Tiido Tennelo wrote:Hi, am new here, found this site by accident, but since a '59 Sport Fury was my first car, decided to join. The car is long gone but still have a soft spot for it. I do however still have the original rear plate...
Tiido and I have since corresponded, and he has shared some pictures with me.
Tiido Tennelo wrote:
This is the first photo of the '59 after I and Mom drove it home from the dealer. Having just received my driver's license I stalled the car four times from dealer in Brooklyn to Queens. Was a new driver, getting my license the year before, and not used to the power of the V8. Palomino beige with copper roof. Kept the car until I purchased a '69 Camaro. Had it while I served in the Air Force and drove it from NYC to LA using Route 66 from St Louis to LA.
Tiido Tennelo wrote:That's my mom... The photo was taken on the driveway to our garage in Forest Hills, Queens, New York City.
I'm also including photos of the car on its first road trip and a photo of the original rear plate, which I still have.
We're so glad you've joined, Tiido, and have cared to share these memories with us. Thanks!
My Sport Fury was only 5 months old when I turned into a telephone pole, putting a vertical dent, on the driver's side, from belt line to rocker. That dent stayed until 1965 when I had some bodywork done and the car repainted copper to match the roof's original color. In the photo, taken 1961, you can make out the dent right behind the driver door. Also visible are the fender skirts and red reflective tape fitted to the rear of the fins. Another fabrication I did was to replace the parking light sockets with twin contact brake light sockets. Now both red lights on each side would signal my turns.
There are two things I complained about my '59. The area above the headlights would rust from the inside out. Dirt kicked up by the front tires would collect in the pocket above the head lights, keep moisture and promote rust. I lost count how many times I repaired that area. The second item that needed to be repaired was the parking brake that Chrysler put on the drive shaft. Mine rusted to a point where it didn't completely release. The 260 horse power easily overcame the drag but eventually it was too much for the tranny and the brake needed repair and the tranny needed to be replaced with a remanufactured unit.
There were many more things to complain about, Tiido! Yes, the fender eyebrow rust was a significant problem. When I redid my Sport Fury, I took pains to treat that area with Eastwood Rust Encapsulator.
I'm not sure what the last year was for the driveshaft parking brake; my '63 Valiant wagon has rear drum emergency brakes. (Perhaps Rick Clapham can comment.)
tiido1940 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 28, 2025 2:16 pm
Plymouth switched to rear wheel emergency brakes (Bendix) and a parking sprag in the Torqueflite automatic transmission in 1962
Interesting! I know my '63 wagon engages a pawl in the transmission with the parking lever, but I did not know this was the case the previous year. (1963 was the last year for pushbutton automatic, BTW.)
Nice Valiant. A friend had a 1960 Valiant which I thought had a unbelievably compliant ride. The two photos show us going to Jones Beach on Long Island and getting dressed in the parking lot for the trip home.
