Mel writes: My fascination with 1962 Mopars started in 1962. In the Spring of 1962 I read an article that Chrysler was developing a Max Wedge. I went to the local dealer in Arlington Heights, Illinois and said I wanted to order one. He had no idea what it was. I showed him the magazine article and he drew a blank. Said he would have to make some phone calls. In a few days he called me and said he could place the order but had no details about pricing or delivery. But I had to put a deposit down. A whole $50 to order a Plymouth Savoy Max Wedge. So I did.
The Plymouth arrived after Memorial Day and I drove 250 miles on the street and then raced the Mopar the balance of the season at US 30 in Indiana, and Union Grove, in Wisconsin. Best time: 12:88 at 116 mph; a little behind the quickest 1962’s running 12:50’s. The racing season ended and the Mopar was put in storage. By year end, we found out our first born was on the way and due around July 1963. The Max Wedge had to go. It did in the Spring of 1963 and life went on. |
 The 1962 Max Wedge Savoy |
Along came 1970; we just wanted a nice driver for fair weather. Looked at all Mopars from Demons to Superbirds. Decided on a 1970 Cuda. We ordered it. As fate would have it, the Cuda was delivered Friday of Memorial Day weekend. Almost like the 1962. (The Cuda is another story in itself. I still have it. We moved to PA in Spring of 1973. As of April 2015 the Cuda has traveled just 3500 miles. This Mopar is the car that started the MOPAR SURVIVOR Displays in 1997.)
Back to the 1962. We spent time at the drag strips over the years and saw a lot of 1962 Plymouths. We definitely wanted another and looked all over the U.S. We could not find a blue Savoy post car (that was affordable).
The calendar reached 1989. We saw an ad for a 1962 Plymouth Sport Fury for sale in Chicago. We headed there and spent the weekend with friends, visited the owner of the 1962 and bought the Plymouth. The Mopar is a Sport Fury, not a Savoy. It’s Black, not blue. It’s a hardtop, not a post. Oh well, it is a 1962! |
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The Sport Fury is an Alabama car that was painted in Alabama about mid 1980’s and still wears the same paint. The Chicago owner took it to Larry Shepard in Akron, Ohio to build a blueprinted 1969 Dodge 440 / 375hp motor. At the same time, the new interior was installed, dash redone, all mechanics gone through included a split master cylinder for the brakes. That is the way I got the Plymouth. Since 1990 I have: replaced bumpers, removed the power steering, installed wheels and tires, installed Max Wedge exhaust manifolds and TTI 3 inch Max Wedge exhaust system, and replaced the tapered axle rear end with a 1968 B body unit w/489 center including 3.91 ratio SureGrip. That’s it.
Below are some pictures of working on the Plymouth.
 View the difference in factory vs the 275/60R15 tires being installed, Fronts are 225/70R15 to keep a level stance. |
View the double chamber master cylinder, Max Wedge exhaust and clutter with the power steering assembly. Wrenches on the air cleaner were to begin the power steering to manual steering conversion. |
View the manual steering conversion using a Flaming River shaft and joint.
This was done to insure safety at high speeds.
Still to come: a Max Wedge top end, some stainless steel trim repairs and polishing, Sport Fury steering wheel, Sport Fury fender emblems, a couple windshield trim pieces, front disc brakes, fuel cell, gauges, and at some point: new paint.
But the Sport Fury runs and drives so well, I would rather drive it than work on it for now.
Contact Mel: 