Plymouth Gran Fury

The Plymouth Gran Fury was an automobile manufactured by the Chrysler Corporation from 1975 to 1977, and again from 1980 to 1989.

Before 1975, the top line models in Plymouth's Fury series were known as the "Fury Gran Coupe" and "Fury Gran Sedan"­. The Fury Gran Coupe model was introduced in 1970 as a hardtop coupe. A "Fury Gran Coupe" hardtop sedan was also avaialbe in 1971, but in 1972 it was renamed "Fury Gran Sedan". The Gran Coupe and Gran Sedan models continued in 1973 and 1974.

1975-1977

In 1975, the mid-size Plymouth Satellite was restyled and renamed Plymouth Fury. As a result, the previous full-sized Fury became known as the Gran Fury. This generation, was available as a 4-door sedan, 4-door hardtop, 4-door wagon and 2-door coupe. The Gran Fury, however, only lasted from 1975 to 1977, when all of Plymouth's full-size C-body models were dropped.

1980-1981

In 1980 the Gran Fury returned, available only as a 4-door sedan, this time based on the R platform, which was introduced for 1979. Nearly identical to the concurrent Chrysler Newport, it was intended to satisfy dealer requests for a lower-priced full-size model, but more importantly to fulfil fleet orders, primarily for police and taxi use. The second-generation Gran Fury was also short-lived, and was discontinued midway through the 1981 model year along with the other R-body models. This can be mainly attributed to poor fuel economy, as well as its outdated platform. The "new" R-body was actually Chrysler's old mid-size B-body, introduced in 1962 and updated in 1971.

Like its sibling, the Dodge St. Regis, the R-body Gran Fury was mainly popular among fleet customers, especially police departments, with few sold to private retail customers. The 1981 Gran Fury was also the last full-size car to bear the Plymouth name, until the brand's demise twenty years later.

1982-1989

In 1982, Plymouth launched the last car to carry the Gran Fury name, this time using the mid-size M platform, which it shared with the Chrysler Fifth Avenue (called "New Yorker" for 1982) and the Dodge Diplomat. In addition to the R-body Gran Fury, the M-body Gran Fury replaced the Chrysler LeBaron, which had moved to the compact K platform that year. Canada had a Plymouth M body since 1977 but under the Caravelle name.

Although available to the general public, the 1980s Gran Fury was far more popular with police departments and other fleet customers, primarily since the car was reasonably priced and had a conventional drivetrain with proven components that could withstand a good deal of abuse. This generation of the Gran Fury sold in respectable numbers. However, despite having the same base prices as the Gran Fury (just under $12,000 USD for their final year), the Diplomat always outsold it, usually by several thousand units each year. The Chrysler Fifth Avenue's total sales were always more than that of the Gran Fury and Diplomat's by far, even though it generally cost about $6,000 USD more. Declining sales, a lack of advertising, and general old age (the platform dated back to the 1976 Plymouth Volare and Dodge Aspen) eventually contributed to the model's demise in 1989.

Canada

The M-body Gran Fury was also sold in Canada from 1977 to 1989 as the Plymouth Caravelle, and later as the Caravelle Salon, after the front-wheel drive Caravelle debuted there for 1983. Like the Diplomat, a 2-door coupe was available from 1977-1982.