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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe 1960 300-F is once again the undisputed World\u2019s Champion of sedans,\u201d <\/em>said Tom McCahill in his May 1960 Mechanix Illustrated<\/em> road test article. He was so impressed with the Chrysler Letter Car for that year that he went out and bought one, canceling the existing order he had for a top-of-the-line Imperial. McCahill summed it up by boldly stating the following: \u201cThe 300-F is the hottest sedan ever built in the history of the world \u2014 and that takes in all countries including Iceland.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sixth in the series of special high-performance Chryslers, the 300-F was introduced on January 8, 1960 and was offered either as a hardtop or convertible. Standard equipment on the car was a special \u201clong ram\u201d (tuned induction) 413-cubic-inch wedge engine. This powerplant used 10.1:1 compression ratio pistons (4.18\u201d bore, 3.75\u201d stroke), incorporated a drop forged steel crankshaft and developed 375 horsepower at 5,000 rpm with an impressive 495 ft-lbs of torque at 2800 rpm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 300-Fs came with 2.08\u201d intake valves along with 1.60\u201d exhaust valves, with a high-performance camshaft (.430 lift, 268-degree duration), heavy-duty valve springs and dampers, dual point distributor, low restriction 2\u00bc-inch dual exhaust plus fluid fan drive, which increased power by limiting maximum fan speed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The body style of the new \u201960 Chrysler was a sleek Virgil Exner design and in typical late \u201950s\/early \u201960s style, its large rear fins (canted) were integrated into the design theme. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When McCahill was testing the 300-F at Daytona Beach during the 1960 Speed Week, here\u2019s what he experienced with the powerful Chrysler: “On many occasions during Speed Week (when I was testing out the traps on the beach for possible danger spots before letting any of the contestants run), I\u2019d suddenly belt it all the way while cruising at 75-80 mph and the car would actually wheelspin and then whip forward like a missile \u2014 90, 100, 125 mph in a matter of just a few hundred feet!” <\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n The dashboard layout was major \u201cBuck Rogers\u201d in design and the gauges were lit up in a new fashion. \u201cWords cannot adequately describe the Panelscent lighting; it must be seen to be appreciated,\u201d<\/em> is how Hot Rod<\/em>\u2019s Ray Brock summed up the unique dash lighting. The \u201cAstradome\u201d, as it was called in factory lingo, was front and center of the driver, and the 300-F\u2019s came with a 150-mph speedometer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Their were four individually contoured leather bucket seats, separated by an 11-inch-tall (front seat area) full-length center console. Toward the back of the interior, the console lowered to about half the height. Dual storage compartments\/armrests, ashtrays and controls for the power windows were fitted to the console. The front buckets swiveled (six-way power was optional) and the steering wheel featured a slightly flattened lower portion to aid in driver entry\/exit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chrysler’s ad agency didn\u2019t hold back when they talked\nabout the potent 300-F. Here\u2019s the copy used in the sales brochure:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Turn the key. The \u201cF\u201d bursts into a throaty baritone. Heads turn, you tingle. A touch of the toe proves more. This car means what it says! For the 300-F\u2019s brilliantly engineered Ram-Injection V-8 is a strong and willing servant. Look long. Look careful. This engine\u2019s built for moving. And you don\u2019t need an engineering degree to know it! <\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n The attention to detail was astonishing on this project,\nas a great deal of effort went into all aspects of the car during the entire\nrebuilding process. No part was overlooked in terms of making it all\n“correct” and to 1960 original condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And while searching for various parts during the restoration, a set of “NOS” (new old stock) Mopar\u00ae<\/sub> packaged XJ-7 spark plugs were obtained; talk about going to distance for authenticity! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Being a California car is always a bonus, less chance of rust! The plates are authentic as well; these “1956” plates that were issued by the DMV were actually used all the way through 1962.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The real heart of the 300-F mill was the \u201cRam Injection\u201d intake system crisscrossing over the top of the engine. The Chrysler engineers found that 30-inch-long intake tubes (1 7\/8\u201d x 1 1\/8\u201d inside dimensions) worked best for this application, and the extra-long runners supplied what was described as \u201cfree\u201d supercharging. The special ram-tuning feature was equal-length in design and ran from the cylinder heads across the top of the engine, and approaching into the inner fender areas! <\/p>\n\n\n\n In all, there were 964 300-F hardtops produced (and 248 300-F convertibles) and base price for the hardtop was $5,411.00, with the drop-top version going for $5,814.00. These cars were no lightweights (4,640 pounds curb weight) and as described by Jeffries Oldmann in the April 1960 CARS Magazine<\/em> report, when talking about if the 300-F is a \u201csports car\u201d, he quipped: \u201cIs it a sports car? With a 126-inch wheelbase under a body two-and-a-half-yards longer than that, with power brakes and steering, 9.00 x 14 tires and 413 cubic inches of piston displacement, it\u2019s more like a runaway locomotive.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s the 300-F explained by Chrysler Chief Engineer Bob Rodger: <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.dodgegarage.com\/news-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/LegendaryLetterCar_IMG003.jpeg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nSPECIAL VERSION: 413 WEDGE<\/strong> <\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nFINS ARE IN! (STILL) <\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nFAST CAR, LEGENDARY MODEL – VERSION F<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nSTYLISH INTERIOR<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nDETAILS MATTER! <\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nCALIFORNIA CAR<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nLONG RAM INTAKE<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
PRODUCTION NUMBERS<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n