Plymouth Gran Fury
Encyclopedia
The Plymouth Gran Fury is an automobile
manufactured by the Chrysler Corporation
to signify Plymouth's largest full-size automobile from 1975 to 1977. The nameplate would be used on successive downsizings
, first in 1980, and again in 1982, through what would originally have been intermediate and compact classes in the early 1970s, all with conventional rear-wheel drive layouts. By the time the Plymouth Gran Fury ended production in 1989, it was Plymouth's last remaining rear-wheel drive car, a configuration used since Plymouth's first car was introduced in 1928. It was also Plymouth's last remaining V8 equipped vehicle. Plymouth would not have another rear-wheel drive car until the 1997 Prowler
roadster. After Chevrolet ended production of the Caprice, only Ford continued production of its V8 powered rear-wheel drive Crown Victoria full-sized sedan. By the 2000s, the Plymouth nameplate had been retired, but Chrysler's Mercedes-based Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger re-introduced full-sized V8 powered rear-wheel drive sedans.
Before 1975, the top line models in Plymouth's Fury series were known as the "Fury Gran Coupe" and "Fury Gran Sedan". The Fury Gran Coupe model was introduced in 1970 as a highly trimmed pillared coupe. It moved to the two-door hardtop body for 1971, when a "Fury Gran Coupe" hardtop sedan was also available, renamed "Fury Gran Sedan" for 1972. The Gran Coupe and Gran Sedan models continued in 1973 and 1974.
Plymouth Satellite
was restyled and renamed Plymouth Fury
. As a result, the previous full-sized C-body
Fury became known as the Gran Fury. Because the C-body Fury had been redesigned for 1974, the 1975 Gran Fury received few changes besides its new name. Top-of-the-line Gran Fury Brougham models were treated to a new grille and new single-unit headlight design; all Gran Furys would receive this for 1976.
This generation was available as a 2-door coupe, 2-door hardtop, 4-door sedan, 4-door hardtop, and 4-door station wagon. All models with the exception of the wagons rode on the 121.5 in (3,086 mm) wheelbase shared with the Dodge Monaco
. Gran Fury Suburban wagons rode on a longer 124 in (3,150 mm) wheelbase that was also used by Monaco wagons and all full-sized Chryslers and Imperials. The 1975 Gran Fury was available in four trim levels: base (sedan and coupe only), "Custom" (all models), "Brougham" (coupe and hardtop only), and "Sport Suburban" (wagon only). Changes for 1976 were minimal. The 4-door hardtop body style was eliminated, leaving only coupes, sedans, and wagons. With this, sedans were now available in deluxe Brougham trim. Offerings were trimmed for the C-body Gran Fury's final model year, 1977. The mid-range Custom trim level was dropped, leaving only base and high-end Brougham coupes and sedans. 1977 Gran Fury wagons were available in either base Suburban or high-end Sport Suburban models. All full-sized C-body Plymouths were discontinued at the end of the 1977 model year, leaving the mid-size B-body Fury to soldier on as Plymouth's large car for 1978. A/C was optional.
Sales of all of the Chrysler Corporation's C-body models for the 1974-1978 model years were considerably disappointing; the Plymouth Gran Fury was no exception. This is because 1973 introduction of the redesigned 1974 model year C-bodies coincided with the 1973 oil crisis
. As gas prices skyrocketed, demand for gas-guzzling full-sized cars took a nosedive. C-body offerings decreased throughout the 1974-1978 design cycle. Imperials were the first to go after 1975. Plymouth and Dodge C-bodies were dropped after the 1977 model year. Chrysler C-bodies were discontinued after 1978. The discontinuation of the Gran Fury was followed by the discontinuation of the mid-size Fury after the 1978 model year. This huge gap in Plymouth's lineup left the compact Volaré as Plymouth's largest car for 1979. A redesigned downsized Gran Fury would return in 1980.
was intended to fill this gap. Although the Newport achieved this and 1979 sales were fairly strong, there was still heavy demand for a full-sized Plymouth model. So finally in 1980 the Gran Fury returned after a two year absence.
