Chrysler 300 7.2 AT: Which Version to Choose?
The Chrysler 300 catalogue data presents one generation, produced from 1969 to 1971, with a Coupe Hardtop body and four versions. Every version carries the exact same 7.2 AT name, so the clearest way to identify them is by output: 223 hp, 309 hp, 355 hp, or 380 hp.
The Chrysler 300 catalogue data presents one generation, produced from 1969 to 1971, with a Coupe Hardtop body and four versions. Every version carries the exact same 7.2 AT name, so the clearest way to identify them is by output: 223 hp, 309 hp, 355 hp, or 380 hp. All four share a 7,200 cc Gasoline V-shaped 8-cylinder engine, a front longitudinal engine position, 2 valves per cylinder, a 3-speed Automatic gearbox, and RWD. The meaningful buying decision is therefore not between generations, body styles, engine sizes, or drivetrains; it is between four power-and-torque calibrations of the same basic specification.
Chrysler 300 generations: what can be compared?
There is only one Chrysler 300 generation in this dataset, covering 1969–1971. It uses a Coupe Hardtop body and contains four versions, all named 7.2 AT. No separate restyling is listed, so there is no supported generation-to-generation comparison and no documented body, gearbox, or drivetrain change within the catalogue period.
That simplifies the choice considerably. Buyers comparing these entries are looking at the same listed displacement, fuel type, cylinder count, engine layout, transmission type, number of gears, and drive configuration. The points that change are horsepower, the engine speed at which that horsepower is produced, torque, and the engine speed at which peak torque is reached.
Chrysler 300 engine options and specs
| Exact version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.2 AT (223 hp) | 223 hp (164 kW) at 4000 rpm | 475 Nm at 3200 rpm | 7,200 cc | Gasoline | 8 | V-shaped | not measured | 3-speed Automatic | RWD |
| 7.2 AT (309 hp) | 309 hp (227 kW) at 4600 rpm | 542 Nm at 3200 rpm | 7,200 cc | Gasoline | 8 | V-shaped | not measured | 3-speed Automatic | RWD |
| 7.2 AT (355 hp) | 355 hp (261 kW) at 4400 rpm | 651 Nm at 2800 rpm | 7,200 cc | Gasoline | 8 | V-shaped | not measured | 3-speed Automatic | RWD |
| 7.2 AT (380 hp) | 380 hp (280 kW) at 4600 rpm | 651 Nm at 3200 rpm | 7,200 cc | Gasoline | 8 | V-shaped | not measured | 3-speed Automatic | RWD |
Each 7.2 AT has a front longitudinal engine position and 2 valves per cylinder. The four entries cannot be distinguished by engine capacity because all use 7,200 cc, or 7.2 litres. They also cannot be separated by their catalogue version name, so the horsepower figure should always accompany 7.2 AT when comparing them.
The power spread is substantial. The 7.2 AT (309 hp) adds 86 hp and 67 Nm over the 7.2 AT (223 hp). The 7.2 AT (355 hp) adds another 46 hp and 109 Nm over the 309 hp version. The 7.2 AT (380 hp) gains 25 hp over the 355 hp version but produces the same 651 Nm.
Calculated from the listed displacement, output ranges from approximately 31.0 hp per litre in the 223 hp version to 52.8 hp per litre in the 380 hp version. The intermediate choices deliver approximately 42.9 hp per litre at 309 hp and 49.3 hp per litre at 355 hp. From lowest to highest output, the difference is 157 hp, 116 kW, and 176 Nm, while displacement remains unchanged.
Chrysler 300 performance, 0–100 and economy
The catalogue does not provide acceleration measurements for any version. The 0–100 km/h time is not measured for the 7.2 AT (223 hp), 7.2 AT (309 hp), 7.2 AT (355 hp), and 7.2 AT (380 hp). A reliable acceleration ranking therefore cannot be stated from these data alone, even though the power and torque figures differ.
Top speed is also not measured for all four versions. Their horsepower figures must not be converted into unsupported maximum-speed claims.
