Unearthing a Forgotten Gem: The 30-Year Slumber of a 1968 Plymouth Fury

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It's the kind of automotive fairy tale that gets whispered at car shows and retold in greasy mechanic shops.

It's the kind of automotive fairy tale that gets whispered at car shows and retold in greasy mechanic shops. A 1968 Plymouth Fury 3 has been roused from its 30-year slumber, and it's all thanks to Jerry "Metal Man" Battaglia and his YouTube channel.

Picture it: Long Island, 1994. This four-door Plymouth Fury 3 was carefully parked in a garage by the owner's father. Since that day, it has become a forgotten relic, buried under an avalanche of domestic detritus—rugs, wooden boxes, power tools, and yes, even old lunchboxes. Talk about a slumbering beauty.

Let's not forget, this car is no ordinary beater. It's an icon of American muscle, a car that was known for enduring the toughest conditions. These cars could clock in 120,000 miles without batting a headlight. This particular Fury 3, with only 70,000 miles on it, has been a part of the family, originally bought by Battaglia's friend's uncle in '68 and kept all these years as if a precious heirloom.

As Battaglia delves into the garage, each item he removes feels like turning a page in an automotive mystery novel. His camera pans to an old registration ticket, frozen in time, marking the last year the Fury took to the streets—1994. It's as if the car has its own time capsule aura around it, a bubble where time stopped.

If the lore of the Plymouth Fury 3 weren't enough, the actual specs read like a car lover's poetry. Launched a year before our barn find was made, in 1967, it carried two versions of a big-block 383 cu in V8 engine. We're talking 270 to 330 horsepower depending on your poison—a two-barrel or four-barrel carburetor. And yes, it has a bench seat, AC, and power steering, making it not just a beast but a comfy one.

Perhaps the most touching moment in this automotive excavation is when Battaglia finds a small cross with Jesus on it amongst the debris. A sign? A talisman? He considers it good luck, and frankly, who can blame him?

It's almost poetic that a car named Fury would elicit such an emotional response. As Battaglia clears away the last bits of the past—the rubble, the random pieces of wood, the outdated water dispenser bottle—we finally see it in its full splendor. Yes, it's in dire need of a bath, but even under the dust and grime, it's impossible to hide the allure of this classic Plymouth Fury 3.

For now, the Fury's slumber has been interrupted, and thanks to Jerry "Metal Man" Battaglia, this car's tale has a new chapter. A chapter that begins with a thorough cleaning but is bound to include a lot more than just soap and water. This car is ready to roar back to life, and we're all fortunate enough to have front-row seats to the show.

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