This downsized Gran Fury was available only as a "pillared hardtop" 4-door sedan, this time based on the heavily restyled, but not re-engineered R platform
, introduced in 1979 in response to redesigned Chevrolet and Ford models. The "new" R-body was actually Chrysler's old mid-size B-body, introduced in 1962 and updated in 1971. Nearly identical to the concurrent Chrysler Newport, it was intended to satisfy dealer requests for a lower-priced full-size model, but more importantly to fulfill fleet orders, primarily for police and taxi use.
The 1980 and 1981 Plymouth Gran Fury was available in base and better-equipped "Salon" trim classes; the Salon came equipped with more standard features including a vinyl covered roof, higher-grade interior cloth, split-bench seat, chrome body-side trim, and deluxe wheel covers. Like its sibling, the Dodge St. Regis
, the R-body Gran Fury was mainly popular among fleet customers, especially police departments (both the Michigan Highway Patrol and the Ohio State Highway Patrol
ordered substancial numbers of the cars), with few sold to private retail customers. In light of this, the 1980 Gran Fury achieved the highest sales of any R-body that year.
The second-generation Gran Fury was also short-lived, and was discontinued midway through the 1981 model year along with the other R-body models due to underwhelming sales. This can be mainly attributed to poor fuel economy, as well as its outdated platform. The 1981 Gran Fury was also the last true full-size car to bear the Plymouth
name, until the brand's demise twenty years later.
with the Chrysler Fifth Avenue
(called "New Yorker
" for 1982) and the Dodge Diplomat
. In addition to the R-body Gran Fury, the M-body Gran Fury replaced the M-body Chrysler LeBaron
, which had moved to the compact
K platform
that year. Now considered a mid-sized car, this generation Gran Fury was close to the size of what was once the compact Valiant
and Volaré. The M-body was in fact heavily based on the Volaré's F platform
. Like its predecessor, the 1982 Gran Fury was introduced later than its Chrysler and Dodge siblings; the Chrysler LeBaron
and Dodge Diplomat
had used the M-body since 1977.
1982-1989 Plymouth Gran Furys shared the Dodge Diplomat's front and rear fascias. They were virtually identical with the exception of badging. Once again, the third generation Gran Fury was available in base and higher-end "Salon" trim. As in previous years, the higher-volume Gran Fury base model was catered more towards fleet customers as police cars and taxis. Gran Fury Salons were geared more towards private customers and were treated with options such as full vinyl roofs, velour upholstery, turbine-spoke wheels, power windows, and power locks.
Although available to private retail customers, the M-body Gran Fury was far more popular with police departments and other fleet customers, primarily since the car was reasonably priced and had a conventional drivetrain with proven components that could withstand a good deal of abuse. This generation of the Gran Fury sold in respectable numbers. However, despite having the same base prices as the Gran Fury (just under $12,000 USD for their final year), the Diplomat always outsold it, usually by several thousand units each year. The Chrysler Fifth Avenue's total sales were always more than that of the Gran Fury and Diplomat by far, even though it generally cost about $6,000 USD more.
This last car to carry the full-sized Gran Fury nameplate remained relatively unchanged for its 7-year run. Declining sales, a lack of advertising, and general old age (the platform dated back to the 1976 Plymouth Volare and Dodge Aspen
) eventually contributed to the model's demise in 1989. While Dodge received the 1990 Monaco
, and later the revolutionary 1993 Intrepid
as compensation for the loss of the Diplomat, Chrysler made no such effort to replace the Gran Fury with another large car in Plymouth's lineup. This is just another example of Chrysler's neglect and overall lack of confidence in the Plymouth brand that eventually led to its demise in 2001.
from 1978 to 1989 as the Plymouth Caravelle
, badged Caravelle Salon after the front-wheel drive
Caravelle debuted there for 1983. Although the Diplomat and LeBaron appeared on the market in mid-1977, the Caravelle was introduced in the fall of 1977 as a 1978 model. It was sold only by Canadian Plymouth dealers and never offered by their U.S. counterparts. As for the Diplomat
, a 2-door coupé was available from 1978–1981 and a wagon from 1979 to 1981.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
manufactured by the Chrysler Corporation
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
to signify Plymouth's largest full-size automobile from 1975 to 1977. The nameplate would be used on successive downsizings
Downsize (automobile)
Downsizing in the automobile industry is the practice of redesigning a vehicle to retain the interior volume, and often the nameplate and styling of a larger car to a smaller, more efficient platform. General Motors was among the first to announce a downsize strategy for the whole company as a...
