Plymouth needed a beautiful icon, and it came with a pair of tail fins, 303-hp V8, chrome grill, gold accents and a sleek, angular body: the Plymouth Fury.

Debuting in 1956, the Fury ploughed into showrooms per consumer requests for an affordable and cultured vehicle. First available as a white-and-gold limited edition hardtop coupe, costing $2,866, the inaugural Fury could reach 110 mph in stock condition; a modified version blasted to 149 mph at Daytona Beach. The Fury was off to a fast start.

Plymouth decided to retain its “limited edition” concept and by the 1960 redesign, the Fury was available in a profusion of engine choices, ranging from the original 318 to the 145-hp Slant Six to the 330-hp 383. Construction was changed to a unibody frame. Several more trims, including the limited edition Turbo and Sport Fury, arrived over the next years as the Fury grew to a hefty $3,000.

Plymouth relabeled the Fury after the third generation arrival in 1965: the Fury I, II and III. The Fury I was popular with budget-conscious customers and police departments, while the II and II offered more creature comforts and styling. Furies also grew to a C-body (full-size) and featured five engine options. The grill underwent a transformation, losing chrome accents but gaining vertically stacked headlamps. By 1968, twenty-seven different configurations were available.

In 1966, the Plymouth VIP (“Very Important Plymouth”) debuted as an alternative to traditional Chrysler chic. Equipped with deep pile carpet, reading lamps, plastic walnut trim, a vinyl roof and other implements, the Fury VIP also offered a 318 V8 power plant. Despite its high level of sophistication, the VIP could not get a constituency, and faded from the Plymouth lineup in 1969.

The fourth generation, labeled as “completely new,” debuted in 1969. It was long, streamlined and uncluttered; it featured wide reclining benches, a cornucopia of engine choices and was available in coupe, sedan, convertible and station wagon body styles. It was more understated than its ancestors.

1971, a moment of historic sadness arrived when the 426 Hemi departed from the Fury lineup. But one year later, the new Gran Fury revived past pugnacity with its powerful V8, voluptuous styling and luxurious features. Amenities included electronic ignition, inside hood release and improved radio reception. In lieu of increased emission regulations, the Gran Fury was slightly domesticated by exhaust gas recirculation, evaporation control system and a lower octane rating. This was a new Fury, one that would last – in name if not in prowess – until 1989.

1975 brought the advent of the fifth-generation Fury and the diminishing of the Fury heritage. The Fury was downsized to a B-body platform and essentially became a restyled Plymouth Belvedere, lauded for its ergonomics and fuel efficiency. The Fury name was applied to a bundle of middling automobiles, while the Gran Fury struggled to retain its ancestry of power and performance.

After a one-year hiatus in 1979, the Fury name was brought back as a rebadged Chrysler Newport, which failed dismally. In 1982, the Fury heritage was again rejuvenated with a rebadged Dodge Diplomat, a favorite with taxi drivers and policemen but not consumers.

The Fury has lost its ferocity, replaced by a meek, mild and minute vehicle. Forty years later, its original 149-mph barrier hasn’t been much improved.

Dan Legal is a member of the web team that runs the website LemonFree.com Used Cars. LemonFree is a car search engine which currently has over 2 million new and used cars for sale. If your interested in purchasing a Plymouth Fury; trust LemonFree to help you find your next car today!