1959 Plymouth Sport Fury Convertible
Virgil Exner’s “Forward Look” design philosophy reached its most flamboyant expression with distinctive tailfins that stretched longer and canted outward more dramatically than in previous years, complemented by repositioned oval taillights mounted beneath the fins.
Plymouth designated the Sport Fury convertible as its top-of-the-line open model for 1959, marking the first year the nameplate appeared in open-air form after three years of hardtop-only production.
Just 5,990 convertibles left the factory, representing a small fraction of total Sport Fury output alongside 17,867 hardtop coupes.
Styling updates included bold “double barrel” front fenders, an anodized aluminum eggcrate grille, and a “Flite Sweep” sports deck appliqué on the decklid that suggested a continental spare tire.
The standard 318 cubic inch V8 with four-barrel carburetion produced 260 horsepower, while the optional Golden Commando 395 engine (a 361 cubic inch V8) delivered 305 horsepower and 395 lb-ft of torque.
Torsion bar front suspension provided improved handling characteristics compared to conventional coil spring designs.
Plymouth discontinued the Sport Fury nameplate after the 1959 model year, only to revive it for 1962 as performance emphasis returned to the full-size lineup.
Source