, first in 1980, and again in 1982, through what would originally have been intermediate and compact classes in the early 1970s, all with conventional rear-wheel drive layouts. By the time the Plymouth Gran Fury ended production in 1989, it was Plymouth's last remaining rear-wheel drive car, a configuration used since Plymouth's first car was introduced in 1928. It was also Plymouth's last remaining V8 equipped vehicle. Plymouth would not have another rear-wheel drive car until the 1997 Prowler
Plymouth Prowler
The Plymouth Prowler, later the Chrysler Prowler, is a "retro" styled production car built in 1997 and 1999-2002. The Prowler was based on the 1993 concept car of the same name.- Design :...
roadster. After Chevrolet ended production of the Caprice, only Ford continued production of its V8 powered rear-wheel drive Crown Victoria full-sized sedan. By the 2000s, the Plymouth nameplate had been retired, but Chrysler's Mercedes-based Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger re-introduced full-sized V8 powered rear-wheel drive sedans.
Before 1975, the top line models in Plymouth's Fury series were known as the "Fury Gran Coupe" and "Fury Gran Sedan". The Fury Gran Coupe model was introduced in 1970 as a highly trimmed pillared coupe. It moved to the two-door hardtop body for 1971, when a "Fury Gran Coupe" hardtop sedan was also available, renamed "Fury Gran Sedan" for 1972. The Gran Coupe and Gran Sedan models continued in 1973 and 1974.
1974–1977
In 1975, the mid-size B-bodyChrysler B platform
The Chrysler B platform was the basis for rear-wheel drive Chrysler cars from 1962 through 1979, and the front-wheel drive Eagle Premier / Dodge Monaco 1988 through 1992. All of the B-body cars in a given model year for either make were built upon the same chassis...
Plymouth Satellite
Plymouth Satellite
The Plymouth Satellite is an automobile introduced in 1965 as the top model in Plymouth's mid-size Belvedere line. The Satellite remained the top of the line model until the 1967 model year, where it became the mid-price model with the GTX taking its place as the top model. The Fury name was moved...
was restyled and renamed Plymouth Fury
Plymouth Fury
The Plymouth Fury is an automobile which was produced by the Plymouth division of the Chrysler Corporation from 1956 to 1978. The Fury was introduced as a premium-priced model designed to showcase the line, with the intent to draw consumers into showrooms....
. As a result, the previous full-sized C-body
Chrysler C platform
Chrysler's C platform was the basis for rear wheel drive full-size cars from 1965 to 1978. Although often misclassified, 1964 and earlier full-size Chrysler products, and 1966 and earlier Imperials are not C-bodies.Wheelbases:* 119 in...
Fury became known as the Gran Fury. Because the C-body Fury had been redesigned for 1974, the 1975 Gran Fury received few changes besides its new name. Top-of-the-line Gran Fury Brougham models were treated to a new grille and new single-unit headlight design; all Gran Furys would receive this for 1976.
This generation was available as a 2-door coupe, 2-door hardtop, 4-door sedan, 4-door hardtop, and 4-door station wagon. All models with the exception of the wagons rode on the 121.5 in (3,086 mm) wheelbase shared with the Dodge Monaco
Dodge Monaco
The Dodge Monaco was a full-size automobile built and sold by the Dodge division of the Chrysler Corporation between 1965 to 1978, and 1990 to 1992.-A Grand Prix competitor:...
