Hemmings Classic Car

1960-’61 Chrysler 300F & 300G

When people boasted of the performance of Chrysler-branded automobiles during the postwar years, it was usually in reference to the cars’ mechanical prowess: smooth and reliable, just like a luxury vehicle should be. Naturally, powerful acceleration was a key element, but it was intended to make premium models more capable on the road, and not meant for speed contests. The corporation’s other divisions were better equipped to manage a young buyer’s stoplight-sprint antics.

Part of that perspective changed when the division released the C-300 in 1955. Fitted with the 300-hp, 331-cu.in. “FirePower” V-8 capable of pushing it to a top speed of 130 mph, the specially trimmed hardtop coupe broke the mold while redefining the parameters of a luxury coupe. Adventurous CEOs could feel the excitement of raw power while seated in a luxurious cabin, surrounded by coachwork that spoke of edgy—yet not audacious—exclusivity. And it was exclusive: Just 1,725 were built in the first year, each costing $4,110 (or $40,095 today) without options.

More compelling was how the C-300

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Hemmings Classic Car

Hemmings Classic Car6 min read
Family Ties
There may be a sect of enthusiasts who would find it difficult to justify the cost of a highend, factory-stock restoration of a utilitarian, entry-level car like this Barrier Blue Metallic 1966 Pontiac Tempest. As originally equipped, with a column-s
Hemmings Classic Car2 min read
My Fascination with Fords
ALTHOUGH I WAS BORN in 1927, I remember becoming a car enthusiast as early as 1930 or 1931 years old. My maternal grandparents lived in Chicago, Illinois, just a short walk from the Miller Sesler Ford dealership that we passed quite often on family t
Hemmings Classic Car4 min read
Parts Department
Q: I recently purchased a 1952 Mercury with a two-speed Ford-O-Matic transmission. Can an external oil cooler be attached to these models, and if so, how would I find which ports to use? RAY KENT VIA HEMMINGS.COM A: The air-cooled Ford-O-Matic used a

Related Books & Audiobooks