Perfect Time Capsule: 1961 Plymouth Fury Has Original Everything, Forward Look Bling

But while we are forced to take this term with a grain of salt nowadays, true unrestored survivors do exist. This 1961 Plymouth Fury is one of them and is downright spectacular.

One quick look at this Mopar will leave you thinking that "it looks too good to be true." And I wouldn't blame you. This Fury rocks a showroom-new appearance. But it's not the result of a rotisserie restoration. This Plymouth has been pampered since it rolled off the showroom floor, and it's as original as they get.

The paint looks so good that I can barely stop myself from being skeptical. It's been a very long time since I saw another survivor with such spectacular paint. The chrome is just as stunning. And this Fury has a lot of chrome. It was Plymouth's range-topping model in 1961, so it comes with shiny bits on just about every body panel.

Condition aside, the color itself is quite interesting. While it may look like an average beige in certain lighting, it will turn into a light peach in direct sunlight. When parked in the shade, the hardtop adopts a creamy shade of grey.

The interior is even more spectacular thanks to the goldish brown color that dominates all surfaces. It's paired with white inserts on the door panels and tri-tone fabric on the seats. The almost square steering wheel (with transparent upper and lower sections) and the offset driver-seat back section also contribute to the exotic appearance. To round things off, everything is in tip-top shape, which is unreal for an unrestored vehicle that's over 60 years old.

The engine bay shows light weathering, but that's not surprising given the 56,000 miles (90,123 km) displayed on the clock. The 318-cubic-inch (5.2-liter) V8 engine is obviously original, as is the push-button three-speed automatic gearbox. The unit was rated at 230 or 260 horsepower back in the day.

Plymouth also offered a 361-cubic-inch (5.9-liter) V8, good for 305 horsepower, and a 383-cubic-inch (6.3-liter) engine with 330 horsepower on tap. While it might not be as potent, the 318 V8 is a solid option for highway cruising. It's reliable, too.

It's unclear how this 1961 Fury soldiered on for over six decades in such fantastic condition. But I'm tempted to believe it was a one-owner rig that spent most of its life in a heated garage until recently. And it's that much more spectacular since the 1961 Fury is regarded as quirky and not-so-desirable.

Plymouth sold a little over 60,000 units that year, but most were dumped into junkyards when the Forward Look craze went away. Only 16,141 were produced in this two-door hardtop body style, and only a few still exist in any condition. Our host claims this one is "among the finest in existence," and I can't argue with him. This Fury is the ultimate time capsule.

1961 was the final year for Forward Look Mopars, as well as the final year for the early full-size Fury. The nameplate was re-assigned to midsize duty in 1962. It returned to the full-size market in 1965. This stunning survivor is for sale for $59,000, which isn't a lot if you're into quirky Plymouths from the early 1960s.