City fuel consumption, highway fuel consumption, and combined fuel consumption are not measured for every 7.2 AT entry. CO₂ output and environmental class are likewise not measured. Consequently, the data do not establish whether one version is more economical than another, and no catalogue-supported mpg comparison is possible.
The available figures do reveal how the outputs are delivered. The 7.2 AT (223 hp) reaches maximum power at 4000 rpm and peak torque at 3200 rpm. The 7.2 AT (309 hp) reaches maximum power at 4600 rpm and peak torque at 3200 rpm. The 7.2 AT (355 hp) reaches maximum power at 4400 rpm, while its 651 Nm peak arrives at 2800 rpm—the lowest listed peak-torque speed among the four. The 7.2 AT (380 hp) reaches maximum power at 4600 rpm and its identical 651 Nm peak at 3200 rpm.
Chrysler 300 dimensions, weight and capacity
Kerb weight and gross weight are not measured for the 7.2 AT (223 hp), 7.2 AT (309 hp), 7.2 AT (355 hp), and 7.2 AT (380 hp). Weight per horsepower therefore cannot be calculated without inventing a mass figure.
Ground clearance is not measured for all four versions. Fuel-tank capacity is not measured, and wheel sizes are not measured. These missing values mean the versions cannot be separated by payload-related figures, clearance, theoretical range, or factory wheel specification.
The listed chassis details are the same across the range: each 7.2 AT has Independent, spring front suspension and Drum front brakes. Rear suspension and rear brake specifications are not measured for every version.
Which Chrysler 300 7.2 AT should you buy?
The 7.2 AT (223 hp) is the least powerful choice. Its 223 hp and 475 Nm trail the 309 hp version by 86 hp and 67 Nm, and trail the 380 hp version by 157 hp and 176 Nm. Nothing in the supplied economy, acceleration, speed, weight, or dimensional data establishes a compensating measurable advantage. Choose it only if the lower output itself suits the intended comparison; the catalogue does not support claims of lower consumption, lower running costs, or easier ownership.
The 7.2 AT (309 hp) is the first major step upward. It produces 38.6% more power than the 223 hp entry while retaining the same 7,200 cc displacement, Gasoline fuel type, 8-cylinder V-shaped layout, 3-speed Automatic transmission, and RWD. Torque rises from 475 Nm to 542 Nm, an increase of 14.1%. This version occupies a clear middle position, but the data contain no price figures, so the value of its extra 86 hp cannot be assessed financially.
The 7.2 AT (355 hp) is the strongest torque-focused choice in the available specification. It matches the 380 hp version’s 651 Nm but reaches that maximum at 2800 rpm instead of 3200 rpm. Compared with the 309 hp version, it provides 46 extra horsepower and 109 extra newton-metres. Compared with the 223 hp version, it adds 132 hp and 176 Nm. On the supplied numbers, this is the most balanced choice for someone prioritizing maximum listed torque and the lowest engine speed at which that peak torque appears.
The 7.2 AT (380 hp) is the choice for maximum catalogue horsepower. It has 25 hp more than the 355 hp version, equivalent to about 7.0% additional power, but no additional peak torque: both produce 651 Nm. Its maximum power also arrives at 4600 rpm rather than 4400 rpm, while peak torque arrives at 3200 rpm rather than 2800 rpm. Select this version when the highest horsepower and power-per-litre figures are the deciding criteria.
Overall, the 7.2 AT (355 hp) offers the most distinctive numerical compromise because it combines 651 Nm—the joint-highest torque—with the earliest listed torque peak. The 7.2 AT (380 hp) is the straightforward answer for the highest output, at 380 hp and approximately 52.8 hp per litre. The 7.2 AT (309 hp) provides a substantial step above the base output, while the 7.2 AT (223 hp) is the lowest-output specification. Prices and sale listings are not included, so “what the extra money buys” cannot be calculated; only the additional horsepower and torque can be compared accurately.