Plymouth Fury, Red, for sale in Charlotte, North Carolina, for $33,995.

Most would say the 1961 Plymouth Fury is a love-it-or-hate-it proposition, but I, for one, will go on record saying I love it. The '50s were over, and this car catapulted Chrysler directly into the jet age '60s with its Virgil Exner lines and restrained use of trim. Of course, you've already noticed that this one has a few custom touches, which build on the amazing factory sheetmetal to create something like you've never seen before.

Tailfins vanished entirely on the '61 Fury, unlike other makes where they were just kind of allowed to wear off and fade away. The result is a groundbreaking design that has withstood the test of time and easily lends itself to the customizer's touch. In fact, unless you're an expert in these cars, I bet you're thinking that many of the factory features ARE custom, including those cool taillights, which are, indeed, factory issue. On the other hand, the band of chrome that used to ring the bodywork is long gone and all traces of it have been thoroughly filled and smoothed, giving this Fury a neat monochromatic look without seeming dated. The brilliant red paint seems to emphasize the car's length, but doesn't hide any of the dramatic curves and flares. This is one of those cars you could look at for hours and not see everything.

Simplicity is in style inside as well, where you'll find a nice blend of stock upholstery and custom upgrades. Fresh black seat covers have been stitched up to look like they were born in the car, and the original dash remains unmolested, although the gauges have been upgraded with white Auto Meter voltage and oil pressure gauges. Under the dash there's an aftermarket A/C unit that looks just like one that you would have received when the car was new, and an AM/FM/CD stereo has been installed in the dash so artfully that it blends in with the stock trim. The original heater controls remain under the dash, and a tilt column wears a LeCarrera steering wheel wrapped in leather. A new convertible top with fresh hydraulic cylinders rounds out the list of new components inside.

The big shocker is under the hood, where you'll find a small block Chevy, not a Mopar. The better part of a 1979 Chevy Malibu donated its organs to make this Fury possible, and the work is seamless enough that you can't see where one corporation ends and the other begins. In addition to the engine, this car also received a Malibu subframe, power disc brakes, power steering, and rear end with 3.23 gears. The engine is a 355 cubic inch screamer that rumbles through a nicely fabricated dual exhaust system, and a Hydra-Matic automatic has taken the place of the original TorqueFlite. Handsome polished Halibrand-style aluminum wheels give it a '60s attitude, especially with the blackwall radials.

Imagine the minds that you'll blow when you roll into a show with this thing and pop the hood. Call today!