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- Опубликовано: 22 дек 2022
- The 1976 Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volare “F-Body” twins were victims of the smog-seventies. No more big blocks, no more Six Packs and no more dual exhaust. In fact, dual exhaust was actually impossible on an Aspen or Volare. Why? Watch and learn.
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The green Duster is just screaming, Steve pick me! PICK ME !
That's what I was thinking
I'm sure he will do a video on it.
I love the Mopar F's! I have owned 7 of them over the years - all wagons except for a '78 Aspen T-top coupe. Ten years ago, I found an original 30K mile Aspen wagon for sale online with NO rust, way out in the Colorado desert. I bought it sight unseen and flew from Pennsylvania out to Pueblo to get it and drove it back to PA with no real problem. I still have it. It is a Super Six (slant 6 with a two barrel) and the factory four speed transmission, as well as a factory CB/AM transceiver unit. It's my favorite toy and I love it!
As a happy owner of a 1980 Volare four door sedan with the slant six and an automatic. I love it.
Yes, there was a huge campaign to change prematurely rusting fenders on these cars. My uncle had a 1976 and by 1978-1979, the fenders were completely rotted out and had to be replaced. The paintwork was shoddy on it and my uncle never bought an American car again (he switched to Honda in 1985 and owned three of them until he passed in 2012). These era cars were the ones that soured a lot of American consumers and put them on the path to foreign vehicle ownership that continues in many cases until this day.
My friend bought a 1978 Dodge Aspen four door "Super Six" in 1994 as a commuter car and when we went to go test drive it, the guy said, "runs great, but handles like a sack of potatoes". He was right. It was rusty and worn out, but it ran great. We put a carburetor on it, tuned it up and he drove and maintained it for two years. He then decided he didn't need it any longer and wanted to junk it (he offered it to me first, but I was given an Delta 88 in 1996 by my uncle, which I still have, although it's "retired" now), so we drove it to the yard. It was a yard (now gone) that both of us used to get used parts (trim, lights, etc.) and the owner (now passed away) said to my friend, "Son, you sure you want to junk this? It came here running....". My friend said yes. We took the plates off and I drove him home. I forgot what he got for it. The next time I went back to the yard, I do not recall seeing it.
We got the VIN, we win: N for Dodge Aspen, L for low price class, 29 for two door special coupe, C for 225 CID Slant Six with one barrel, aka "Leaning Tower of Power", 6 for 1976 model year, B for Hamtramck, MI assembly aka "Factory Zero" or "Dodge Main", and the rest is the production sequence. The Dodge Main plant operated from 1911 to 1980 and today part of that property is the site of GM"s Hamtamck, MI assembly which they also sometimes call "Factory Zero". The Dodge Main plant as noted many times was a city within a city with its' own medical wards, cafeterias, fire protection and the "Playpen" area for employees to work on their own projects after hours. This one was made on Friday, January 30, 1976 at approximately 10 AM. Exterior paint is code B1 Powder Blue.
No, only one model year (1976) was the Aspen/Volare sold alongside the Dart and Valiant. By 1977, the Dart and Valiant names were gone in the US. Not all of them would have a catalyst. Some special options (police, export, etc.) could be had without them, but yes, most retail sales and ones for use in the US would have catalysts.
Brattleboro Chrysler Plymouth (the dealer logo on the trunk) is now McGee Chrysler at 1270 Putney Rd, Brattleboro, VT 05301. The kit has a copyright of 1975, so it was pre-Carter (who was elected in 1976 and took office in January 1977). Yes, the K car "saved" Chrysler, but the Omni and Horizon actually did because the K car didn't come out until the 1981 model year and by 1979, Chrysler was pretty much broke. So the Omni and Horizon were the stopgap until the K car took over as the sales leader for Chrysler.
The fenders would rust right on the dealer lots
@@FrankBullitt390 That they would. My friend had two of them, a 1979 Aspen SE 318 V8 four door that was originally code RT9 Sable Tan Sunfire (but was primer by the time I became friends with him in 1989 in college as undergraduate students), and later on a 1978 Aspen "Super Six" four door that was code PB3 Cadet Blue exterior paint, but was "rattle canned" with similar colors by the time he got it in 1994. Yes, both were rusty. The '79 was his parents' car new.
