We recently featured the last of the full-size Dodge convertibles, a 1970 Polara, for our Pick of the Day. But what about Plymouth’s final full-size ragtop? Currently, none are listed on ClassicCars.com but we did find the next best thing: a 1971 Plymouth Fury II four-door sedan listed for sale by a dealership in Lillington, North Carolina. (Click the link to view the listing)
In 1965, when Chrysler Corporation introduced the C-body, the trim levels used a novel (if unimaginative) approach: Fury I, Fury II, Fury III, and Sport Fury, with Fury VIP joining in 1966. An all-new C-body series appeared for 1969, with the pecking order maintained. For 1970, the Fury was given a heavy facelift and now featured hidden headlights for the Sport Fury, a trim level that now included the Sport Fury GT and S/23. As the largest member of Plymouth’s Rapid Transit System, the Sport Fury GT received a standard 350-horsepower 440 and could be ordered with the 440 six-barrel. If that was too much for you but you appreciated the full-size performance image, there was an option for the Sport Fury called S/23 that gave you much of the same equipment (including strobe stripes, sill moldings, Road Wheels, fatter tires, and anti-sway bar) paired with a standard 318 V8 (with options up to the 383 four-barrel). There also was a promotional Fury II-based Gran Coupe that included paisley vinyl trim outside and inside, plus hidden headlights. The Fury VIP was replaced by the Brougham Package for regular Sport Furys.
For 1971, the Fury series was given a slight facelift featuring new grilles and matching textured taillights for the Fury III and above, with the Sport Fury specifically featuring a urethane applique on the rear bumper. More significantly, Plymouth touted the big differences between the Fury and competitors in its price class: Torsion-bar suspension, Unibody, and new-for-1971 Torsion-Quiet Ride, which placed rubber isolators in strategic positions. Aside of the elimination of the Sport Fury S/23, the roster remained the same. A new 360 two-barrel joined the option list, with options up to the 335-horsepower 440 four-barrel being available aside of the Sport Fury GT having a standard 440/370.
The Fury II, which was available as a two-door hardtop or four-door sedan, featured a standard cloth and vinyl bench seat, carpet, and not much else. Fancier option such as power or bucket seats required one to step up to the Fury III or above though, interestingly, a sunroof was available provided one specified the required vinyl roof.
This “GY9” Tawny Gold 1971 Plymouth Fury II four-door sedan is not a car you often see anymore. Only 20,098 were built in total, and it seems most of them have been disposed of over the years. “The grill, drivers outside mirror, door handles, drip rail moldings, body side moldings, emblems, hubcaps, whitewall tires, wipers, glass, rubber & felt, window trim, side marker lights, hood trim, headlights, taillights are all good,” says the seller. “Door handles, dash cluster, factory radio, dash switches, door sill plates are all like new,” (s)he adds. “The carpet is faded. But it really looks good inside.”
Powered by the base 318 V8 and equipped with air conditioning, this Fury II is a relic of America’s roads, a cheap Plymouth sedan that worked nicely from Point A to Point B. We bet that when Point B is your local drive-in, the $13,500 it costs to buy this Mopar can be made up by the number of bodies you can smuggle in.
Click here for this ClassicCars.com Pick of the Day.
