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Stunning Survivor: 1960 Plymouth Fury

Some classic cars can tend to blend like a chameleon into the background, while some simply can’t. This 1960 Plymouth Fury Hardtop sits firmly in the latter category because it is a giant of a car that possesses real presence. It is also a rust-free survivor that is in excellent condition and is ready for a new owner to drive and enjoy. It is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding currently sits at $28,201, and the reserve hasn’t been met.

The 1960 model year marked the first year of unibody construction for the Fury. That means that any rust issues have the potential to cause more headaches than if the car were a body-on-frame vehicle. Well, you can breathe a sigh of relief because there are no apparent rust issues with this classic. The owner provides photos of the Fury’s underside up on a lift, and apart from a light dusting of surface corrosion in a couple of spots, there are no worries there. The same would appear to be true externally, with the panels appearing to be in sound order. It is impossible to determine what could be potentially hiding under some of the chrome trim, but with every aspect of the Plymouth looking so good, I think that there is some cause to be quietly confident. The Jet Black paint holds a beautiful shine, and the chrome and trim match this level of presentation. I can spot no issues with the glass, while the whitewall tires add a nice finishing touch to the exterior.

The high level of presentation continues when we take a look around inside the Fury. The upholstered surfaces look to be free of any obvious flaws, while the dash is a thing of beauty. One of the most striking aspects of classics from this era is how much trouble manufacturers went to in order to make vehicle occupants feel special. The interior trim combination of red, white, and black looks striking. All of the shiny metal trim pieces just add to this impression, making this a pleasant place to spend some time while the miles roll away under the wheels. There are no aftermarket additions inside the Plymouth, while the vehicle does feature a factory AM radio.

Buyers were spoiled for choice when it came to which engine to slot under the hood of a 1960 Fury. The 225ci slant-six engine was a new inclusion for that year, but that engine struggled to produce reasonable levels of performance in what is a heavy car. This Fury packs the 361ci “Golden Commando 395” V8, which punches out a healthy 305hp, and as the name suggests, 395 ft/lbs of torque. This car also comes equipped with a 3-speed TorqueFlite transmission, power steering, and power brakes. At 3,900lbs, the Fury is on the hefty side. Even so, this drivetrain combination should allow the vehicle to gallop through the ¼ mile in 15.9 seconds. Frustratingly, the owner isn’t forthcoming with any information on how well the Fury runs and drives. The presentation of the engine bay is well above average, so there’s a good chance that things will be fine mechanically. What he does say is that he holds a significant amount of documentation for the Plymouth. Once again, he doesn’t elaborate on what this is.

The 1960 model year marked a styling “changing of the guard” for the Plymouth Fury. Fins were on the decline, and this was the last year that they were seen on the Fury. This was a styling trend that people either loved or hated. There didn’t seem to be a middle-ground on this feature. One thing is for sure, and that is when you spot an American car with fins, there is not a lot of doubt about when it was built. What makes them more interesting is the fact that while many styling trends are cyclical, fins have never made a comeback. With tightening safety regulations, I doubt that we will ever see them again. That makes this classic the last of its breed. It is also a car that is in impressive condition. Those are just two of the reasons why this 1960 Plymouth Fury deserves serious consideration. I’m sure that you can think of a few more.

Comments

  1. HoA Howard A Member

    This is the 2nd car like this in a week, I thought it was a repeat, but the other one had a blue interior. Going out on a limb, I say both of these cars were repainted the more acceptable black for todays bland people. As a kid, I NEVER remember a black car, except a hearse or the mayor. Black was a sad, depressing color, still is, and people wanted happy blues and reds, which is why I’m sure these were repainted. The other one got 61 comments, so these cars sure hit a nerve. Chrysler always over did everything, I think ’64 was the last year for fins on US cars. I thought they were beautiful, despite doors and trunk lids popping open on big bumps.

    Like 31
    • Skorzeny

      Howard, my father’s ‘64 Impala SS (409/425 hp) was black from the factory, so you must have missed that one. As far as I know, the mayor of Omaha never rode in it, and my dad did not have an affinity for corpses…

      Like 14
      • Miguel

        A lot of cars were black from the factory. If you watch any old TV show you will see them.

        Also you can look up the color chart for just about any car and black is usually there.

