1962 Plymouth Fury

The 1962 Plymouth Fury received a new, smaller B-body unibody platform with a wheelbase size of 116-inches, a decrease of two-inches from the previous year. This was the third time the Fury had received all-new styling since 1959. The styling introduced in 1960 continued into 1961 with updates (including the removal of the tailfins) before the all-new design of 1962. Nineteen-sixty was the first year of Chrysler's ram induction system, the first year for unibody construction which offered greater rigidity and better cornering, and the first year for Chrysler's new slant-six engine. The Ram Induction system of tuned intake cross-over manifolds increased low-end torque for drag racing but reduced high-end torque. The Fury was a popular vehicle and would remain as Plymouth's leading sale volume model through the early 1960s.

Unique features included self-adjusting brakes, lube-sealed 32,000 mile suspension fittings, foot pedal operated rear drum parking brakes, printed circuit dash wiring, and the 'Hamtramck Hummingbird,' a new reduction gear starting motor that would come to signal by sound alone the starting of any Chrysler product.

Body styles offered on the 1962 Fury line included a sedan, convertible, two- and four-door hardtop sedan, and a six- and nine-passenger station wagon. The sedan and two-door hardtop sedan came standard with an inline, overhead-valve six-cylinder engine with an aluminum block, four main bearings, solid valve lifters, and 145 horsepower at 4,000 RPM. The remaining body styles came standard with an OHV, 317.6 CID V8 with five main bearings, solid valve lifters, a Carter two-barrel carburetor, and delivered 230 horsepower at 4,400 RPM. This engine was optional on the sedan and two-door hardtop sedan. A three-speed manual transmission was standard, with a TorqueFlite automatic a $192 option on the six-cylinder cars, and an aluminum TorqueFlite automatic a $211 on the V8s. The 361 CID 'Super Fury' V8 with a four-barrel carburetor and 260 horsepower was a $40 option, and the 'Golden Commando' 361 CID V8 with 305 hp costing $103. The Short Ram 413 V8 with a dual four-barrel carburetor and 410 horsepower was $545. A 420 hp version of the engine sold for $612.

Standard equipment included armrests, cigar lighter, front foam seat cushions, oil filter, backup lights and turn signals, sun visors, glove box lock, electric wipers, electric clock, and aluminum exterior trim inserts. The nine-passenger station wagons had a power tailgate window.

The Fury nameplate could be found behind the front wheel opening. A chrome stripe was used along the front fender feature line, and thin moldings outlined the wheel openings.

The sedan was the most popular body style with 17,231 examples built, followed by the two-door hardtop sedan with 9,589 sales. Next came the four-door hardtop sedan with 5,995 sales and 4,349 of the convertible. The combined station wagon totals reached approximately 5,000 units.

At the top of the Plymouth production catalog was the Sport Fury, announced around four months after the rest of the product line. Available as a two-door hardtop or convertible, it added bucket seats, a center front console, rear foam seat cushions, all-vinyl trim, and a Deluxe steering wheel. Only V8 engines were available on the Sport Fury.

Distinguishable styling features included full wheel covers, full-length beltline trim extensions, black-out styling features on the grille (along with the wider division panels), the Sport Fury signature script located ahead of the front wheel opening, rear, white, and blue finish trim insert dimples, and deck lid license plates.

Plymouth produced 4,039 examples of the hardtop with a base price of $2,850. The convertible listed for $3,080 and 1,516 examples were produced in 1962.

by Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2020