Plymouth Fury and Herters boat combo is a fintastic auction find
The 1960 Plymouth Fury featured some of the most ostentatious fins that mid-century Detroit would turn out, and it backed up its bold looks with serious V-8 power. But what is the fin aficionado to do when the water beckons? Well, if you are the winner of this no-reserve auction at RM Sotheby’s October 5-6 sale at Hershey, Pennsylvania, your fun won’t stop when you hit the launch ramp, as it includes a 1957 Herters boat with flamboyant fins of its own.
There’s no information on which outboard is powering the matching red and white Herters boat, but its main draw appears to be its fabulous lines that are a perfect pairing for the two-tone Fury and its gold emblems that look like they were pried from a Googie diner. The sole photo appears to show a period-correct Johnson Sea Horse outboard, which features trim on its housing that is mirrored by the paint on the boat’s hull. It’s tough to tell the horsepower rating, as they all share the same basic shape, but it does look like it could be the larger, more powerful 35-hp version.
The Fury, meanwhile, is powered by a Sonoramic Commando 361 V-8 topped by a crossram intake manifold that gives it a look unlike any engine before or since. The long runner design was influenced by Mopar engineers who drag-raced using the grandmother of all tunnel ram intakes. Think of this as a tunnel ram laid down to fit under the Fury’s low hood. The long runners provide a slight supercharging effect at low engine speeds due to the reflection of pressure waves running up and down the ports. It’s not the best design for top-end power, but it is great for getting a heavy, chrome-clad sculpture off the line in a hurry and helps the engine make more than 300 horsepower.
This well-equipped coupe features a pushbutton three-speed automatic, power brakes, and swiveling front seats. As for the boat, that’s a single speed, and brakes are not included.