. Gran Fury Suburban wagons rode on a longer 124 in (3,150 mm) wheelbase that was also used by Monaco wagons and all full-sized Chryslers and Imperials. The 1975 Gran Fury was available in four trim levels: base (sedan and coupe only), "Custom" (all models), "Brougham" (coupe and hardtop only), and "Sport Suburban" (wagon only). Changes for 1976 were minimal. The 4-door hardtop body style was eliminated, leaving only coupes, sedans, and wagons. With this, sedans were now available in deluxe Brougham trim. Offerings were trimmed for the C-body Gran Fury's final model year, 1977. The mid-range Custom trim level was dropped, leaving only base and high-end Brougham coupes and sedans. 1977 Gran Fury wagons were available in either base Suburban or high-end Sport Suburban models. All full-sized C-body Plymouths were discontinued at the end of the 1977 model year, leaving the mid-size B-body Fury to soldier on as Plymouth's large car for 1978. A/C was optional.
Sales of all of the Chrysler Corporation's C-body models for the 1974-1978 model years were considerably disappointing; the Plymouth Gran Fury was no exception. This is because 1973 introduction of the redesigned 1974 model year C-bodies coincided with the 1973 oil crisis
1973 oil crisis
The 1973 oil crisis started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo. This was "in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military" during the Yom Kippur war. It lasted until March 1974. With the...
. As gas prices skyrocketed, demand for gas-guzzling full-sized cars took a nosedive. C-body offerings decreased throughout the 1974-1978 design cycle. Imperials were the first to go after 1975. Plymouth and Dodge C-bodies were dropped after the 1977 model year. Chrysler C-bodies were discontinued after 1978. The discontinuation of the Gran Fury was followed by the discontinuation of the mid-size Fury after the 1978 model year. This huge gap in Plymouth's lineup left the compact Volaré as Plymouth's largest car for 1979. A redesigned downsized Gran Fury would return in 1980.
| Year | Units |
|---|---|
| 1975 | 72,801 |
| 1976 | 39,511 |
| 1977 | 47,552 |
| Total Production = 159,864 | |
1980–1981
When the downsized "R-body" cars were introduced for 1979, no Plymouth version was offered. The low-end Chrysler NewportChrysler Newport
The Newport was a name used by the Chrysler division of the Chrysler Corporation used as both a hardtop body designation and also for its lowest priced model between 1961 and 1981...
was intended to fill this gap. Although the Newport achieved this and 1979 sales were fairly strong, there was still heavy demand for a full-sized Plymouth model. So finally in 1980 the Gran Fury returned after a two year absence.
This downsized Gran Fury was available only as a "pillared hardtop" 4-door sedan, this time based on the heavily restyled, but not re-engineered R platform
Chrysler R platform
The Chrysler R platform, introduced for 1979, was essentially a slightly modernized version of Chrysler's 1971-78 intermediate B platform, which had its roots in the company's downsized 1962 full-size models . It was a response to the downsized 1977 Chevrolet Caprice and Ford LTD, but proved...
, introduced in 1979 in response to redesigned Chevrolet and Ford models. The "new" R-body was actually Chrysler's old mid-size B-body, introduced in 1962 and updated in 1971. Nearly identical to the concurrent Chrysler Newport, it was intended to satisfy dealer requests for a lower-priced full-size model, but more importantly to fulfill fleet orders, primarily for police and taxi use.
The 1980 and 1981 Plymouth Gran Fury was available in base and better-equipped "Salon" trim classes; the Salon came equipped with more standard features including a vinyl covered roof, higher-grade interior cloth, split-bench seat, chrome body-side trim, and deluxe wheel covers. Like its sibling, the Dodge St. Regis
Dodge St. Regis
The Dodge St. Regis is a full-size Dodge automobile built from 1979 to 1981. The St. Regis was based on Chrysler's rear wheel drive R-body platform, itself based on a modified version of the circa 1971 B-body design that provided the underpinnings for such cars as the Dodge Charger and the...
, the R-body Gran Fury was mainly popular among fleet customers, especially police departments (both the Michigan Highway Patrol and the Ohio State Highway Patrol
Ohio State Highway Patrol
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety and is the official highway patrol agency of Ohio. The several missions of the Patrol include providing roadway patrol, emergency response to all public lands, the investigation of crimes which occur on state...
ordered substancial numbers of the cars), with few sold to private retail customers. In light of this, the 1980 Gran Fury achieved the highest sales of any R-body that year.
