David writes: I purchased a new1964 Plymouth Fury 383 HP 4-speed in 1964; the Mopar was the first new car I owned. |
My brother also bought a 1964 Plymouth Fury about a month later and it was a convertible. Having always liked his 'vert I started looking for one later in life, when I could afford it. Around 1996, I saw an advertisement for a 1964 Plymouth convertible that was in the process of restoration but the man doing the work faced bad times and needed cash. Consequentially, the wife and I flew off to New Mexico to look at the convertible and buy the car if we liked what we saw. The Mopar was rough but all there. So I made him and offer and he took it. I made arrangements to have the Plymouth shipped to Pennsylvania upon completion of the deal.
This 1964 Plymouth Sport Fury was a Texas car that had ended up in the oil fields and used as a gang car to take oil wranglers to the wells. The man I bought the car from had rebuilt the front end and had started to paint it with rattle cans. The original engine was gone and he had a 1968 383 HP engine under the hood.
Subsequently, I tore the whole car down from bumper to bumper, removing every nut and bolt I could get off. The previous owner had several boxes of parts that I would have to put back on after the painting was done. Lucky for me, I already had bought another 1964 Plymouth Sport Fury five years prior; it was a barn find in North Dakota. I restored that Plymouth so I had a car to find out where the parts went!
I located a correct date code engine in Texas that had just been rebuilt by a friend of a friend. We made a deal and he shipped it off to me via UPS freight. That engine was a 426 Street Wedge bored out 30, Manly forged pistons, 284 Hemi cam, 500 degree lift. 11 to 1 compression. |
The Plymouth was very dirty from the oil fields but that was it. It was amazing how clean the body was, with no dents, rust or bondo. After stripping the Plymouth down I sent the car off to a friend to do the priming and painting. The car was painted, the engine put in and delivered to me to bolt on all the parts that I had gotten ready to put on. New carpet and upholstery, tires many hours later -- ready to roll! Oh, and by the way, the Plymouth still uses the original convertible top, as far as I know. |
After three years of labor and love and the Plymouth fired up. The Flowmasters sounded great with the large exhaust pipes. The Mopar runs great and is pretty peppy.
Only thing I do not like is the Detroit locker rear that the prior owner put in. I would swap someone for a 3:23 limited slip.
This 1964 Plymouth Sport Fury has been shown all over Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan and Florida. The Mopar is admired by all who see the car and has been awarded many, many trophies. After getting tried of going to the shows here in Florida now I only drive in to the cruises and get-togethers. I still love having the convertible top down and cruising around town! |
By the way, as of now this Plymouth is for sale if anyone is interested for a fair price with lots of extra 1964 parts, many NOS.
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