The Chrysler 300 FTE is a favorite among racers. It is quite often very quick out of the package and it is also a favorite for modifiers to build for races.
This month we are taking a closer look at the Faster Than Ever Chrsler 300. You will see this car show up frequently in stock races as well as in modified races. One of the reasons that modifiers like to use it for their builds is that although it’s usually pretty quick, it is also pretty light, coming in at 37 grams. It’s lighter weight usually keeps it from being a top contender when it competes in stock races with much heavier funny cars and other all metal cars. However, with a little added weight, some of these 300s can be very fast. So what is it that gives the 300 its speed? Well, there are a couple of things that come together to make the perfect storm.
First are the Faster Than Ever wheels and axles. The 300 debuted in 2006 in a couple of variations, but it is the Faster Than Ever version that is the one you want. As we’ve talked about before with other FTE cars we have reviewed, the Faster Than Ever wheels and axles give a car a definite advantage over other cars. Although the wheels are helpful in adding speed with their lightweight, low rotational inertia spoke design, it’s really the axles that set the FTE cars apart. The axles are nickel plated. The nickel plating gives the axle a smoother finish and reduces friction compared to your regular run of the mill car. Less friction means less resistance on spinning wheels and that means a faster car. All other things being equal, a Faster Than Ever car will generally be faster than its non-FTE counterpart.
Another reason that the 300 is so successful on the track is its nice wide stance. The 300 is pretty wide compared to a lot of other Hot Wheels cars. That wide stance helps the 300 run straight down the track and not ending up in the dreaded death wiggle as it races towards the finish line. We all know that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. If a car bounces back and forth between the sidewalls of the track, not only will the impacts slow them down, but they will also be traveling a greater distance as they “zig-zag” down the track. With a wider car, even if it does bounce back and forth between the track walls, it travels far less horizontally than a skinner car.
Overall, the 300 is a great car for speed. If it were a little heavier, it would definitely be one of the top racers that Mattel makes, but as is, it is still pretty quick. And if you are into modifying cars, it is a great car to build for a modified race. Basically you can add a little weight to the FTE 300 and you are ready to race.
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