Vehicle Description
The 1950s were a heady time for automobile design in America. The
big three, along with independents like Studebaker and Packard were
locked in a heated battle to win over buyers with increasingly
flashy, futuristic shapes. At Chrysler Corporation, ex-Studebaker
man Virgil Exner was brought in to revitalize the styling
department, which to that point, had been under the auspices of the
engineering team, resulting in staid and boxy designs. Exner spent
the early 1950s working closely with Luigi "Gigi" Segre of
Carrozzeria Ghia. The relationship spawned several extraordinary
European-inspired show cars and production models. By the middle of
the decade, he moved away from the European influence and developed
the so-called "Forward Look" which relied heavily on futuristic
jet-age styling motifs, great soaring tailfins, and dramatic
sweeps. Legend suggests that General Motors got wind of Exner's
revolutionary new designs before they were released and scrambled
to revamp their entire line in response. While Harley Earl and Bill
Mitchell often receive the credit for the era of chrome and fins,
the origins of the design language flowed from the pen of Virgil
Exner. The tagline "Suddenly its 1960!" introduced the new models
in 1957. However, by the 1960 model year, consumer tastes were
quickly changing and the wild looks of the past few years were
making way for more subtle, linear designs. After introducing the
world to the Forward Look, Chrysler found itself behind the curve
as other manufacturers dialed back the extravagant details. The
1960 Chrysler Corporation models offered buyers one last flourish
before the more restrained designs of the coming decade. Beyond the
styling, Chrysler featured torsion bar suspension for superior
handling compared to its rivals, along with a series of powerful V8
engine options, up to the 330 horsepower "SonoRamic" V8. Plymouth's
top-line offering for 1960 was the glamorous Fury Hardtop, as
presented here, in lovely Chrome Green Poly with White accents and
roof. The ultimate expression of the Forward Look, the 1960 Fury is
a dramatic sendoff to the tailfin age. This Fury is a beautiful car
that has never been fully restored, instead, getting select
attention as needed, namely a repaint in the original color and
restored brightwork. The history of this car begins at a Plymouth
dealer in Sandpoint, Idaho. The owner of the dealership ordered a
new car for his wife every year, and this car was her choice for
1960. It turned out that she loved this Fury so much that she kept
it for the next 40 years. Of course, the wife of the dealership
owner couldn't be seen in just any off-the-lot economy car, so her
Fury was loaded with options. Equipment includes metallic paint
accented with a white roof and white sweeps at the front, the
Golden Commando 361 cubic-inch V8 engine, push-button automatic
transmission, deluxe steering wheel, Sky-Hi rear window, "Sport
Deck" simulated spare wheel trunk lid, chrome wheel skirts, dual
mirrors and a deluxe radio with an under-dash RCA Victor record
player. After 40 years with the original owner, the car received a
well-detailed cosmetic restoration in the original colors, taking
care to preserve as many factory parts as possible. In addition to
a good quality respray, the new owner restored the extensive chrome
and brightwork to a high standard. The car presents in marvelous
condition, with lovely paintwork, excellent panel fit, and
attractive chrome. It sits proudly on the road, rolling on proper
bias-ply whitewall tires. Incredibly, much of the original interior
remains intact and in fantastic condition. The first owner kept the
seats covered in clear plastic which preserved the original cloth
and vinyl upholstery in excellent condition. The driver's "Command
Seat" is notable as standard equipment on the Fury. Only the
carpets required replacement during the restoration, which are
correctly done in green nylon loop material, protected in front by
OE rubber floor mats with the Chrysler Forward Look Flookerang
logo. Original door panels, quarter panels, and parcel shelf are
excellent. The dash is a fantastic display of Sci-fi inspired
mid-century design with the optional rectangular Lucite steering
wheel and whimsical instrument pod that resembles a space movie
robot. The factory correct deluxe radio, required to operate the
RCA record player, is completely restored and fully operational.
Incredibly, the record player still works and is designed to be
used on the go. The previous owner proudly reported it doesn't skip
when cruising along! The big 361 cubic inch engine makes 305
horsepower in standard form. The engine in this car runs very well
and presents in excellent condition with factory-correct paint
finishes, decals, markings, and hardware. A robust Torqueflite
automatic backs the engine, operated by push-buttons on the
instrument panel. Thanks to the torsion bar suspension, the Fury
handles particularly well for such a large car. Ride quality is
slightly more firm than its competitors, imparting confidence on
the road. The 75,000 miles shown are believed to be authentic, and
the car presents in very tidy order underneath. Compared to this
car, 1961 models would prove to be significantly more subdued,
appearing hastily redesigned in the face of rapidly changing
consumer tastes. As a result, the 1960 Forward Look Plymouth Fury
represents a high-water mark for the be-finned jet-age era.
Remarkably few examples have survived in such fine condition, and
this car's finely preserved original, and restored components make
it one of the finest of its kind, backed with an award for Best
Plymouth at a Walter P. Chrysler club national meet. With its
outlandish styling, the Plymouth Fury is one of our favorite cars
of the era, and this wonderfully well-preserved example is one of
the best we have had the pleasure to offer.