@@googleusergp I believe it was due to recycled metal that still had rust in it from the melting process, essentially hammering out new body panels that had rust built right in. My uncle had a 1980 civic that literally disintegrated from the same thing, he was even his money back for it!
@@FrankBullitt390 More than likely it was also poor rust protection, preparation, painting and overall Chrysler trying to shave some production dollars out of the budget as the coffers were running low back then. Chrysler was not in good shape and the US economy and recession was not good for them. GM weathered the storm the best, but that's only due to their size and prowess at the time.
@@googleusergp That too but its well documented that they didnt know how to recycle steel yet which was a major contributing factor.
I was a car-loving kid growing up in the sixties and began driving in 1974, so I saw the muscle car era come and go. When the power and performance went away and all that was left were graphics packages on once-revered models like a Chevy Nova-based "Pontiac GTO" or a Plymouth Volare "Road Runner," we called these "performance equipment" packages by another name: bolt-on, screw-on, stick-on dick-ons.
At least Pontiac tried to keep performance alive and improve handling so the overall package was very good. Yes, fuel injection and computer technology brought cars into the 1980s and improved them, but with that came some headaches that forced a lot of mechanics to retire or change careers. LOL.
I started building models when I was 10 and never stopped till at 16. Then cars and makin love became my new hobby
In 1980 I bought a used '77 Volare with a 318, 4 speed manual w/ overdrive on the floor, sunroof, and Magnum 500 wheels. It was a good looking car and got 26 MPG on trips. I didn't have any rust problems and we lived in PA. I washed it at a carwash in the winters to get the salt off. If you live in a place that salts the roads you have to spray under the car and into the wheel wells and every crack and crevice you can find. It was a dependable car. Drove it all through college and I was the guy my friends called when their cars wouldn't start. The 318 with a manual trans is a bullet proof drivetrain.
My great uncle had a Plymouth Volare. He barely drove it but man did that thing rust just sitting in his driveway!
The 70s were full of forgettable cars which weren't really appreciated in their time but are definitely coming into their own today. The Aspen / Volare is one such car.
I had an Aspen, black on black with the louvers and spoiler. I found some dog dish hubcaps for it and it looked pretty cool. Mine had the transmission behind the engine rather than on the front seat.
My friend had two, a 1979 Aspen SE with a 318 V8 that was his parents' car from new which he primered and "hooptied" up when we were in college (he eventually junked it for a 1991 Dodge Shadow which he drove over 200k+ miles) and a 1978 "Super Six" 225 CID Slant Six two barrel that he owned for about two years from 1994 to 1996. I went with him to buy the 1978 and we worked on it together.
@@googleusergp mine served me well, always starting in the coldest Minnesota mornings. In my recollection it wasn't rusty. I think it was the first time I sold a car to someone other than the wrecking yard when I was finished with it!
@@jfu5222 My grandparents had a 1980 that they bought new, but by 1986, it got sold. By then, my grandmother had a heart attack (in the fall of 1985) and her doctor told her she had to get a car with AC to help with her breathing and health, so it got sold and they replaced it with an '82 Skyhawk from the Cadillac dealer that my father worked at.
I always loved the look of those in that shade of blue when they were still on the highways and byways back in their hay day.
Code B1 Powder Blue exterior paint.
Knew a guy that owned a Mopar dealership in New York when these things were self destructing. He said the body shop ordered replacement fenders in packages of 20 at a time. When they were recalled for the fender rot, they were required to find every one they had sold and replace the fenders, even if the car was already in the junk yard. He said the yard owners would watch them bolt new skins to the dead cars, and then pull them off and sell them as new immediately. Your tax dollars at work...
What part of NY was the dealership in?
@@googleusergp Far western. He lived in a little town called Mayville.
@@howardscott7521 Sounds very cold and way too rusty for me. LOL.
