lily
(lily)
#1
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.