Though the Pontiac GTO usually gets credited with starting the muscle car movement, the 1950s Chrysler 300 Letter Series paved the way. From 1955 to 1965, the 300 was based on the upscale New Yorker with a twist of performance added. And the lettering of the cars was sequential by year, so the 1960 example here is a 300F. Located in Livonia, Michigan, this finned hot rod will need brakes and some TLC but looks to have otherwise won out over Father Time. This dual-carbureted Mopar is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $27,500. Another fine tip brought to us by T.J.!
The big news for Chrysler’s full-size cars in 1960 was the shift to unibody construction. It was part of designer Virgin Exner’s plan to keep the company competitive with GM and Ford. New for the 300F was the “Cross-Ram” version of the 413 cubic inch “Wedge” V8 that produced 375 hp with twin 4-barrel carburetors. Staggered on each side of the engine, the pipes facilitated the flow of air into all eight cylinders at speed. One cool feature of the big Chryslers was “Panelescent Lighting” behind the AstroDome instrument assortment, providing a visual delight at night.
Though still a low-production vehicle, 300 sales increased to 969 coupes in 1960, flanked by another 248 convertibles. The seller’s car is one of the former of which only a fraction has survived over the past 64 years. We’re told this vehicle spent many years inside a heated garage, which no doubt contributed to its condition today. The floors, trunk, and rear quarter panels are solid and free of rust. Though the photos may show some of the exterior chrome missing, we’re told it’s all where it’s supposed to be now.
The engine turns over, but the seller doesn’t indicate if it does much else. And the brakes will need attention if you desire to come to a safe stop after a quarter-mile run. This Chrysler is full of goodies, including swivel front bucket seats (power-assisted) and power windows. The seller mentions that some new parts have been added without detailing what they are. Restoring a beautiful car like this is never cheap, but a running 300F would be a great find.
Russ, didn’t those bigass Lincolns of 1958 already have the unibody? Just askin’.
I recall that as well the 58-59 Lincoln was one of the largest unibody cars ever built. At least that’s what I remember but I may be wrong.
You are correct. The `58-`60 Lincoln was the world’s largest unibody platform every built.
i disagree w/the muscle era def. but I make my own as I go (what a ‘classic’ is, more). There R several pre-mid-60’s that could fit from each of the big 3. May B I equate “muscle” w/“phony” (I think not) as there was thunderbolt, this others in early/mid 60s. Yes, stang, camaro, AMX, etc were ‘muscle’ but just small (‘intermediate’ or less) after the ford product and termed ‘phony cars’.
Lets, next, categorize music genres… aahahahaa even more difficult.
Ultimately phony? muscle? GT/spyder, etc, etc really dont matter to car(truck) lovers… (less ura fighter too) 8^ 0
Yeah IMO muscle car means different things to different people. Some think it is a big engine in a small car, others equate it to just being a full-size car with a higher HP package on it than the standard version, and yet others only count the Mustang/Camero/Barracuda. Chrysler was doing the 2nd for many years even before 1960 with the 300s, in 1955 they came out with the C-300 and it was a high performance version of the New Yorker with the 331 Hemi and dual quad carbs. That lasted from 1955-1964 and each year it was a high performance version of the standard Chrysler car, each year also being one of the quickest cars you could buy from the “big 3”.
Luxury factory hotrod, for that era of big bruisers, would be my description.
True, Ford had multiple carbs and supercharging. GM had multiple carbs and fuel injection. As did Mopar.
The muscle era truly began in the fifties.
I seem to remember Chrysler advertising the 300’s as ‘The Gentlemen’s Hotrod’…..and if they didn’t, they should have :)
The 300 letter series was never advertised that way that I know of, but I’ve heard that phrase associated with the 300’s since I was very little.
Greg, I think maybe your remembering the Plymouth GTX. It was introduced as the gentleman’s muscle car in 1967, and refered to as such on thru 1971.
