Topic: The year is 1960......

[Ultra]

50 years ago today, if you could drive any car you wanted, what would you drive?

This would be me tooling around in 1960.

[Paul Jaray]

Since you already took the best, I'll have to choose between these:

[neilshouse]

This is me in a previous existence......

[Otto Puzzell]

Hey - wait................is that...........?

[kach22i]

A convertible Porsche 356B similar to this.

http://www.santiagosc.com/auctions/Rogers%20Cars.html

[Otto Puzzell]

It IS! Hey, kach22i. Welcome to AutoPuzzles!

[DeAutogids.nl]

The problem is that in 1960 probably I would not be able to buy it, but a Tatra for me please.

[DynaMike]

I was born in 1960...
But if I could have bought a car back then, I guess I might have chosen the car that I actually own nowadays, this 1957 Panhard Dyna Z12 Grand Standing (model year 1958):

[DeAutogids.nl]

Very unDutch surroundings
And that with a small 2 cylinder. Brave man

[DynaMike]

Yes, last year's international Panhard meeting was in Montélimar, and then we continued our trip to the Côte-d'Azur. This picture was taken when we visited the Grand Canyon du Verdon, in the French Alps. Almost 3000 kms without any technical problem in a (then) 52 year old car. Lots of space, excellent roadholding (front wheel drive), top speed 130 km/h, fuel consumption during this trip was 6.5 liter on 100 kms, and we didn't try to save fuel...

And yes, very comfortable suspension and seats, but I must admit it is quite noisy, though.

[DeAutogids.nl]

I do like it

[DynaMike]

People who like Tatra tend to like Panhard, and vice versa 

[Stephen M]

There are better looking cars from the era, but this one strikes a chord:

[Ultra]

There are better looking cars from the era, but this one strikes a chord:

The 300 series rules!!!!

[kach22i]

With the exception of the C-300 most of these cars are on the smaller side. Also nobody listed a light truck yet.

Seems like most of us remember what manual steering was like.

[Stephen M]

Also nobody listed a light truck yet.

I assumed anyone hankering for 1960's light truck technology could satisfy their craving by driving a current model year light truck. 

(admitted cheap shot, there have certainly been improvements, but the dynamic difference is small compared to what has been achieved with passenger/sports cars)

[Arthur Dent]

Tatra 603

[metalshapes]

The Lincoln Futura.

Because its very cool,
And to save it from George Barris...

[StillOutThere]

In 1960 I was thirteen years old and too young to drive but I did get one of those 1960 300Fs by 1987 and I still have it today and yes it gets driven hard and fast when it goes out.   It is a 300F Special Gran Turismo with the 400HP motor and Pont-a-Mousson 4speed full synchro transmission and Sure-Grip limited slip differential.  There were nine so-built. 

But in 1960 I had a Schwinn bicycle to answer the question.

[Ultra]

Love the long rams.  Torque god.

[StillOutThere]

Love the long rams.  Torque god.

Technically speaking, it is the "long -long rams" in the standard 375HP 300Fs that provide low end torque, however my car has the "short-long rams" of the 400HP motor.   The difference is not in the overall exterior length of both which is 30 inches, but rather in the division of the internal runners which in the "short" version is 15 inches.  This changed the characteristics, making it more of a high speed HP and torque machine, and thus these cars were run on the sands of Daytona Beach during the 1960 running of Speed Week.  There the record was set at 145 mph on sand.  At Chrysler's own test track the cars showed 165 mph.  The Special GT cars are known to do 60 in first gear, 90 in second, 120 in third and "whatever" traffic and road conditions will bear in fourth.  I have exceeded 115 mph in third within the last year.

[Ultra]

Love the long rams.  Torque god.

Technically speaking, it is the "long -long rams" in the standard 375HP 300Fs that provide low end torque, however my car has the "short-long rams" of the 400HP motor.   The difference is not in the overall exterior length of both which is 30 inches, but rather in the division of the internal runners which in the "short" version is 15 inches.  This changed the characteristics, making it more of a high speed HP and torque machine, and thus these cars were run on the sands of Daytona Beach during the 1960 running of Speed Week.  There the record was set at 145 mph on sand.  At Chrysler's own test track the cars showed 165 mph.  The Special GT cars are known to do 60 in first gear, 90 in second, 120 in third and "whatever" traffic and road conditions will bear in fourth.  I have exceeded 115 mph in third within the last year.

I've had my GTO over 150 in 5th in the past year.    I've even had the bike up over 115.  I am a Mopar man at heart and restored a 74 Dodge Challenger, pics are on this board somewhere.   

Great car you got there.  I have heard of the difference in the rams before back when I was subscribing to every Mopar mag on the planet.  Would love to see it in person.   Any midrange stumble from the effect of the rams?   What is it in the rear?  3.23?  2.73?

You really should put up a thread about your car......

[StillOutThere]

There is no stumble in this car.  Properly tuned and balanced, rams will not stumble.  Just continuous pull!!!!!!!!

Rear axle when delivered new was 2.93 which was the highest speed gear set available that year.  I changed the car to 3.31 so that it was more drivable in every other condition than "going for top end".   The 115+ in 3rd was with the 3.31.

I have done web pages and a couple of magazine articles and numerous posts in assorted forums.  Its just my old Chrysler, ya know? 

I'll stand down..... I feel like I'm hijacking this thread with my own car.  Sorry.

[GrahamClayton]

I'll choose a make that was only available in 1960 - the Canadian Frontenac. The Frontenac was built by Ford in order to give Mercury-Meteor dealers a compact car to sell. The Frontenac was replaced for 1961 by the Mercury Comet. I also like the quirky front grille:

[Carnut]

Are words necessary?: