1972 Plymouth Fury III (Gran Coupe?)

[regular06]

1972 Plymouth Fury III Hardtop For Sale At Auction - Mecum Auctions

View the 1972 Plymouth Fury III Hardtop for sale at Indy Fall Special 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana as F17.

www.mecum.com

Howdy folks,

I was checking some websites and found this '72 Fury. It looks like some sort of Restomod with a few interesting things about it.
Firstly it looks like they stripped the side molding off the car and painted/patched over it, you can kind of see it through the paintwork in the reflection.
It also looks like it has this custom centre console and shifter. I don't think I've ever seen a fuselage car with one!
I don't want to flood the thread with images but it also looks to be entirely restored. There is not a speck of rust on this on the undercarriage, engine bay, or quarter panels. The rest of the photos are in the link if anyone is interested.
Vin is PH23K2D289128 according to website. Interested in hearing everyone's thoughts about this car - It's nice, but I think these look better with 2 extra doors (and no centre console!).

 

[Big_John]

I never liked that shifter in GM cars and I really don't like it in the Fury. Console looks amateurish to me.

From some quick glances, there's several dings where the side molding was. At first I thought it was just reflections and then I saw them in other pics. I think those are GM front buckets with the perforated vinyl that doesn't match the rears. Rear "door" panels are some custom units that don't match the front. Headliner is falling down.

Watching the video showed a lot of dirt in the paint with a ton of orange peel.

It didn't sell.... Not surprised.

 

[carguy300]

Ill pass on that one. Yes looks GM shifter to me, definetly not a gran coupe.

 

[regular06]

Ill pass on that one. Yes looks GM shifter to me, definetly not a gran coupe.

How can you tell it's not a Gran Coupe? Thought it was the only one that came with the hide-away headlights.

 

[regular06]

I never liked that shifter in GM cars and I really don't like it in the Fury. Console looks amateurish to me.

From some quick glances, there's several dings where the side molding was. At first I thought it was just reflections and then I saw them in other pics. I think those are GM front buckets with the perforated vinyl that doesn't match the rears. Rear "door" panels are some custom units that don't match the front. Headliner is falling down.

Watching the video showed a lot of dirt in the paint with a ton of orange peel.

It didn't sell.... Not surprised.

Strange decision on the restorer's end to mix GM parts with a Mopar. I bet it would have cost just the same to use original/refurbished parts.

 

[carguy300]

How can you tell it's not a Gran Coupe? Thought it was the only one that came with the hide-away headlights.

Normally it would have special vinyl top and other options, would have a Gran Coupe badge. Im sure some where in the vin would be verification. I had one in high school, it was loaded with options. Also around the tail lights was rubber like trim.

 

[CBODY67]

1n 1972, "Fury III" is VIN model code "PH". In 1972, Fury Grand Coupe and Grand Secan are VIN model code "PP" (Plymouth Premium). As such, the Grand Coupe/Grand Sedan would have appropriate badging, too. Inside and out. With the less-vertical leading edge of the C-pillar and ONE rear wheel-related quarter panel contour, that is not the "Formal" 2-dr hardtop.

In general, a nice looking "molested" car. GM bucket seats (Firebird), the custom center console and GM shifter, and whatever else that might have been changed. Plus the other "custom" touches. AND the Mecum description notes a "black wrap". FWIW

CBODY67

 

[Big_John]

AND the Mecum description notes a "black wrap

I missed that. It would explain a lot about the appearance in the pics.

 

[68PK21 440.6bbl]

Enlarge the engine picture and notice the power brake booster is tee'd in with the PCV valve too (I guess) the PCV port on the carburetor.
I that going to work well? Was the engine designed like that? No. An people wonder why they have brake issues.

Also the GM'afacation spreads to the engine bay with the GM style plastic wiring looms(?).
Plus console shifter is Chevy standard right? Camaro, Chevelle, etc as I remember Firebird/Pontiacs having the push button ball. Am I right on that?

.

 

[68PK21 440.6bbl]

It got up to 9 Grand...

On a side note looking for the 1972 I saw this one which I think would be a deal for the 'vert fans.

.

 

[Big_John]

It got up to 9 Grand...

So, some buyers are blind.... SMH.

I watched the video a little closer this morning and my opinion hasn't changed. I wonder what evils that wrap hides. I spotted the seam for the wrap on the roof this time.

 

[68PK21 440.6bbl]

So, some buyers are blind.... SMH.

I watched the video a little closer this morning and my opinion hasn't changed. I wonder what evils that wrap hides. I spotted the seam for the wrap on the roof this time.


