Plymouth Fury (Generation 6)

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Plymouth

Plymouth Fury Gen 6

1975 - 1978
Country:
USA
Engine:
6L and V8
Capacity:
see below
Power:
see below
Transmission:
see below
Top Speed:
115 mph
Number Built:
n/a
Collectability:
2 star

In 1975, Chrysler moved the Fury nameplate to Plymouth's redesigned mid-size models that had previously been marketed as the Satellite. The "Road Runner" was offered as the top-line model of the redesigned coupe, but was moved to the Plymouth Volare line the following year.

The full-sized Plymouth then became known as the Plymouth Gran Fury. The Gran Fury was dropped after 1977, and the mid-sized models were dropped after 1978, replaced in Canada by the rebadged Dodge Diplomat model named the Plymouth Caravelle (not the be confused with the E-body Plymouth Caravelle from 1983–1988).

There was no 1979 Fury, Gran or otherwise. Only minor styling changes were made between 1975 and 1978, most notably in 1977 from dual round headlights to a quad stacked square arrangement (see photo). Front turn signals moved from the outboard edges of the grille to cut-outs in the front bumper. Tail lights added an amber turn lens in favor of the previous red.

The 1975 Fury shared its B-body and uni-body structure with the Dodge Coronet and the corporation's new personal-luxury coupes including the Chrysler Cordoba and Dodge Charger SE. Sedans and wagons, which continued with their basic 1971 body-shells, rode on a 118 in (3,000 mm) wheelbase, while coupes - which were restyled with new and more formal sheet-metal and rooflines - rode on the 115 in (2,900 mm) wheelbase.

The Plymouth Fury was offered in three basic subseries for 1975 in sedans and coupes and two for the station wagon. The sedan was offered in base, Custom and Salon models, with interior/exterior trim ranging from austere to luxurious. The Salon featured plush velour bench seats with recliners and folding armrests and carpeted trunks, along with a spring-loaded hood ornament with the Plymouth logo.

In addition to the Road Runner, the Fury coupes were offered in base, Custom and Sport models. The "Sport" was the top-line coupe featuring body pin-striping on the upper door and front and rear fenders, interiors with all-vinyl bucket seats and center cushion and armrest, or optional center console; or split bench seats with armrest, along with plusher shag carpeting on floor and door panels plus lower door carpeting.

The wagons were available as either the Fury Suburban or Fury Custom Suburban. Engine offerings included the base 225 in³ Slant Six which was standard on all models except Fury Sport, Road Runner and station wagon, all of which came with the 318 in³ V8 as the base engine which was optional on other models. Optional engines on all models included 360 and 400 in³ V8s with two- or four-barrel carburetor, and the 440 four-barrel was only as a "police" option on four-door sedans. Transmission offerings included a standard three-speed manual or optional TorqueFlite automatic. The 1976 Fury saw very few appearance changes from the previous year other than the availability of a dual opera window roof on Sport Fury coupes. Engine/transmission offerings were also unchanged except that the 360 two-barrel V8 was now the standard engine on station wagons along with the TorqueFlite automatic transmission, both items of which were optional on other models.

For 1977, the Fury received a new front end with a chrome vertical bar grille and outline along with stacked rectangular headlights. Model and drivetrain offerings were unchanged from 1976 except that the Slant Six now had two-barrel carburetion replacing the one-barrel pot of previous years and was now standard on the Sport Fury coupe. Of course V8 engines were still offered including the 318 two-barrel, 360 two- or four-barrel and 400 two- or four-barrel. The 440 four-barrel V8 was still only offered in four-door models as part of the police package.

Nestling in the middle price range of Plymouth's wares for 1978 was the Fury four-door Salon Sedan Hardtop. The Fury was now Plymouth's largest car as the C-body Gran Fury was dropped after the 1977. TorqueFlite automatic transmission and power steering were now standard on all Fury models and the same selection of V8 engines were still available. Very few appearance changes were made from 1977, and this would turn out to be the final year for the Fury (and similar-bodied Dodge Monaco, which it was renamed in 1977 from Coronet, while the big Dodge became the Royal Monaco in 1977 before it was dropped after that one year).

The personal-luxury coupes based on the B-body including the Chrysler Cordoba and Dodge Magnum (renamed from Charger in 1978) would soldier on for one more year until they were downsized (and renamed Mirada for the Dodge version) in 1980 to the M-body platform used for the Dodge Diplomat and Chrysler LeBaron. There were six engine options (one straight-six and five V8's). The engines were of 110 bhp, 140 bhp, 155 bhp, 175 bhp and 190 bhp. These produced top speeds between 105 and 115 mph; fuel consumption averages between 18.2 and 13.5 mpg. A three-speed manual gearbox was standard on the six-cylinder cars while the excellent Chrysler Torqueflite three-speed automatic unit was standard on all the other variations.

Just to complicate matters even further, there were various final-drive ratios to be had, so you could gear your Fury for maximum acceleration or maximum cruisability. The chassis of the Fury Sport was of the integral type with isolated front- cross members. The suspension was typical of other large American cars, featuring independent front type with wishbones, longitudinal torsion bars, an anti-roll bar and telescopic dampers, while the rear was non-independent by a rigid axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs and telescopic dampers. A rear anti-roll bar was standard with some engine options. Braking was taken care of by front discs and rear drums, while steering was by recirculating ball with 5.30 turns from lock to lock.

1978 Plymouth Fury Generation 6 Quick Specifications:



Engine: Front-mounted, water-cooled V8. 99.2 mm (3.91 in) bore x 84 mm (3.31 in) stroke - 5211cc (318 cu in) (140 and 155 bhp); 101.6 mm (4 in) bore x 89.6 m (3.58 in) stroke - 5900cc (360 cu in) (155 and 175 bhp); or 110.2 mm (4.34 in) bore x 85.8 mm (3.38 in) stroke - 6555cc (400 cu in) (190 bhp). Maximum power between 140 bhp and 190 bhp; maximum torque between 245 and 305 Ib ft. Cast-iron cylinder block and heads. Compression ratio 8.4:1 (155 and 175 bhp), or 8.5:1 (140 and 155bhp) or 8.2:1 (190bhp). 5 main bearings, 2 valves per cylinder operated, via push-rods and rockers, by a single camshaft at the centre of the V. Carter twin-barrel carburetor (140, 155), 1 Holley twin-barrel carburetor (175, 190 bhp).
Transmission: Single-dry-plate clutch and three-speed manual gearbox, or torque converter and three-speed manual unit. Maximum ratio of converter at stall 2.16.
Body/chassis: Four-door, five-seat saloon. Integral with isolated front cross members.
Suspension: Front - independent by wishbones, longitudinal torsion bars, an anti-roll bar and telescopic dampers. Rear - non-independent by a rigid axle, semi -elliptic leaf springs and telescopic dampers (a rear anti-roll bar is standard with some engine options).
Steering: Recirculating ball. Turns from lock to lock 5.30.
Brakes: Servo-assisted front discs and rear drums.
Wheels: 5.5 in x 14 in steel.
Tires: H78 x 14.
Dimensions and weight: Wheelbase 115 in; track-front 61.90 in, rear 62 in; length 211.10in; width 77.40 in; height 52.60 in; ground clearance 5.10 in; dry weight about 37901b, depending on engine. Turning circle between walls 44.2 ft. Fuel tank capacity 21.1 gals.
Performance: Maximum speed between 105 and 115 mph. 0-60 mph between 14 and 10.5 seconds. Fuel consumption between 18.2 and 13.5 mpg.

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Also see:


Plymouth Car Commercials
The History of Plymouth
Plymouth Fury Gen 6
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