One of the bigger strategic miscues of the automotive world occurred in 1962 when Chrysler Corp. downsized its full-size Plymouths and Dodges. They thought that’s what Chevrolet was doing, but instead it was the launch of the compact Chevy II that the scuttlebutt was about. So, big Plymouth sales tanked in 1962, and the cars were nicknamed “plucked chickens” by Chrysler designer Virgil Exner because of the rushed effort. This 1963 Sport Fury is a rare convertible in that fewer than 4,000 of them were assembled during Plymouth’s comeback campaign. Located in Louisville, Tennessee, this open-air Mopar is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $16,200. A nod goes to “PRA4SNW” for the shiny tip!
The 1963 (and 1964) “big” Plymouths looked less “plucked” than the 1962s thanks to some styling magic. Though still riding on the B-body platform created for the ‘62s, the cars had a bigger appearance that wouldn’t be fully achieved until 1965, when the C-body platform returned for the full-size Plymouths and Dodges. Buyers weren’t exactly taken with the 1960-61 Plymouth Fury, but sales plummeted further to 43,000 units in 1962. The changes in ’63 led to a near doubling of sales to nearly 85,000 big Plymouths. The Sport Fury was the top-of-the-line and mirrored the Chevy Impala SS and Ford Galaxie 500XL.
This Sport Fury looks impressive, at least from a few feet away. We’re told the body is good, but the red paint shows some flaws when you get up close and personal. At least part of the interior has been redone, yet the covers on the bucket seats don’t match the back seat. The carpeting is new, but according to the seller, the canvas top should be replaced. The odometer reads 95,000 miles, which we assume is correct, but it hasn’t been confirmed.
Under the hood lurks a good-running 318 cubic inch V8 with a push-button automatic transmission. The brakes are new, including a disc conversion on the front. The suspension over the front wheels has been renewed, including the shock absorbers. The ignition has been converted to electronic (no more points!), and the alternator and battery are new. The next owner will have to track down a transmission fluid leak.
If the push button works as it should, good deal! Don’t love the seat covers, though, but clean overall. I will say, speaking from experience, transmission leaks can be no fun and turn into a can of worms