Looking like it’s right out of a brochure photo shoot, this 1968 Plymouth VIP two-door “Fast Top” is one gorgeous car and it appears to be in equally gorgeous condition. As Plymouth’s top model in this era, it came in a four-door hardtop or this unique body style. The seller has it posted here on craigslist in Mission Viejo, California and they’re asking $15,999 or best offer. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Tony P. for the tip!
Speaking of brochures, a 1968 Plymouth brochure says this about the VIP: “This year’s VIP is elegant in stance and stature, 17-3/4 feet of graceful persuasion.” How a 1980s wrestler never used the name Graceful Persuasion is beyond me, but they’re right about this beautiful design. That sweeping, sloping fastback, which Plymouth called Fast Top, really adds some flair, as do the small rear fender skirts and those great wheel covers. The Fury Sport offered a two-door hardtop sedan or notchback, another great body style.
Here’s the real money shot, in my opinion. The planes in the background are a very nice touch, well done, seller. I could see a 1960s pilot arriving to work in this car. You can see that the louvers under the rear window, a one-year experiment, were gone by 1968. They supposedly exchanged the interior air four times every minute at 60 mph but they reportedly didn’t work as well as they had hoped. I’m sure that those of us in snow country would have enjoyed much more rust due to those louvers, too. Mission Viejo, CA doesn’t typically experience either snow or rust, although it’s close to the ocean with its saltwater, so there’s that.
The seller says that this car has zero rust and it sure looks fantastic. It could be from having had one repaint, and as with most craigslist ads, we don’t get enough photos, but they did include an engine photo so all is right with the world. We don’t see the back seat but the front bench seat appears to have been recovered, and they do say that it has a new interior. It looks great as does everything else inside that I can see. I’m guessing that the trunk is also nice and solid. The “Safe/Flight” dash is a nice feature and the seller shows a very aeronautic banked-turn view of the gauges at night, a very nice touch.
The engine compartment looks clean (was almost everything painted matte black?) and it’s the home of a Chrysler Corp 383-cu.in. OHV V8. It would have had between 290 and 330 horsepower, depending on the version and carburetor, which has been upgraded according to the seller. The seller says it drives great and there’s no mention of the factory AC, whether it’s working or not. Hagerty is at $13,000 for a #3 good-condition car and $20,000 for a #2 car. How much would you pay for this VIP given its condition and those two values?
I don’t believe Mother Mopar used black paint in the power barn, unless it was a black car, of course. Fender tops here should be green. Love it.
That’s what I thought, thanks, Rex! I was hoping you’d know that since you’re the guru of this era of Mopar.
The engine compartment in ANY Mopar should be the body color. And that plain-looking front seat doesn’t exactly shout “VIP”! Even as a solid-looking CA black plate car I wouldn’t pay much more than $10K because a lot of things need to be corrected.
And it appears whoever applied that black paint got a little sloppy and spattered it all over the air cleaner!
Maybe an over-zealous application of POR-15 in the engine bay?
The upholstery work is unfortunate. The VIP came with pleated seats in upscale cloth/vinyl or all vinyl. The seats in this car would be at home in a taxi cab.
Rex is correct. The engine compartment should be body color.
Very nice car, nonetheless.
The interior looks to have covers over the Very Impressive Pretty original seats. Overall the VIP was a Very Important Plymouth. The 2 door was a sweeping beauty. Giving Caprice and LTD some stiff competition, it unfortunately didn’t attract enough buyers. The 69 Fuselage design would not have been as impressive as the 67 and 68 even IF there had been a 69 VIP. This Plymouth (except seats) is really a Plymouth Rock! 🏆
I thought something was odd when I saw those seats too. You’re right, the seats are more suited to a Checker cab. LOL!
And I checked, there Was a 69 VIP, but to me NOT a Very Impressive Plymouth. 👎. Once again Great Minds……? 👍
General comment. Looks like GM didn’t learn a lesson from Chrysler and went ahead and put the rear exhaust vents on the deck lids of their ’71 full size cars. Same result.
