1960 Chrysler 300F
The dawning era of muscle cars took a powerful turn with the 1960 Chrysler 300F. In the formative years of factory performance, automakers reserved their hottest engines for their largest -- and usually most-expensive -- models. Early Chrysler muscle cars were best expressed by the stylish and exclusive "letter-series" machines. The first of these was the 1955 C-300 with its 300-bhp Hemi-head V-8. The 1960 Chrysler 300F continued the tradition of power and panache with its special trim and a sporty interior that boasted four bucket-type leather seats and a full-length console.
Chrysler specified its most-advanced engines for these image leaders. A dual-quad 413-cid wedge replaced the hemi in the '59 letter-series. It made the same 380 bhp as the previous year's standard 392-cid Hemi, but was 100 pounds lighter and simpler to build.
For '60, the 413 gained a radical ram induction system in which each four-barrel carb fed the opposite cylinder bank via 30-inch "outrigger" tubes. The length of the runners was calculated to produce a super-charging effect in the heart of the rpm range.
Ram induction was available on 361-and 383-cid Dodge and Plymouth engines, but only Chryslers and Imperials could get the 413, and only the 300F had ram induction standard. Horsepower was 375; optional "short-ram" tubes, which looked the same but differed internally, yielded 400 bhp at 5200 rpm and 465 lb-ft of torque at 3600.
Pushbutton TorqueFlite automatic was standard, but a French-built four- speed manual was optional for just this season, ending up in only a few 300Fs. Chrysler built 964 300F hardtops and 248 convertibles for '60, a peak year for letter-series performance.
The 400-bhp option wasn't offered after the '62 300H, and thereafter the cars became less and less distinct from regular models until the true letter-series concluded with the '65 300L. These striking automobiles were a bridge from the days of sporty elegance to the age of Detroit muscle.
The 1960 Chrysler 300F
Specifications
Wheelbase, inches: 126.0
Weight, lbs: 4,270
Number built: 1,212
Base price: $5,411
Top Available Engine
Type: ohv V-8
Displacement, cid: 413
Fuel system: 2 x 4bbl.
Compression ratio: 10.0:1
Horsepower @ rpm: 375 @ 5000
Torque @ rpm: 495 @ 2800
Representative Performance
0-60 mph, sec: 7.0
1/4mile, sec @ mph: 16.00 @ 85.0