1959 Chrysler: 1,000 HP and a Manual Transmission (6 Photos)
While Randy Koltfarber's friends were driving European sports cars, he wanted something different. Custom builder American Legends stepped up to craft a 1,000-horsepower 1959 Chrysler 300E paired with a six-speed manual transmission. The project was dubbed "1000X." 
They sourced the donor car on eBay. The body was sent to Roadster Shop, 3D-scanned, and used to fabricate a custom chassis. The initial test fit didn't go as planned—the car sat far too high. Dropping the massive body required reworking the floor pan and rocker panels. 
Under the hood now sits a supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V8 delivering a claimed 1,000 hp, backed by a Tilton triple-disc clutch and a TREMEC Magnum gearbox. This Chrysler originally came with a push-button automatic, but gear selection is now entirely up to the driver. 
The interior was 3D-scanned as well. New custom panels were designed, 3D-printed, and then upholstered. The flashy chrome typical of American cars from that era was ditched in favor of a clean grey finish. 
The build took four years and roughly 8,000 man-hours. In 2024, the 1000X made the "Great Eight" finalists for the prestigious Ridler Award at the Detroit Autorama, though it ultimately missed out on the main trophy. 
