Chrysler 300F Convertible 1960

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Model number: 202836

Review of the model:

In the late fifties, and up in the early sixties, there was a new breed of American cars, that did not yet have a common name for this high-performance, ready to race, road cars. Later we call then the muscles cars – The big animals on the savanna!  One of the features of those cars here, they have a distinct look of class and luxury to them. In this case with the Chrysler 300F Convertible, it has it all – Style, class, attitude and the power to take the lead. It was a car, who was willing to challenge other brands, in the high price range, like Continental and Cadillac’s. At a purchase price of nearly 6.000 $ it was not a “blue workers” car. It got the nickname: “The bankers’ hotrod”

The model of the Chrysler 300F 1960, is made by the Chinese manufacturer Road Legends / Lucky Diecast in scale 1:18. This is low-priced model, with a smaller numbers of details, than other high-end brands out there. As always, when we shall give a model a fair and precise review. We most have the price in our considerations. Because in the end. Low price and great realistic details can give high score. On the other hand, High price also give expectations of a well made, richly detailed model – So if that is not fulfilled, only low score will been given.

Lets starting kicking tires and go around the model here:

The model comes in a variety of colors (white, black, red, gold and green) and maybe some more. I have chosen the metallic green version, as I like this color very much. But if you search about the color schemes from Chrysler in 1960, they only have a darker metallic green and a light surf green in non metallic version. Later down it in this article you will find the brochures of Chrysler 1960 and you can make your own opinion about the color. The prep work and paint finish of the model is very good, only some small grains under the door could I find, and a rather crude underside of the hood. Otherwise a fine job here!

In 1960 Chrysler 300F did not have much chrome panels left. But the bumpers and the large “fish mouth like” air intake is surrounded by heavy chrome, and they all shines as the real deal. On the chrome side panels of the car a big emblem is located and have the US colors in the middle – this sticker is not horizontal in level with the panel – I do not dare to fix it myself yet because of the sticker uncertain durability. The grill itself is well made with black holes – no after paint is needed here!

Also if we stay up in front of the model car, the friendly, yet powerful face welcomes us. The mould has the proportions right, the bezels of the front lights shines like stars. All parts from the lenses, to the license plate is good made. Have a sneak peek in the engine compartment, the big motor is squeezed down and revile the famous air filters and ram manifolds, which are fairly well detailed for a lower-priced model like this.

The hubcaps are beautiful in the distinct red paint for the year and small emblem stickers in the middle – I just hope they will last long! Road signature tires on this model are made rather odd in my book! Only the black part is made of rubber and the white wall is an integrated part of the whole wheel! – But it looks okay to the eye.

The rear end of the model is beautiful. The taillights fine boomerang shape is well made here. The red glass part of the lights is a form of semi-opacity paint over the chrome part – it looks good. The fake spare tire lid on the trunk is all well made too. The only setbacks here are, the trunk can not be open and the exhaust pipes needed to be drilled out.

The parts on the model fits fine and the gaps are acceptable for the price range here –If you find gabs too distinct on a model, go for a darker color if available.

The Chrysler 300F here is a Convertible; it will be a shame not to mention the interior of this model. I my mind it’s the glamour, cool, high-end interior looks that sells this model. I have said it before, I’m a hardtop man, but holy ….. This interior is just beautiful! Tan colored leather (plastic), black carpet and lots of brushed aluminum and chrome parts. All well made in this model. Okay the carpet is not real carpet as in other models – but the plastic part looks good! Even the swivel front seats move here. Just look at the four bucket seats and the impressive mid-consol protruding all way back, to the space between the rear seats and end in a massive emblem - that’s style from Mr. Virgil Exner when it’s best. Oh yes I like the interior of the model!

If you collect classic model cars from this period, you don’t have to think twice….

I can recommend you to give the model from Road Signature a try!   

I will give this model 3 out of 6 stars  ******

Below here are pictures of the model, historical description, old brochures, technical data and a little movie clip for the real car. So please enjoy!

