1969 Plymouth Sport Fury & VIP

The year 1969 was pivotal for large cars, with the 'Low-Price Three' introducing fresh designs. While Chevrolet and Ford stuck to familiar styles, Plymouth took a bold leap with the Sport Fury and VIP, showcasing a revolutionary redesign that turned heads and set new standards.

The 1969 Furys were designed as ideal family vehicles, aligning with market demands. They shared the 'fuselage styling' introduced by Chrysler and Dodge, characterized by a rounded, full-bodied look inspired by the 1968 Dodge Charger. While the design reduced visibility due to higher beltlines and smaller windows, it offered a sleek, modern appearance that balanced boldness with a touch of traditional elegance.

The new models undeniably appeared more substantial, and this impression was accurate. The wheelbase expanded by one inch compared to the 1965-68 models, aligning with the 120-inch span of Fury's redesigned competitors (except wagons, which retained a 122-inch span in the Suburban line introduced in 1968). Overall length increased by 1.5 inches to a hefty 214.5 inches, while width grew nearly two inches to a robust 79.6 inches. Despite their larger appearance and common misconceptions, curb weights saw only a slight increase. For instance, the Sport Fury convertible was just 19 pounds heavier than its 1968 version, and the VIP hardtop sedan added a mere eight pounds.

The 1969 Fury saw no major technical updates, maintaining its unique features like unit construction (as opposed to body-on-frame), Chrysler's renowned torsion-bar front suspension (instead of coil springs), and a dependable range of engines from the economical 225 Slant Six to the powerful 440 V-8.

Some design elements had practical implications. For example, wipers were now hidden behind a rear hood lip, similar to GM's approach, which worked well until snow clogged the recess. Ventwings on front doors were removed from air-conditioned hardtop coupes, a decision that sparked debate due to increased wind noise. Additionally, 15-inch wheels and tires replaced the previous 14-inch versions, offering better braking performance, though they didn't entirely fill the expanded bodysides.

A lesser-known 1969 Fury option combined a two-barrel 383 V-8 with cruise control, power front-disc brakes, a 2.76:1 axle ratio, undercoating, and a headlamp warning light. Plymouth marketed this as the 'Turnpike Cruising Package.' (It's worth pondering if they consulted Mercury about the name.)

Continue to the next page to explore how the 1969 Plymouth Sport Fury and VIP resonated with consumers.

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Continued

In 1969, the Plymouth Sport Fury and VIP continued to lead Plymouth's full-size lineup. The VIP series expanded to three models, introducing a 'formal' hardtop coupe with a more vertical rear window and broader rear quarters.

The previous 'Fast Top' was replaced by a sleeker hardtop design featuring narrower, more angled C-pillars. The Sport Fury convertible remained Plymouth's most luxurious and expensive option, priced at $3,502, while the VIP four-door hardtop held its position as the priciest non-wagon Fury model at $3,433.

Plymouth dealers faced challenges as sales of the high-margin VIP and Sport Fury declined for the second consecutive year. VIP production fell by nearly 4,000 units to just under 14,000, and the Sport Fury saw a drop of over 8,300 units, ending at around 18,000. Both models lagged significantly behind their Big Three competitors. Chevrolet's Caprice outsold the VIP by more than 9-to-1, while Ford's LTD outperformed Plymouth by 16-to-1.

The Sport Fury struggled to compete with Ford's XL, which sold four times as many units. Compounding Plymouth's difficulties, the brand ranked a distant fourth in 1969, while Ford solidified its position as the industry's second-place contender behind Chevrolet.

Plymouth's top-tier models were significantly outsold by rivals like Ford, Chevrolet, and even Pontiac, indicating that consumers didn't associate Plymouth with luxury as strongly as they did with other brands. This perception issue contributed to Plymouth's declining sales throughout the 1970s.

The VIP models were discontinued after 1969, making way for bench-seat Sport Furys and later the 'Gran' series. The Sport Fury line persisted until 1971, with only a robust 440-powered GT hardtop coupe carrying on its performance legacy—one of the final large muscle cars from Detroit. This marked a disappointing conclusion for what was once Plymouth's flagship offering.

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1969 Plymouth Sport Fury & VIP Specifications

The 1969 Plymouth Sport Fury & VIP retained the same technical foundation as earlier models but stood out with their unit construction design, contrasting with the traditional body-on-frame approach.

Specifications

Engines: all ohv V-8; 318 cid (3.91 × 3.31), 230 bhp; 383 cid (4.25 × 3.38), 290/330 bhp; 440 cid (4.32 × 3.75), 375 bhp

Transmissions: 3/4-speed manual, 3-speed TorqueFlite automatic

Suspension front: upper and lower A-arms, longitudinal torsion bars, anti-roll bar

Suspension rear: live axle on semi-elliptic leaf springs

Brakes: front/rear drums; front discs optional

Wheelbase (in.): 120

Weight (lbs): 3583-3729

Top speed (mph): 110-125

0-60 mph (sec): 8.0-10.0

Production: Sport Fury htp cpe 14,120 cvt 1,579 formal htp cpe 2,169 VIP htp cpe 4,740 formal htp cpe 1,059 htp sdn 7,962

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