Indie Auto stories are occasionally linked to — and then debated — on other automotive history websites. A recent example is Curbside Classic, where a subthread discussed the 2004-to-present Chrysler 300C.
This debate is a classic example of how styling is ultimately subjective. Curbside Classic commentator XR7Matt (2021) called the 2004-10 iteration of the 300C “memorable” and the reskinned 2011 models “boring.” That was the opposite of the view I had expressed in my story, where I called the 2004-10 models a crude caricature of a premium sedan (go here).
XR7Matt (2021) does bring up a factual point — that I “conveniently left out” that the 2004-10 models “moved well over 100k units for 4 of the 8 model years and the 2011 refresh sold LESS than the 2010 before that design’s peak at 70k in 2012.”
I didn’t delve too deeply into production data in this particular article because it was a “Design Notes” feature rather than a “Data Dive.” If you are new to Indie Auto, you might find it helpful to click into “All Our Features” to see the different types of content that are offered — which range from wonky to ridiculous.
What more can we learn about the Chrysler 300C?
The Curbside Classic conversation has sparked my interest in analyzing production data on the 21st-Century premium sedan market. Some initial questions that come to mind include: To what degree did the 300C’s output track with the popularity of premium sedans in general? And if the 300C was less competitive after its reskinning, what was going on with its most direct competitors, e.g., were they more substantially redesigned?
Also see ‘The 1969-73 Chrysler wasn’t a disaster, but it wasn’t a success’
I share this with you to emphasize that robust dialogue is what advances automotive history. So don’t feel shy about raising questions or concerns about Indie Auto stories, either in comment threads or via a note to the editor.
This is a solo blog done on a volunteer basis, so I may not have the bandwidth to dig into every debate that comes up. However, your feedback can help inform the kinds of topics that Indie Auto explores.
Share your reactions to this post with a comment below or a note to the editor.
RESOURCES
- XR7Matt; 2021. Commentator in “Cohort Pic(k) of the Day: 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS Coupe – Its Roof Line Predicts The Future.” Curbside Classic. Posted 2:12 p.m., Sept. 9.
The original Fall-2003 Chrysler 300 and 300C were the best styled, perhaps the finest product of the Daimler-Chrysler takeover. The restyle under Fiat-Chrysler added a nice touch with the peaked rear-fenders, but the grill was a let down, in my opinion. The headlight treatment was just okay, but not as elegant as the original “dual” headlight arrangement. Again, I still prefer the original headlamps to the latest L.E.D. headlamps, but either is better than the Fiat-Chrysler restyle.
I prefer the current-style 300C, the original was like something out of a Dick Tracy cartoon and has, IMO, not aged well. Also, many of the orig 04-10’s that I’ve seen appear to have fallen on hard times. Another sad example of a so-called American lux or entry-lux car that can’t hold resale value and ends up as junk on the used car market.