91-Year-Old Original Owner: 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury

Even if we are loath to admit it, the time will probably come when we each decide that we no longer wish to slip behind the wheel. We might feel that our reflexes are no longer good enough, or that the cut-and-thrust of modern traffic is overwhelming. That day has arrived for the ninety-one-year-old original owner of this 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury. It is an unmolested survivor that has a few needs, but it is a rock-solid restoration candidate. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Curvette for spotting the Plymouth listed here on eBay in Lafayette, Louisiana. The seller set their price at $14,900 with the option to make an offer.

Introduced in 1965, Plymouth’s Fourth Generation Fury range remained on sale until 1968. This final-year example is the premium Sport Fury variant that has remained with the same owner since the day it left the lot. Tracing its history will be easy, because the seller includes the original Window Sticker, the Special Order Form and Receipt, the Warranty Documents, and the Owner’s Manual. The owner chose to team Midnight Blue paint with a contrasting Light Blue stripe and a Black vinyl top. The condition looks quite good at first glance, though the seller admits it requires a cosmetic refresh. The paint is beginning to look dull, and the vinyl top is splitting and failing. However, it appears that this Sport Fury has avoided the rust issues which commonly plague vehicles from this era, meaning that the restoration shouldn’t involve grinding and welding. The trim and tinted glass look acceptable for a survivor-grade vehicle, and the narrow whitewalls are new.

The seller’s interior images are clear, but potential buyers must “piece them together” to gain insight into the overall condition. That said, things look very positive. Trimmed in blue to complement the exterior, the seller confirms that the driver’s seat has been recovered. The remaining upholstered surfaces are excellent, and I doubt that the back seat has seen much use. The dash and console look impressive for a survivor, but I did notice a developing crack in the pad on the driver’s side. The owner ordered this classic with air conditioning and a pushbutton radio with the optional rear speaker. The A/C is inoperative, but there is no mention of other functional shortcomings.

This Sport Fury won’t be the most potent classic on the planet, but Plymouth focused on a luxurious motoring experience when developing this variant. It features a 318ci V8, a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission, and power steering. The 1968 Fury Sales Brochure quotes an output of 230hp and 340 ft/lbs for the 318, which is pretty respectable for a vehicle of this type. Buyers could up the ante with a 383 or a 440, but the 318 offered an excellent compromise between performance and fuel consumption. The seller indicates that this numbers-matching Plymouth received a recent engine build, but it hasn’t seen genuine action for a few years. It runs and drives, but with a selection of minor mechanical shortcomings, it doesn’t appear to be genuinely roadworthy. The power steering leaks, the starter is sluggish, and the car needs new shocks. However, with those issues addressed, this baby would be good to go.

It’s funny how you look at some classics and are immediately attracted to their styling. Those are the feelings I harbor for this 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury. If the buyer addresses its cosmetic needs, it would be a striking vehicle that would turn heads wherever it goes. It isn’t modified, yet it is inherently striking in standard form. Although the listing statistics look underwhelming at first glance, the fact that thirty people have added the Plymouth to their Watch Lists suggests that there is a pool of potential buyers who like what they see. Do you share those feelings? If so, will you take the next step by reaching out to the seller?