setter editions were identified by special interiors and a small checkered flag placed below the front fender 300 emblem. An option was full leather in bucket seat cars.
300 SPORT SERIES I.D. NUMBERS: Serial Numbers were located as on previous models. Detroit built cars began with Serial Number 8233-100001 and up. Engine prefix was the letter 'T'. NOTE: The four-door sedan referred to above was built as a Saratoga for the Canadian market, but counted in the plant as a 300.
300 SPORT SERIES ENGINE V-8. Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Displacement: 383 cubic inches. Bore and stroke: 4.25 x 3.375 inches. Compression ratio: 10.0:1. Brake horsepower: 305 at 4600 R.P.M. Five main bearings. Hydraulic valve lifters. Carburetor: Carter Type BBD two-barrel Model 3476S.
| Year |
Body/Style Number |
Body Type/Seating |
Model No. |
Price |
Wt Lbs |
Production |
| 1963 |
822 |
2-Dr Ht Cpe - 6P |
TC2-M |
$3960 |
3765 |
9423 |
| 1963 |
823 |
4-Dr Sedan - 6P |
TC2-M |
$3765 |
3785 |
1625 |
| 1963 |
824 |
2-Dr Ht Sed - 6P |
TC2-M |
$3930 |
3790 |
9915 |
| 1963 |
825 |
2-Dr Conv Cpe - 6P |
TC2-M |
$4320 |
3820 |
1535 |
| 1963 |
802 |
2-Dr Pacer Ht Cpe - 6P |
TCM-2 |
$4072 |
3770 |
306 |
| 1963 |
805 |
2-Dr Pacer Conv - 5P |
TCM-2 |
$4432 |
3840 |
1861 |
Here's another interesting limited production car commonly called the Pacesetter. It is also referred to as Pace Car. In 1963, Chrysler was again chosen to provide a pace car for the Indy 500, and instead of using the more appropriate 300J, they opted to send out a regular 300 convertible, probably so the crowd could see who the driver was. (Sam Hanks, Indy winner from 1957) Somebody with a chain saw was seen lurking near a 300J, but he was quickly apprehended and sent to work for GM.
The 1861 pace cars were garden variety 300 convertibles equipped out of the box with a 305 horsepower 383 2 barrel engine, with either a 3 speed manual or the venerable Torqueflite. There were also 306 hardtops produced, but nobody seems to get too excited about them, just the ragtops. 1860 of the converts were Holiday Turquoise, (also referred to as Pace Car Blue) and one was black. All had white tops and interiors. They had a special Indy 500 emblem, and that was about it. The wheel covers look to be from the New Yorker, while the actual car used at Indy on race day had 15 inch wheels and 300J wheel covers. The usual list of options was available, including some very snappy 413 engines. For all genuine pace cars, the serial number on the VIN tag has to start with 80.
The pace cars cost $4129.00, and weighed 3840 lbs. That's about $1.08 per pound, which was roughly what steak cost back in 1963.
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