@@googleusergp There were tons of tiny Mopar dealers in NY back then, I went to an auction for the closing of one in Red Creek. They might have been able to keep one car inside in a showroom and the lot had room for maybe a dozen cars. It had shop space to do most anything though and could work on three or four at once.
@@CR7659 That was often the "footprint" back then of most car dealerships. They would have one or two models of a given car and a bunch of books and literature. You ordered what you wanted and then eight weeks later you got the call, "Hello Mr. CR7659, your (whatever) has arrived". My parents wanted to order a Trans Am with the equipment that they wanted in 1979, but the gas crisis that year foiled that. By the time 1980 rolled around, the model year was almost over when we were ready to buy it and an '81 would have taken upwards of eight weeks, and we had already sold our other car to my father's boss, so we wound up with the "red one" as the sales manager put it (technically, he was correct, it's code #79 Red Orange or Carousel Red depending on what literature you reference).
My brother bought one of these brand new, and I remember checking the oil for him a couple of years later and couldn't believe the tops of the fenders had rusted completely through already. Living in NY state was a major factor of course, but 2 years? He got disgusted with the rusting and traded it in for a Subaru a few years later. What's funny is that I have never seen a car rust out so quickly and completley than that early '80's Subaru. Within 5 years there was not a body panel left that had not rusted through.
Steve's automotive joy and excitement is infectious.
I got a 78 Aspen 4dr with 318 60,000 miles from a dealer; local trade for $1400.00 in 83. So it was about used up. Weak oil pump and super soft shifting auto trans. Total chit box. I loved that car 😂
TY for another history lesson Steve. Aspens bodies would rot out but the 225 still ran like a Singer sewing machine.
My parents bought a 78 Aspen SW with a slant 6 when I was a young kid. We put some serious mileage on that thing and I didn’t appreciate the wood grain and sleeping in the back on long trips then but certainly would love to have another one now, but with a v8. Thank you for jogging those memories!
Friend's Mom had a wagon use to take it couseing in high school 😎😎👍👍
@@dale5495 drifted mine on the baseball field
@@dale5495 every Friday and Saturday night in mine. (77’ wagon)
Had a friend in ‘76 , bought a top of the line Volare, t-tops,v-8 (318), and every option it came with. A really good looking and not bad performance car.
The only thing Chrysler got right with the Aspen and Volaire was the styling. The 1976 and 1977 fenders rotted immediately but ran great. In 1979 - 1980, they improved the rust situation, but due to federal emissions standards, they issued an electric choke. Chrysler dropped the ball on that. I bought an used 1980 which constantly stalled and bogged down until it was fully warmed up. I think 1978 was the best year as some rust mitigation was made and the engine ran good when cold. I also owned a 1978 Volaire whose underside was a sea of rust, but the car ran great until a deer stopped it.
They weren't any better in 1978, as my friend had one and it was pretty rotten when he bought it as a used car in the 1990s. By then, it was a well used, but very good running Super Six equipped car.
Man that car has seen better days
And I thought the 50s Chrysler’s were the worst rust buckets. Learn something everyday with Steve
My dad, working for Chrysler making 318 engines, bought a light blue station wagon Volare. It took us to Florida and California.
Steve, you're driving me crazy with those Dusters just sitting in the background.
