1968 Plymouth Fury III
Answering the call of the family man who wanted comfort and power
09/23/2018
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In 1968, it was all about big-blocks and four-speeds packed into anything that qualified as an intermediate. Heavy-duty suspensions, air induction systems and racing stripes helped seal the deal. When these supercars hit the street en masse, the kids behind the wheel felt like they could take on Dan Gurney or Don Nicholson. But what about the family man--the guy who went to work wearing a tie and a smart hat? For him, Detroit was busy stamping out an army of full-size cars, such as this 1968 Plymouth Fury III "Fast Top" hardtop.
Firmly tucked into the middle of Plymouth's fleet of five full-size creations, the mid-level Fury III was available in six body styles, each constructed on a unit-body platform with subframes. Excluding the station wagons, said chassis was stretched to 119 inches between the wheel hubs. Bolted against it was a standard front independent torsion bar/rear leaf spring suspension. Beefy tubular hydraulic shock absorbers were included, as were 11-inch drum brakes and Chrysler's ever durable 8¾-inch differential. Power front disc brakes were available through the option chart, as was a suspension upgrade to heavy-duty status and the Sure Grip (limited slip) differential.
Plymouth offered a variety of engines, beginning with the economy-minded 145hp, 225-cu.in. Slant Six. For those who preferred eight cylinders, the base offering was a venerable 230hp 318-cu.in. block. Under-hood upgrades included two versions of the 383-cu.in. V-8--rated for 290hp and 330hp when equipped with a two- or four-barrel carburetor, respectively--as well as the powerful 440-cu.in. V-8. The 440, when utilizing a four-barrel carburetor, single air cleaner snorkel and single exhaust system, was rated for 350hp; a dual snorkel/dual exhaust-equipped 440 sported a stout 375hp. Typical of the era, engine selection determined whether or not your Fury III could have been assembled with the TorqueFlite automatic, three-speed manual, or a relatively rare-for-the-model four-speed manual transmission.
Wrapping the mechanicals was a restyled 213-inch-long body (except wagons) featuring a horizontally split grille--with hidden turn signals--flanked by stacked headlamps; full-length side trim accentuated sculpted panels. A fresh addition to the lineup was the Fast Top body with its wide-based C-pillar; a vinyl roof was optional. Plush Fury III interiors began with all-vinyl seating in hardtops and convertibles. This same upholstery was optional on sedans, which were clad in a combination of cloth and vinyl; the foam padding under each bench seat measured 2¼ inches thick. Front and rear armrests, radio, safety lamps, cigar lighter and a Safe/Flight instrument panel were also standard equipment. Customers could have sprung for tinted widows, power steering, and air conditioning.
In all, Plymouth assembled 60,472 two-door hardtops (that number includes Fast Top production--no breakout is available), just part of the 195,033 Fury III production total.
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Bonus: Also check out this barn find 1962 Jaguar E-Type.
1955 Jaguar XK140MC
Here we have a rare 1955 Jaguar XK140MC, which the seller states was manufactured on December 7, 1954, at the very end of the first year of production for the XK140 model. It was dispatched by Rm Oversees, Frankfurt, Germany to its first owner Major Howard W Densford on March 9, 1955. The seller, who found the car around 25 years ago, has done ample research on its history. According to the information provided, this vintage car is a rare “mistake” that Jaguar pushed through production without the traditional red Type-C cylinder head-equipped engine usually seen on SE or MC models. Only five or six of these cars are known to have existed. Read more about this barn find’s history on Hemmings Marketplace.
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Labeled as a “true barn find”, this 1964 Porsche 356C coupe is a numbers-matching, unrestored original classic sports car. As seen from the photos, the body does have rust, and the car’s description confirms that it does not currently run. According to Classic.com, the average market price for a 1964 Porsche 356C is $83,446, with the lowest sale resting at $32,000 and the highest at $148,500. Fresh out of long-term ownership and storage, unrestored Porsche 356C models like this one are hard to come by.
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