1964 Plymouth Sport Fury

Plymouth drastically downsized the Fury model starting in 1962, and the Sport Fury was offered as a hardtop and convertible resting on the new B-body unibody platform. In 1964 they were cosmetically updated with a new grille and sleek slanted roofline. The Sport Fury wore wide body-side molding with color insert, Sport Fury lettering and script, Special wheel covers with simulated knock-off hubs, and bucket seats. V8 engines were standard and buyers seeking more could purchase the Sport Fury with the 426 Super Sport 'Max-Wedge Stage III' V8, the largest engine offered in a mid-size car in 1964.

The byword for Chrysler's top engine designs of the early 1960s was 'Maximum Performance,' and the 1964 model year marked the pinnacle of its active development before the new 426 Hemi arrived. Ongoing Max Wedge mechanical evolution, in part by Sir Harry Weslake under a Chrysler contract, had resulted in a reconfigured cylinder head for 1964, with cross-ram intake manifold hosting dual 4-barrel carburetors and twin air cleaners. This innovation was an important developmental part of Chrysler's overall drag-engine program, created to sonically tune the incoming air-fuel charge.

The 1964 Plymouth Sport Fury had a 116-inch wheelbase and an overall length of 206.5-inches. The standard engine was the 317.6 'Commando' cubic-inch V8 with a cast-iron block, solid valve lifters, a Carter two-barrel carburetor, five main bearings, and delivered 230 horsepower at 4,400 RPM. They wore bright rocker panel strips, three hash marks on the rear roof pillar on the hardtops, wheel covers, plus bucket seats, all-vinyl upholstery, Deluxe steering wheel, front and rear foam seat cushions, center console, electric clock, padded dashboard, and cigar lighter.

Approximately 6,359 examples of the 426 CID Hemi were installed into combined Plymouth and Dodge engine bays for 1964 including 271 with the higher compression setting.

For 1965, the Plymouth Fury would be built on the full-size Chrysler C-body platform with its wheelbase increasing to 119-inches. Trim levels included the Fury I, Fury II, Fury III, and the top-of-the-line Sport Fury. Production of the Fury would continue through 1978.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2015