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1960 Chrysler 300F

Chrysler introduced the 300F in January of 1960 and its performance credentials were quickly established by winning the first six places in 'Flying Mile' competitions at Daytona with a top speed of nearly 145 mph. Just like the first 300-'letter'-series of 1955, it continued to be based on the New Yorker platform and was again listed as a model within the New Yorker series. All of the 1960 Chrysler vehicles were built with frameless, unibody construction, and the 300F rested on a 126-inch wheelbase platform with an overall length of 219.6 inches. The hardtop had a height of 55.3 inches and the convertible was .40 inches taller. Standard colors included Terra cotta, Formal Black, Alaskan White, and Toreador Red.

The original Chrysler C-300 of 1955, and the 'letter cars' that followed it, firmly established a reputation as a high-performance grand tourer, correctly advertised as the 'Beautiful Brutes.' Various Hemi engines powered the series through 1958, replaced in 1959 with the lighter and less costly to produce 413 Wedge installed in the 300E, offering the same, if not more, performance. Engineering improvements for 1960 brought about greater performance and durability, with a tuned cross-ram induction system combined with a pair of four-barrel carburetors, a hotter camshaft, a unique intake manifold with 30-inch runners, and a low-restriction exhaust system. The cross-over ram induction manifold system positioned the bank of the cylinder's carburetor on the far side of the opposing bank of the cylinder's carburetor, a setup that helped raise horsepower and torque. Two versions were offered, both with dual carburetion and one with a 15-inch and the other with a 30-inch Ram induction manifold. The standard configuration with 30-inch Ram Induction delivered 375 horsepower at 5,000 RPM while the optional 15-inch setup produced 400 horsepower at 5,200 RPM. The three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission was standard and four-wheel power-assisted drum brakes provided the stopping power. The live rear axle had semi-elliptic leaf springs, and the front was independent with torsion bars. Coupled with the lighter unit-body construction for 1960, the 300F continued to push the performance envelope. A 300F eclipsed the Flying Mile record at Daytona set by the 300B in 1956, with a sanctioned time of 144.92 mph, and racer Andy Granatelli reached 189.99 mph at Bonneville with a supercharged 300F, earning a Hot Rod magazine cover story.

The sands of Daytona Beach had witnessed many land speed records attempts dating back to the early 1900s. One of the newly formed NASCAR's first sanctioned series of events was Speed Week, held during the late 1940s and included the Standing Mile and the Flying Mile. The Flying Mile competition allowed drivers one mile to accelerate to top speed, then they were timed over a measured mile at full throttle. The Standing Mile began from a dead stop, with top speed calculated at the one-mile mark. The Chrysler 300B of 1956 had attained 139.4 mph in the Flying Mile, shattering the previous year's record of 127.6 mph set by a 1955 Chrysler 300.

Chrysler built 964 examples of the 300F hardtops for 1960, with six taken off the production line and sent to a clandestine location. These six cars became part of what was known as the 'Gran Turismo Program.' A team of Chrysler engineers prepared these cars to compete in the Flying Mile at Daytona and received Pont-à-Mousson four-speed gearboxes, special induction and exhaust, experimental cylinder heads and cams, and a 2.93:1 final drive ratio. Custom-made Goodyear whitewall Blue Streak tires were shaved to 1/8-inch tread depth for the sandy beach. Each of the six special cars claimed the top six spots at the Daytona Beach competition.

The styling of the 300F continued to follow a jet aircraft-inspired theme with a luxurious aircraft cockpit-style interior, and a three-dimensional 'Astra-Dome' instrument cluster with electroluminescent lighting that had been developed in collaboration with Sylvania, which was an industry first. Large tailfins were at the rear with integrated brake lights, and a simulated spare wheel outline was on the trunk. Chrome trim traversed the bodyside, beginning directly behind the door and continuing to the rear, meeting with the large wraparound chrome bumper. Dual headlights flanked the grille which was divided into four sections by a horizontal and vertical chrome bar that met in the center, carrying a round 300 emblem.

The standard amenities found on the New Yorker also graced the 300F, including exterior brightwork, stone shields, and sill moldings, plus nylon tires with white sidewalls and swiveling front seats.

The Chrysler 300F continued the tradition of the previous 'letter' cars as being the most expensive model in the lineup. The two-door hardtop coupe was priced at $5,410 and the convertible was $400 higher. Chrysler produced 964 examples of the hardtop and 248 of the convertible.


by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2021

Related Reading : Chrysler 300 History

of the original Hemi engine equipped with two four-barrel carbs, solid lifters, special manifolds, and enlarged dual exhausts. This vehicle gave the Chrysler Corporation a performance and sporty image, a much-needed persona in this post-World War II era. Many European manufacturers, such as Jaguar and MG, had introduced high-powered, small, responsive sports cars. American manufacturers countered....
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Related Reading : Chrysler 300 History

In 2005, the wave of retro design that is still shaping American cars first washed over Detroit. American companies, with their stale product offerings, began looking towards their rich pasts to inspire new models with the design and flair of long-gone icons. It was in 2005 that Chrysler launched a modern iteration of the famed 300. The 300 name had actually been revived by Chrysler several years....
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1960 Chrysler 300F Vehicle Profiles

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Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

$825-$5,410
1960 300F
$5,840-$22,745
1960 Chrysler 300F Price Range: $5,410 - $5,840

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Other 1960 Chrysler Models
$3,194 - $3,815

300F

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
1,212
126.00 in.
8 cyl., 413.00 CID., 400.00hp
$5,410 - $5,840

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