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.
I’m neither a Mopar man nor a boater, but I am certainly a nostalgist, and I can appreciate this combo for the wonderful display of “findom” that it is! Very cool pairing. ☺
A newer version of my dream combo, 1948 Chrysler Town and Country convertible followed by a Mahogany Chris-Craft. Love it!
Throw a set of matching wire wheels on the trailer and it would be perfect!
You obviously aren’t a boater, the trailer gets backed into the water during launch to float the boat off, hence, no wire wheels. Cheers, GK
It is a 35 horse Johnson, as the one side view shows. Had a couple of those. Keep the oil mixed and they will run forever…
Wow, I love it! Too bad that Fury isn’t a convertible. That would be the icing on the cake!
Well it could be Christine’s baby but it doesn’t look like there is an actual hitch….a shame since I would love to pull up to a boat launch with that combo!
Shouldn’t be too hard to put one on.
Sharp eye, Mike! I hadn’t noticed that. 😉
Chrysler products from ’57 to ’63 or thereabout are wonderful in some odd, over the top way. Thumbs up.
Being +70 years old saw this combo many times when I was a Kid…..
You say there’s no info about the outboard, but one photo clearly shows it’s a 35 hp Johnson Sea Horse. It appears to be about the same age as the boat (we had a smaller Sea Horse from that period when I was a boy).
The manifold set without the linkage and carbs is selling in the neighborhood of $3000. Ramchargers first, but 413 and 426 police cars also used them. California Highway Patrol really liked the freeway response.
Pretty good looking combo. I like it.
Saw the exact same combo, but in a different color at a car show in Bemidji,MN about eight years ago. The boat was manufactured in Waseca,MN.
I think the Herter’s name still appears on some waders you can get at Cabela’s. In the day, Leonard Herter was a pioneer in one-stop outdoor catalogues, and his name meant a lot. He was a real character. If you can get your hands on one of his “Bull Cook” manuals, it’s a trove of genuine rough-hewn frontier, um, ‘eccentricity.’