Few cars scream horsepower better than the mid-60s Mopars. Taking a full-sized hardtop like this 1966 Plymouth Fury III and dropping a strong V8 under the hood makes for entertaining performance, and the industrial-strength look and blacked-out paint treatment leave no question that this is a car built for speed.
We're not quite sure what to call the color, because it's a little gold, a little green, a little taupe. Whatever you call it, it looks pretty tough. Of course, the blacked-out trim and matching top (which is textured paint, not vinyl) give it a two-tone look that's very effective, and for a car that's meant to go fast, this one certainly has an intimidating look. The paint is in fair shape, showing a soft shine that comes from time, and if you're used to seeing over-done modern paints, this one is a welcome contrast. The Fury was in the middle of the lineup, and wears the cool cantilevered roof line that defined Chrysler styling in the '60s, so it has a familial resemblance but stands out in a crowd. Tidy panel gaps, cool trim that accentuates the cove along the sides of the body, and, of course, the stacked headlights all give this car a very dramatic look that whispers performance without being too overt about it. There's not much chrome left, with most of it being satin black, and we have to say that it really works well here.
The green and black vinyl interior is all business, and with a bench seat you know the original buyer's priorities were horsepower, not style. The seat covers are obviously new, with diamond-tufted inserts on the seating surfaces and recent carpets on the floors. The door panels might just be original, and they're in good condition, along with the dash pad that shows no signs of distress. A full array of factory gauges flank a cool rectangular speedometer pod and this car sports functional factory A/C, which was rather rare in 1966. The rear bench is in excellent condition, and again uses diamond stitching for some extra style points, and the gargantuan trunk is fitted with a correct mat and full-sized spare.
The 318 cubic inch "Poly Head" V8 makes the kind of fat torque that makes even a big car like this feel fast. It starts easily and idles with a healthy lope that suggests horsepower, not luxury, and it's very cleanly detailed. There's bright red paint on the block itself, which is topped by a set of properly labeled valve covers and a matching air cleaner. A rebuilt Stromberg 2-barrel carburetor handles intake duties, there's an upgraded mechanical lifter camshaft inside, and there's a rumbling Flowmaster exhaust system with tips under the rear bumper. You know it's built for combat with a big aluminum radiator up front, new Bilstein shocks, and a front disc brake conversion. The transmission is a bulletproof 727 TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic feeding an 8.75-inch rear end, so the driveline is a known quantity that's ready to play. It's quite tidy underneath, and the stance is perfect with just a bit of rake. Classic Torque Thrust wheels wearing 215/75/15 blackwall radials complete the vintage performance look.
We love these cars and this one nails the attitude and performance of Mopar in the '60s perfectly. Call today!