In 2003 I picked up a 77 Dodge Aspen wagon. It was light metallic green with a matching green interior. It had the 318 V-8 with auto trans. It was a one owner North Carolina car (sold new at Dodge Country in Charlotte) it had no rust and an awesome patina. It was full of hay straw in the back when I got it and the older gentleman i bought it from said he had used it as his Home Depot car (His words not mine) I drove it home with the idea of using it as my daily and modifying it. My wife at the time said... "I'm not riding in that POS!" (Exact words) So... I sold it a week later to a guy driving a fully restored 68 Charger SE with a factory big block.. His plan was the same as mine... To make a long story short... I saw the car 8 months later at the local gas station while out with my wife and it was sporting a set of torque thrust D's on all four corners, the torsion bars were screwed down to lower the front stance as well. so, I went over and talked to the guy who bought it from me and the list of improvements included a crate 360 from Mopar performance (He scattered the original 318 and the 904 torque flight was tired) and a 727 trans with an 8 3/4 sure grip rear from a wrecked 340 Duster. That damn car was sweet! When I got back to my car my wife said "That's a really nice car!" I said... "Yeah... I know... It used to be mine!" She then asked me... "Why did you sell it?" I reminded her of her comment months earlier and needless to say... It didn't end well! But... No worries.. Both Aspen wagon and I had a happy ending. The Aspen went to a good home and I got divorced in 2010! Just goes to show ya... Things always work out in the end! 🙂
Back in 1989, my neighbor was fixing cars out of his mother's house and I used to help him out after school. I show up and there's a 1969 Pontiac GTO there. He said, "Yea, the woman said to write up a list of everything it needs because she wants to convince her (original owner) husband to sell it. Go ahead and take it for a spin". I've never felt a car get rubber like that in all three gears. It was code 53 Warwick Blue, but very dented and tired. A few pieces of trim were off the car, but in the trunk. The interior was worn but all there. Basic 400 with a three speed automatic. In the glove box was all of the original paperwork, sold new at Rex Pontiac in Jackson Heights (Queens), NY. I came home from dinner and my mother said, "Don't think you're going to buy that POS. I heard you blazing around through the neighborhood burning rubber.....". I was still young at the time and I already had two cars, so I didn't convince her otherwise and I passed. About six months later, she said, "Wonder what became of that ratty GTO that you had here. Maybe you should buy it". Nope, owner sold it for $500.
@@googleusergp OMG!! Rex Pontiac in Jackson Heights Queens.. You are not going to believe this.. I was born in Maspeth Queens in 1963... My parents brought me home from the hospital in a 1961 Peugeot 404.. Well, fast forward to October of 1968 and the "Parental Units" were in the market to replace the old 404.. They wanted a Fiat station wagon but the salesman blew them off as it was a Friday evening and I guess he had a hot date as the story goes.... Rex Pontiac was right down the street from the Fiat dealer so they decided to stop in "Just to look".. They ended up buying a brand new leftover 1968 4 dr Tempest Custom with a 350 2V and turbo 350 trans. It was Warwick blue with a black vinyl interior... About a year later dad had a black vinyl top installed as the car looked like a damn blue whale when it left the factory! It was a lot more car than the Fiat and it cost them just under $2800... Best part is... They gave him decent trade in on the 404 so dad was thrilled with the deal. I loved that old 4dr! Have great memories of my childhood in it. It was sold to one of dads co-workers in 1976 and they kept it until 1980.. In the end the NY tin worms got her! Jesus... I swore to myself this reply would not be another car story! LOL!
@@jamesviehmann4291 Yup, Queens NY had a lot of "famous dealers". I have right next to me as I type this an NOS trunk name plate from "Myrtle Motors" of Maspeth, NY. It was given to me by the family that owned the dealership. I knew someone I deal with now at work that said, "I know that guy, I worked for him for a short time". Sure enough the guy that gave me the dealer emblem remembered him and still lives at the same address. Yes, Rex Pontiac was located at 94-15 Northern Blvd in Jackson Heights. This GTO still had the paperwork in the glovebox from there, including "Ignition Lock Usage" tag that was around the then new on the column ignition lock. It was a beat up old car by 1989, but I should have gotten it. Triangle Pontiac was located at 38-15 Northern Blvd and a friend of mine in the automotive parts world used to know the parts manager there and said, "The guy was really cool and always helped us out". Behind Triangle Pontiac was the famous Bayer Cadillac where parts of "Cadillac Man" were filmed. One of my former coworkers worked there for a time. My first supervisor who is now retired also worked at Goldsmith Cadillac and used to see Run DMC there all the time getting their cars serviced.
There's a 1966 GTO rotting away around here and it's been sitting for at least 30 years outside. When I was going to buy the 1981 Y85 Nascar Trans Am late last year, the owner of that car knew of the GTO and smiled. He said, "Yea, that's my brother-in-law that owns the house and car".
