1966 Plymouth Fury III

This 1966 two-door Plymouth Fury III pillarless hardtop coupé came to the United Kingdom in 2016 after spending much of its life in its home country. 

Fitted with the 318ci V8 engine and three-speed automatic transmission, ‘UCA 492D’ benefits from some subtle mechanical upgrades that improve its 21st century dynamic credentials while leaving its 1960s charm untouched.

In need of only light cosmetic fettling, the seller reports “the engine fires up on the first turn of the key and it idles smoothly and evenly - but it drives even better!”

The seller tells us the Fury is on its second paint job that he knows of, but this isn’t a surprise as it is an uncommonly well-presented example.

Finished in a vibrant red, the car’s cheery colour is offset by the black vinyl roof and the lashings of chrome. It’s a beguiling combination – and if you’re going to buy a 1960s muscle car, you might as well go all-in, hadn’t you?

As you can see, the panel condition is excellent with nice shutlines and neatly aligned swagelines and trim. There are no dents either and the flanks - which are immensely long, of course – are free of ripples.  

And that trilogy of design, colour, and size give the Fury real presence, so it might not be the car for you if you don’t enjoy strangers coming up to you to chat. 

The black vinyl top we mentioned earlier is in a very good condition, and the vast quantities of chromework are very good indeed. 

Light lenses, badges, and window glass are all good, and the side wheel covers are present. 

The 17-inch Torque Thrust / American racing rims are in great shape being free of scuffs, scrapes and kerbing rash and their open, five-spoke design allows passers-by to admire the front Wilwood brake disc conversion.

Finished in black with contrasting silver rims, they’re also fitted with a matching set of 215/60R17 Yokohama Geolander G055 tyres. Fitted new in 2018, they’ve still got plenty of tread left on them.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome - but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

As for flaws, the base of the aerial is a bit rusty, there are some heavy cracks in the filler and paint on the lower edge of the rear nearside wheelarch, some lighter cracks to the paint elsewhere, some bubbling around the boot lid, and a mark on a piece of the side trim.

If the exterior is extravagant and extrovert, the interior is rather understated.

However, what is does have in common with the coachwork is its condition, with the carpets, headlining, and seats all being very good indeed.

The front bench seat might be a bit of a rarity in the UK but it’s a surprisingly practical design and what it lacks in lateral support it more than makes up for in its ability allow a loved one to cosy up next to you at a beauty spot with the stereo plays My Love by Petula Clark quietly in the background as the sun slips slowly below the horizon.  

(Fun fact: As well as having a #1 single in the year this example was built, Petula Clark also recorded the soundtrack to an advert for the Plymouth Fury two years later called Fury Song #notalotofpeopleknowthat)

The audio system has been updated with a modern Kenwood headunit, but the original radio is present in the dashboard should the new owner value originality over high-fidelity.

Nor is calling the cockpit understated an insult because it isn’t; the design might be more subtle than the exterior’s design would lead you to expect but what there is is exquisitely designed and beautifully executed. 

Take a look at the two switches and the handbrake handle that sit under three matching dials for the water temperature, alternator charge, and fuel level, for example. Or the design of the door cards, which is both restrained and meticulously executed. 

The chrome trim around the edges of the (very good) front bench seat acts as an effective foil to the minimalist gloom that might otherwise be overpowering, and the steering wheel, which is thin-rimmed with a huge chrome horn ring in the lower half, sits in front of the column shift for the three-speed automatic gearbox.

We are told that all windows all work and that the boot contains the spare wheel and tool kit.

As for work to do, there is a patched hole on the trim beneath the offside rear window but it otherwise all looks good to us, notwithstanding with some light patination here and there.

The engine and gearbox numbers match and are the units it left the factory with. They are original too, bar the ceramic coated ‘HedmanHedders’ headers that lead to a Flowmaster exhaust, two barely noticeable upgrades that subtly improve both noise and power.

The V8 engine, which is a 318 poly hemi (also known as a ‘semi hemi’) still inhales through the original carburettor and it’s mated to the original ‘three on the tree’ automatic gearbox with column shift.

Other judicious upgrades include electronic ignition and a Wilwood front disc brake conversion for better stopping. Useful upgrades both, the joy of their limited scope is that the underlying feel of the car is unaltered; it still runs and drives as it should, just with added reserves of reliability and stopping power (“it brakes smooth and straight”).

The only work the seller, who’s an American muscle car importer and enthusiast, had to carry out was to adjust the steering box. He says, “the engine fires up on the first turn of the key and it idles smoothly and evenly - but it drives even better!”, which is high praise indeed given the number of cars that have passed through his hands over the years.

As you can see in the video, it does start nicely and revs as it should, all accomplished without being overly boorish in volume.

The engine bay is neat and tidy without being overly fussy, which means it could be left as it is or further detailed depending on your proclivities.

The underside has been rust treated and is “clean and sorted”, a description the photos suggest is accurate.

As for jobs you might like to complete, the Mopar battery could be fastened down a bit better but that’s all we can spot that bothers us.

The Plymouth comes with the appropriate paperwork to shows that all UK VAT and duty has been paid. 

The history file also contains the receipts for the Plymouth’s “very good service history” along with the operating instructions handbook. The recent Vehicle History Check is also clear, and the car comes with two keys.

The Plymouth Fury doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of a MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies… 

If the Plymouth reaches its guide price of between £17,000 and £23,000, the winning bidder will get an awful lot of real estate for their money. 

Massive presence too, plus a fantastic engine and exhaust note alongside enough performance to dispel any “all show and no go” naysayers.

And while there is some work to do, primarily to sort the cracks out in the paintwork, it’s still easily good enough to tool around in in the meantime – and given red is one of the easier colours to match, localized repair should be possible.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the vendor in Llandyfan, Carmarthenshire. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.