1973 Plymouth Fury Gran Coupe - I Don't See it Either

From the 1955-1957 "forward look" cars to the downsized 1962 "B-bodies, to the 1965-1968 "C-bodies", Chrysler's Plymouth division had some unique automobiles; they didn't all work, though, but they were memorable. The 1969-1973 "fuselage" models stood out too, although I'm not sure that was in a good way. This 1973 Plymouth Fury Gran Coupe popped up on Marketplace recently and it reminded me of just how polarizing the "fuselages" were. 

These cars were referred to as "fuselage" because the side glass was curved up into the body and the body sides bowed inward at the rocker panels creating a cylindrical shape that reminded some of an air liner fuselage in cross-section. Well, if you guys say so. 

See it now? No? I've never seen it either. Seeing how poor sales were for these cars, neither did a lot of people or they just didn't "get" what it was designers were attempting to do.  

Amazing how there was just 14-years between the first "forward look" cars and these first fuselage models. Funny, how as we get older, our perception of what a "long time" was changes. Years ago, 14-years seemed like an eternity. Now it's a blink of an eye. Still, amazing how much car design changed back then in a relatively short period of time. 

In 1972, the Gran Coupe and Sedan replaced the "Sport Fury" as the top-drawer Fury. A trim rather than performance option, in a day and age where insurance premium surcharges vilified anything remotely construed as a performance car, "Sport" was out, "luxury" was in. Fury "Gran" buyers got a choice of plusher upholstery options. Look closely and you'll see crank windows, no tilting steering column, no power seat adjuster. And that seat is vinyl not leather. Twas the age of injection molded plastics and fake wood trim as well and Plymouth took that to extremes. 

I found this about a week ago not far from where we live, asking price is $12,500. In this post-Covid world, although I recently just got over the worst case of it I've ever had, this is not outrageously priced although it's still not sold. Just 35,000 undocumented miles on it but I believe it seeing how clean this is. A '73 Impala or LeSabre in this shape would go for twenty-grand or more. And it would sell likethat. 

The 360cid V-8's two-barrel was tossed for a four-barrel, dual exhausts were added as well, both of which were not factory options in 1973. Hopefully they yanked the emissions plumbing. This could be a strong running car. 

Bunch of other stuff was done as well like interior work, AC was modernized, KYB shocks added, weather stripping replaced and so on. 

If you have a proclivity for something unique, take this off their hands for under ten and you did good. Use the money you didn't spend and get better rims and toss the raised white letter tires.