My dad's last car before he passed 😢. A 1978 Plymouth Volare. He loved the Plymouth nameplate ! Peace everyone.
Had a friend, Jeff, he got in a bad accident when he was younger, collected a ton of money, and bought an Aspen R/T and a Nova SS. He couldn’t even drive anymore because of the accident(and the opioid and alcohol issues but that’s another story)
He used to call me all the time, to come over and drive him around in his cars. The early 80’s were a fun time for sure.
I worked for Chrysler Corporation at the time the Aspen was released. It was the most recalled car ever, the rust problem was just a faction of your problems. Many Aspen right front fenders were so rusty the antenna dropped into the inner fender in about two years.
Had a road call on one of these. The ignition module fell off the fender due to rust.
Hopefully not in the Newark, DE or Hamtramck, MI plant where they were typically assembled. LOL.
My first set off wheels, were on a 1977 Plymouth Volare wagon! However, in this sheep's clothing was a factory 360 v8!! This little beast took many of my friends off guard and left me laughing at the finish line!!! Wonderful memories.
Hello JN, ME TOO! No, not "that" me-too. I also owned a Volare station wagon. Mine was a "K" code 360 2-barrel and you're right, that thing had pep but mostly could peel the tread of the right rear tire all night long! BIIIIG clouds of rubber smoke from the right-rear corner. Mine was a 1976 and it was the car I drove from my "home" in Massachusetts to Los Angeles way back in 1991. It was truly my "Mayflower" (Plymouth Rock settler reference there, but you knew that). I drove that Volare wagon in L.A. for 3 years (I admit...with bogus Mass. license plate registration stickers I made out of Press-Type lettering and reflective tape) before junking it at the Monrovia Pick-A-Part on Peck, Avenue. They gave me NOTHING for it but I sold the 360-2 and HD 904 to a hot rodder before junking it. It was a rusty critter. I was bummed out that 30 days later, the car was removed from the Pick-A-Part "killing field" and crushed like all cars were after being scavenged for 30 days. It amazed me that NOT ONE PART had been taken during the car's 30 day stand in the Pick-A-Part rows! It was that rusty!!! Anyhoo, here's to 360 Volare and Aspen station wagons. -Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante Again Steve, Mexico got the good ones with the 360 4 speed and no smog stuff.
@@SteveMagnante LoL! Awesome! Mine met with a similar fate.
@@SteveMagnante My neighbor had a customer with a 1975 Plymouth Scamp that had a 318 V8. We used to call that car "The Beast". It was light and nimble and quite fast for what it was. It could go. One day, another person was driving it and took a turn too hard and a hup cap rolled off of it right into this older lady's yard as she was watering her garden. I had to get out and say to her, "Sorry ma'am, that belongs to us". She just shook her head as I walked away with the hubcap. Yes, you've featured one like it on your "Hubcap Game". LOL.
Mr. B. ! Morning ! Good information, Steve !
Good morning!
@Steve Magnante Merry Christmas to you and yours !
I ordered a ‘76 Aspen wagon from a LI dealer, drove it all over the country and ended up giving to my sister who was living in Fitzwilliam. It didn’t have any rust but they recalled it anyway to replace the front fenders. Slant 6 was bulletproof, I think it hit 6 figures with no major issues. Unusual for a first year model.
The company I used to work for had a ‘78 Aspen and ‘78 Volare as company cars. Both were wagons, and both were absolute crap!
My aunt bought a brand new 1976 Plymouth Volare white with a blue vinyl roof she kept it until 1985 & passed it on to me. I never realized 76 was the first year for the Volare & Aspen
Have a 79 Volare premier wagon with slant six and 3 speed floor skifter. It's a fun car to drive.
Oh, did this bring back memories. I had a silver on blue 77 Volare Roadrunner with a 360. Bought it new. The final version of it had W2 heads, 11.5:1, Pete Jackson gear drive and a cheetah valve body to name a few. (multiple sets of fenders also) Fun car! Thanks for another great video Steve!
My Dad had a 76 Volare and traded it for a 78 Volare. Went from a mediocre car to an absolute disaster. Amazing Chrysler survived for a while after that.
