This Rare Plymouth Packs A 426 Max Wedge And A Three-Speed ManualGuessing HeadlightsAndre NalinTue, September 22, 2026 at 10:00 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleImage Credit: Richmond Auctions.Any 1963 Plymouth Sport Fury convertible is pretty special, but add Chrysler's ferocious 426 Max Wedge and an unusual manual transmission, and the production numbers become remarkably small.This white-over-blue Sport Fury was built as a genuine Super Stock 426 Max Wedge car. Rather than receiving the automatic transmission commonly associated with these cars, its original specification included a heavy-duty Borg-Warner T-85 three-speed manual.Period production research cited by Richmond Auctions identifies just 15 Max Wedge Sport Fury convertibles built with manual transmissions. Of those, only 13 received the 11.0:1-compression Max Wedge specification found here.AdvertisementAdvertisementIts specification gets narrower still, as owner-supplied documentation included in a report by Mopar expert Dave Wise identifies this as one of only three White-and-Blue T-85 examples, making its seemingly restrained color combination part of what makes it so unusual.A 415-HP Max Wedge Hides Under The HoodImage Credit: Richmond Auctions.The 426 Max Wedge, officially called the Super Stock 426 by Plymouth, was serious hardware in 1963. In 11.0:1-compression form, the engine was factory-rated at 415 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque.Twin Carter AFB four-barrel carburetors feed the massive V8 through its distinctive short-ram intake. Even the underside of the hood required factory modifications to provide clearance for the air cleaners, something Steve Magnante highlighted while examining the car.The engine currently fitted is described as period-correct rather than numbers-matching. Richmond Auctions says its January 24, 1963 assembly date and numerous components, including the carburetors, intake and exhaust manifolds, have been documented during inspection.Three Speeds Make It Even RarerImage Credit: Richmond Auctions.The Borg-Warner T-85 is arguably the strangest part of the specification. Chrysler's familiar A833 four-speed wasn't yet available for 1963, leaving buyers who wanted to shift their own gears with the heavy-duty three-speed.AdvertisementAdvertisementPower travels through that transmission to an 8¾-inch rear axle with 3.91 gearing. The car also retains Max Wedge-related heavy-duty chassis equipment, including the appropriate torque boxes and torsion bars.That drivetrain sits beneath a relatively luxurious Sport Fury convertible with bucket seats and a light-blue interior. It's quite a contrast to the stripped-down sedans usually associated with factory Super Stock machinery.It's Being Sold Without ReserveImage Credit: Richmond Auctions.The Plymouth has undergone a professional restoration and carries some serious show credentials. Its awards include Mopar Nationals OE Gold recognition, AACA National First Prize, and Senior honors, followed by an AACA First Grand National award in 2024.Richmond Auctions will offer the Sport Fury during its Fall Spectacular at the Savoy Automobile Museum on October 17. There's no reserve, so this one-of-three-specification Max Wedge convertible will be leaving with the highest bidder.If you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you don't miss what's coming next.
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