38 Yr Awakening, E86 ‘78 Fury 4-Door

haywire 440

Get The Cartwright
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Last tagged in 1985, the 440 harvested at that time. Automatic transmission still attached along with other miscellaneous treasures throughout the car.

This 3-fender tag car not a Police Cruiser but darn close. I’m not sure of the original usage. Edit: the fender tag has the A38 code Police Package so it is a Police Car.

Please help in the discovery of this long lost, last year for the 440, Plymouth Fury. Here’s the photo evidence. Regards, haywire 440

7761361E-1F1B-4038-A818-FBB018F55F5D.jpeg


76B761A3-F145-4AD5-9990-571924DB61A5.jpeg


98B27C24-4B84-491C-9A63-5EC3CCCD6A42.jpeg


FB6226B3-C931-4786-ADAE-179B2A74AD35.jpeg


D83D9549-FE38-4FED-97F2-AA250DF3045F.jpeg


488CFE3B-943D-4246-92AD-A7144FF04EB3.jpeg


825E8666-9DBA-4E6D-95C2-C8C1F21C8CCC.jpeg


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769DCF88-981A-41BB-8320-81E64F6324A5.jpeg
 
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Very nice. Some assembly required. I noted two square "tape" areas on the rear dutch panel and on the front pillar - possible additional law enforcement lights that were removed. Any extra components like 100 Amp alternator, additional coolers for the PS and transmission with a trailer pulling option?
 
The tape on the back may be covering holes, I know it had a spotlight on the left B pillar. There is an alternator and other components under the hood. I closed it for traveling and couldn’t get it open again for pictures. Ps does have a cooler attached.
Very nice. Some assembly required. I noted two square "tape" areas on the rear dutch panel and on the front pillar - possible additional law enforcement lights that were removed. Any extra components like 100 Amp alternator, additional coolers for the PS and transmission with a trailer pulling option?
 
so, what's your plans?
Good question, I’d like to see it back on the road again.

There is another vehicle I was planning to tow back when this Fury came into the picture. I need to go back for the other one, same place.

A few other gems were revealed too that I have pictures of to show here soon.
 
M38 - Deck Lid ?
H44 - ?
N41 - Dual Exhaust w/o Exhaust tips
N51 - Max Engine Cooling
CTD- ?
F33 - LH spot light
F58 - RR reinforced weldG11 - Tinted Glass - all
H51 - Heat/AC
M51 - up front door molding
M25- wide sill molding
RF3 - Mint Green Poly paint (upper/lower)
Y39 - Special Order
A38 - Police Package
EWF6 - green cloth / vinyl interior
000 - ?
303 - ?
K16878 - ?
ND - ?
586 - ?
D36 - HD torque Flight 727
N94 - ESA W/Cat?con/75/up
W55 - Body colored road wheels
R = Plymouth
H = High price
41 = 4 door sedan - Fury Salon
U = 440 V-8
8 = 1978
A = Lynch Road assembly
188,553 = 88,553 build - serial no.
The 1970 Hamtramck Registry - 1978 Plymouth Color & Trim Book - Arrow/Sapporo
The 1970 Hamtramck Registry - 1978 Plymouth Dealership Data Book - Fury
 
Some comments on @Sport Fury 67's decodings (nothing serious, just nailing it down):

M38 - Deck Lid ? > Deck Orn/Treatment
H44 - ? > M44 = Hood Ctr Mldg & Orna
N41 - Dual Exhaust w/o Exhaust tips
N51 - Max Engine Cooling
CTD- ? > CONTINUED
F33 - LH spot light
F58 - RR reinforced weld
G11 - Tinted Glass - all
H51 - Heat/AC > Air Condtg w/Ft Htr
M51 - up front door molding > M15 = Dr/Qtr Upr Frm Mldgs
M25- wide sill molding > Sill Mldg
RF3 - Mint Green Poly paint (upper/lower)
Y39 - Special Order
A38 - Police Package
EWF6 - green cloth / vinyl interior
000 - ?
303 - ? > Scheduled Production Date March 3, 1978
K16878 - ? > Vehicle Order Number
ND - ? > END
586 - ? > E86 = 440 V-8
D36 - HD torque Flight 727 > A727 A/Trans
N94 - ESA W/Cat?con/75/up
W55 - Body colored road wheels
R = Plymouth > Plymouth Intermediate
H = High price
41 = 4 door sedan - Fury Salon
U = 440 V-8
8 = 1978
A = Lynch Road assembly
188,553 = 88,553 build - serial no.
586 > E86 = 440 8 Cyl - 4 Bbl HP

This three-part fender tag is very similar:

78-RH41U8A188628.jpg
 
Some comments on @Sport Fury 67's decodings (nothing serious, just nailing it down):

M38 - Deck Lid ? > Deck Orn/Treatment
H44 - ? > M44 = Hood Ctr Mldg & Orna
N41 - Dual Exhaust w/o Exhaust tips
N51 - Max Engine Cooling
CTD- ? > CONTINUED
F33 - LH spot light
F58 - RR reinforced weld
G11 - Tinted Glass - all
H51 - Heat/AC > Air Condtg w/Ft Htr
M51 - up front door molding > M15 = Dr/Qtr Upr Frm Mldgs
M25- wide sill molding > Sill Mldg
RF3 - Mint Green Poly paint (upper/lower)
Y39 - Special Order
A38 - Police Package
EWF6 - green cloth / vinyl interior
000 - ?
303 - ? > Scheduled Production Date March 3, 1978
K16878 - ? > Vehicle Order Number
ND - ? > END
586 - ? > E86 = 440 V-8
D36 - HD torque Flight 727 > A727 A/Trans
N94 - ESA W/Cat?con/75/up
W55 - Body colored road wheels
R = Plymouth > Plymouth Intermediate
H = High price
41 = 4 door sedan - Fury Salon
U = 440 V-8
8 = 1978
A = Lynch Road assembly
188,553 = 88,553 build - serial no.
586 > E86 = 440 8 Cyl - 4 Bbl HP

This three-part fender tag is very similar:

View attachment 578275

Wow, thanks for posting the tags and the help with extra help with my code #s.
 