They really got it right in 78 with the Super Coupes and Street Kit Cars. I have 10 F-bodys myself
You need a Mexican Spec Super Bee 360 4 Speed.
I remember the Volare commercials had a great song/singer - V O O A R E E E!
The Aspen was the first vehicle I learned to drive. My mother was a substitute mail carrier, and I would wash her car (rural, gravel roads), often..so I had the keys..and there were fields behind our house, so .....slant sixes made some awesome burnouts...
Thank you for all you do with these junkyard crawls. You have a niche video channel that affords you to speak about history and even some of the most timid efforts at vehicles like the Aspen you make interesting. This era Chrysler corporation was the one that caused my family never to buy another - back in November 1975 we were looking for a "compact" car and we were a Ford family that had once bought a 1971 Plymouth Satellite station wagon that was a good car. So when we were shopping, we went to the Ford dealer and encountered a true lot lizard who turned us off so we went to look at Dodge compacts and there was the Aspen and the Dart. The Aspens were over optioned and we ended up with the Dart which was the most horrific car ever - even when new it was noisy, ran like garbage with a boat anchor 225 slant six, and the seats were miserably uncomfortable. After living with the car for a few months I was a nosey 14 year old and I started noticing that the car had frame and fender repairs on the side of the car that was leaning oddly. Comparing one side of frame welds to another, they were completely different - sheet metal that was smooth and welded on the undamaged side had jagged metal with welds over the top of it. Needless to say that car was offloaded with 7500 miles for a 75,000 mile Ford Torino station wagon that turned to 200,000 miles before we couldn't stomach its 13 mpg average fuel consumption. I say all of this because Chrysler in this era was a disgusting company - repeatedly my parents wanted Chrysler to do something with this car that was constantly in the shop for one malady or another and nothing was ever fixed. Had an Aspen been available at a decent price, we might have had one and had none of the taste of poor quality, but I'm not convinced the result would have been any different.
Keep up the great work and Merry Christmas!
Although I'm a Mopar guy, I would have chosen the Dart over the Aspen in 1976. The Aspen/Volare twins never lived up to the earlier reputation of the Darts and Valiants, which were very reliable although they rusted away. Sounds like you got a real bad one that should have been taken back by Chrysler, but good luck back then. With bankruptcy looming, they were some dark days for the company. Cheers and Merry Christmas.
@@LongIslandMopars My grandparents had a 1980 Volare coupe with a 225 Slant Six, probably one of the last ones made in Hamtramck, MI in late 1979. It was a real base car, no power brakes, no AC, AM radio and my dad had a vinyl top added on it for my grandparents as it was very plain. My dad (their son-in-law) maintained that car for them for six years and then it was sold and my dad got them a 1982 Buick Skyhawk, which was fully loaded and a trade in at the Cadillac dealership he worked at. They had that for a few years and then bought a 1989 Cavalier which I eventually wound up with (I still have it, it's "retired" at my other property). The Volare ran well, but it took my father many weekends of tinkering with it to get it to run just right. I remember part of the VIN was HE29CAB, so that's H for Volare, E for Economy price class, 29 for two door special coupe, C for 225 Slant Six with one barrel, aka "LTP", A for 1980 model year, B for Hamtramck, MI and the rest is the production sequence. Off the top of my head, it was code SL1 Light Cashmere exterior paint.
By 1977 in our family, we were done with Chryslers and the only one we had after that was a 1941 Plymouth Deluxe sedan family project from 1978 to 1988. We gave it to my uncle (my dad's brother) after my dad passed in 1988 and my uncle and his son had it for several years before being sold to a local couple in TX down there who runs the local paper. I believe that they still own it last I asked about it.
Chryslers were horrid by the 1970s and my parents found GM products more appealing and modern at the time. We did have two Toyota Corollas in the early 1980s, but they were company cars that we could use and we did until our 1980 Bonneville arrived (which got stolen in 1982).