"The Bankers Hotrod" at a price of nearly 6.000 $

History:

Chrysler 300F 1960

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.

The 1960 300F introduced a new 413 cu in (6.8 L) Wedge engine delivering 375 hp (280 kW) in standard form. To boost power at lower and mid rpms, a special "cross-ram" intake manifold was derived. Instead of the normal V8 engine central intake manifold with carburetor(s) on top, the cross-ram consisted of two pairs of 30 in (760 mm) long tuned pipes that criss-crossed so that each set fed the opposite side of the engine. The carburetors and air cleaners hung off the sides of the engine over the fender wells. These long tubes were tuned so that resonances in the column of air helped force air into the cylinders at those engine speeds. Also new were four individual, leather bucket seats with a full length console from dash to rear seatback. Swiveling front seats were fitted as standard equipment.

A special 400 hp (300 kW) "short ram" version was produced for competition; in this, the tuned portion of the stacks was only 15 in (380 mm) long (though the overall tube length remained at 30"), so that the resonant effect was produced at higher engine speeds. Only 15 "short ram" cars were produced; these were also fitted with the exotic but often troublesome French Pont-a-Mousson 4-speed manual transmissions developed for the Chrysler-powered Facel Vega. Approximately 4 of these "Special GTs" are known to exist, including one convertible and one with air conditioning; it is believed that 15 were originally produced.

The bodywork was also redone for 1960, using Chrysler's new lightweight unibody construction and given sharper-edged styling with outward-tilting fins that were visually separated from sides. The "toilet seat" trunk lid contributed to a demeaning opinion of the 300F and was done away with after this one year of production.

Sales increased to 969 coupes and 248 convertibles.

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.

Only 78 convertible had survived today one was recently sold at 175.000 $

The super rare (only 4 survived) 400 hp GT version was sold at 236.500 $!

Technical specification:

• Chrysler 300F Convertible TorqueFlite, model year 1960, version for North America U.S. (up to October)
• 2-door convertible body type
• RWD (rear-wheel drive), automatic 3-speed gearbox
• petrol (gasoline) engine with displacement: 6771 cm3 / 413.2 cui, advertised power: 279.5 kW / 375 hp / 380 PS ( SAE gross ), torque: 671 Nm / 495 lb-ft
• characteristic dimensions: outside length: 5578 mm / 219.6 in, wheelbase: 3200 mm / 126 in
• reference weights: shipping weight 1955 kg / 4310 lbs estimated curb weight: 2040 kg / 4500 lbs
•  Top speed: 201 km/h (125 mph) (theoretical);
• accelerations: 0- 60 mph 7.6 s; 0- 100 km/h 8 s; 1/4 mile drag time (402 m) 15.6 s
• fuel consumption and mileage: average estimated by a-c: 26.4 l/100km / 10.7 mpg (imp.) / 8.9 mpg (U.S.) / 3.8 km/l

Old brochures of the Chrysler 1960

The man who invented the 100 million look.

Virgil "Ex" Exner (September 24, 1909–December 22, 1973) was an automobile designer for numerous American companies, notably Chrysler and Studebaker. He is known for his "Forward Look" design on the 1955 through 1961 Chrysler products and his fondness of fins on cars for both aesthetic and aerodynamic reasons.

Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Virgil Exner was adopted by George W. and Iva Exner as a baby. Virgil showed a strong interest in art and automobiles. He studied art at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, but in 1928 dropped out after two years due to lack of funds. He then took a job as a helper at an art studio specializing in advertising. In 1931 he married Mildred Marie Eshleman, who also worked for the studio, and on April 17, 1933 they had their first child, Virgil Exner Jr. By that time Exner Sr. had been promoted to drawing advertisements for Studebaker trucks. They had a second son in 1940, Brian, who tragically fell from a window and later died from his injuries.