M38 - Deck Lid ?
H44 - ?
N41 - Dual Exhaust w/o Exhaust tips
N51 - Max Engine Cooling
CTD- ?
F33 - LH spot light
F58 - RR reinforced weldG11 - Tinted Glass - all
H51 - Heat/AC
M51 - up front door molding
M25- wide sill molding
RF3 - Mint Green Poly paint (upper/lower)
Y39 - Special Order
A38 - Police Package
EWF6 - green cloth / vinyl interior
000 - ?
303 - ?
K16878 - ?
ND - ?
586 - ?
D36 - HD torque Flight 727
N94 - ESA W/Cat?con/75/up
W55 - Body colored road wheels
R = Plymouth
H = High price
41 = 4 door sedan - Fury Salon
U = 440 V-8
8 = 1978
A = Lynch Road assembly
188,553 = 88,553 build - serial no.
The 1970 Hamtramck Registry - 1978 Plymouth Color & Trim Book - Arrow/Sapporo
The 1970 Hamtramck Registry - 1978 Plymouth Dealership Data Book - Fury


@Sport Fury 67, thanks for the information you took the time to provide me. The Hamtramck links will be another interesting read.

I’ll be looking closely at @PeugFra fender tags later but it is cool to see another set so similar. It looked like the build date is either 303 or 503.
 
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This 3-fender tag car not a Police Cruiser but darn close. I’m not sure of the original usage.

Perhaps this is obvious to most of us, but maybe not to future readers.
The A38 means it is a police car. Built to that spec, regardless of who bought it and for whatever purpose.

Whether one says it isn't a police car if it was never used by an official enforcement agency - that's semantics.
IIRC a 75-78 B-body like this was discovered as surplus in either a police or taxi fleet and had near-zero miles on it, so it was bought but not used for the job.
For that car - is it, or is it not, a police/taxi if it was owned by, but never used for it's purpose?
Is the line drawn at factory equipment or vehicle usage?

Regardless, I hope the rust-thru on that aircleaner isn't indicative of the rest of the car.

I always love to see High model cars with A38. Those are extra-special!
 
Perhaps this is obvious to most of us, but maybe not to future readers.
The A38 means it is a police car. Built to that spec, regardless of who bought it and for whatever purpose.

Whether one says it isn't a police car if it was never used by an official enforcement agency - that's semantics.
IIRC a 75-78 B-body like this was discovered as surplus in either a police or taxi fleet and had near-zero miles on it, so it was bought but not used for the job.
For that car - is it, or is it not, a police/taxi if it was owned by, but never used for it's purpose?
Is the line drawn at factory equipment or vehicle usage?

Regardless, I hope the rust-thru on that aircleaner isn't indicative of the rest of the car.

I always love to see High model cars with A38. Those are extra-special!

This is why I keep coming back to this site along with the b-bodies, which has my same article on this Fury, answers, directions, help and frankly I like showing off my “hunting” efforts in digging these up.

I didn’t know at first if it could be called a Fury with the police package or classified as a police “cruiser” (and maybe cruiser is a whole different animal).

This all started 3 years ago as I heard of a ‘68 Coronet 500 4-door parts car and spent that time talking to the gentleman about it. The Fury he had came to light just recently and just before everything came together on the sale of the Coronet 500.

I picked up the Fury first because I knew the chance of it being special was high. Like a kid in a five and dime store and a dollar fifty cents in my pocket I felt like a king when I saw pictures of it and then in person. Just to have the opportunity :eek:

I’ll be going back for the Coronet asap. I just posted a different article about these fellows combining a 4-door ‘64 Fury, the suspension of a ‘68 Roadrunner and the 413 of a ‘65 Newport. It was their creation. Plus there are dodge pickup trucks grouped together I didn’t even have time to look over.

Anyhow I look forward to the continual education from all.
 
The terminology varies somewhat from agency to agency and manufacturer to manufacturer, but a "cruiser" would be for driving around your favorire residential neighborhood. Cars like "interceptors" or "pursuits" would be destined for highway duties. With a 440 engine, your car would be in the latter category.
 
The terminology varies somewhat from agency to agency and manufacturer to manufacturer, but a "cruiser" would be for driving around your favorire residential neighborhood. Cars like "interceptors" or "pursuits" would be destined for highway duties. With a 440 engine, your car would be in the latter category.

Now I’m getting the idea! Oh, it will be fun telling my friends I have “Pursuit Vehicle”.

A little personal background, my dad and I would go to municipal auctions to bid on late 70’s-early 80’s 90’s vehicles. Ford LTD’s, Dodge Diplomats and a few K-Cars, Ford Fire Department Station Wagons (low mileage). Prior to that it was the “sealed bid” program. Through that we ended up getting 6, at one time, mid-70’s Police cars for about $200 each, ‘75 Grand Fury 360, a few ‘76 and the rest ‘77 Fury’s.
As a joke one day and for my Dad’s birthday, after he left for work, Ma had us pull ALL the cars onto the front lawn. She then sunk an “Ed’s Car Lot” sign in the lawn. We all stood there laughing until a local Police Cruiser drove slowly past while giving the eye.
He never came back.
 
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