View attachment 744766
View attachment 744767

Yeah I noticed the 'Black Hides Everything' with selective rattle can spray on engine compartment items and underside items.
Looks like they bench sprayed the master cylinder as the nuts to the booster aren't black, same underside, I wonder how the black mufflers are going to work out? Or do they sell colored mufflers like that now? Is powder coating heat proof? Inquiring minds need to know...


.

 

[CBODY67]

The PCV system uses straight manifold vacuum. Strange that they could not use the lh rr intake manifold runner for that, as OEM. In normal use, using their existing vac source can probably work just fine, BUT as pcv vapors work their way toward the vac booster, THEN issues can surface as to booster durability. Hopefully, the new owner can fix that before it might happen.


Which raises the issue of where the hvac vac source might be?

No factory a/c? I'm out. That's when I pretty much stopped looking at it. It can be a nice car for somebody, just not me.

Didn't decode the VIN other than the model, but obviously and LA-engined car that got an upgraded-from-904 727 installed in it. I suspect the 727 could have been ordered f for a HD-use Fury III, but such "HD-use" would not have been for a 2dr hardtop, usually. BTAIM.

In ALL of its faults, to a general "car enthusiast" (who might note the GM shifter and such), the car would get attention at weekend cruise events. It might burn rubber, too. Many people want to see an engine bay filled side-to-side with engine, not a "lost in the space" LA engine (not discounting its power!). A Gen III Hemi would be different, as "people" know what that is, by observation.

Enjoy!
CBODY67

 

[Big_John]

Yeah I noticed the 'Black Hides Everything' with selective rattle can spray on engine compartment items and underside items.
Looks like they bench sprayed the master cylinder as the nuts to the booster aren't black, same underside, I wonder how the black mufflers are going to work out? Or do they sell colored mufflers like that now? Is powder coating heat proof? Inquiring minds need to know...


.

Black header paint would do the job. But you're right about the "black hides everything".

I can't help but wonder what this car was like to begin with. Based on the underside, it looks like it was a decent car. In this state, it's not worth $9k to me, but as my son used to tell me when he was selling Fords, "there's an *** for every seat".

 

[regular06]

If it was restored properly — not wrapped, no GM parts, no centre console, would you reckon it'd be a 9k car given how clean the underside and rest of the car is? These 72s seem so scarce these days that in my eyes there are no good ways to gauge their value.

 

[Big_John]

If it was restored properly — not wrapped, no GM parts, no centre console, would you reckon it'd be a 9k car given how clean the underside and rest of the car is? These 72s seem so scarce these days that in my eyes there are no good ways to gauge their value.

I'm sure it would be worth at least that. It's a desirable body style, but it's also a small block car, and that may deter some.

But it depends on the overall condition... Paint is expensive these days and interior work is only inexpensive if you can do a lot yourself. Myself, I would pay a premium for a rust free car as that makes life much easier and a much less labor intensive restoration.

The wrap and spray can restoration may be camouflaging of the true condition of the body though and may not be a true benchmark to judge others by. If it didn't sell at $9k, then the reserve price must higher, and from what I've seen of auctions, it must be so high that they didn't compromise down to $9k.

 

[Rustyrodknocker]

Well I don't hate it. Looks like a flipper car as to be expected at Mecum. Camaro seats and shifter. We used to run those seats in everything when they were cheap and everywhere. Can buy covers for those on ebay. May have been an early conversion because the horseshoe shifter is more expensive than a generic B&M. Cheap ebay wrap seems like alot of work. This looks like the quality of car that was popular on the streets 30 years ago. I like those cars. People doing work themselves and hitting the road. Some better than others as expected.

 

[1970FuryConv]

If it was restored properly — not wrapped, no GM parts, no centre console, would you reckon it'd be a 9k car given how clean the underside and rest of the car is? These 72s seem so scarce these days that in my eyes there are no good ways to gauge their value.

Hi Regular
This was my car until I sold it to a FCBO member in Pittsburgh.
He put a lot of $ into the car to make it just what he wanted. Don't know why the sale. Really sorry to see.
It is from Oregon, which explains lack of rust. It did have some body rust. See thread below. Don't know what was repaired before wrap.
I converted the Fury III to hidden headlights. Not factory on car.
Engine is a 408 SB Chrysler Stroker that he bought out of another car locally.
If you want to do a lot of reading, here is a link on all work I did on the car PH23K2D289128
1972 Fury III 360 101498 miles
see post 35 for VIN match

 

[Rustyrodknocker]

OH.. that car.. I really liked that car. I would have liked to have the Mexican interior that was in it. Looks like he may have kept the rear panels and dyed them.
The color of that car was outstanding.

 

[edbods]

GM style plastic wiring looms

ehh I think that's nitpicking at this point. I'll take organised wiring looms any day over rats nests of spaghetti wiring.
Brake booster teeing into the PCV valve made me laugh though.