Low-Key Daily Driver: 1988 Plymouth Gran Fury
This ’88 Gran Fury looks like a former cop car, but it’s not. That’s because these Plymouths were popular with police departments in the 1980s and 1990s and this one wear dog dish hub caps that enhance that image. We’re told this automobile only has 30,000+ miles and may have only had two owners. It’s in good running and cosmetic condition and just needs a new home. Located in Lexington, Kentucky, this Mopar is available here on craigslist for $5,000. Another interesting tip brought to us by none other than Barn Finder T.J.!
The Gran Fury of the 1980s was akin to the Dodge Diplomat and Chrysler Fifth Avenue. Once a full-size car by 1970s standards, it was downsized not once but twice by 1982. It was the last V8-powered Plymouth with a carburetor and rear-wheel drive when it was discontinued at the end of the decade. Its M-platform was a variant of the F-body used by the ill-fated Plymouth Volare (and Dodge Aspen) of the 1970s, with those cars’ faults removed. It was hard to tell a Gran Fury from a Diplomat as everything, but the badging was the same.
Over eight years, more than 109,000 Gran Fury’s were produced and (likely) a sizeable portion became cop cars and taxicabs. They were reasonably priced and reliable, something that appealed to both groups of buyers. When this auto was purchased new, it had full-size wheel covers and plastic see-through material over the seats, something that Grandma may have added. The seller removed both and the seats underneath are quite nice but are now hidden by generic aftermarket covers.
We’re told this Plymouth spent a lot of time in the garage, which supports the low mileage. The body and paint seem to be in order and the car’s running condition is said to be solid. Everything works, including the radio and cruise control. The engine compartment, sporting a 318 cubic inch V8, could use pressure-washing, and that may be it. With new tires already installed, you could drive this car as-is and hide behind billboards making folks think an unmarked cop car is waiting to give out a speeding ticket!
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Comments
A local car club use to do a show with an engine blow every year. One year they killed a 318 in a car like this. With no water or oil, the engine ran at 4000 rpm for over 20 minutes. By the time it seized, everybody had already wandered off to look at other stuff.
The next year, they did the same with a 302 in a Taurus. It literally ran for about a half a minute.
drove one of these gold and tan for a few years great fuel economy and almost no issues. traded it off to a friend whose family out grew what he was driving.
They weren’t pretty but a now deceased friend used to drive these into the ground and then get into the next one and repeat the process. If I recall correctly, he had a total of 4 or 5 of them. He also had 4 or 5 GM A body muscle cars, all multi carbureted 4 speed cars. The juxtaposition of types of cars always seemed odd to me and I never asked him about it when he was living. Kind of wish I had.
Nice car. Almost bought one in the
early 2,000s but thought better of it
after talking to Dad about it. Dad said
these had not one, but two fuel pressure regulators– one near the carb and one hidden somewhere inside a frame rail. Throw in the Lean
Burn carb, and you have one of the most troublesome setups of all time.
That’s why a lot of folks swapped out
the carb for an Edelbrock or Holley
unit instead. I’d also heard stories over the years that some police spec
cars were ordered with a 440 truck
engine instead of the 318 or 360 units
offered by Chrysler at that time. I’ve
always wondered what it would be like to drive a beast like that. Dad told me that he saw one at an auction
in Texas just before he passed away
in 2003. As for this car, I’d drive it by
a donut shop just to see how many
free donuts I could get.
It’s stunning that they hadn’t gone to EFI by this time. Even Omni/Horizons had it by ’88, this was Chryco’s last carbed car.
I agree, but it’s Chrysler, no big surprise.
anything is possible , but the last year for the 440 was 1978
Always loved these.
Nice looking Mopar. I remember the Highway 1 patrol in the Bronx had these. 360-4 or 318-4 and they where fast always catching those speeder’s 😂. If i had this… the first thing I would do. Ditch the Lean Burn unit!!! They really didn’t work correctly. Replace the distributor with the update one. Change the carb for a better one. Tune up and enjoy it. I like the police looking wheels on it instead of grandpa white walls and full wheel cover!😂 Can’t believe the mileage is that low. My father had a 88 Chrysler 5th Ave. I enjoyed driving it. This one is a fair price good luck to the next owner. 🐻🇺🇸
This is what would have been called, a “plain brown wrapper”. Most police cruisers were fully marked, and a car like this indicated a higher up official or investigator. Not only the end of RWD, but the last passenger car to be made in Kenosha. You can see the truck still says “American Motors”. These trucks dated from the 60s, and were used to transport finished bodies from Milwaukee, to the engine plant in Kenosha. Since this was taken in the late 80s, those trucks were pretty tired. I believe by this time, Milwaukee had closed and the bodies came from Belvidere, a long haul to Kenosha with this truck. As a kid, saw a lot of car bodies go by on these trucks, all the colors of the rainbow. Probably the last, best car from Chrysler.
https://i0.wp.com/www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/8307475684_2e93a30716_h.jpg?ssl=1
Will be gone in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…..
Body looks great for being 35. Love the practical boxy styling for great space and headroom on a downsized sedan. Equipment is excellent with the proven 318 Torqueflite, auto, air and cruise. Someone may have some repairs to get a car srored too long road trip ready but will be blessed with a unique and comfortable entry at car shows, car cruises and on fair weather daily drives.
My very first car was the 80 gran fury a very big car but loved that car and miss it still .I wrecked mine in a rain storm .and I’ve been wanting another one ever since. If I can find one a little bit closer to my spending budget I’ll definitely get it.
Definitely worth the money. You can’t go wrong with an old Mopar like this….remove lean burn system, go through wear and tear maintenance items, clean it up and enjoy it. Wouldn’t think twice.