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Car Of The Day: November 8, 2010; Matchbox '77 Plymouth Gran Fury
Topic Started: Nov 8 2010, 03:28 AM (864 Views)
Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
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Today's car of the day is Matchbox's 1977 Plymouth Gran Fury.

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Wikipedia
 
The Plymouth Gran Fury is an automobile manufactured by the Chrysler Corporation to signify Plymouth's largest full-size automobile from 1975 to 1977. The nameplate would be used on successive downsizings, first in 1980, and again in 1982, through what would originally have been intermediate and compact classes in the early 1970s, all with conventional rear-wheel drive layouts. By the time the Plymouth Gran Fury ended production in 1989, it was Plymouth's last remaining rear-wheel drive car, a configuration used since Plymouth's first car was introduced in 1928. It was also Plymouth's last remaining V8 equipped vehicle. Plymouth would not have another rear-wheel drive car until the 1997 Prowler roadster. After Chevrolet ended production of the Caprice, only Ford continued production of its V8 powered rear-wheel drive Crown Victoria full-sized sedan. By the 2000s, the Plymouth nameplate had been retired, but Chrysler's Mercedes-based Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger re-introduced full-sized V8 powered rear-wheel drive sedans.

Before 1975, the top line models in Plymouth's Fury series were known as the "Fury Gran Coupe" and "Fury Gran Sedan". The Fury Gran Coupe model was introduced in 1970 as a hardtop coupe. A "Fury Gran Coupe" hardtop sedan was also available in 1971, but in 1972 it was renamed "Fury Gran Sedan". The Gran Coupe and Gran Sedan models continued in 1973 and 1974.


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For more information and pictures of the real car please visit: Plymouth Gran Fury

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Here's a nice Matchbox model recently acquired from Charlie Mack at the Hershey Matchbox show. I'm not sure whether to knock Lesney for the huge anel gaps (especially noticeable on the front fascia) or applaud them for their accuracy in replicating Chrysler's build quality of that era. This is the only Plymouth version of this car in small scale, however, thanks to "The Blues Brothers" Dodge's sibling car, the Monaco, is available from a mulititude of different manufacturers.

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Wikipedia
 
In 1975, the mid-size B-body Plymouth Satellite in a downsizing effort was restyled and renamed Plymouth Fury. As a result, the previous full-sized C-body Fury became known as the Gran Fury. Due to the fact that the C-body Fury had been redesigned for 1974, the 1975 Gran Fury received few changes besides its new name. Top-of-the-line Gran Fury Brougham models were treated to a new grille and new single-unit headlight design; all Gran Furys would receive this for 1976.

This generation was available as a 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan, 4-door hardtop, amd 4-door station wagon. All models with the exception of the wagons rode on the 121.5 in (3086 mm) wheelbase shared with the Dodge Monaco. Gran Fury Suburban wagons rode on a longer 124 in (3150 mm) wheelbase that was also used by Monaco wagons and all full-sized Chryslers and Imperials. The 1975 Gran Fury was available in four trim levels:[1] base (sedan and coupe only), "Custom" (all models), "Brougham" (coupe and hardtop only), and "Sport Suburban" (wagon only). Changes for 1976 were minimal. The 4-door hardtop body style was eliminated, leaving only coupes, sedans, and wagons. With this, sedans were now available in deluxe Brougham trim. Offerings were trimmed for the C-body Gran Fury's final model year, 1977. The mid-range Custom trim level was dropped, leaving only base and high-end Brougham coupes and sedans. 1977 Gran Fury wagons were available in either base Suburban or high-end Sport Suburban models. All full-sized C-body Plymouths were discontinued at the end of the 1977 model year, leaving the mid-size B-body Fury to soldier on as Plymouth's large car for 1978.

Sales of all of the Chrysler Corporation's C-body models for the 1974-1978 model years were considerably disappointing; the Plymouth Gran Fury was no exception. This is due to the fact that 1973 introduction of the redesigned 1974 model year C-bodies coincided with the 1973 oil crisis. As gas prices skyrocketed, demand for gas-guzzling full-sized cars took a nosedive. C-body offerings decreased throughout the 1974-1978 design cycle. Imperials were the first to go after 1975. Plymouth and Dodge C-bodies were dropped after the 1977 model year. Chrysler C-bodies were discontinued after 1978. The discontinuation of the Gran Fury was followed by the discontinuation of the mid-size Fury after the 1978 model year. This huge gap in Plymouth's lineup left the compact Volaré as Plymouth's largest car for 1979. A redesigned downsized Gran Fury would return in 1980.


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Sak
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Ezekiel 25:17
The later issues- like this one (from after the Universal buyout)- are missing the door cutouts, I guess for a better spread of the tampo. I have an earlier one on deck for a civilian conversion but who knows when I'm gonna get to it.
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craftymore
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Support your local demo derby.

Shocker Mopar FTW! Never saw those 8 dot wheels on this casting before, always the smaller and thinner ones. It's not a great casting but at least they did a c-body Plymouth while no one else has.
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diegomg
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Fullsize
I have the big version (sad condition survivor of my childhood)

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Cool model I love all those american police cars.
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ivantt
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New casting? Quick! Take it apart!
Sure, the casting is dated, and the quality is not the Matchbox we see now (notice the plastic molding"short shot" on the right headlight and grill trim, in addition to the large gaps), but quite the charming big patrol car. This one must have thrilled many a child, and it still does it to me. I believe I have none of these. Nice find, Sean!
SAK-interesting observation about the door outlines, and your explanation is most likely correct.
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Tone
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Rocket 88
Another one, this time Lesney UK production

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pjedsel
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Muscle Car
Gee...I always thought the panel gaps were suppose to be there - truly does reflect the poor quality of Chrysler products of that era. :rolleyes: With that said - overall it was a neat police car in the MB lineup - one I have several versions of.
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juantoo3
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That top version just screams BLUES BROTHERS!!!!
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Dean-o-mite
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The Zylmex is marked as a Plymouth, but this one is an older generation, right?

