Car: Chrysler 300 F Convertible

Year: 1960

What makes it special: The dawning era of muscle cars took a 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 V8. 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.

What made it famous: 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. 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 4-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.

Why I would want one: It’s luxurious, stylish, sporty and muscle all in one gorgeous finned drop top.

Fun fact: The 1960 Chrysler 300F was one of Chrysler’s first muscle cars.
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Car:  Studebaker Champion 2-Door Sedan

Year: 1954

What makes it special: The Champion was produced by the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana from the beginning of the 1939 model year until 1958. It was a full-size car in its first three generations and a mid-size car in its fourth and fifth generation models. The Champion was one of Studebaker’s best-selling models because of its low price, durable engine, and styling.

What made it famous: In 1953, Studebaker was redesigned by Robert Bourke, from Raymond Loewy’s design studio. With regard to the 2-door coupe it is very important to note that there were 2 versions of it. There was the Loewy Coupe and the shortened 4 door sedan version. The back side windows in the shortened 4-door sedans are noticeably bigger than the windows in the Loewy Coupe. The Loewy Coupe is substantially more collectable than the shortened 4-door sedans. Although similar, the body pieces on the 2 cars are not interchangeable. The front end of the new Champion was lower than contemporaries. Power of the L-head inline-six remained unchanged at 85 hp, although in 1955 this was replaced by a larger version with 101 hp.

Why I would want one: Love the design. It’s different than other styles of that time period.

Fun fact: The Champion was phased out in 1958 in preparation for the introduction of the 1959 Studebaker Lark. Prior to this, Studebaker had been placed under receivership, and the company was attempting to return to a profitable position.
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