        Like 11
    • Greg W

      Howard,

      According to the Chrysler production record I have the car was black with red trim from the factory.

      Like 1
    • LarryS

      Saw a lot of black cars as a kid in the ’50’s and ’60’s. ’60 was the last year of the fins in the full-size Plymouth. Much like for GM. Ford had very small fins in ’61 but they were gone from the full-size cars in ’62.

      Like 2
    • MOPAR Joe

      My grandparents had a 1952 Buick they bought new and it was black.

      Like 2
    • jerry hw brentnell

      this honey makes 60 chevs and fords look Like pug ugly sisters compared to this plymouth wonder somebody on here isn’t whining about the chrome fender skirts whaa!whaaa!

      Like 4
    • Mountainwoodie

      Yup. But it sure is stunning.

      Like 0
    • Stan Marks

      Howard, I’m glad you weren’t around in the 40’s. For the most part, you had a choice of three colors. Black, Brown or Gray.
      Exciting, huh?

      Like 0
    • Donnie Fronterhouse

      My grandfather bought one of these new in 1960. It was black. I don’t recall the interior color though. He traded in a 1958 GC on it. The 60 was supposed to be faster. He was disappointed, the 58 had actually been faster. He used to take both to the drag races at Lodi.

      Like 0
  2. Steve Douglas

    I love the crazy space-age look of this car, sent the link to all my brothers about a week or two ago. My GF said she wouldn’t be seen in it, so a no go for me. She loves my 72 Cad CdV and 63.5 Galaxie coupe tho’, so…

    Like 8
  3. Martin

    Scott at Cold War Motors on Youtube is almost done restoring one. It was a tremendous amount of work. His channel is very entertaining and also informative if you want to learn bodywork.

    Like 14
    • NovaTom

      Sure did it the hard way didn’t he?

      Like 1
  4. chrlsful

    fantastic. This pulls off that style so well. I was hoping for a vertical 3 or 4 row of the bullet or cone shaped tail lights but the designer did way better w/a fin-integrated mono lens! I’m not into 2 dor but again – this one has everything (of the era) goin on ! Nxt to my fav ’50s/60s italian/brit styling (almost a female human form) these type models scream out the history of the day – the Sputnik Era (space race). The “Boys” were home ~ 15 yrs and after winning the War, ready to conquer space.

    If U haven’t yet – visit the site’s Pod Casts (up to 4 of the 30 min variety. Pretty good).

    Like 6
  5. SMS

    Just plain wow! I think this is a first for me. I would be happy just looking at this. Would never have to drive it.

    Like 6
  6. Mike

    Weird, this very car was on BaT last month and “sold” for $43k.

    Like 3
  7. MattR

    I thought I was seeing the same one too Howard. I do prefer the interior on this one. But I would take either. If I am going to go down in flames out here in California, I would like to go down in one of these.

    Like 8
  8. local_sheriff

    As I said when the last ’60 Fury was feautured – IMO this or the ’61 should have played Christine. The ’58 is a sweet, beautiful design – the ’60/ ’61 are indeed beautiful too yet they have such a spooky alien look to them. It’s not for everyone but I love it! 👽

    Like 4
  9. MARGARET BOUCHARD

    I had 1960 Ford Starliner which I loved…..It was lavender…The best color ever…..I would love to have another one….

    Peg

    Like 1
  10. CJM

    May not have been black from the factory, but is there any color it would look BETTER in? I think not! Best looking Plymouth ever made.

    Like 2
  11. David Frank David Frank Member

    I was surprised to see this one with a round steering wheel. Even my “stripy” 2 door post had a square steering wheel with clear sections complete with glitter top and bottom. (Bought in ’66 with a crunched quarter for $100) That 361 was great fun and would “bury” the speedometer without much effort. Surely no one will drive this one like that!

    Like 2
  12. Rick Rothermel

    Neat car, rare new and as a survivor/restoration/classic. The hardtops got all the ‘looks’ in MoPars through that era.

    My dad took a job with Chrysler Aerospace in Huntsville Alabama in 1959, a year later was secure in his job with a raise, so new car time! Employees got an ‘incentive’ for buying new Mopars, but the ‘family cars’ were kinda wierd looking and trimming them to look better cost extra. He and eleven other staffers in his office bought new Pontiacs, and there were so many doing so that the company rented a lot down the street for all the ‘alien’ cars, shuttled the employees back & forth in Chrysler 9-pass wagons.

