'57, '58 Plymouth Furys
1958.
The differences: Gold anodized side trim in '57, silver in '58. The side trim had three horizontal ridges at the back where it meets the tailfin, none in '58. Dual headlights with inboard turn signals in '57, quads in '58. Six vertical under-bumper intake slots in '57 (changed to 12 narrower ones in mid '57 after buyer complaints), a continuation of the upper grille in '58. Sailing-ship emblem on the grille in '57, a "V" (denoting a V8 car) in '58. "PLYMOUTH" spelled out in chrome letters on the front of the hood in '57, and spelled out in black on a much smaller winged front mediallion in '58. Deep-dish "coolie hat" wheelcovers in '57, shallower ones in '58. A "V" (denoting a V8 car) ahead of the front wheelwells in '57, none in '58.
At the rear: Triangle-shaped taillight lenses (following the contour of the tailfin) with round back-up lights below in '57, a chrome strip where the '57 taillight was and a round taillight where the '57 backup light was in '58.
The reason I'm such a geek about '57 and '58 Plymouths is that my dad had a midnight blue '57 Belvedere with a white side streak and roof. I grew up standing up in the back seat, back before the nanny state decided that every child under 4' 9" should be strapped into a baby seat.
He bought it used in '59 and totaled it in November of '64, when he went the wrong way down an exit ramp on the Outer Drive in Chicago and took out three other cars. He thought car insurance was a scam; didn't believe in it. As a result, we spent 3 years paying off claims from the people he hit.
Every time I go to a Chrysler or any other car show, I look for a car just like it, or any '57 Belvedere 4-door sedan, just to see it and (if the owner lets me) sit in it, and relive a little bit of my lost youth.
I'm still looking.
'57, '58 Plymouth Furys
1958.
The differences: Gold anodized side trim in '57, silver in '58. The side trim had three horizontal ridges at the back where it meets the tailfin, none in '58. Dual headlights with inboard turn signals in '57, quads in '58. Six vertical under-bumper intake slots in '57 (changed to 12 narrower ones in mid '57 after buyer complaints), a continuation of the upper grille in '58. Sailing-ship emblem on the grille in '57, a "V" (denoting a V8 car) in '58. "PLYMOUTH" spelled out in chrome letters on the front of the hood in '57, and spelled out in black on a much smaller winged front mediallion in '58. Deep-dish "coolie hat" wheelcovers in '57, shallower ones in '58. A "V" (denoting a V8 car) ahead of the front wheelwells in '57, none in '58.
At the rear: Triangle-shaped taillight lenses (following the contour of the tailfin) with round back-up lights below in '57, a chrome strip where the '57 taillight was and a round taillight where the '57 backup light was in '58.
The reason I'm such a geek about '57 and '58 Plymouths is that my dad had a midnight blue '57 Belvedere with a white side streak and roof. I grew up standing up in the back seat, back before the nanny state decided that every child under 4' 9" should be strapped into a baby seat.
He bought it used in '59 and totaled it in November of '64, when he went the wrong way down an exit ramp on the Outer Drive in Chicago and took out three other cars. He thought car insurance was a scam; didn't believe in it. As a result, we spent 3 years paying off claims from the people he hit.
Every time I go to a Chrysler or any other car show, I look for a car just like it, or any '57 Belvedere 4-door sedan, just to see it and (if the owner lets me) sit in it, and relive a little bit of my lost youth.
I'm still looking.