These ex-municipal vehicles are favorites of mine, especially when they’re as cheap as this 1966 Plymouth Fury wagon here on craigslist. The seller is looking for $2,000 for this non-running project, which may still be a touch high. I say that because I’d want this to go back to original condition, red paint with lettering on the door and all the sirens attached. How would you restore this former fire chief’s wagon?
The Fury served as a fire station vehicle in the great state of Mississippi. The seller claims it still has all the wiring hook-ups in place for the requisite lights and sirens, which should make at least one part of my planned conversion easier. Of course, you still have to track down all of the emergency equipment in order for it to be period-correct. For whatever it’s worth, the car has NOS taillights installed, which seems like an awfully random component to replace.
The engine is already in a state of disassembly to prepare for a big-block swap that never happened. Fortunately, the interior still appears in nice shape based on the lone photo provided. The carpets look great, as does the OEM steering wheel. The seller notes that this Fury from the factory had heavy-duty suspension components, a typical upgrade for police and fire vehicles. It also has front disc brakes and factory dual exhausts. Not a bad spec sheet for a fire chief, if you ask me.
Here’s a shot from the Raleigh-Wake Forest Firefighting blog of a local fire station in the late 60s. From the Plymouth fire chief’s car to the American LaFrance pumper truck, there’s an awful lot of attractive vintage tin in this picture (especially so if you’re a boating fanatic!) This is exactly how I’d want this Fury wagon restored, sirens and loudspeakers attached with bright red paint and gold door lettering, with the original station’s name spelled out. If only today’s municipal vehicles were as attractive as the ones of yesteryear.
How would I restore this? There’s only one way to restore anything. ‘Restore’ means to take it back to factory original or, in this case, factory delivered. And this great car with it’s beautiful RED interior…! WOW.
For me. I would not restore it to the original fire engine red with all the trimmings, Unless I was only going to drive it in The Santa Clause parade or going to the Fireman’s Ball.
I would much rather install that big block the present owner never got around to doing. Keep the rally wheels already on it. And likely a much nicer re paint in a course metallic teal color including the door jams and roof this time, Tint out the windows. And drive it every day as a sleeper wagon !!!
Maybe down the road install a 4 speed standard with a Hurst shifter.
Throw a good running EFI motor in it and drive the wheels off it the way it sits.
Did anyone notice this is a Fury II? The Fury III was the most common, had a nice interior, etc but the IIs were used as taxis, etc. On a trivia note, I had a ’66 Fury II station wagon for about 6 months my first year in college. Sold it when I found a low mileage ’56 Nash which was a BIG improvement. The Fury had a 318 that would go through a quart of oil every 75 miles and did NOT handle like a boat. No, it was more like a fully loaded landing craft on D-day. Yeesh, what a car… ^_^
I tend to agree with Dave. These cars were spec’d out with heavier than already bullet-proof mechanicals, they are always a good buy. It’s already pretty clean, and I like 60’s wagons, just not looking like a fire chief’s car. I like the 4 speed idea too!
Nahh!!! Not me..