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 Dan Vaughan

The Plymouth Fury was introduced in 1956 and continued in production as a model and/or series until 1989. Plymouth had been using the name Fury as the high-performance version of its standard vehicle and in 1956 made its own model designation. The initial desire of the Fury was to highlight the abilities of the Plymouth division and to create a stunning automobile that would capture the attention of consumers and bring that crowd into their showrooms. The styling was typical of the era with the most notable feature being the tail-fins which grew in size during the 1959 model year. It was a popular favorite with many police forces because of its reliability and performance.

In 1959 Plymouth introduced a performance and luxury package called the Sport Fury which featured a larger engine, performance upgrades, and a transmission that could handle the extra torque. This was the only year that it was offered.

1960 marked the beginning of the second generation Fury which continued until 1964. The Fury now sat atop a unit-body construction with a bolted-on subframe which improved rigidity. The tail fins were removed and the styling was updated to give it a modern appeal. The base engine was a slant six power-plant capable of producing over 145 horsepower. A 318 or 383 cubic-inch eight-cylinder in various configurations could be purchased as optional equipment.

Styling and mechanical changes continued in 1961. The Fury was given a new grille which gave it the impression of a 'frowning face'. The performance was increased with the 375 horsepower, 413 cubic-inch engine. A limited-edition turbocharged engine was offered in 1962. A new unitized body and chassis construction was implemented which greatly decreased the overall weight while still maintaining rigidity and interior room. Weight was further reduced with the adaptation of the TorqueFlite transmission replacing the cast-iron, two-speed PowerFlite. The 383 engine was no longer offered but a 413 8-cylinder engine became available half-way through the year.

For 1963, the grille and rear once again received styling updates. The reliability was reinforced by the company with the introduction of a five-year or fifty-thousand-mile warranty. Not much changed the following year. A limited amount of 426 Wedge 'Super Stock' engines were planted into the engine bays with the purpose of being raced and not legal on the streets.

1965 brought the third generation of the Fury. The sedans sat atop a 119-inch wheelbase while the wagons were given a 121-inch platform. A street-legal, 426 'Street Wedge' was now available, promising nearly 400 horsepower. This year also began the Fury I, Fury II, and Fury III naming scheme. In 1966 the VIP name was added to the Fury model line-up. The VIP was an economical, luxury sedan with aluminum taillight panels, wood-grained inserts, and special badging and colors. A popular option on the VIP was the vinyl roof. Luxury could be found on the interior, with its soft carpet, padded dash, individual reading lamps, walnut grain trim, fold-down armrests, and more. Under the hood was a 318 eight-cylinder engine as standard. The VIP name was short-lived, enduring until 1969 when the decision was made to cease production.

The 1965 Fury had changed aesthetically with horizontal bars on the grille and rearranged rear taillights. The interior had undergone very mild changes. The most drastic change was on the Sport Fury which was given a new console, replacing the console that had been introduced in 1964. The Hurst shifter was no longer offered; rather, a willowy Inland unit with a reverse lockout button was offered as optional equipment.

In 1966, a Silver Special edition was offered which featured silver metallic paint with blue upholstery. Window moldings, whitewall, and wheel-covers were included.

The Fury grew slightly in size in 1967. The body panels were all-new but the grille and headlights were carried over from the previous body-style. The 225 slant-six engine was standard and a 318, 383, and 440 were offered in various configurations. Offered as a two and four-door, convertible, sedan, wagon, hardtop, and convertible, there were nearly twenty-five different configurations to select from.

1968 continued the styling changes with it's horizontally split grille, updated rear, and a slight dip in the body-line which mimicked the front vent windows.

The fourth-generation began in 1969. The wheelbase of the vehicle increased offering more interior room for the passengers. The boxy-appearance of third-generation Fury was abandoned with a slight shift toward curvy appearance. Concealed headlamps were added in 1970.

In 1972 Plymouth added the Gran Fury sedan and coupe, equipped with a 383 cubic-inch engine bored out to 400 CID. Two separate blackened grilles with the word 'Fury' in the middle helped distinguish these models.

Styling changes continued in 1973 which saw many improvements to its exterior design. For 1974, the Fury sat atop a new C-body platform which was larger in size to its predecessor. A new grille and bumper made its way onto the standard Fury.

The fifth series of the Fury was introduced in 1975. Plymouth once again restyled the Fury and placed it atop a smaller, redesigned C-body chassis.

The Fury line was dropped in 1979 but a year later, in 1980, Plymouth revitalized the Gran Fury name. It shared a platform and similar body design to the Chrysler Newport and Dodge St. Regis and was available only as a four-door sedan. Sales were never strong and the Fury name was once again abandoned in 1981.

A smaller version was introduced in 1982 and stayed in production until 1989. Minor aesthetic and mechanical changes were applied during this time, but it basically stayed unchanged.

by Dan Vaughan