This is incredible! Found this on the Forward Look Forum of forcbodiesonly.com. Thought I’d share it with the CC audience just in case the photos should suddenly disappear from the ‘Net. It’s like the car from the movie Christine–but will it stay original or become another Christine clone?
There’s more information at the link above, and more may be added in the future, but the general gist is the current owner bought it from the man who bought it new. The original owner drag raced the Fury, but he also had a “family car”. He then just parked the fast Plymouth for all these years. Current location is Lordstown, Ohio.
Interior seems remarkably intact!
There it is–15,194 point 8 miles. Note 150 MPH speedometer.
Amazing door panels! All 1958 Furys were Buckskin Beige with matching interior.
From the brochure: “The Third Limited Edition Fury by Plymouth–‘for the man who really loves cars.’ An automobile of extraordinary beauty and performance, this fabulous new Fury surpasses even its distinguished predecessors.”
This is the brand new B-block engine, the 350 cubic inch version rated at 305 hp. Intake has been yanked.
If God cares about old cars, I’m praying that this rare original doesn’t get turned into another Christine. Or maybe you think perhaps it should?
See also: Vintage SCI Review: 1957 Plymouth Fury–The Best All-Around Performance Car Of Its Time?
WOW! Suddenly it’s 1960 (again) as Plymouth proclaimed when promoting 57s, first complete Exner finned fantasies for Chrysler. Thanks for this post. I recall at age ten, visiting (with Dad) a local dealership where I liked a Fury better than the Imperial. Probably because the Fury had more chrome! 😉. LATER, I decided Imperial (especially 61 LEBARON) was truly INCOMPARABLE!
Pretty rare with the B block 350 option. Wonder what happened to that engine that repairs started then stopped. Whatever it was, it created a nice time warp for the rest of the car.
Did you know that Carrie Underwood actually asked permission to use the Christine èffect in her video of TWO BLACK CADILLACS? KING graciously agreed 👍
One of my favorite music videos! The cemetery scene adds alot to it.
That Semi-Hemi’s staggered valves became the model for the Chevy big block (396/402/427/454 in cars) and later the Ford “385” series (429/460 in cars)
This engine is the first year for the Chrysler wedge big block, Sam. It’s a 350, but would soon become the 361/383, etc. The Poly 318 that I think you’re referring to was the Fury engine in ’57 (and might have even been available in ’58, not sure).
I’m with Stephen – the world doesn’t need another Christine clone. Leave it alone!
From what I can gather, the standard Fury engine for both 1957 and 1958 was the 318. The 350 was optional for 1958.
Then, as stated, the Fury became a complete model line for 1959 with the 361 (and later, 383) engines available in both 2- and 4-bbl versions. I think King simply got the year wrong in the book. If he’d have made it a 1959 Fury, it would have been way more accurate since the book proclaimed it a 4-door, of which a Fury was available for that year (and in a shade of red, as well).
And, yeah, keep the feature car OEM. FWIW, I’m pretty sure Christine was not even a Fury, but a Belvedere with the lettering removed. The primary tell is the silver side molding as opposed to the Fury’s gold.
I agree. At the very most, fully restore it. Far too valuable & historic not to. I’ll wretch if I see another bright red “christine”!
The gold (anodized?) trim looks to be intact. Talked to a guy who was restoring one who said that was going to be his biggest problem, as a chunk was missing on his car.
Personally, I wouldn’t change a thing.
I agree. I like the original factory appearance, when the Fury name was attached to a halo car with a model-specific color scheme. As for its current condition, I mean it’s original only once.
Just wow! There are few things I find more enticing in an old car from the 1950’s than a totally original interior in this condition, because the interiors from that era seldom aged or wore well.
I am another vote for leave-it-the-hell-alone. Get it running, get busy with the Meguires and some Formula 409 for the vinyl parts of the interior, and go out for a cruise! I think I would be tempted to have some clear plastic seat covers made and installed just to protect that lovely fabric.
Amazing find Stephen. Thank you. It deserves museum-quality preservation.
Chrysler, still using that basic, space-conserving speedometer layout decades later. Volare/Aspen speedometer shown.
I’d do nothing to the exterior but a good wash-and-polish.
Ditch the narrow white stripes too, but I wouldn’t trust those 1961 tires any further than onto a trailer and off it at the other end anyway.
Leave it alone it doesnt need a Husky and Starch paintjob its beautiful just like that, a good clean and finish installing the engine and its good to go
The Encyclopedia of American Cars shows the fury engine of 1957 to be a 318 cubic inch, the 350 would arrive in 58 and was optional for only Fury.
The special trim was part of the Fury packaging introduced with the 56 Fury and since Furys were limited production the trim is extremely rare.
Fury sales for 56 and 57 were about 1% of Plymouth volume.
It’s a shame there’s corrosion on the bumpers. I wonder if there’s body rust to deal with, too.
Fury sales would DROP in 58 compared to 57 and the 350 was available with fuel injection. Perhaps this Fury had the fuel injection and that would explain the missing intake and why this car was sidelined and never repaired?
If you click through to the thread on the Forward Look Forum, the poster says that the carbs are on a workbench being rebuilt. Nice thought, though!
I was thinking if the car was drag raced the final drive ratio might be unsuitable for road use, like 4.55:1 or something. So it was parked…maybe!
The 1958 350 engine is an odd-duck, a one-year-wonder. Seems strange since the similar 361 was also introduced that year. Why didn’t Chrysler just use the 361 with the 350’s manifold and carbs? Then the 383 and 413 would follow.
I guess it might have just been marketing to get later buyers with a newer, larger engine. Still, seems like the cost wouldn’t be worth the effort. You just can’t beat Chrysler for doing goofy things.
Agree on not turning it into another Christine clone!
Probably BS on the mileage. Most 5 digit odometer car owners think it has never been around, especially when they sell it. Why would the engine be torn half apart on such a low mileage car?
To repaint the intake manifold and rebuild the carbs, as per the owner.
Can’t believe “Ward Cleaver” never got one of these. One “Dick van Dyke”, episode gave the impression “Rob Petrie” drove a “big, Mopar coupe. In a later show “Laura’s” car was a “Mustang covnert”. All the “badging” was removed.
Strange reason to pull an intake
I hope it stays original. Rather amazing survivor condition for a car known to rust when exposed to a wet sneeze.
I’d clean and polish it. It appears the remaining patina would be well within my somewhat limited acceptance range.
Nice, very nice .
I can say definitively that the cloth seat inserts will begin to crumble if sat upon .
A sad thing to be sure but my ’59 Plymouth Plaza stripper had the bench seat with the very cloth intact and it failed in two weeks .
I’d love the paint back to a high gloss shine , wax it and re chrome the bumpers, leave it as is otherwise .
-Nate