Art Schlachter - Danville, Kentucky, USA
Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2016 4:45 pm
I am the proud owner of a 59 Plymouth Sport Fury purchased from a previous owner and past participant to this web site, Bob Hinds of Birmingham, Alabama. I am an AACA member, a former Tech Advisor for the 1967 Plymouth B-body with the Plymouth Owner's Club, and an active participant in the Keeneland Concours deElegance here in Lexington, Kentucky for over ten years.
Under Bob's 23 year ownership of this car, Bob had done some pretty impressive things during those years. This car had been featured in Auto Restorer's Magazine, The Plymouth Owner’s Club Bulletin and featured on national TV's Car & Driver as well as on Legends of the Road. Additionally, Bob received the AACA Senior Award with this car along with 5 AACA Preservation Awards. Bob also worked with the Milestone Car Society in establishing the 59 Plymouth as a Milestone Car. (Milestone Certification requires meeting five parameters: Distinctive Styling, Engineering, Performance, Innovation and Craftsmanship – relative to their counterparts.)
Being the new-kid-on-the-block, I have my hands full in maintaining the quality and integrity of my Sport Fury established by my predecessor. In my first year of owning this car I have confirmed that the car was well cared for and very reliable. On the road I get a lot of “thumbs-up” from passersby and people will strike up a conversation while stopped at stop lights. Most of the comments are “I haven't seen one of those in years”. People have followed me into gas stations and asked to take a look at the Sport Fury. To me, these are all compliments, to my wife (who isn't into vintage cars), it is embarrassing to be riding in the car. Go figure??
Except for my bringing the car to Kentucky, this car has been an Alabama car all its life. On close inspection I have found the floor boards to be original and solid thanks to favorable Alabama climate the car has been exposed to through the years. The majority of money Chrysler had appropriated for retooling their car lines for 1959 model year was allocated to the 59 Plymouth and it shows.
This car was top of the line for the 1959 Plymouth model year. Special for only Sport Fury was the front windshield that curves overhead as well as the wrap-around to the sides giving the driver the feeling of openness. For a luxury touch Plymouth installed the Tiffany style badges on the rear wings with the gold over black Forward-Look emblems. For sportiness Plymouth installed a faux spare tire cover on rear deck lid with a decorative polished spun aluminum style hubcap with its matching Tiffany style badge. (This was Chrysler's answer to the continental kit seen on the backs of “those other cars”. ) The mirrors are positioned out on the front fenders and give the driver a better – wider view of traffic behind him. This was the only year for the double-barreled fenders. Most of the trim on this car is polished stainless steel. In later years Chrysler went with less expensive trim. Finally, the low stance of this car comes from the 14” tires and the seats sitting between theframe instead of on top of the frame. I did some checking and the Sport Fury is actually lower from the ground to the top of the roof than today's 2015 Toyota Avelon by 3.5”. The Sport Fury is a little over 12” longer and about 8” wider. So the Plymouth Sport Fury is in reality lower, longer and wider than today's Toyota.
One might believe I purchased this car because my first car was a 1959 Plymouth four door, but not really for that reason. When I was young and getting my very first car, I would have been excited to have any car – it just happened to be a 59 Plymouth. My real reason for pursuing a 1959 Sport fury was the fantastic styling that Virgil Exner (Chrysler Design Engineer) had done on this car. Last year while at MOPARS in Carlisle, Pa, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Virgil Exner Jr. That experience was about as close as one can get to the guy that actually designed this car.
-Art Schlachter
Under Bob's 23 year ownership of this car, Bob had done some pretty impressive things during those years. This car had been featured in Auto Restorer's Magazine, The Plymouth Owner’s Club Bulletin and featured on national TV's Car & Driver as well as on Legends of the Road. Additionally, Bob received the AACA Senior Award with this car along with 5 AACA Preservation Awards. Bob also worked with the Milestone Car Society in establishing the 59 Plymouth as a Milestone Car. (Milestone Certification requires meeting five parameters: Distinctive Styling, Engineering, Performance, Innovation and Craftsmanship – relative to their counterparts.)
Being the new-kid-on-the-block, I have my hands full in maintaining the quality and integrity of my Sport Fury established by my predecessor. In my first year of owning this car I have confirmed that the car was well cared for and very reliable. On the road I get a lot of “thumbs-up” from passersby and people will strike up a conversation while stopped at stop lights. Most of the comments are “I haven't seen one of those in years”. People have followed me into gas stations and asked to take a look at the Sport Fury. To me, these are all compliments, to my wife (who isn't into vintage cars), it is embarrassing to be riding in the car. Go figure??
Except for my bringing the car to Kentucky, this car has been an Alabama car all its life. On close inspection I have found the floor boards to be original and solid thanks to favorable Alabama climate the car has been exposed to through the years. The majority of money Chrysler had appropriated for retooling their car lines for 1959 model year was allocated to the 59 Plymouth and it shows.
This car was top of the line for the 1959 Plymouth model year. Special for only Sport Fury was the front windshield that curves overhead as well as the wrap-around to the sides giving the driver the feeling of openness. For a luxury touch Plymouth installed the Tiffany style badges on the rear wings with the gold over black Forward-Look emblems. For sportiness Plymouth installed a faux spare tire cover on rear deck lid with a decorative polished spun aluminum style hubcap with its matching Tiffany style badge. (This was Chrysler's answer to the continental kit seen on the backs of “those other cars”. ) The mirrors are positioned out on the front fenders and give the driver a better – wider view of traffic behind him. This was the only year for the double-barreled fenders. Most of the trim on this car is polished stainless steel. In later years Chrysler went with less expensive trim. Finally, the low stance of this car comes from the 14” tires and the seats sitting between theframe instead of on top of the frame. I did some checking and the Sport Fury is actually lower from the ground to the top of the roof than today's 2015 Toyota Avelon by 3.5”. The Sport Fury is a little over 12” longer and about 8” wider. So the Plymouth Sport Fury is in reality lower, longer and wider than today's Toyota.
One might believe I purchased this car because my first car was a 1959 Plymouth four door, but not really for that reason. When I was young and getting my very first car, I would have been excited to have any car – it just happened to be a 59 Plymouth. My real reason for pursuing a 1959 Sport fury was the fantastic styling that Virgil Exner (Chrysler Design Engineer) had done on this car. Last year while at MOPARS in Carlisle, Pa, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Virgil Exner Jr. That experience was about as close as one can get to the guy that actually designed this car.
-Art Schlachter