The second-generation Gran Fury was also short-lived, and was discontinued midway through the 1981 model year along with the other R-body models due to underwhelming sales. This can be mainly attributed to poor fuel economy, as well as its outdated platform. The 1981 Gran Fury was also the last true full-size car to bear the Plymouth
Plymouth (automobile)
Plymouth was a marque of automobile based in the United States, produced by the Chrysler Corporation and its successor DaimlerChrysler.-Origins:...
name, until the brand's demise twenty years later.
| Year | Units |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 18,724 |
| 1981 | 7,719 |
| Total Production = 26,443 | |
1982–1989
In 1982, Plymouth downsized the Gran Fury again, this time sharing the mid-size M platformChrysler M platform
The M-Bodies were Chrysler Corporation's successor to the F-body Aspen/Volare. The platform, almost identical to the F, was introduced in 1977 and was the basis for some mid-sized Chrysler models until its demise in 1989. The M-body was also the successor to the short-lived R-body, as the Chrysler...
with the Chrysler Fifth Avenue
Chrysler Fifth Avenue
With the R-body out of production and the LeBaron name transferred to the Chrysler K platform for 1982, the New Yorker was downsized once again, becoming a mid-sized car ....
(called "New Yorker
Chrysler New Yorker
The Chrysler New Yorker was a premium automobile built by the Chrysler Corporation from 1939–1996, serving for several years as the brand's flagship model. A model named the "New York Special" first appeared in the 1930s...
" for 1982) and the Dodge Diplomat
Dodge Diplomat
The Dodge Diplomat is an American mid-size car made from 1977 to 1989. It is substantially identical to the Chrysler- and Plymouth-branded versions of Chrysler's M-body cars, including the Chrysler LeBaron and New Yorker Fifth Avenue and the Plymouth Gran Fury in the U.S. market and the Plymouth...
. In addition to the R-body Gran Fury, the M-body Gran Fury replaced the M-body Chrysler LeBaron
Chrysler LeBaron
The Chrysler LeBaron was originally a classic luxury car of 1930s manufactured by Chrysler which competed with other luxury cars of the era such as Lincoln and Packard....
, which had moved to the compact
Compact car
A compact car , or small family car , is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini but smaller than or equal to a mid-size car...
K platform
Chrysler K platform
The Chrysler Corporation's K-cars were compact-to-midsize cars designed to carry six adults on two bench seats and were aimed not only to replace Chrysler's nominally-compact F-body Aspen and Volaré, but also to compete with intermediates like the Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fairmont...
that year. Now considered a mid-sized car, this generation Gran Fury was close to the size of what was once the compact Valiant
Plymouth Valiant
The Plymouth Valiant is an automobile manufactured by the Plymouth division of Chrysler Corporation in the United States from 1960 to 1976. It was created to give the company an entry in the compact car market emerging in the late 1950s...
and Volaré. The M-body was in fact heavily based on the Volaré's F platform
Chrysler F platform
Chrysler's rear wheel drive F platform was used from 1976 to 1980. It was replaced by the nearly identical Chrysler M platform. There were two wheelbases: 108.7 in for 2-door models, and 112.7 in for four-doors. As the market evolved, these would be marketed as mid-size and eventually...
. Like its predecessor, the 1982 Gran Fury was introduced later than its Chrysler and Dodge siblings; the Chrysler LeBaron
Chrysler LeBaron
The Chrysler LeBaron was originally a classic luxury car of 1930s manufactured by Chrysler which competed with other luxury cars of the era such as Lincoln and Packard....
and Dodge Diplomat
Dodge Diplomat
The Dodge Diplomat is an American mid-size car made from 1977 to 1989. It is substantially identical to the Chrysler- and Plymouth-branded versions of Chrysler's M-body cars, including the Chrysler LeBaron and New Yorker Fifth Avenue and the Plymouth Gran Fury in the U.S. market and the Plymouth...
had used the M-body since 1977.
