Ken, Dave, and forwardlookers,
There are actually two printings of the black and white (and
a few blue highlights) 300F folder with 4spd references and the
"4spd convertible" on the front. There is no factory literature
"Form #" on these pieces. I have both amongst my literature.
One is printed for the Detroit Auto Show and lists area dealers
on the last fourth of the back page. The other may have been
for "other" shows as that same area has a section called
"Special Features".
This folder was recalled from public distribution because
the 400 HP motor with Pont-a-Mousson 4spd option package was
never made publicly available. The few cars with this package
are referred to as 300F Specials and last year original
documentation was unearthed revealing that internally at
Chrysler this was the "300F Gran Tourismo" package.
Dave, if there is anything else in that back fourth of a
page on your printing, I would like to hear about it.
The convertible with 4spd shifter showing is a photo studio
enhancement. This was verified for Gil Cunningham, former
Chrysler employee and current Chairman of the Concours Standards
Committee of the Chrysler 300 Club Intl, by someone years ago.
I do not recall the person's name or position.
There were a total of nine (or a remote possibility of 10)
Chrysler 300F Special Gran Tourismos assembled. All were
considered prototypes by Chrysler engineer Paul Mallwitz, head
of the project who spoke to the club shortly before his passing.
There was a mockup test "mule" car, six prototypes created for
Daytona Speed Weeks (which were the six fastest cars on the
beach in 1960), then one hardtop for Andy Drumm of Fallon, NV
(ordered through his friend Bill Harrah's dealership in Reno)
and the last car was in fact a four speed convertible in white,
not the darker shade shown on the folders in question.
Note that the photo inside the folder of Bob Rodger at the
wheel of a Special is not a convertible. Depending on the
printing and cutting of the piece in front of you, you should be
able to see a piece of the roof rail and headliner of a hardtop.
This photo was taken in the "mule" car.
Of the presumed nine cars built, four are known to exist in
Arizona, Illinois, Georgia, and Texas, two are known destroyed
in crashes and a combination of several stories and facts has
the "mule" car being parted out. Two are unaccounted for but
there are some rumors.
Hope this was helpful.
Wayne Graefen wrgraefen@xxxxxxxxxxx
See my 300F Special at www.carpictures.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Fermoyle <wordsmithken@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sunday, April 25, 1999 1:38 PM
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] 300F literature
>Dave,
>Good to hear from you all the way from New Zealand.
>Ain't the Net and e-mail grand?!?
>I'll insert comments into your msg below. I'm going
>to send this to the FL list. It's long, but some of
>the other Forward Lookers might be interested. (If
>any of you object to these rather long postings, let
>me know & I'll cease & desist.)
>
>At 09:21 AM 4/25/99 +1200, you wrote:
>>Hi Ken,
>> Dave Agnew in New Zealand here. I was very
>interested in your
>>articles on the list regarding your time as a
>motoring correspondent in
>>the '50's and '60's. Found a few of your road tests
>in "Chrysler 300,
>>Gold Portfolio 1955-70", a Brooklands book,including
>the April '60 test
>>of a 4 speed.
>
>I'll have to look for that book. I've never seen it,
>but several other people have mentioned it since I
>wrote about the 300 in Forward Look.
>Chris Whelan found a copy of the May 1955 article I
>wrote on the original Chrysler 300. In fact, he found
>2 copies and was kind enough to send me one. He also
>posted the article on his website:
>http://home.earthlink.net/~rapilje \
>
>> I am lucky enough to own a 300F, bought it in
>1993 and 5 years
>>later,it's still under restoration.
>
>Lucky you! The F was a dandy!
>
>>However,like a lot of old car nuts,
>>one has to acquire every bit of literature one can
>on one's car.
>>Recently I bought a black and white folder featuring
>the 300F. It has a
>>photo of a convert( 4 speed).on the front and says
>'Chrysler Auto Show
>>News'. Open it and there is Bob Rodger at the wheel
>of a 4 speed. an
>>article on Brewster Shaw about driving the F on
>Daytona Beach,it
>>mentions an 18 minute film you can see at your local
>dealer's, ( I have
>>a copy on video),and on the back page,the car's
>specs and a photo of
>>your good self holding a stop watch and busy writing
>something on a
>>clipboard.
>
>That is news to me! I don't recall the folder, but
>apparently it was done while I was Auto Ediutor of
>Popular Science, in which the original 300F article
>(also on Chris; website) appeared. Frankly, I don't
>recall the circumstances of that test. It was a
>hectic time; we were doing 10,000-mile road tests of
>new cars during that period and I was also traveling
>a lot covering things like the Indy 500, Mobil
>Economy Run, Daytona & Nassau SpeedWeeks and car
>company press preivews. etc. I was away from home --
>and my family, with 3 small children -- a great deal.
>That's why I left Pop Sci after just over 2 years to
>take a job in the Detroit office of Kenyon & Eckhardt
>ad agency.
>
>> Just exactly where this folder came from ,I don't
>know. I'm assuming
>>that it was a giveaway at some Chrysler auto show,as
>the name suggests.
>
>I'm sure you're right on that. I can't remember
>whether it was a Chrysler photographer of a Pop Sci
>staffer who shot the pix for that article. It may
>well have been someone from Chrysler, so they would
>have had a lot of pix from the shoot.
>
>> We all know that there were only 7 or so 4
>speeds built, and who's
>>got them now. In the 1960 Ross Roy 18 minute film,
>it shows Bob >Rodger in a 4 speed convert,the car is
>red and the one on the cover of >this folder is a
>dark colour, perhaps red. Was this just a mock up for
>>the photo shoot, or do you know if a red 4 speed was
>actually built?
>
>I can't say for sure, but I think it was an actual
>car, not a mockup.
>
>> The one you tested for Popular Science was
>white, I'll bet it was a
>>buzz to drive one of these when it was new!!!
>
>I always loved the 300-series Chrysler, some more
>than others, and the F was a favorite. It was a kick
>to drive it, as you can tell from my article.
>
>> Anyway, thought I'd drop you a line and say,
>'Got any more of those >good old stories?'
>>
>
>> Regards, Dave
>>PS. The F is my consuming passion, I have spent
>years getting new
>>parts,bits that were missing etc,and want it to be
>as good as I can get
>>it. Can't afford to have a lot of work farmed out,
>so I'm doing it
>>myself. Estimated date back on the road, 2002!!!!
>
>Good luck, and thanks for writing.
>
>Ken Fermoyle
>
>
>
>===
>Ken Fermoyle, columnist & publisher
>FERMOYLE PUBLICATIONS
>22250 Capulin Court
>Woodland Hills, CA 91364
>
>In the beginning was the word...
>and don't you forget it!
>
>
>
>
>_________________________________________________________
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