1965 Plymouth Sport Fury 426

From 1956 to 1978, the Plymouth division of the Chrysler Corporation produced the Plymouth Fury. In 1965, full sized Chrysler’s were making a return, and Plymouth’s line included 3 special Fury’s. (Fury I, Fury II and Fury III). The Fury I made the rounds as Police Cars and Taxi’s, or sold as a “no frills” , basic full sized car to those seeking a car on a budget. Fury’s II and III  were upgrades in trim, specifications and equipment. Sport Fury models (Pictured), came with lot’s of options, like Automatic Transmissions, Power Steering, Whitewall Tires, (and full sized Hubcaps), Stereo Radios, Vinyl Tops as well as Air Conditioning.

The Grill was changed for that year, and two vertical stacked headlights sat on either side, the wheelbase was lengthened, but most importantly, The 426 “Street Wedge” V8 was introduced. (Insert the sound of Angels singing here…I’ll wait. ) It was rated at 385 hp, but…FINALLY "Street Legal."

The Plymouth Fury III sported either all Vinyl or all cloth interiors, The bench seats were styled to resemble Bucket seats, including “Chrome Vinyl” that sat on top of the front seat facings. An electric clock, glove box and trunk lights were all standard, as were brake warning lights, front and rear ashtrays (can’t get them anymore), color coordinated deep pile carpeting, a heater / defroster, and electric wipers .

Optional Fury III stuff gave you a choice of 15 different exterior colors, ( of which 8 were metallic ), several different vinyls or a wide selection of fabric choices for the interior. You could also snag a remote control side view mirror, AM or AM/FM Radios, Auto Pilot Cruise Control, A/C, underhood light, power bench or bucket seats, a center console, and…a 4 speed Manual Transmission with Hurst linkage (Cue the Angel’s singing again…)

Other little 1965 Plymouth Sport Fury info “nuggets”: a Sport Fury Ragtop paced the Indy 500 that year, and a “Pace Car Package” was available on any Fury…at extra cost, of course. Nearly 330,000 Plymouth Fury’s were sold in ’65.

Years later, I had a friend who inherited a 1965 Plymouth Sport Fury III two-door hardtop from his Grandfather. The paint was slightly faded (nothing that an afternoon of compounding and waxing over a few Beers couldn’t solve ). Low mileage…beautiful interior. Seeing it, I BEGGED my friend to sell it to me. (But, it was his Grandfather’s car, after all…and he was going to do it right.) Fast forward a few months later…he accidentally “parked” the Fury ( read: slammed ), between several trees on a winding road, so far into the woods that to this day, we have NO CLUE how he got it that far, once it left the roadway. Of course, he didn’t recall…as he was ASLEEP when it happened…and “woke up” when he was catapulted through the rear window. Luckily, he was unhurt, but the world was now minus one 1965 Plymouth Sport Fury III. I can’t tell you whatever became of the other several hundred thousand. ( Sigh ) I TOLD him to sell it to me…..but, happy we’re still friends to this day though. Hey…every car has a story…right?