1982-1989 Plymouth Gran Furys shared the Dodge Diplomat's front and rear fascias. They were virtually identical with the exception of badging. Once again, the third generation Gran Fury was available in base and higher-end "Salon" trim. As in previous years, the higher-volume Gran Fury base model was catered more towards fleet customers as police cars and taxis. Gran Fury Salons were geared more towards private customers and were treated with options such as full vinyl roofs, velour upholstery, turbine-spoke wheels, power windows, and power locks.
Although available to private retail customers, the M-body Gran Fury was far more popular with police departments and other fleet customers, primarily since the car was reasonably priced and had a conventional drivetrain with proven components that could withstand a good deal of abuse. This generation of the Gran Fury sold in respectable numbers. However, despite having the same base prices as the Gran Fury (just under $12,000 USD for their final year), the Diplomat always outsold it, usually by several thousand units each year. The Chrysler Fifth Avenue's total sales were always more than that of the Gran Fury and Diplomat by far, even though it generally cost about $6,000 USD more.
This last car to carry the full-sized Gran Fury nameplate remained relatively unchanged for its 7-year run. Declining sales, a lack of advertising, and general old age (the platform dated back to the 1976 Plymouth Volare and Dodge Aspen
Dodge Aspen
The Dodge Aspen, produced from 1976 to 1980, was a compact car from Chrysler Corporation's Dodge division; its Plymouth-branded counterpart was the Volaré . It was launched as a two-door coupe, a four-door sedan, and a unique-for-the-segment station wagon...
) eventually contributed to the model's demise in 1989. While Dodge received the 1990 Monaco
Dodge Monaco
The Dodge Monaco was a full-size automobile built and sold by the Dodge division of the Chrysler Corporation between 1965 to 1978, and 1990 to 1992.-A Grand Prix competitor:...
, and later the revolutionary 1993 Intrepid
Dodge Intrepid
The Dodge Intrepid is a large four-door, full-size, front-wheel drive sedan car model that was produced for model years 1993 to 2004. It was mechanically related to the Chrysler Concorde, Chrysler LHS, Chrysler New Yorker, Eagle Vision, and also the 300M sedans...
as compensation for the loss of the Diplomat, Chrysler made no such effort to replace the Gran Fury with another large car in Plymouth's lineup. This is just another example of Chrysler's neglect and overall lack of confidence in the Plymouth brand that eventually led to its demise in 2001.
| Year | Units |
|---|---|
| 1982 | 18,111 |
| 1983 | 15,739 |
| 1984 | 14,516 |
| 1985 | 19,102 |
| 1986 | 14,761 |
| 1987 | 10,377 |
| 1988 | 11,421 |
| 1989 | 4,985 |
| Total Production = 109,012 | |
Canada
The M-body Gran Fury was also sold in CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
from 1978 to 1989 as the Plymouth Caravelle
Plymouth Caravelle
The Plymouth Caravelle is a mid-size sedan that was originally a 1983 Canadian model. The Caravelle came to the United States in 1985 to replace the Chrysler E-Class. It was essentially identical to the concurrent Dodge 600. It was replaced by the Plymouth Acclaim in 1989...
, badged Caravelle Salon after the front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive is a form of engine/transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitudinal engine arrangement generally found in rear-wheel drive and...
Caravelle debuted there for 1983. Although the Diplomat and LeBaron appeared on the market in mid-1977, the Caravelle was introduced in the fall of 1977 as a 1978 model. It was sold only by Canadian Plymouth dealers and never offered by their U.S. counterparts. As for the Diplomat
Dodge Diplomat
The Dodge Diplomat is an American mid-size car made from 1977 to 1989. It is substantially identical to the Chrysler- and Plymouth-branded versions of Chrysler's M-body cars, including the Chrysler LeBaron and New Yorker Fifth Avenue and the Plymouth Gran Fury in the U.S. market and the Plymouth...
, a 2-door coupé was available from 1978–1981 and a wagon from 1979 to 1981.