We recently featured the last of the full-size Dodge convertibles, a 1970 Polara, for our Pick of the Day. But what about Plymouth’s final full-size ragtop? Currently, none are listed on ClassicCars.com but we did find the next best thing: a 1971 Plymouth Fury II four-door sedan listed for sale by a dealership in Lillington, North Carolina. (Click the link to view the listing)
In 1965, when Chrysler Corporation introduced the C-body, the trim levels used a novel (if unimaginative) approach: Fury I, Fury II, Fury III, and Sport Fury, with Fury VIP joining in 1966. An all-new C-body series appeared for 1969, with the pecking order maintained. For 1970, the Fury was given a heavy facelift and now featured hidden headlights for the Sport Fury, a trim level that now included the Sport Fury GT and S/23. As the largest member of Plymouth’s Rapid Transit System, the Sport Fury GT received a standard 350-horsepower 440 and could be ordered with the 440 six-barrel. If that was too much for you but you appreciated the full-size performance image, there was an option for the Sport Fury called S/23 that gave you much of the same equipment (including strobe stripes, sill moldings, Road Wheels, fatter tires, and anti-sway bar) paired with a standard 318 V8 (with options up to the 383 four-barrel). There also was a promotional Fury II-based Gran Coupe that included paisley vinyl trim outside and inside, plus hidden headlights. The Fury VIP was replaced by the Brougham Package for regular Sport Furys.
For 1971, the Fury series was given a slight facelift featuring new grilles and matching textured taillights for the Fury III and above, with the Sport Fury specifically featuring a urethane applique on the rear bumper. More significantly, Plymouth touted the big differences between the Fury and competitors in its price class: Torsion-bar suspension, Unibody, and new-for-1971 Torsion-Quiet Ride, which placed rubber isolators in strategic positions. Aside of the elimination of the Sport Fury S/23, the roster remained the same. A new 360 two-barrel joined the option list, with options up to the 335-horsepower 440 four-barrel being available aside of the Sport Fury GT having a standard 440/370.
The Fury II, which was available as a two-door hardtop or four-door sedan, featured a standard cloth and vinyl bench seat, carpet, and not much else. Fancier option such as power or bucket seats required one to step up to the Fury III or above though, interestingly, a sunroof was available provided one specified the required vinyl roof.
This “GY9” Tawny Gold 1971 Plymouth Fury II four-door sedan is not a car you often see anymore. Only 20,098 were built in total, and it seems most of them have been disposed of over the years. “The grill, drivers outside mirror, door handles, drip rail moldings, body side moldings, emblems, hubcaps, whitewall tires, wipers, glass, rubber & felt, window trim, side marker lights, hood trim, headlights, taillights are all good,” says the seller. “Door handles, dash cluster, factory radio, dash switches, door sill plates are all like new,” (s)he adds. “The carpet is faded. But it really looks good inside.”
Powered by the base 318 V8 and equipped with air conditioning, this Fury II is a relic of America’s roads, a cheap Plymouth sedan that worked nicely from Point A to Point B. We bet that when Point B is your local drive-in, the $13,500 it costs to buy this Mopar can be made up by the number of bodies you can smuggle in.
Click here for this ClassicCars.com Pick of the Day.
My grandparents bought cars somewhat like this. They weren’t top of the line, and didn’t explore the options list. It had a V8, an automatic transmission, radio and heater. One has to remember that at one time, all of those things were options. When my grandmother retired, the car she bought finally had air conditioning, but the v9 went away for a V6. Such was buying a ’80 Malibu, I guess.
The listing says the engine is a 318 C-10. What is a C-10?
Hi, Kevin….you have to reach out to the seller to get an answer.
After high school, I had a girl friend who had a 71 Fury coupe. It had a 383 2 barrel. It had some giddy up to it though. I still remember drag racing a Camaro on the city street and taking it off the line pretty well.
My parents bought a new ’71 Fury III 4-door hardtop from Jenkins-Young Chrysler-Plymouth in Killeen, Texas on April 7, 1971. Like the feature car, it was Tawny Gold Metallic, but with a gold interior and a 383 under the hood. Eventually, my dad would claim that it was the WORST car he ever owned. it was a chronic overheater (it was built with a radiator for a non-dairy conditioned 225-poweted Fury– Plymouth dealers in FOUR states couldn’t diagnose or fix it). Some of the side trim was GLUED on. When the factory warranty expired, the engine started dieseling when shut off. My parents finally got rid of it in 1978 ( traded in for a new Mercury Monarch, and they got all of $500 for the Plymouth). My parents NEVER bought another Chrysler product (the ’65
Dodge Coronet that preceded the Plymouth was trouble-free during our ownership.)
Reminds me of the car Kiel Martin drove in Moonrunners.
I’m a Ford guy, owner, restorer blue through and through. When I was a kid, my parents wanted me to have a 73:Fury……. Yuk!! Lol
Somehow prices were lower than Plymouths in 71 than in 1968. My uncle bought a stripped down 1971 Fury 1 for $3100 with AC. It was silly looking with zero chrome yet a black vinyl top. My father’s new 68 Plymouth satellite was $2900 3 yrs before with no AC. Plenty of chrome, fancy looking. It wasn’t until 1973; did he treat himself to a car with AC.
Loved the 71 Fury 4 door featured! In 1974, I drove to Freeman Motors in Lumberton NC, and looked at a trashed 4 speed 383 road runner for $450, a Cuda with a shaker hood ( but only with a 383) for $1500, and spied something special…a gold 4 door Fury2! No, I wasn’t an automotive dork looking for sensible transportation….it was the tailpipes! The large diameter, specifically cut ends told me it was a 440 magnum! It was a hyway patrol car, radio block off, 140 mph ‘certified’ speedometer’, manual steering, not much else. With an elderly salesman, I floored it down an on ramp onto I-95, and wow…the salesman froze in the middle of his sales pitch, and didn’t speak again! I pounced on it for $950. Had 2 years of burning rubber, daily ‘testing’ of 55mph to illegal ( yes, and lots of tickets), and scaring friends by making them think a cop was about to pull them. Have had several hot/ muscle cars, but if I could have on back, it would be my gold fury with a green interior!
My dad bought a ’68 Fury ll sedan with 318 new when I was 8 years old. Fantastic machine. In 1975 I learned how to drive in that car. The Plymouth replaced a ’61 Chevrolet Bel Air that my dad said was the worst car he owned.
I wish I had that Plymouth Back. Every once and awhile I go out on the Internet and look at Sport Furys that are for sale. One of these days I may get one. If I had more money and a place to keep them, I’d have a warehouse full of vintage Mopars.
one of the best i ever owned.
My dad was forced by the company he worked for to get a 4 door in 1970. So he brought home a Plymouth Fury. I cried it was the ugliest car I have ever seen at 10 years old.
We took it to the car wash and it was too wide for the automatic machine. It ripped the mirrors off and peeled the doorskins half off. I was hoping they would write it off, but he stuck with it for a couple years
A family friend had one of these with the 270 horsepower 383 2-barrel, A/C, automatic and no power steering. He drove big rigs at the time. His son was one of my best friends at the time. He learned to drive with that thing. Said it was no fun steering at low speed. I believe him, from experience I learned not to purchase vehicles w/o power steering. Had 3 V8 powered Dodge Darts and a Pontiac Lemans w/o power steering. Since then I had my chest cut open. The last Dart w/o power steering was gotten rid of after because I couldn’t stand driving it. Should have had someone install power steering on it instead. It was much more fun to drive than my Grand Marquis.
This was my first car. Same color just had like a gold brown upholstery on the seats