Chrysler Corporation produced the Plymouth Fury from 1956 through 1978. Built on the manufacturer's C-body, the Fury was meant to be the top-of-the-line flagship model of the Plymouth brand, drawing the curious and car savvy into their showrooms to see the exciting, premium-priced line. The very name, Fury, comes from the Furies, the mythological Greek entities who doled out vengeance to the wicked. The Fury was responsible for much of the success of the Plymouth line.
The two-door coupe was originally sold with an off-white hardtop featuring trim in gold anodized aluminum. The Fury was available in three engine sizes: a 318 cubic inch, a 350 cubic inch and a 361 cubic inch, all V8 powerhouses with Chrysler's TorqueFlight transmission. By 1959, the Sport Fury came in convertible and coupe versions, as well.
Later changes included adding a station wagon model and moving back to a B-body in 1962. Engine options... View more in the early 1960s were abundant, most notably the new 318 cubic inch, Poly V-8; a 330 hp V8; a 383 cubic inch SonoRamic Commando V8; a slant-6 225; a 413 cubic inch, 375 hp V8; and a 426 cubic inch Wedge Hemi. The powerful options left little room for wondering – these cars were made to perform on the road and in the showroom.
In 1965, the Fury was returned to a C-body, equipped with three-speed and four-speed manual transmission or three-speed automatic transmissions. Vinyl tops, stereo audio, A/C and power steering were available on the Sport Fury. By 1968, the Fury came in four trim levels to compete head-to-head with Chevy. The Sport Fury matched up with Chevrolet's Impala SS. The Fury I, II and III answered the Biscayne, Bel-Air and Impala, respectively. Police precincts and cab companies liked the Fury I for its stripped-down economy and power. A luxury version, the Fury VIP (Very Important Plymouth) was also produced to answer the Ford LTD and Chevy Caprice.
Fury received its fair share of exposure through popular media. Stephen King cast a ‘58 Fury as Christine, the evil coupe. While many Furies were trashed during filming, Belvederes and Savoys disguised as the car were also used. Ward Cleaver, on the television sitcom, Leave it To Beaver", drove a 1962 Fury. The Fury line died out in the late 1970s, but the Fury name lived on in the full-sized Gran Fury until 1989. View less
