1960-1961 Plymouth Fury

The 1960-1961 Plymouth Fury was Plymouth's effort to build upon the popularity of the earlier, limited edition Fury models.

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Up until 1959, the Plymouth Fury had been a limited-production performance vehicle. By 1960, the name had gained enough significance to be applied to a broader market, leading to the replacement of 'Belvedere' with 'Fury' as the brand's top-tier model. This shift brought a four-door sedan and four-door hardtop into the lineup, alongside the existing two-door hardtop and convertible models. All variants featured Plymouth's new unibody construction.

The decision made sound business sense, but the styling of the 1960 Plymouth Fury did not. Designed in 1957, during the peak of tailfin popularity, it was as impressive as any of its competitors in that regard. However, by 1960, tailfins had fallen out of favor. To make matters worse, Plymouth’s sales had been in decline since the 1958 recession. While Ford and Chevrolet ramped up production by around a quarter-million units, Plymouth barely managed to hold its 1959 sales numbers.

In the 1961 Plymouth Fury, the tailfins were completely gone, replaced by a more rounded design and a sleek front end, which Motor Trend later compared to 'a generation of Japanese sci-fi monsters.' Despite the change, the public’s response was still lackluster, and confusion set in: Plymouth’s sales dropped by 100,000 units, and Rambler overtook it as the third best-selling brand.

This should not suggest that the 1960-1961 Plymouth Furys were poor vehicles. In fact, they were as competitive as, if not better than, their top rivals in many ways. Road testers consistently agreed that the Fury easily outperformed the Chevrolet Impala and Ford Galaxie in terms of handling, thanks to its torsion bar front suspension. Plymouth’s TorqueFlite automatic transmission also outclassed Chevrolet’s Turboglide and Ford’s Cruise-O-Matic. The Fury’s unit body was more rigid than the separate body/frame constructions used by its competitors.

The Fury also featured two exclusive options: swivel seats that rotated when the front doors were opened, and the RCA Victor 'Highway Hi-Fi' record player. However, it was styling that drove car sales in 1960, and in the public's opinion, the Fury's design was its weakest point.

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The 1960-1961 Plymouth Fury upheld its legacy of outstanding performance. The 1960 Fury offered a six-cylinder engine, the highly regarded 225 Slant Six, which provided Plymouth with one of the hottest six-cylinder engines in its price range. With 145 bhp and a manual transmission (combined with Plymouth's relatively light weight), the Fury six could accelerate from 0-60 in 17 seconds and still deliver 20 miles per gallon.

This engine was capable of even higher performance tuning -- experimental models extracted one bhp per cubic inch at the Chrysler proving ground. However, planners chose not to create a performance six-cylinder, instead relying on the reliable 318 V-8 as the standard engine in the Fury.

For maximum performance, Plymouth offered the "Golden Commando 395," featuring a 361 cubic-inch engine with a ram manifold and twin four-barrel carbs, producing 305 bhp and 395 pounds/feet of torque (from which it earned its name). Also available was Plymouth's new 383 V-8, delivering 330 bhp and an impressive 460 pounds/feet of torque.

This engine had an even more impressive name: the "SonoRamic Commando." It might sound like a video game character today, but the SonoRamic Commando could truly perform. It could reach 0-60 in about 7.5 seconds, cruise effortlessly at over 100 mph, and hit a top speed above 120 mph.

Although the 1961 Fury appeared to undergo a drastic facelift, the changes were mostly confined below the beltline. The roof and doors remained the same, with the styling budget focused on the fenders, hood, and deck. Plymouth called it "a harmony of motion in sleek steel and bright aluminum," and from a side view, it didn’t look too bad. However, up front, there was anything but harmony, with a crisscross grille squeezed between headlamp eyebrows that curved around the front fender creases.

Later critics haven't given the 1961 Fury the appreciation it deserves. Overall, it was a significant improvement over the 1960 model. It also demonstrated that unit-body construction did not severely limit designers' ability to execute face-lifts, a challenge faced by Nash, Hudson, and American Motors. Unfortunately for Plymouth, styling was still crucial to sales, and for many, styling meant the car’s front end. From that perspective, the Fury really did resemble the "Insect That Ate Tokyo."

Turn to the next page to see the specifications for the 1960-1961 Plymouth Fury.

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1960-1961 Plymouth Fury Specifications

The 1960-1961 Plymouth Fury tried to capitalize on the cult-like success of earlier limited-production models. Unfortunately, its unpopular styling decisions sealed its fate. However, as the specifications for the 1960-1961 Plymouth Fury show, it was one of the top performance cars of the early 1960s.

Specifications

Engines: Inline 6-cylinder OHV, 225 cid (3.40 × 4.13), 145 bhp; V-8 OHV, 318 cid (3.91 × 3.31) 230 bhp; 361 cid (4.12 × 3.38) 305 bhp; 383 cid (4.25 × 3.38) 330 bhp

Transmissions: 3-speed manual; 3-speed automatic available as an option

Front Suspension: Upper and lower control arms, with longitudinal torsion bars

Rear Suspension: Live axle, supported by leaf springs

Brakes: Drum brakes, front and rear

Wheelbase: 118.0 inches

Weight: Between 3,330 and 3,640 pounds

Top Speed: Over 120 mph

0-60 mph: From 7.5 to 17 seconds

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