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Dean
Edited by Dean-o-mite, Nov 9 2010, 10:13 PM.
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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
Heh, '70s Chryslers are confusing and I don't think even they knew what they were doing. However, since the Monaco is among my favorite cars I've researched this.

Your Zylmex is a '75-'76 but that Fury lasted through the 1978 model year ('77-'78 has stacked quad square headlights as opposed to the dual round lights seen on the '75-'76), while the Gran Fury lasted through the 1977 model year. Yes, both cars were sold alongside of each other. The Coronet turned into the Monaco for 1977 so the existing C-Body Monaco became the Royal Monaco while the B-Body Monaco soldiered on through 1978. So the Gran & Royal are C-Body cars (traditional full size cars) while the regular Fury & Monaco are B-Body cars (and while larger than today's full-size cars, these were considered mid-size models then!).

*Deep breath*

So in 1977 Chrysler went from having two different Monacos and Furys in their lineup to having zero in 1979. Both nameplates eventually (briefly) came back.
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juantoo3
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Had to replace all of the ones destroyed in Blues Brothers... :D
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Sak
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Ezekiel 25:17
What Sean omitted was the fact that, in about a half hour, there will be a pop quiz on whether you've digested that information. You heard it here first.
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craftymore
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Support your local demo derby.

Swifty got the B-Body Mopars correct. Just think of the smaller Dodge and Plymouths as really a 4 door Chrysler Cordoba. They're all basically the same thing though some have more doors than others and different front grills headlights/taillights. Any way you shake them, they are Pinch framers in derby lingo! :D

@ George - I'm ready for my test. ;)
Edited by craftymore, Nov 10 2010, 07:07 PM.
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Dean-o-mite
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Muscle Car
Excellent lesson! I feel so much smarter. I do not test well, so please do not see my poor test scores as a reflection of your instruction.

Dean
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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
George wasn't kidding!


It's test time.

1. Dodge made the Monaco. What is country on the French Riviera is this car named after?

2. Plymouth made the Gran Fury. Find and circle the words "Gran" and "Fury".

3. Coronets had dual headlights while Monacos and later Furys had quad headlights. The Royal Monaco was available with hidden headlights. So if you have a Coronet, a Monaco, a '78 Fury, and a Royal Monaco (lights are in the retracted position) how many visible headlights are there?

4. Monte Carlo is in Monaco which in turn is on the French Riviera. How many car names are in the previous sentence? For extra credit, name the manufacturers of those three cars.
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James
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Mr.Bowtie
1 Monaco

2. Grand and Fury (Can't circle them , how about under lining them

3. 14

4. 3 - Chevy. Dodge, Buick

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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
James' score: 50%

Hopefully no one draws circles on their monitors over this one! ;)

If you want to know which ones you got wrong I'll PM you. Hint- one is a spelling error and you're being docked full points for it. Hey, I grade harshly!
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James
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Mr.Bowtie
James
Nov 10 2010, 10:58 PM
1 Monaco

2. Grand and Fury (Can't circle them , how about under lining them

3. 14

4. 3 - Chevy. Dodge, Buick

OK CHEVROLET,

I figured I messed up with the number of headlites, It is cool in here tonite so I didn't take off my socks to count over 10, so I just guessed at it.


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juantoo3
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Swifty
Nov 10 2010, 10:39 PM
George wasn't kidding!


It's test time.

1. Dodge made the Monaco. What is country on the French Riviera is this car named after?

2. Plymouth made the Gran Fury. Find and circle the words "Gran" and "Fury".

3. Coronets had dual headlights while Monacos and later Furys had quad headlights. The Royal Monaco was available with hidden headlights. So if you have a Coronet, a Monaco, a '78 Fury, and a Royal Monaco (lights are in the retracted position) how many visible headlights are there?

4. Monte Carlo is in Monaco which in turn is on the French Riviera. How many car names are in the previous sentence? For extra credit, name the manufacturers of those three cars.
1. Ummm, ummm, that place where Prince Ranier and Princess Grace lived...darn it! I'll think of it, just give me a minute...

2. Find and circle the words ("Gran" and "Fury"). Three sides will just have to do, :D

3. Coronets had dual headlights while Monacos and later Furys had quad headlights. The Royal Monaco was available with hidden headlights. So if you have a Coronet, a Monaco, a '78 Fury, and a Royal Monaco (lights are in the retracted position) how many visible headlights are there?
Answer: 2...high beam and low beam...and you thought I wouldn't catch the trick question!

4. Monte Carlo is in Monaco which in turn is on the French Riviera. How many car names are in the previous sentence? For extra credit, name the manufacturers of those three cars.
Answer: 3... Shove Row Lay, Dudge, and Byoo Ick
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Swifty
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
juantoo3
Nov 10 2010, 11:27 PM
Answer: 3... Shove Row Lay, Dudge, and Byoo Ick
I will remind you that spelling counts... ;)
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