To this car, green and black always go together. Add that to the roof line, a/c, a fresh interior, clean dash, & the wheel covers. As a GM guy, I’ve always thought the ’67 & ’68 Fury’s were cool looking cars.
Given the Ca. location, I would still like to see the underside and the trunk simply because all of us here havevseen a dry climate car be ruined through wet storage. And to Rex’s comment, clean up the air cleaner top!
Nice, I love the hubcaps! I wish I could buy it!
EGADDS, I have a fully optioned rust bucket one I bought in 1987. The VIP, at least my unit has leather interior. This car is great. It needs the power windows, locks, seat, cruise control, am fm, tilt telescoping column, ac , turbine wheel covers, autronic eye, and then mine needs to go to the shredder. Same air cleaner and engine 383 magnum. The car would roll but has really rusty quarters. The rest is ok. I like the colors on my unit better as it was maroon and black. I don’t think I have ever seen another 2 door VIP in the years I have had mine and this one is extremely nice.
Oh my this is nice … yes I would pay that tab.
Have paid more for much, much less.
This is beautiful. This would have been the way to go.
That price seems low but I am no expert – need more info on underneath and driveline but this is a gem.
That thing is sweet. Worth every cent.
How many 17 foot garages out there these days?
Beautiful 68 VIP but the front seat covers are from a police car. My father has a 68 Fury Police car same cover in gold. No shots of rear seats. Under the hood would be green like the outside paint. I wonder if this was ordered with the commando V8 the 383 hood ornament is missing on top of the hood in the middle out front.. I still wouldn’t mind owning this since 68 Fury was the first car I drove. Good luck to the next owner. 🐻🇺🇸
Wow, it is totally screwed. Just look at that front seat. It ruins it for me. What were they thinking?
Slip covers!
If I had to have a Mopar, I wouldn’t stop at a Plymouth or a Dodge. No, Chrysler used the same roof, so give me the red 300 two door hardtop with chrome Magnum 500s, just like the one in the showroom brochure.
https://www.madmenart.com/vintage-cars/chrysler-300-1968-what-are-you-waiting-for/
My first new car was a 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury so the photo of the dashboard really brought back memories. I liked that it was lit from above so all the switches and controls were illuminated for night driving. A lot of toggle switches were used. I recall arriving home one rainy night and as I switched off the headlights, wipers and heater fan, my travelling companion said, “This is just like shutting down a 747”.
This is a nice car but the seats ruin it for me….the original VIP cloth seat material was beautiful, with strands of silver thread woven throughout.
Otherwise, a nice car.
I’d guess this is a 330 HP car, with the dual snorkel air cleaner, dual exhausts and the exhaust manifolds. Rear axle gearing should be 2.94:1 (I have a dealer brochure around here somewhere to go with the rusting hulk of a 68 Fury III convertible) that’s going to be scrapped.
Aside from the front seat, this beauty should be a very nice cruiser that hauls 6 comfortably with their luggage. Check for front disc brakes and cruise control in this upscale Plymouth.
My neighbor used to by dodge Taxi’s that had the same kind of seats
The seats should match the beautiful door panels, a VIP is not a police cruiser
As mentioned this appears to be the upgraded 383. The driver side exhaust manifold,dual exhaust and twin snorkel air cleaner all point to this being a 4 barrel set up ? Love these old Mopar barges. I had a 69 sport fury conv.loaded 383 car I wish I never sold.
I agree with everyone regarding the front seat cover. I was 18 when this car came out and remember the cloth and vinyl seats pretty well. I wonder if correct reproduction seat covers are not available from SMS or anyone else so the owner went with this. What do you all think?
I would guess the owner was waiting for a loan to come through so he could afford to buy the original fabric from SMS.
If U can afford the labor to cover the seats, U can afford the correct cloth from SMS. Otherwise, you’re just throwing away the money spent on the labor since it will need to be done over. It would cost an extra $300-$400 for the correct cloth, which would’ve been money well spent, instead of f-ing up the whole thing.
4
It’s not a virgin as listed and waaaaay off on the price…..