Merry Christmas my BROTHER 😀
My grandfather bought a new, loaded Volare wagon in 1976, and went back to the dealer 4 or 5 times for an annoying shimmy in the rear of the vehicle. They changed or rebalanced the rear wheels, and even changed the driveshaft. Gramps took it to a Ford dealer friend of his, where the mechanics discovered that the right rear axle had a mis-drilled flange, allowing the tire to be mounted off center by 1/4 inch. Must have been a common problem, there none on the shelves of Mopar dealers in a 100 mile radius.
Morning , G P . Great story on Chrysler . You must be in the north the way you talk about rust . Here in the south you never see rust . The only time I used Bondo was when I worked for Arthur Jones's NAUTILUS in Lake Helen FLA. 50 years ago . A BIG shout-out to Edgar Jones and John T .
Yup, "in rust we do not trust". However, things rot out in Florida too. Classic Ride Society on YT did a junkyard crawl where he goes back to FL (his home state, although he lives in TX now) and the rust on those vehicles in the yard rivals what Mr. Magnante shows here. The moisture in the air and being near the water does not do justice to those old cars. I sometimes go to FL for work and when I'm doing vehicle inspections, Whoa Nelley, the moisture rusts things sitting in the parking lots.
@@googleusergp This is true , but an once of prevention ,! When I come home from a day on the beach , and remember , some beaches you can drive and park on , I have an electric power washer that I use to blast the undercarriage on the Suburban . I won't buy a vehicle with rust .
@@daynadiggle8169 That's true, but most people won't go through that and that's why they wind up where they wind up.
Fond memories working for Hertz and driving 2 of these from the dealer to the airport foot mashed to the floor following my buddy at 90 MPH on a hilly 2 lane back road, AC unit spitting out chunks of ice. How we lived through this I'll never know.
My grandfather had a green 4 door aspen with a 318 and I believe it had lean burn, I wish I had that car. Love your videos.
Very cool!
As a kid, down the road from me there was a Red Aspen RT on a Blazer frame. It was a car the guy built, but couldn't be registered, for whatever reason. So it just sat in his back yard for years and baked in the desert sun. Those were the days of Pintos on Jeep frames, all sorts of craziness of cars mounted on 4x4 frames.
It never once left his yard and eventually he took it all back apart and junked the body. That was a waste as it was a clean, straight car before he got his hands on it. Happened a lot in the '70's though, when cars like that were $600 cars.
Back in 1981 when I was 15, my dad and I were out shopping for my first car. One of the cars on our short list was a 76 Road Runner. I vividly remember the car with its orange paint, black graphics, spoiler, and t-tops. I really liked the car and it was within our $2000 price range. If it wasn't for rust just beginning to bubble through the paint in several locations it would of been my first car.
My father passed on a 1968 Camaro 327 V8 (console and bucket car) for my sister in 1983 because during the test drive he heard a noise in the rear end and also the speedometer was disconnected. My father also didn't like the body work that had been done so we passed on it.
🤦♂️ lol 😂 wtg Steve nicely timed 👍 feels like Aspen in these parts high winds snow pert near white out conditions ..😱 🥶 😝✌️🤙
Thanks 👍
My folks drove a maroon wagon Aspen. When kids could bounce around in the back! Lots of cool memories in Connecticut riding in that old gal. It was the late 80’s
As they used to say "Aspen (or Volare) the last Chrysler you'll ever buy"
Unfortunately true. Last American car my uncle bought in 1976. Sold it/traded it for a Honda Civic in 1985 and never bought another US made car after that. He fought in WWII and bought a Japanese car and my other uncle (his brother-in-law) fought in the Korean War and bought a Hyundai as his last car. What I didn't know until I was an adult was that my grandfather set up my one uncle (the one with the Hyundai) with my aunt. Both he and my aunt were married once before, but both of their spouses died young, so my grandfather set them up on a date around 1968-1969 and they were married shortly thereafter. My grandfather told me the story one day when cutting my hair in his basement. When I said to my mom (who was standing by at the sewing machine doing something on there) if it was true, she said, "Sure is. I thought we told all you kids about that years ago". They stayed married until they both passed away a few years ago.