    Like 6
  13. Lee

    I owned a 1960 Plymouth Belverdere back in my high school days in late 60`s,,a 2 dr. x-cop car with big block 318 and 3 0n the tree..I put a loud muffler on it and ran the hell out of it until it wouldn`t run anymore,,a lot of fun…

    Like 2
  14. SDJames

    Stunning is the right word for this car. Wow.

    Like 5
  15. Mike

    Beautiful car… My grandparents on both sides only drove Mopars! I agree it looks good in black, but I will never own a black car. I am OCD about my cars and couldn’t take the dust an hour after I wash it! Someone is going to end up with this gorgeous head turner!!

    Like 3
  16. Maestro1

    Yes indeed, looks like a stunning example. For Howard: always good to hear from you and my first car, a Chevrolet, was a Black Convertible with
    a white top, which was all the rage in those days. 100 years ago it seems……..
    Everybody stay well and wear a mask. Wash your hands.

    Like 2
  17. Steve

    Lets chop,channel,lower, the body,put some air shocks,French the door handles,French the lights,put a 500 CI fuel injected blower crate motor in with a 5 speed box,custom buckets and a roll cage,roll and pleat the door panels…..Thought that would get all youall going! This should find a good home with interior parking and make it a Sunday driver what a beauty,WOW!
    M. M . lives. leave it as is……

    Like 4
    • K.B.Roadsend

      WHeeew !! good thing I came back and saw the second half of your message .First part had me so upset had to stick a litle pill uner the toungue take a chill pill and let the pain subside .
      Thought you must be one of those of the thought that he Mona Lisa would look better with pink highlight in her hair and a ring in her nose ……..

      Like 3
  18. John D.

    I rode my tricycle that was missing the handgrip covers too close to a black 61 Chrysler in our driveway. It made a nice scratch that I caught the Dickens for.

    Like 2
  19. Tom S.

    Five or ten minutes of looking at this car leaves me feeling like I should smoke a cigarette.

    Like 6
  20. Jon B

    Lee, the old 318 A block wasn’t a big block.
    It had the same bore, stroke and cylinder spacing as the later 318s.
    It had the “polysphereic” heads, aka semi hemi.
    The 67 and later 318s had the thinwall cast block, making it lighter, hence the “LA” designation, meaning, “light A”.
    The big block engines are the B blocks, 350, 361, 383, etc.
    Many people make this mistake.
    I never was crazy about the Forward look cars although when I was a kid we had a 59 Plaza and a 59 Sport Fury in Christine colors.
    This car is stunning but it had to have had a restoration at some time in its past.

    Like 2
  21. R.Scot

    This big beautiful beast of a car with it’s shiny black finish, fins, the “Golden Commando 395” V-8, fins, TorqueFlite automatic, fins, power steering and brakes, and yes, more fins, is definitely the car made for George Jetson’s boss, Mr. Spacely.

    Like 1
  22. Bob

    Absolutely beautiful, if I could afford it, it would be mine. First time a Plymouth swept me up as this one.

    Like 1
  23. David Dietz

    If you grew up in Texas or anywhere where temps got into the high 90’s I doubt you saw many black automobiles. In Yankee Land I saw plenty as a child growing up in the 50-60’s

    Like 2
  24. Joe Harris

    I love this Plymouth, it was a gorgeous design and I still like the fins.

    Like 1
  25. leiniedude leiniedude Member

    Ended:Sep 20, 2020 , 4:48PM
    Winning bid:
    US $21,950.00
    [ 29 bids ]

    Like 0
  26. Dave Bennett

    What a COOL car. I think Ward Cleaver drove one of these on the LITB show. I’m looking t buy one of these. Awesome car! I was 2 years old when this car came out, and I’m no spring chicken lol

    Like 0
    • Stan Marks

      Hey Dave, No one is a spring chicken.
      During the 70’s, when I worked at the studios, in L.A., I was friends with Tony Dow. He was working on a series. During breaks, on the sound stage, to kill time, we would play backgammon between shots. Great guy…..

      Like 0

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