For years, the Letter Series 300s were the dominant high performance vehicles, featuring 8-barrel carburetion, EFI, and Cross Ram manifolding. However, with the changing times of the early '60s, the full-size super car era came to an end, replaced by the growing popularity of mid-size cars with 400+ cube V8s. The name survived as the 300 Series in non-letter form beginning in 1962. As the decade wore on, the letterless 300 evolved into a 7-liter road machine with sporty flair.
In 1969, Jim Wangers, while working as an executive VP for Hurst Performance Research, Inc., in Royal Oak, Michigan, was thinking about those potential car buyers who would appreciate an automobile that reflected their desire for something upscale, powerful, and attention-arresting. After careful consideration, Jim felt Chrysler would be receptive to reviving its full-size super car tradition. He was right, and the foundation was laid for the Chrysler-Hurst joint venture, which ultimately resulted in the 1970 300 Hurst.
The 300-H was based on the 1970 Chrysler 300 Series 2-door hardtop. It was a natural for the Hurst treatment due to its fuselage styling, featuring a rounded body with sculptured crease lines. The loop bumpers, hidden headlight grille, and full-width taillights were attractive design elements.
The assembly and conversion process took place in the following manner: A group of approximately 12 to 15 Chrysler 300 coupes with consecutive VINs were assembled at the Jefferson Avenue plant in Detroit, Michigan. The vehicles were painted EW1 Spinnaker White (the normally argent silver-painted grille and taillamp finish panels were also done in white). They received the Code A01 light group, two-door Imperial LeBaron's tan leather upholstery, including front bucket seats (passenger's-side recliner) with six-way power adjustment, power windows, power steering, power disc-brakes, five H70x15-inch Goodyear Polyglas raised white letter tires mounted on four 15x6JJ 16-slot chrome road wheels and a 15x6 stamped steel spare wheel, heavy-duty suspension, 3.23:1 axle ratio, column-mounted shifter, H/D A727B 3-speed TorqueFlite transmission, low restriction dual exhaust system, undercoating with hood insulation pad, and the 375hp 440 TNT V8.
Optional equipment included most everything listed in the sales order code/price guide lists for 300s. Popular options included air conditioning (with or without automatic temperature control), Sure-Grip differential, Tilt-A-Scope steering column, and a choice of radios that comprised AM, AM/FM, or stereo 8 track tape player with AM or AM/FM.
Next, the cars were shipped to a Hurst facility in Brighton, Michigan, with metal hoods, trunk lids, and quarter panel end caps in place. On each 300, the Hurst employees installed a functional "power bulge" scooped fiberglass hood, which directed fresh air to the cabin. The rotary hood latches were Olds 442 hardware. The fiberglass quarter-panel end caps and deck lid, with the integrated "recessed air foil," featured a design lacking a provision for the lock cylinder and mechanism, so the trunk had to be opened by either a button in the glove box (vacuum release) or a handle under the dash near the emergency brake (mechanical release).
Chocolate Brown/Apricot/Chocolate Brown striped decals (21 in all) made by 3M were applied to the hood, body, and wheel centers. Sauterne Gold Iridescent paint was applied to the underside of the air foil, quarter panel end cap faces, fender tops, hood, horizontal grille bars, upper body crease to the area behind the rear side windows, and the road wheel centers. Black striping bordered some of the gold accents.