A Roaring Fury: 1965 Plymouth Fury Convertible
One of the ad campaign slogans for the 1965 Plymouth lines was “The roaring ’65s.” I have no idea what that means, and I can’t imagine that any potential buyer would be moved to purchase a 1965 Plymouth Fury convertible because the manufacturer said it is “roaring.” Is it supposed to remind a buyer of the “Roaring Twenties?” Maybe some of our readers have some thoughts on this. The Plymouth ad I found for this car emphasizes its luxury features, while reminding readers that Plymouth is “still solidly in the low-price field.” All the people illustrated in the ad are having fun, but were the buyers for this car young folk music lovers? Would you really drive this car onto a beach?
Plymouth offered a wide range of cars in the Fury line – I, II, III and Sport Fury. This drop top is for sale here on craigslist in Waterbury, Connecticut appears to be a line topping, very desirable Sport Fury convertible. The seller says it is an all original, barn find. It looks like it is riding low, but maybe that is an optical illusion produced by the optional fender skirts.
According to the seller, it is equipped with a stock, “untouched” 383 cubic inch engine.
As the photographs illustrate, the interior is in exceptionally good original condition. It’s got the console and bucket seats that were standard on the Sport Fury that year.
This photo shows the odometer reading 47,801 miles.
The exterior photographs are all taken from a distance, so it’s difficult to figure out if the body is solid or has had any rust repair. If this is a northeastern car, even with low miles, it is likely to have some rust damage lurking.
But overall, this is a very clean looking car that does appear to be original and well kept. Back bumper looks like it needs straightening, but the front bumper and grille looks terrific.
Plymouth sold only 6,272 Sport Fury convertibles in 1965. With an asking price of $12,500, if this car checks out, it is actually a bargain at this price, and the seller might even take less, now that summer is over. Low mileage original convertibles from this era are fantastic collector cars that you can drive on a daily basis. I hope someone among the Barn Finds readership has the cash and the space for this car. It’s a beauty.
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Comments
I think the marketing dept. was trying to mimic the “Roaring Twenties”. Playing both on fun and a roaring engine. I have to pass on convertibles as they can only be enjoyed about 2 months out of 12 in My area. Nice find though.
Yes, there was a tremendous amount of nostalgia in the mid-1960s targeting the WW2 generation (then raising children who were about to become adults) for periods of time much earlier – including the “Roaring Twenties.” Remember, Untouchables was on TV during this period of time (1959-63). The ad art direction is solidly pre-psychedelica, hip-modern stuff that you’d see in any good Dave Barry MAD Magazine spoof of the time. Total “folk” hipster stuff with the banjo, straw hats and the like – think Kingston Trio era, before the British Invasion eradicated that stuff from everyone’s memory. Great art direction on that ad! (You can tell what I do for a living LOL.)
I liken today’s electronic age to yesteryear’s industrial age. Every generation of squirrels have to find their nuts (acorns), lol, to survive and to progress.
Love these old ads! Wonder how the hipsters got out of the car, got the groovy instruments out, and all got to the passenger side of the Plymouth without leaving footprints in the sand? As for the car, I really like ’60’s converts, especially with buckets. If it’s not rotted, it seems like a decent car.
Sorry, I just have to correct this. Dave Barry was a humorist of more recent vintage. I like where you were going with this, but it was Dave Berg who did the Mad magazine pieces.
An almost identical ’65 Fury convertible was used as the pace car for the 1965 Indianapolis 500.
I saw a same year Fury hardtop equipped with a factory 383 factory 4-speed with the original Hurst shifter and console. I remember how massive the console was being wide and angling up to the underside of the dash.
My Dad had the hardtop version of this with a red interior…it was his favorite car. He followed it with a 67 Fury convertible, that he didn’t like nearly as much.
Got a poxy after market shifter
1965 Sport Fury convertible paced the Indy 500 Mile Race that year – so the “roaring” referred to the race track. The fender skirts are standard, not optional. This car matches the pace car convertibles – white with white top and blue interior. Pace Car replicas were sold by a lot of dealers – the decal package was shipped in the trunk for local application, so this car may have been sold as a Pace Car replica without having the decals in place. Engine also matches the pace car – big block 383. Only thing missing is the pace car plaque on the dashboard.
The lines make it look fast while sitting still.
the 65 fury shifters were flat like this one not round like the 66s. it does look like a b&m don’t it. mabey chry. should sue b&m
Chrysler used Hurst shifters on their cars from ’64 until the late 60’s. They then switched to Foxcraft for a few years until enough complaints were received. Chrysler then went back to Hurst.
It is a bit of a low rider. Looks like it may be intentional. Those are easy to drop, crank down the torsion bars and use adjustable shackles in the rear. Then again it may be sagging from age. A new set of leafs and back, with just a tad over arched, new, or crank up the existing torsion bars in front, add appropriate wheels and tires then you have a nice weekend cruiser or Fair weather daily driver. The skirts need to go though..too stodgy looking. As long as there is no rust, these cars are simplicity itself to maintain or restore, this particular car has a lot going for it. You could restore it or make is custom, hop up the driveline repaint the white, maybe add appropriate painted stripes or accent’s or go fully wild with a different color scheme and build the motor to the max. This car is oozing potential especially since its already a big block car..
We own this car now! Ask me anything!