Design works

His first work in design was for General Motors, where he was hired by GM styling czar Harley Earl. In 1938 he left to work at Raymond Loewy Associates, an industrial design firm where he worked on cars and military vehicles prior to, and during World War II. In 1944, he was fired by Loewy and was hired directly by Studebaker in South Bend, Indiana. There he was involved in the design of some of the first cars to be produced after World War II (Studebaker's slogan during this period was "First by far with a post war car"). There is some debate, but many feel that Virgil was the main designer of the acclaimed 1947 Studebaker Starlight coupe, although Raymond Loewy got most of the credit for the car's design. In 1949 Exner started working in Chrysler's Advanced Styling Group, where he partnered with Cliff Voss and Maury Baldwin. There he also worked with Luigi "Gigi" Segre, of Italian car company Carrozzeria Ghia S.p.A. The men created a strong personal bond, which helped link the companies closely throughout the 1950s. The alliance produced the Chrysler-Ghia designs, such as the 1952 Chrysler K-310, as well as the Chrysler d'Elegance and DeSoto Adventurer.

Impact on automobile design

When Exner joined Chrysler, the car's body was fashioned by engineers instead of designers — leading to what many thought were old-fashioned, boxy designs on Chryslers of the 1940s and early 50s. Exner fought to change this structuring, and got control over the design process, including the clay prototypes and the die models used to create production tooling. Here he created the Dodge Firearrow concept, constructed by Ghia.

Inspired by the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, GM's Harley Earl incorporated small "fins" on the rear fenders of the 1948 Cadillac models. Exner saw the design detail (also being experimented with by some Italian manufacturers) and made it his own by enlarging the fins and making them a more prominent feature. Exner believed in the aerodynamic benefits of the fins and even used wind tunnel testing at the University of Michigan – but he also liked their visual effects on the car. They were showcased on the first cars designed under his full supervision for sale: the 1955 Chrysler 300 series, and the Imperial. The 1957 Imperial also featured compound curved glass, the first to be used in a production car.

These fin designs also premiered his "Forward Look." In the late 1940s, Chrysler was behind the times in terms of styling with what were considered tall, boxy cars. Exner lowered the roofline and made the cars sleeker, smoother and more aggressive. With a long hood and short deck, the wedgelike designs of the 300 series and revised 1957 models suddenly brought Chrysler to the forefront of design, with Ford and General Motors quickly working to catch up. Advertising campaigns for the 1957 model year sang that "Suddenly, it's 1960!" In June of that year Exner and his team were awarded the Industrial Designers' Institute's Gold Medal Award.

In 1956, during the design of the 1961 models, Exner had a heart attack. He resumed work in 1957, working on the designs for the 1962 cars. On July 25, 1957 Exner was elected the first Vice President of Styling at Chrysler. Unfortunately, a rumor that GM was reducing the size of their cars caused the President of Chrysler to order Exner to do the same to his 1962 design — a change Exner disagreed with, thinking it would make his cars "ugly." This change, coupled with build quality problems, reduced the cars appeal and caused a significant drop in sales. It turned out that the rumor was false and consumers disliked the smaller Plymouth and Dodge cars introduced for 1962. Needing a scapegoat, Chrysler brass fired Exner. He was allowed to retain a position as a consultant so he could retire with pension at age 55. He was replaced by Elwood Engel, who had been lured from Ford. Engel was highly regarded for his design of the classic 1961 Lincoln Continental. Fins soon lost popularity. By the late 1950s, Cadillac and Chrysler had escalated the size of fins till some thought they were stylistically questionable and they became a symbol of American excess in the early 60s. 1961 is considered the last of the "Forward Look" designs.

Retirement

Exner continued consulting for many car companies and also teamed up with his son, Virgil Exner Jr., designing watercraft for Buehler Corporation. In 1963, he designed a series of "Revival Cars" with production plans. His revival of Duesenberg failed, but he was instrumental in the revival of Stutz in the 1970s.

He died on December 22, 1973 at the William Beaumont Hospital in Birmingham, Michigan.

Video of the real car from Youtube

1960 Chrysler 300F - Color Promo Film Featuring Bob Rodger

1960 Chrysler 300F (Hardtop)

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Dealers are welcome to get their models reviewed too.

Aeronautic Sep. 2017 Rev. July 2018

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