Here’s an image that should be both familiar and different for those who remember the days when these were around. Familiar, as many of these Furys often served as fleet vehicles, be it for police, rentals, or other such purposes — just as this group is doing in GCC taxi livery. Different, because the desert surroundings aren’t anywhere near the US Southwest, but rather they’re in one of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries of the Arabian Peninsula. A service still available as the GCC Taxi Service, and which runs between Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Oman.
So, nope, none of these Furys are anywhere close to Hazzard County, or the LA of CHiPs.
Now, what’s the GCC Taxi Service? Well, beats me. Or it did, when I first came across the image. And no, I’m not doing a promo for them, but that’s what happens when you go into one of these rabbit holes.
Here’s the GCC Taxi Service’s mission, as they tell on their rather professional website and IG/FB pages:
“Reliable taxi services for cross-border trips from Qatar to Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Sharjah. Enjoy comfortable travel with professional drivers.”
Clearly, the age of late seventies Plymouths doing those duties is long gone. The image above is taken from their FB page and shows some of the current choices. Very competently up to date, but sorry, no old Plymouths. If you wanted to visit any of the GCC nations in Fury style, you’re out of luck.
Talking about the region, a few months ago, we ran a piece featuring recent finds in Dubai by Cohort contributor riveranotario. One thing missing from that earlier piece is that the cars, from the fleets to the civilian ones, are generally GCC-spec. Understandably, especially engineered to withstand the region’s extreme temperatures, sandy conditions, and harsh environment.
Nowadays, upgrades include enlarged radiators (if ICE powered) and enhanced cooling systems. Further mods include enhanced air filters to guard the engine and cabin from sand and dust intrusion. Additional rust-proofing protects from the region’s coastal salty air, and lastly, superior air conditioning is installed (do I need to elaborate?)
That’s today. But how did it work back in the day of these GCC Taxi Furys in the image? Hard info to track, but well, no matter. As a previous CC post told, these B-Bodies were among the most abused cars in history. Harsh conditions in foreign nations?
Tough, but not as tough as the backroads of Hazzard County.
Related CC reading:
1977-78 Plymouth Fury – Raw Determination
Curbside Classic: 1975 Plymouth Fury Sport – Suddenly It’s 1962
Who would want to drive from Doha to Dubai when it is an affordable commuter flight? Nothing to see between the two cities except a vast landscape of sand and gravel. No picture ops unless you like camels and and don’t try to take a picture of an oil complex and get caught…trust me.
True, but I like the desert because it`s clean.
Great picture! I’m going to guess the picture was taken in Dubai because in searching other period shots, I’ve seen other Dubai taxis and commercial vehicles with similar-looking bright-blue license plates. But that’s just a guess.
I do wonder if these were regular taxis, or whether “Driver Service” implied something else – whether fixed route taxis, or a specific long-distance service between cities or GCC nations. Regardless, this is a terrific find!
I’m not fretting over the loss of a few old Plymouths, but I would like the option of GCC spec for my next car. Better cooling inside and out. Better air filters. Better rust prevention. Sign me up!
In return, you will probably forego a heating system.
More likely, you’d take this service if you worked at one of the Saudi Aramco expat compounds on the Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia.
I almost took a job for Aramco to help implement an electronic medical record system at the Aramco hospitals, in a joint venture with Cleveland Clinic. The pay was crazy but definitely less freedom than working in Dubai, which some folks in my field had a chance to. The main reason I didn’t go is that Saudi Arabia can be weird about letting expats come and go, and also because I learned that part of Saudi Arabia is HOT and HUMID.
I mention this because I was told that if I wanted to take a weekend in Dubai, that it was advised I have a driver despite being male. They said it was inexpensive and that the drivers were very accommodating through multi-state driver service. I suspect it was this, unless Aramco had their own drivers, which is a distinct possibility.
Interesting .
I too love the open Desert but have little interest in visiting the sand box .
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-Nate