Chrysler goes head-to-head with Cadillac
Despite its $7,500 sticker price, well beyond what the average American made in an entire year, Cadillac sold 1,285 Eldorado Biarritz convertibles in 1960. Just a hunch, I suspect they weren’t sold to shy, retiring types.
Chrysler responded with a dreamboat of its own. The divine Chrysler 300F went stride for stride with Cadillac, testing the elasticity of steel.
Bordering on behemoth at 219.2 inches, Chrysler’s 300F Convertible wasn’t quite as long as an Eldorado, but it more than measured up … and was far more exclusive. Only 248 Chrysler 300F convertibles were ever produced. The very last one gracefully glided off the assembly line on June 7, 1960, and now you can bask in its beauty, I found it at Green Bay’s Automobile Gallery & Event Center, courtesy of collector extraordinaire Randy Guyer of Minnetonka, Minn.
Elegantly attired in Formal Black, this 300F was positioned in the middle of Chrysler’s famed 300 “Letter Series” lineup of the 1950s and ’60s. Chrysler’s exclusive 300 Series, the brainchild of visionary designer Virgil Exner, ushered in a new decade of American styling, horsepower, and prosperity.
The 300 designation trumpets Chrysler’s revolutionary 300-horsepower engine, introduced in 1955, that cemented MOPAR’s reputation for performance, a trait that is still the company’s calling card.
Given the rarity and provenance of this 300F, it comes as no surprise that the original owner couldn’t wait to get his hands on this “majestic masterpiece” when it arrived at Plaza Motors in New Haven, CT. Dr. Sidney Licht from New Haven took delivery on July 11, 1960, never dreaming that his ravishing ride would one day ascend to the summit of collector success.
Professed perfectionist, Randy Guyer, committed to a complete frame-off, rotisserie restoration the day he completed the purchase of his 300F Convertible in 2009. Randy’s quest was to build the highest quality car achievable with respect to craftsmanship and authenticity without regard to cost or time.
Engaging three restoration shops and an auto repair facility, Randy’s laborious 8-year restoration was completed in September 2016. Eight years of arduous effort and anticipation culminated in perfection. His 300F Convertible is routinely rewarded with prestigious awards at Concours d’ Elegance events across the U.S., including the highest honor from the Chrysler 300 Club International, and an AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America) Senior Grand National award.
More art form than automobile, this 300F’s amazing 375-horsepower, 413-cubic-inch Max Wedge engine with dual quads, is a fashion show unto itself. The Max Wedge easily accommodates 4,490 lbs. of heft and still delivers impressive performance even by 2026 standards.
The only concession this car makes to contemporary transportation is that the days of 31-cent-a-gallon gas are long gone. It’s easy to digest 8 or 9 miles to the gallon when the performance curve delivers 0-60 in 7.3 seconds, ¼-mile in 15.3 seconds, and a top end of 128 mph!
Front and back bucket seats turn a cavernous cabin into a fashion statement with passengers surrounded by futuristic features, including:
- An Electro-luminescent AstraDome Gauge Cluster
- Golden Touch (7-button) Radio
- Air conditioning (rare for a convertible)
- 6-way Power Seats
- Rare Vacuum Powered Door Locks & Power Windows
- Power Antenna & Remote Control Outside Mirror
- Power Steering, Power Brakes, Leather Interior & Tinted Glass
- 3-speed, Push-button TorqueFlite Automatic Transmission
Now that I have your attention and you’re wondering about adding something like this to your collection. Well, be prepared to open up your checkbook. According to Hagerty, values have been trending up for this car recently.
Even one in just #4 Fair condition will go for over $71,000, while in #3 Good condition it will fetch, $118,000. Move up to #2 Excellent condition at $154,000, and a #1 Concours can go for $205,000, which this one certainly is. Plus, since it has air conditioning, the value bumps up by 10%, and you’re looking at a quarter-million-dollar car!
Thanks for stopping by and checking out this week’s spot. Come back next Sunday for another one, along with some of its history. Have a great week.
Savage On Wheels 
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