I believe that was Oldsmobile’s advertising for the Toronado
Those very long intakes were good for helping in making power at high RPM, but at low RPM they tend to make throttle much less responsive, even sluggish… …Either way that is very nice car, the interior is very elegant, very nice !
There were at least two versions of those manifolds, which appeared similar. The difference was the length of the division in the tubes. These, which are divided for almost their entire length, are tuned for lower RPM operation. Others, which are open maybe halfway from the carb to the head before being divided, and the higher RPM pieces
They were designed to make crap tons of torque at low RPM. Not for HP
They were designed for high speed, it was the fastest production car in the flying mile in 1960 as a result.
There were two versions of the ram intakes long ram good for low to midrange torque and short ram good for all out high rpm race only set up, most were streetable long rams as on this 300F. There was a wealthy farmer gearhead neighbor who had on of these when I was a kid, It was fast and loud, but when the 409 Chevies came out in the early sixties it got beat and was no longer competitive. Those were the days, riding with my cousin in his 57 Ols Super 88 J2, what a hoot! 1962
1960 no there was not, they had short and long rams but that was later in the mid-60s.
The price doesn’t seem out of line when you consider what these are worth restored. These are $150K all day long when finished. Even more if it were a convertible.
Convertibles are worth $150k, hardtops not so much probably $70-100k. A lot also depends on if it is a real 300 and if it was a black car originally, it could just be a New Yorker that someone made into a 300 many years ago. Which would hurt the value, and not make it worth restoring.
I noticed the heater hose running right down the middle & on top of the cross ram intake & thought that can’t be factory. It doesn’t look like you could get A/C on a car like this which has me thinking is it a luxury car?
Yes, A/C was available in these. And you can see this car was built with A/C. Note the four “pop-up” vents on the top side of the dashboard. However it appears someone has removed the under hood components at some time in its life.
That is correct, although they should have them running much tighter along the RF fender (and right along the top of the long rams). And these cars did come with AC as a option.
This Beast needs white doors, a red drivers side spotlight, a long whip antenna on the back bumper and Broderick Crawford setting up a road block on Highway Patrol! I remember all the State Troopers loved those big Chrysler ‘s!!
I loved the show Highway Patrol….but Dan Mathews (Crawford) always drove a Buick. 10-4.
It truly needs a red interior, that would be perfect !
Generally, the classic “muscle car” is understood to be an intermediate with the bigger motor taken from the full-sized lineup i.e. 1964’s GTO. Before that, generally, higher model lines got bigger engines. Of course, folks can be in the hobby for years before understanding this, so they start to think any “muscular” or powerful car is a “muscle car.” After a while it’s like Roger S. said above; it’s hard to get everyone on the same page so “muscle car” means different things to different people. It’s become like saying “big block” for any engine over 4xx cid, even though for most of the manufacturers except Chevrolet, the block isn’t any bigger. Henry Ford’s Quadricycle had the power of FOUR HORSES. Was it a muscle car? No, and neither is this, because it’s a full-size. Pony cars like the Camaro/Firebird, Mustang/Cougar, and Cuda/Challenger can have crazy power, but they’ll never be “Classic Muscle Cars.” The 300s were certainly powerful, though, and they’re super-cool. Happy motoring!
100% agree. And if you asked 10 different people on the street what is the first car they thought of when you said “muscle car” a good portion would probably be either a Mustang or Camero. lol
I consider the mid size the ‘muscle cars’….GTO, Road Runner, Chevelle SS, etc….Camaro, Mustang, Javelin and Barracuda are pony cars IMO.
That front end gives this car real stage presence, as if that cross-ram 413 wasn’t enough. And that interior was more luxurious than anything Cadillac could offer back then, IMHO.
Love the looks of the 60, my uncle bought a new 62H, which I inherited some years ago, but without the cross ram, it has 2 in-line 4barrels. Air filters are nearly impossible to find