1999 Chrysler 300M

With the introduction of the '99 Chrysler 300M, Chrysler has resurrected one of its most sensuous performance nameplates, one that effectively began the musclecar era over 40 years ago. Such an act of resurrecting a legend obviously begs the question, "How does it stack up against the spirit of the original 300 letter-series cars?" A tough role, indeed.

In reality, the connection between the original 300 letter-series and the new 300M is a far greater stretch than that of, say, the original Volkswagen Bug and the New Beetle. While the two VWs have significant mechanical differences, most notably the engine location from rear to front, the New Beetle inherited many of its parent's traits-its face, its body shape, its personality. Such is not the case with the 300M, which is vastly different from the original in most areas.

Think of the 300M more as a spiritual successor than a direct descendant of its ancestor. The powerful Chrysler 300, first produced in '55, established its mark instantly. In its initial year of production, the 300 claimed the title as the Fastest U.S. Stock Car, with a blistering top speed of 127.58 mph at Daytona during NASCAR's speed week.

In total, Chrysler created a litany of letter-series models based on the 300 starting in '55 and ending with the 300L in '65. From '66 through '71, the 300 series continued, but without letter suffixes. Their horsepower, starting at 300 (thus the name), steadily increased every year for the first five years, peaking in '60 with a 413 V-8 with dual four-barrel carbs making 400 gross horsepower, as it was measured at the time.

But the 300 letter-series cars were more than hot rods. Chrysler pioneered a new category of personal/performance cars by combining stand-out styling and luxurious amenities with awesome power and relatively responsive handling for the era.

The differences between the original 300 letter-series and the new 300M are substantial. The letter-series cars of the '50s and '60s were driven by the rear wheels; the new 300M is front drive, based on the same platform that carries the '98 Chrysler Concorde, Dodge Intrepid, and now the '99 Chrysler LHS, introduced alongside the 300M.

More significant, a modern, aluminum 3.5-liter V-6 engine, rated at a respectable 253 horsepower at 6400 rpm and 255-pound-feet of torque at 3950 rpm stands in for the famed Hemi V-8 of the early letter-series cars. Also a point to ponder: The original letter-series cars were limited in production, never selling more than a few thousand in a year and even fewer in some years. At $5000 plus (in an era when a dollar was truly worth a dollar), Chrysler charged a premium for those executive hot rods. In contrast, Chrysler today expects to sell tens of thousands of the 300Ms annually and position them as value leaders among its competitors in the lower end of the entry-luxury segment of $28,000 to $36,000 cars. The 300M and its companion LHS, while not firmly priced at production time, are expected to carry a base price of $28,000 to $32,000.

Even the intended buyer base of the new 300M is entirely different from the all-American, moneyed swingers who bought the first letter-series cars. Chrysler expects well-educated, well-heeled women to account for half of 300M sales. In general, both the 300M and LHS are aimed at the huge market of baby-boomers moving into their peak earning years and out of their sport/utilities, minivans, and upscale midsize cars, such as the top-end Toyota Camry.