The water pump began leaking at 80,000 miles and I replaced it.
The brake master cylinder was replaced at 80,000 miles.
The power door locks work intermittently, starting at 100,000 miles and 20 years old.
This 1979 300 has been the most reliable car I have ever owned. It has required less than $100 in repairs in the last seven years of driving (not including tires, oil, belts, and other regular maintenance).
I have driven this car mostly for short trips around town. I also have driven it from Seattle to LA and Seattle to Montana.
It is one of the best looking '70s Chrysler B body models.
The acceleration is fast to 30 MPH and beyond that performance is just adequate. The 4-barrel noise from under the hood makes it seem like it is going much faster.
Gas mileage is poor but comparable to a new SUV. Engine and axle combo make the car rev at nearly 3000 RPM at 60 MPH which makes for poor mileage.
Actually, the 1979 Cordoba-based 300 probably represents the low point in the decline of this model, which began in 1962 when Chrysler started selling a non-letter 300 which was nothing more than a fancied-up Newport.
By 1979, Chrysler was having a hard time moving the overweight and underperforming Cordoba in the last year of its original design, so figured that reviving the 300 nameplate and adding some red and blue pinstripes, fake fender vents, along with an engine-turned dash applique might sell a few more cars. They could hardly call it a performance car with only 195 hp.
It remains to be seen whether the 2005 300C will herald a return to the respect this model commanded when it first appeared in 1955...
The 79 300 was, if you take the time to look at the specs. about mid performance point of the first 300's until about 59. The 79 is more like the 55 than most other 300's with respect to limited number of options and color choices. It also performed in the upper performance range for 79, the LRE Dodge pickup, the Vette and the Firebird were about the only US production vehicles that out performed it. It still has good lines and character. The bottom of the barrel IMO are the tens of thousands of 99 thru 04 300 M front wheel drive cars. Chrysler never changed the letter designation and did not keep the M series in keeping with the old letter cars, just sales hype.
First, the fwd 300M, despite the name, does not even merit comparison to the rwd 300's, even the non-letter versions like your 1979. And frankly the 300C they are selling now has too many doors, but DaimlerChrysler is reportedly deemphasizing the coupe body style.
As far as the 1979 300 outperforming most other American cars that year, that's not saying much. 1979 was hardly a pinnacle of American automotive performance.
I have owned a 1979 Chrysler 300 since May of 1980. At that time Chrysler was having financial trouble and I bought the
car for 5995.00, the dealership owner was driving it around, so it had maybe a couple thousand miles on it. It has about 54,000 on it now body and paint excellent and all interior still excellent to good except head liner, moon roof still works fine etc. all this in Aug 2005. The horsepower is only 195, it will only go about 119 miles per hour. It is a very nice looking car. All, but the horn and vanity lights
still work (small short somewhere). It sounds way
faster than it is, and in 1979 it was a reasonably fast car.
Remember, the government decided to inflict changes on the
automotive industry that were at the time very near the
technical limits of the day, the cars performance reflect this problem. This kind of car is all about style more than performance, it is rare to see them on the road, and the long long hood makes for a unique retro look. I liked the looks and think it needs hp power improvement, but I have felt that way since 1980 when I bought it. It has a certain attraction to me in looks and length of hood that you can't get today. It is not a perfect ride, but it is fun to drive, the AC has been retrofitted to the new stuff and it still works. All in all, I think it is among the best looking 300's made, and its still fast enough to make it interesting, about the same amount of power as a 1995 Mercury Grand Marquis, and it seems at least as powerful
as a 2002 Town car. So, thinking about all that a going-out-of- business Chrysler company had to contend with in 1979, its not too bad an execution, given their resources
at that time. I like it for cruising, it is almost as much
fun as my 98 z-28 convertible, and that is saying something.
John.
My '79 300 drives like a bat out of hell, just a few upgrades like carb and intake, as well as headers and exhaust and the 360 small bock will dominate main street. I forsee this car being a collectible in the future as it is the very last B-body. Mopar Muscle Forever.
I have owned a '79 300 for about ten years and I think it is as good as any 300 but the Hurst and the Original two years. It turns on like a sledgehammer (modified), looks like a million bucks, and is already a classic. Those who cut these cars down are not really thinking, because they are absolutely true to what the original 300 was meant to be, 'The Beautiful Brute'. Mine is gaining in value every day, and it does go as well as just about any car from the era it was made. Would you say a '79 Z28 isn't a real Z28 because it won't run as hard as a '69 Z28?
My 300 got a few performance upgrades like headers, dual glass packs, Edelbrock intake and 650cfm carb. The engine hasn't been touched for the 120,000 miles on it and it just screams. 0-60 times around 7 seconds. The 727 shifts as hard and fast as a manual (especially with a shift kit). This car dominates main street and makes all the new Mustang guys cower in fear. B-bodies forever. Mopar for Life.
I have had my 79 300 since 1988. It has 39,000 miles, T-tops and still has the original lean burn set up. It's not going to win many races, but I still love driving it. I too believe the value for the 79 300 will start to rise fast over
the next couple of years. Great collector car.
This car dominates main street and makes all the new Mustang guys cower in fear.
???
Heh, in your dreams, buddy.
"This car dominates main street and makes all the new Mustang guys cower in fear.
???
Heh, in your dreams, buddy."
I bet you don't even know what this car looks like. A rear-wheel drive, 360 4-barrel with 727 AT certainly has potential, once you clear away the smog strangulation.
You guys are so funny!!!
My husband has been dragging around this car for 20 years waiting to restore it.
It is sitting across street from house. Everyone refers to it as the statue.
His comment to my entry is, "I am glad you are getting a thrill off of my misery.
I asked him why he has been holding on to this car this long, his comment was, "Because once you drive it, you can never let go of it". You would think he was talking about a woman.
Can somebody pimp my husband's ride??? (Smile)
I bet you don't even know what this car looks like.
Yeah, buddy I know exactly what it looks like: an old Chrysler Cordoba with fake turned metal dash trim and a console shift.
Please do not expect anyone to believe that someone with a 3300 lb Mustang GT with 300 hp/320 ft lbs torque is going to "cower in fear" from this 4000 lb tub with 195 hp and 280 lbs ft torque.
It has potential, all right: potential to be a curb ornament like the comment above is talking about...
Yeah, that sounds like a great challenge! I once did take up a similar calling for a lady with a '75 Dodge Charger Daytona. Yanked the 318, and put in a rebuilt 360, with the better '72 cylinder heads, headers, Edelbrock dual plane intake, Holley 4-barrel, and Direct Connection ignition. That was a heck of a nice running car at the end. Your 300 had the same engine as the Dodge Lil' Red Express truck, which believe it or not was the fastest production vehicle for 1979. Restore it!
"Yeah, buddy I know exactly what it looks like: an old Chrysler Cordoba with fake turned metal dash trim and a console shift.
Please do not expect anyone to believe that someone with a 3300 lb Mustang GT with 300 hp/320 ft lbs torque is going to "cower in fear" from this 4000 lb tub with 195 hp and 280 lbs ft torque.
It has potential, all right: potential to be a curb ornament like the comment above is talking about..."
Yeah, buddy, but at least it isn't a dime a dozen like the same played out Mustang that has been around forever. Back in '79, this Chrysler would have smoked the hell out of the same year Mustang. That probably still makes you mad.
I have a 79 300 w aluminum intake,new4 bbl. flow masters, better heads, little bigger cam, shift kit. in this big old boat I eat rustangs daily. ill out run yours to!!!mopar rules, learn it or ill teach ya.ha.