Describing the condition of any classic car as “mint” leaves a seller open to criticism. It doesn’t matter how well that vehicle presents, close inspection will almost invariably reveal flaws preventing the car from achieving perfection. However, that is the term used for this 1968 Plymouth Fury III Hardtop, and the supplied photos tend to provide a strong case for the claim. It rolls on aftermarket wheels, but the seller includes the factory items for those focused on originality. It needs a new home, with the seller listing it here on Craigslist in South St Paul, Minnesota. They recently dropped their price from $22,500 to $20,500, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting it.

When assessing this Fury III, the best place to start is to consider the seller’s claims. They rate the Mist Turquoise paint as a 9.5/10, and that comment seems fair. There are no signs of blemishes or other problems, and it cloaks laser straight panels. The Black vinyl top looks excellent, raising the question of whether it has undergone any form of restoration. The seller doesn’t mention it, so if it is 100% original, its condition is impressive. Many American vehicles from this era were prone to rust problems, regardless of the manufacturer. This is true of the Fury III, but this car has avoided those traumas. The seller states it spent its life in California and never received any repairs on that front. The trim sparkles as nicely as the paint, with the glass looking flawless. I’m probably not alone in not liking the aftermarket wheels, but the owner includes the factory items for those wishing to recapture this classic’s original appearance.

If a potential buyer wishes to gain an insight into the life a classic has led, examining its interior is a pretty good opening strategy. Abuse and neglect generally show, but this Plymouth’s interior looks good. There are no signs of torn upholstery or other problems and no evidence of UV damage. It isn’t perfect because the wheel shows rim wear, and some of the bright trim on the dash has deteriorated. However, for a survivor-grade car, it is very acceptable. Someone fitted a CD player into the space usually occupied by the factory radio, and they will have cut the dash in the process. That makes reversing the change more difficult, but it could be done. It isn’t loaded with items like power windows or cruise control, but the factory air conditioning will be welcome once summer appears again.

Plymouth offered 1968 Fury III buyers a wide array of engines, commencing with a 225ci six that produced a modest 145hp. Coupled with a three-speed TorqueFlite, it covered the ¼-mile in 20.1 seconds before hitting 98mph. However, many buyers craved more, as did this car’s original owner. They combined the 383ci V8 with the TorqueFlite, adding power steering and a dual exhaust. Instead of having 145hp under their right foot, the driver had 290hp at their disposal. Naturally, performance improved dramatically. Forget 20.1 seconds and 98mph because this car should deliver 16.3 seconds and 123mph. That’s not bad for a classic tipping the scales at 3,926 lbs. The seller states its odometer reads 87,000 genuine miles, but they don’t mention verifying evidence. They say it runs and drives perfectly, making it ready to provide a new owner with immediate classic automotive gratification.

Plymouth sold 309,517 examples of the Fury across all derivatives in 1968, with 60,472 buyers handing over the cash for a Fury III Hardtop. That didn’t make it a particularly rare car when new, but time has taken a high toll on that figure. If I were to mark this Fury III harshly, I would say its condition is not mint. However, it is better than most examples in the current market. The seller’s price is highly competitive, but it raises an interesting point. A brief online search uncovered this car on another site for $25,495. That demonstrates the importance of buyers performing their homework because that is a substantial price difference. Therefore, if this classic is on your radar, pursuing it via the Craigslist advertisement could be your best first move.