The Sport Fury was (temporarily) a one-year product offering from Plymouth in 1959. It disappeared after that but returned in 1962 for a much longer run. You might look at a ’59 Sport Fury as the forerunner to the Chevrolet Impala SS and Ford Galaxie 500XL regarding appointments and performance. This example is said to be a survivor and may have recently been reactivated after a long slumber. Located in Dacono, Colorado, this sweet Mopar is available here on craigslist for $33,000, and is a tip brought to us by T.J.
In 1959, the new Sport Fury sat atop the Plymouth hierarchy over the Belvedere and Fury. It was only offered in two body styles befitting a “sporty” car: a 2-door hardtop and convertible. Cars like this were treated to a new engine, the Golden Commando, displacing 361 cubic inches and 395 ft.-lbs. of torque. It was offered with a 2 or 4-barrel carburetor (the seller doesn’t mention which sits below the air cleaner).
By the definition of “survivor”, this car may check all the boxes, particularly the paint, interior, engine, and transmission. But there are some adjustments that the purists might question. Such as the seals in the V8 and HEI over a distributor. We assume the car has been in storage for a while since the gas tank has been flushed, the carburetor rebuilt, the brakes adjusted, and the seller has installed a new set of tires.
At 62,000 miles (per the seller) or 6,262 (per the odometer), this Mopar looks like it may have just emerged from a time capsule. The Space Age effect is everywhere, from the soaring fins in the back, the hump on the trunk, and the push buttons for the automatic transmission (a Chrysler staple through 1964). We’re told that this dreamboat drives and runs great. It’s one of 17,867 hardtops built in 1959 (plus another 5,990 drop-tops).
One of my favorites !
Me too but 33k with no AC and the top doesn’t even go down. Nuts!
We loved these when new (except the dumb fender skirts), but we were amazed how quickly they rusted into oblivion. You could still get an L Head flat six in 59. Saw many like that.
I think the 06262 reading on the odometer would be 106,262. But for a ’59 Plymouth with over a 100K on it, it sure is in nice shape. Most of these rusted back to mother earth within 10 years. I had a ’59 Dodge Coronet in ’71 and it was more holes than car, wasn’t much left of the interior either. This was very well taken care of. For ’59 the Plymouth got brand new fins, (bigger than ’57 and ’58). I really liked the improvement. This one also has the rare swivel seats. a very desirable car for sure. This was also the last year for full frames, and if like my Dodge, it is really beefy. Mine didn’t have a bad spot on it anywhere. I don’t know about prices anymore, my wife keeps reminding me 1980 is long gone. Good luck to the seller and future owner.
I like how this car illustrates its time, the “Space Age” as Russ says, or maybe the optimism of the country as a whole. The swoopy roof line, the fancy side trim plus the big medallion, the fins, the fake spare tire, the skirts. All kind of “in your face”, yet to me they are positive attributes of the car.
.The skirts need to go, they make the rear fenders look bulbous-never seen this car with skirts.
Maaaan, are those the tallest tail fins I’ve ever seen on a factory car??? Cool car!
Shouldn’t the engine bay match the body color?
Theirs and old painter’s expression I like– ‘If it looks right, it must be right’. And it looks right to me-
Auto makers need to bring back seats that rotate to ease exit for us old folks.
Believe me, they are actually a PIA. I had a beautiful 1976 Malibu classic with them. They were fine to get out of, but the dang things were too long to shut the door. So when you got back to the car, you either had to try and swivel them back out (try that with no weight on them) or get in like any other car without that swivel feature. Now, I’m not sure about the Chrysler seats. Never had the pleasure to try one out.
According to the air filter sticker it has the “Golden Commando engine” : 4 bbl Carter, dual exhaust and 305 HP, the same power as in 1958 but with a single carburetor.
So no 2 x 4 bbl at Plymouth in 1959. They will return in 1960 with the Sonoramic Commando option (Ram induction)
That opening pic of the drivers side looks like Wavy Gravy. Could just be lighting but, bring your magnet.
Back when cars were automobiles. Love the skirts
Exner had to be cribbing the Alfa Romeo BAT cars. Did he ever admit their influence?
I don’t think so.
With help, I blended a rusted out Belvedere convertible with a solid SF hardtop, resulting in a SF cvt. The swivel seats worked great! Forced to sell during the Great Recession, it now lives in the Netherlands.
The car shown is missing seat upholstery “buckles”, and the specked-clear steering wheel has been replaced with one from a lower model.
I would not count this one as a survivor as Eric pointed out the passenger side looks wavy like there is a bit of bondo under that paint along with incorrect steering wheel and HEI seems like it may be a case of But wait there’s more upon inspection
All it needs is a nice, extended continental kit. What? No?
No thanks, this car is as graceful as a swan–without those skirts !
After looking at the pictures on the CL listing, I don’t see any of the problems some of you are discussing. It looks good to me. I would lose the fender skirts.
Holy smokes that is cool. I love the skirts they balance the fins out nicely. I saw one about 16 years ago it had solid lifters very loud but a cool sound. I live in Denver front range I hope to see it at car shows this year.
My high school buddy drug one of these home to Hobson MT. about 1975. Factory black with red interior and the swivel buckets. While he went to Wyoming to visit his real mother, his step mother had it hauled to scrap metal. Never saw it again.