Vehicle Description
1959 Plymouth Sport Fury Convertible
Imagine a hot summer night, crickets chirping, cicadas rubbing
their wings in search of some action, and the sounds of the
Phillies coming over the radio. Intimate descriptions emanating
from the melodious voice box of Frank Sims as he belted out every
pitch by Cookie Rojas. Then there were the ever-present ads between
innings which I can remember the tag lines to this day..."Mabel!
Black Label" .."Scheafer is the one beer to have when you're having
more than 1" ..and the "Take the wheel of your automobile and head
on down to Ideal.... My father would have that radio glued to his
ear under the stars on our back porch while we would sit there and
discuss...well everything, those were the days.
For consignment, a great memory from the late 1950's in the form of
a 1959 Plymouth Sport Fury Convertible. It has the makings of a
great car, and indeed is actually one. Having undergone a
preservation in the early 2000's and bathed in a respray of the
original light blue hue, some dimpling on the chrome trimmings,
push button transmission a-la the Jetsons, and a snazzy two tone
interior. This car embodies all of Exner's Forward Look design cues
but remains somewhat conservative when lined up next to its sister
model from Dodge. A sweet spot if you will, purchased new by our
consignor's father and enjoyed, used, maintained and shown between
2004 and 2010, this 1 family owned drop top is waiting right here
at Classic Auto Mall, awaiting someone to snap it up, and head on
down to "Ideal" (Grocery getter?!)
Exterior
The beneficiary of a preservation, we note a no rust body with good
gaps, and straight steel. This has been formed onto the
distinctively Plymouth Forward Look, longer, lower, and an airy
cabin with a split grille and the age old Mayflower emblem smack
dead center. All of this chrome is flanked on either side and above
by eyebrowed dual round headlights. A long hood and flanked by
straight front quarters with a thin starting trim spear flashing
rearward to mid door like the tail of a comet (but it's a Fury!).
This spear continues on the rear quarter and mimics the fin above
with stainless steel highlighting the dimpled trim insert before
wrapping around the tail of the car and meeting the opposing side's
trim. The rockers also have a highlighting trim which also runs
wheel well to wheel well. A thin stainless spear highlights the
gently rising fins before meeting up with chrome caps which cover
the canted fin ends. Bumpers are looking fab, however we note a
ripple in the center of the driver's bumpers, and on the back, dual
curved downward tailpipes push exhaust gases into the environment.
Yet another highlight of this car is the Exner faux spare tire on
the trunk lid, affectionately known as the toilet seat trunk. Thin
oval multi-lensed taillights bring up the rear and covering the
expansive passenger's compartment is a nearly new blue canvas top
complete with a clear plastic rear window. 14-inch steel wheels
with ventilated covers are on all 4 corners and are wrapped in
older thin whitewall radials.
Interior
If we drop the top, we are greeted by a beautifully restored
interior bathed in two tone blue vinyl bolsters with tuck and roll
inserts in blue with black checked broadcloth. This is all bordered
by white piping and shows as dual front buckets with a center fold
down armrest, and a long and luxurious spacious rear bench. Of note
is a swivel driver's bucket seat to ensure traversing the huge
original blue and transparent yellow steering wheel is a breeze.
The door panels use the white tuck and roll only in horizontal form
with more blue smooth surrounds and a white armrest. Pulls and
cranks are excellent and very 50's jet age black and gold
broadcloth provides the border for the chrome top trim of the door.
For the dash, which is its original design, but looking great in
its chromed coverings, all original instruments, and the push
button transmission. A smooth blue dash front works its way over to
the passenger area and becomes a tuck and roll padded vinyl topper
and sits next to this chromed panel which is in front of the
driver. Below a metal aluminum strip houses the wiper and headlight
knobs, ignition, ashtray and the factory AM radio. Faded blue
carpet is reserved for the floors, and inside the convertible is a
black lining.
Drivetrain
Now showing under the hood within the nicely preserved engine bay
is a rebuilt in 318ci V8, topped by a 4-barrel carburetor, red
valve covers, and a red air cleaner housing, yellow high voltage
spark wires, and a red capped power steering reservoir. Power
produced goes back to a Torqueflite pushbutton automatic
transmission. On the rear is a 3.31 geared rear axle assembly.
Undercarriage
The front-end underneath has an independent torsion bar suspension
system with power drum brakes. On the rear is a leaf spring
suspension and more power drums. All is solid underneath with a
nice mix of patina, surface rust, and gray factory undercoating.
Otherwise, all is solid, including the flooring, rockers, heel/toe
boards, and full perimeter frame and X-bracing. Dual exhaust is on
to handle the exhale and is equipped with stock style replacement
mufflers.
Drive-Ability
After a warmup, it was push the button and go! Good acceleration, a
slight miss at idle, and a decent cruiser, particularly with the
top down. A number of issues crept up during our drive, those being
the power top does need some help going back up, the fuel gauge is
inoperable, the driver's door won't open from the inside, the front
suspension feels loose and has a tendency to creak and pop, the
turn signals only work intermittently, and the car pulled right
during our panic stop test but then pulled left after the power
brake pedal was released, a sign of the brakes hanging up.
A nice example of a 1 family owned car, work done, rust free, and a
convertible. Beautiful interior in two tone early 50's colors with
that piping, and a well preserved engine bay with the rebuilt
original engine. Powder Blue with shiny chrome trimmings, side
spears and fins to the moon...now there's something one does not
see every day.
VIN DECODE
M295103921
M-1959
2-Plymouth V8
9-Sport Fury
5-Newark, DE Assy Plant
103921-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
