Engine isa400cu in V8 from

aCordoba...

...but ideally Ed would like to

fita440 motor.

addictive.IdecidedIhad tobuy something similar and

keep it forayear or two, just to get the idea out of my

system.” Ed wasn’ttoo fussed about which particular

make or model, it just had to beahuge Seventies slab,

like you saw in all the TV shows and films.

The search began and even though there were more

Seventies American cars on our roads back then, don’t

forget this was pre-internet days so the Exchange &

Mart soon became part of Ed’sstapl ediet. “I couldn’t

find anything that fitted the bill in there, looked okay

or fitted my modest budget,” Ed laughs. “My brother

then showed me an advert withasmall black and

white photo soon afterIgot back from holiday which

read ‘Plymouth, 60s styling, bring spare underpants.’

It was exactly whatIwas lo okin gfor.” Ed tookatrip

over to Halifax inWest Yorkshire with his best mate Alex

Clarke to view the ‘71 Sport Furyand afteraquick test

drive, he knew this was the car for him. “I offered £200

less than the asking price and it wasaverylong week

beforeIcould pick it up.”

Hotcar...

but not inagoodway

Although the Furywas dr iveable and generally sound,

there wasaplethora of holes in the bodywork, the

chrome was missing, and the side markers had been

removed and filled. The rear quarter had been dented

where someone had reversed it intoawalland the

interior was little better,showi ng its age and the seats

were falling apart too. At least the 318cu in V8 was

the correct spec, though the original engine had long

since departed in favour ofasimilar sized block from

aBarracuda, and none of the gauges had been wired

up. “The first weekIhad it,the radiator gradually

disintegrated, which was less than ideal, as by now this

was my only car andIhad a30-mile round trip to work

each day,” Ed remembers. “I was blanking off the split

radiator veins twiceaday andwithin acouple of days,

the water was pouring out as fast asIcould refill it.Istill

haveno idea how the car got me home or how hot it

got, as the temperature gauge didn’twork either!”

Changing the radiator was obviously first priority

and, as Ed was onatight budget,aRover V8 radiator

was slotted in to replace the tired original. “I renewed

the front shocks withapairfrom KYB as those on the

car were so worn out, the car hit the bump stops every

time there wasadip in the road,” Ed continues. “Rear

airshocks followed, along with retempered leaf springs

andIbodged the holes in the bodywork with filler so it

at least lookedalittle better.”

In 1992, while the Plymouth was parked at the side

of the road,adriver crashed straight into the back of

it. “The rear bumper didn’tmove, but the rear valance

andside panel were both damaged,” Ed remembers.

“The other car came off much worse and bounced back

aroundeight feet, their suspension had collapsed and

the radiator was left on top of the engine.” Despite

its ordeal, the Plymouth was still far fromawrite-off

andEddecided to have the bodywork professionally

repaired and resprayed in SeatTornado Red. Prior to

the accident, the exterior was painted black and had

been green originally.The car was still missing various

trim items such as the rain gutter and vinyl roof.

Roll onacouple more years, and Ed decided to

replace the 318 motor withabig bl ock, partly for

the whole experience if nothing else. Unable to find

asuitable 440, Ed settled fora400cu in V8 from a

Chrysler Cordoba: “I bought the whole car inacrashed

condition for the running gear and ended up using

the seats in the Furyfor over 20 years too,” he smiles.

“I rebuilt the 400 and fittedamildcompetition cam,

Edelbrock inlet manifold and 750 Holley carb along

with some Thrush headers, these were tricky to fit due

to theCbody’storsion bars.”

Body:

■1971 Plymouth Sport Fury

two-door hardtop.

■HondaMilano Red paint.

■Vinylroof.

Engine

■Rebuilt Chrysler Cordoba

400cu in big block, mild

competition cam.

■Edelbrock inlet manifold.

■750 Holley carb.

■Thrush headers.

Front suspension

■Upratedtorsion bars and

front sway bar from Firmfeel

Inc.

■KYB shock absorbers from

Just Suspension.

Rear Suspension

■Retempered leaf springs

with extra leaf from GMB

Springs, Sheffield, with poly

bushes.

Brakes

■Newdisc, drums and brake

calipers from Rodley Motors.

■Original radiatorrecored by

European Radiator Services,

Sheffield.

Transmission

■Transmissionrebuiltby

Martin LoweTransmissions

andfitted with Kevlar bands.

Steering

■Stage one steering box from

Firmfeel Inc.

Interior

■Original seatsre-covered by

MB Trims.

■Doorcards−basesmade by

Ed, then trimmed by Paula

Norcliffe, whoreplicated the

blown vinyl effect. Finished

with woodfinish and chrome

strip by Ed.

■Headlining by Bielawskis,

Sheffield.

■Dash andcentreconsole

sprayed black by Ed.

■Wood-e ffect trim for centre

console and doors from

Detroit Muscle Industries.

■Additional trimming by Gaby

from Black Orchid.

Wheels and tyres

■Wheels–American Racing

EquipmentTorq Thrust IIs

from North HantsTyres.

■Tyres−Front, 235/60x15s

and Rear,255/60x15s, from

Raceways, Doncaster.