MyStarCollectorCar

MAY 2025: 1964 PLYMOUTH FURY—IT’S A LIFETIME COMMITMENT

Jerry Admin

Very few people keep their first brand new car because it doesn’t make sense.

Cars are machines, so once they wear out and start costing money, they get replaced by newer cars with fewer problems.

That’s how it works in theory, but fortunately some guys hang onto their first new car—this 1964 Plymouth Fury is a prime example.

Jerry Sutherland

Larry Gammon is the current and only owner of this classic Mopar B-body, so he knows its history from Day 1. He sold his custom ’55 Plymouth and ordered the Fury in the fall of 1963.

Larry’s dad worked at a Chrysler dealer, so he was born into the Mopar world. Larry picked the ‘64 Plymouth over the Dodge for two reasons—he liked the Fury name better than the Dodge Polara plus the Plymouth had a shorter wheelbase. Larry cut the deal with Renfrew Motors in Calgary, Alberta Canada. 

He ordered a unique combination of options for the Fury as he explained: “It was to be a two-door hardtop equipped with the 383 four-barrel, 330 HP engine, four-speed Hurst-shifted manual tranny with console, bucket seats, painted Nassau Blue Metallic with white side trim. Back in the day outside mirrors & seat belts were options I didn’t need!”.  

The Fury cost 3800 dollars, so Larry had to borrow from a friend for the down payment and finance the car at high interest, but it was worth the extra cost.

The day it arrived was huge for Larry: “When eventually that phone call came on November 5th, I rushed to the dealership to bring home my very first new vehicle. The drive home could only be described as completely awesome, rowing through the gears while that powerful 383 hummed along! There was, of course, that wonderful new car smell!”.

Larry piled up new memories in the Fury including a wedding in 1965 to his bride Louise. His buddies decided to mark the occasion by switching the spark plug wires on the Fury, but Larry took it in stride.

There were road trips to Windsor, Ontario Canada (where the Fury was built) plus a side trip to Niagara Falls. The Fury was also used to haul a tent trailer when Larry, Louise and their two daughters went on vacation.

The Fury continued to be a daily driver even after Larry got a company car because Louise still needed to run it as a family car. There was a repaint in the early 80s after what Larry described as a “few fender benders”.

Larry also rebuilt the 383 (.30 over) and added Max Wedge exhaust manifolds and exhaust system plus a Max Wedge hood scoop. He also added a sway bar from a taxicab to make the Fury handle the road better than factory specs. There were other upgrades; “Thought of a few more improvements I have made: Added 11 3/4″ front disc brakes from a ‘79 Cordoba. Added a dual master cylinder for safety. Now have MANUAL disc brakes. Added 3″ TTI exhaust with factory type cut outs. Added electronic ignition for easier starts”.

The next stage was a more intense restoration of the Fury’s body as Larry outlined: “I decided to replace the quarter panels, wheel housings & trunk drops with brand new reproduction panels. (Rust bubbles were starting to appear around the wheel wells).  

That brings the story to today. Larry explained why he kept the car: “It was my first brand new car, maybe that’s why?  It still runs & drives just like I remember from the past”.    

The last stage of the Fury’s story is obvious because Larry made a lifetime commitment to the Fury.

I  have no intention of getting rid of it & hopefully my oldest daughter’s family will look after it some day (hopefully not soon).

Larry Gammon

By: Jerry Sutherland

Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post,  Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.

Exit mobile version