1959 Plymouth Fury

For consignment, a great memory from the late 1950s in the form of a 1959 Plymouth Sport Fury Convertible. It has the makings of a great car, and indeed is actually one. Having undergone a preservation in the early 2000s and bathed in a respray of the original light blue hue, some dimpling on the chrome trimmings, push button transmission a-la the Jetsons, and a snazzy two tone interior. This car embodies all of Exners Forward Look design cues but remains somewhat conservative when lined up next to its sister model from Dodge. A sweet spot if you will, purchased new by our consignors father and enjoyed, used, maintained and shown between 2004 and 2010, this 1 family owned drop top is waiting right here at Classic Auto Mall, awaiting someone to snap it up, and head on down to Ideal (Grocery getter?!) Exterior The beneficiary of a preservation, we note a no rust body with good gaps, and straight steel. This has been formed onto the distinctively Plymouth Forward Look, longer, lower, and an airy cabin with a split grille and the age old Mayflower emblem smack dead center. All of this chrome is flanked on either side and above by eyebrowed dual round headlights. A long hood and flanked by straight front quarters with a thin starting trim spear flashing rearward to mid door like the tail of a comet (but its a Fury!). This spear continues on the rear quarter and mimics the fin above with stainless steel highlighting the dimpled trim insert before wrapping around the tail of the car and meeting the opposing sides trim. The rockers also have a highlighting trim which also runs wheel well to wheel well. A thin stainless spear highlights the gently rising fins before meeting up with chrome caps which cover the canted fin ends. Bumpers are looking fab, however we note a ripple in the center of the drivers bumpers, and on the back, dual curved downward tailpipes push exhaust gases into the environment. Yet another highlight of this car is the Exner faux spare tire on the trunk lid, affectionately known as the toilet seat trunk. Thin oval multi-lensed taillights bring up the rear and covering the expansive passengers compartment is a nearly new blue canvas top complete with a clear plastic rear window. 14-inch steel wheels with ventilated covers are on all 4 corners and are wrapped in older thin whitewall radials. Interior If we drop the top, we are greeted by a beautifully restored interior bathed in two tone blue vinyl bolsters with tuck and roll inserts in blue with black checked broadcloth. This is all bordered by white piping and shows as dual front buckets with a center fold down armrest, and a long and luxurious spacious rear bench. Of note is a swivel drivers bucket seat to ensure traversing the huge original blue and transparent yellow steering wheel is a breeze. The door panels use the white tuck and roll only in horizontal form with more blue smooth surrounds and a white armrest. Pulls and cranks are excellent and very 50s jet age black and gold broadcloth provides the border for the chrome top trim of the door. For the dash, which is its original design, but looking great in its chromed coverings, all original instruments, and the push button transmission. A smooth blue dash front works its way over to the passenger area and becomes a tuck and roll padded vinyl topper and sits next to this chromed panel which is in front of the driver. Below a metal aluminum strip houses the wiper and headlight knobs, ignition, ashtray and the factory AM radio. Faded blue carpet is reserved for the floors, and inside the convertible is a black lining. Drivetrain Now showing under the hood within the nicely preserved engine bay is a rebuilt in 318ci V8, topped by a 4-barrel carburetor, red valve covers, and a red air cleaner housing, yellow high voltage spark wires, and a red capped power steering reservoir. Power produced goes back to a Torqueflite pushbutton automatic transmission. On the rear is a 3.31 geared rear axle assembly. Undercarriage The front-end underneath has an independent torsion bar suspension system with power drum brakes. On the rear is a leaf spring suspension and more power drums. All is solid underneath with a nice mix of patina, surface rust, and gray factory undercoating. Otherwise, all is solid, including the flooring, rockers, heel/toe boards, and full perimeter frame and X-bracing. Dual exhaust is on to handle the exhale and is equipped with stock style replacement mufflers. Drive-Ability After a warmup, it was push the button and go! Good acceleration, a slight miss at idle, and a decent cruiser, particularly with the top down. A number of issues crept up during our drive, those being the power top does need some help going back up, the fuel gauge is inoperable, the drivers door wont open from the inside, the front suspension feels loose and has a tendency to creak and pop, the turn signals only work intermittently, and the car pulled right during our panic stop test but then pulled left after the power brake pedal was released, a sign of the brakes hanging up. A nice example of a 1 family owned car, work done, rust free, and a convertible. Beautiful interior in two tone early 50s colors with that piping, and a well preserved engine bay with the rebuilt original engine. Powder Blue with shiny chrome trimmings, side spears and fins to the moon...now theres something one does not see every day.