The popular Hill Street Blues showed Chicago's Furys (and Royal Monacos and Diplomats) pretty accurately. They accelerated fast, looked sharp, and swung their rears around wildly whenever they went around a turn. (The rears broke loose on most cars on Hill Street Blues! The directors or producers apparently believed in realism, rather than using incredibly well-prepped cars and speeded up film).
In one form or the other, the Fury was a staple of the police forces for decades, and it makes regular appearances even now on TV and in movies (albeit sometimes in Diplomat or Monaco form).
Sharing bodies started when Polara was introduced and Fury became a seperate body...perhaps around 63-64. Polaras and Furys were C-bodies from the 1965 stacked-headlight cars through the end of that body (1968), then through the fuselage cars (1969-early 70s). They would have split when Fury became a mid-size, and Gran Fury was the full size. By that time, all big Dodges were Monacos. The Polara name disappeared around 1973 or 74.The cars actually do not share bodies; the roofs are the same, and the front fenders are similar, but the sheet metal from the firewall back is very different. Furys and Chryslers are more fuselage-like, while the Polara has more creases (like the Coronet compared to the Satellite). The Furys also differ from Chryslers and Imperials, but the differences are more subtle. Monacos from around 70 or 71 had unique covered headlights.
Introduced in 1956 with a 303 V8, the Fury had sharply peaked tail fins, a Cadillac-like logo, and typical 1950s styling. In 1958, a 350 V-8 (not the GM version) was made available on the Fury, for the first and only year.
1959 brought immense tail fins and a "tire bulge" on the turnk lid, a garish shape. The Sport Fury, a luxury/performance model, debuted this year. James C. Tessin (1959 Sport Fury with 361 Golden Commando) said it was the first year of the beefed up transmission, to handle the torque of high performance engines, and the last year of the 361.
In 1960, the original 318 and 383 were available (not related to the later 318s and 383s), along with a 261 and the brand-new slant six, producing 145 hp at 4000 rpm. The 383 produced 330 hp.
1961 brought the 375 hp 413 to the Fury. More visibly, the grille turned into a "frowning face," with rather unusual styling. This was the year of the "alternator test" - when Chrysler introduced the first alternator, it dramatized the event by driving a Fury from Detroit to Chicago, sans battery!
In 1962, the Fury gained yet another body style, with a cleaner, less styled front end, accentuated lines, and a limited edition turbo. According to Plymouth, it could "fly to 60 mph in 8.5 secs. with the optional 305-hp Golden Commando" engine.
In 1963, the engines were the 318, 361, 383. A new 5 year or 50,000 mile warranty was introudced, along with a new, very clean grille and rear.
1964 was basically a carry-over year. The Fury had grown to over $3,000, quite a bit for that time. For racers, there was a new option: the 426 Wedge "Super Stock," with 415 or 425 hp and compression ratios of 11:1 or 13.5:1.
Paul Conomos writes:
1965 is the year that the Fury became a "C" body.
1965 and 1966 Furys share sheet metal, but have different trim. I have a 1966
Plymouth VIP, with a 383, headers, cam, aluminum intake, etc. The VIP is a
member of the Sport Fury family. The VIP has wood colored inlays on the side
trim. All other members of the Sport Fury family have body color inlay on the
side trim.
Dave Planer wrote that the 1965 Fury could have five engine setups: the 225 slant six, 318, 383 (with 2 and 4 barrel carbs), and the 426 Wedge.
allan
"The 67
could be ordered with 4 different engines. The 6-cyl 225, the V-8 318,383 (2 or
4 barrel carburetor), or the 4-barrel Super Commando 440. Still a large car but
the convertible was equipped with only 5 seatbelts (2 front 3 rear). "Plymouth"
on the hood and trunk lid with "Fury III" on the front fenders."
In 1968, the Sport Fury gained yet another new rear end look, uncluttered and sleek, reminscient of later vehicles. The 383 Magnum/4 speed was still available. The regular Fury was also given a new grille aint taillight treatment, but other than that they were identical to the 1967 models.
In 1969, Plymouth claimed to have a "completely new Fury." The wheelbase was 120 inches, 1.5 inches longer than in 1968, and there was more shoulder room in both front and rear. Concealed windshield wipers and more curves in the glass helped the shape to be less boxy. 15 inch wheels where standard, and air conditioned two-door hardtops had ventless side windows (other models had vents). A split bench front seat (with reclining passenger seat) was available on some models, as well as a new electric seat adjuster that allowed an extra inch of head room (the redesign, not the adjuster itself).
Ragtops had improved header controls for easier release and securing of the top, and the rear seat was widened to nearly 60 inches.
In 1970, the Fury continued its uncluttered appearance, but without making the size appear so large. Concealed headlamps and full-loop bumpers were introduced.
1971 saw the absence of the full-size Fury ragtop.
1972 brought the Gran Fury name, as well as the end of the 426 Hemi, and the introduction of a 400 cid V-8 (a bored 383 that generally gets little respect). The front end received a new treatment, with two separate blackened grille areas and the word "Fury" in the middle. The upper level models were the Fury Gran Sedan and Fury Gran Coupe (depending on the doors). (Gran Sedan/Coupe: Bob Kecskemety).
In 1973, yet another cosmetic change was introduced, and the Fury began to look even larger. The 360 (enlarged 318) was brought in, replacing earlier performance engines. The word "Plymouth" appeared in the center of the rear bumper.
In 1974, the Fury was completley restyled. That body style would remain until the end of the "original" Gran Fury line in 1978
In 1975, the plain Fury was moved to the B-Body lineup, next to the Coronet and Cordoba. That lineup was restyled that year, but the 4 door sedan retained most of its 1971 styling, at least from a side view. The Gran Fury and Monaco remained fullsize cars until their demise in 1978.
In 1977, the front of the car was completely restyled with the parking lights moved into the bumper, similar to the earlier Coronet. It also gained stacked lights and a new grille. The taillights were made larger and featured an amber turn signal.
The plain Monaco was moved to the B-Body line in 1977 also, replacing the aging Coronet. It had the same front styling as the Fury, but with a different grille. The taillights were also different, with the Monaco having lines going through the lenses.
In 1978, Chrysler dropped the Gran Fury, and made its last Fury. The name was absent from the line-up in 1979.
1982 brought a new and different Gran Fury, much smaller than its predecessors. This one was basically a Dodge Diplomat M-body, and was based on the Volare (which, in turn, was based on the Valiant. The Gran Fury therefore brought Chrysler's compact car legacy through to 1989, basically unchanged except for some cosmetics and the loss of the slant six sometime in the middle of the run. The M-bodies were remembered for their handling prowess and durability as taxis and police cars (mainly squads). They were much more popular with the police than with taxi fleets; a few were also sold to ordinary people, but not many. I have one of the "Civillian" Gran Fury models. Mne is an '83.
In 1990, Chrysler left the police market to GM and Ford; in 1996, GM stopped the Caprice line, which inherited the Diplomat's place as choice squad. Ford reportedly bumped the CV's price by $3,000 (source: police purchasing agent). If you're in the market for a new police car, look at the CV's competition: the Cherokee and Lumina squads stand out (assuming they are still being offered).