The 74 Barracuda didn’t have any inner fender walls. The “Rust Never Sleeps” program at Plymouth was well on the way even before these Volare / Aspens were available.
Merry Christmas Steve and to all the Magsters
I remember watching a neighbor's new '77 Volare wagon rust away in about 3 years as a kid. (Chicago winters)
Thanks Steve.
had the volare with slant six , got new front fenders from mopar , on a recall .
Merry Christmas, Mr. Magnante. Your channel is my first go-to every day on the Tube of You's. Your passion for dripping through junk yards makes us kindred spirits in that regard.
Wow, thank you!
I remember the Aspen as "the shitty car your sister drove to school in 1986 that you were embarrassed to be seen in but a little bit better than mom's Oldsmobile" 🤣
Neat I loved my 79 Aspen coupe 225 super six . Paid $300 in 1991 and drove it to college 4 years
(I patched the rusty quarters with aluminum, pop rivets and construction adhesive)
Yup, my friend had one. Pretty peppy and thrifty at the same time.
A hot rodder friend of mine took the front subframe from an Aspen and grafted it under a 36 Dodge humpback, along with a 360. IIRC, he also used the rear end as well. It was a nice street rod. No idea where it ended up.
Sounds like a cool creation
@@RoadNoise29100 it was. All done up, even with graphics on the side Humpback Hauler. Ron said the best part was, he could go to any parts store and get what he needed to fix it.
Delivered a lot of those back in 1976 when I worked for M&G Convoy (Detroit, MI). Bought a brand new 1977 Dodge B100, 318, 4spd O/D. Learned about those pesky ballast resistors with that one... Van ran great for the first 30 days. Then it didn't run well, until someone removed the cat and all the related 'stuff', when it was parked at my apartment...
Great vid, really enjoyed!! 👍👍
Press F to pay respects
My older sister had a Dodge Aspen 4 door for her high school car in the mid eighties. It was puke green with green interior But it was reliable with a slant 6
We had one for a short period of time in 78 after my sister recked my parents new Omni. It was red with a leaning tower of power and four speed on the floor.
Old GF had one in the late 1980s - Red Aspen two door with a Slant Six and automatic, and a white landau vinyl top - yet with dog dish hub caps!
Hi Steve , told you in an earlier video about my 76 Plymouth Road Runner . I also had at the same time a 77 Dodge Aspen , slant banger with slush two door . Later on I also had a Aspen wagon . I remember telling you my girlfriend and I wore out the backseat in that Road Runner
Ah , the great 1980's !
They were everywhere back in the 1980s and then they just weren't........
Thanks for the info!
I test drove a 76 Aspen 2-door loaded, it was sweet, some of the most comfortable bucket seats in the day! Thanks Steve
Another great video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Back in high school in 1980, a friend had an orange '76 Road Runner, complete with the "beep-beep" horn. I think it only had a 318 because I had no trouble keeping up with him in the rusty 6-cylinder, 3-on-the-tree '65 Chevy II sedan I had at the time.
My dad had a 76 volare I used to drive in high school. This was around the same time "the law and harry mcgraw" was on tv, (remember, harry had an Aspen with a 225 "pursuit engine" as he called it).
I also learned to drive stick in a friends Aspen...
This car is a big reason Chrylelr had so many financial issues going into the 80's. Ask anyone that was around and saw them new, the build quality was trash, the interior design lent it to falling apart early even with good build quality, they rusted badly...
These cars were treated like the red head step child right from the factory and were designed to be built as inexpensively as possible. Not sure if Chrysler thought it would undercut price on monzas and Mavericks or what, but it was a junky car and if you can find a clean one today it is a needle in a haystack and must be babied to preserve it.
The reputation this car had as the affordable entry price car spread across all of Chrysler's lineup. Between aging designs and a falling reputation it is no wonder they had to throw everything out and start over in the 80's.
Chrysler's production and inventory system back then was a "push" system. That is, "We build it, now you Mr. dealer, go sell it". This led to weird combinations and options that no one wanted. When Mr. Iacocca came on board, the first thing he did was can that and go to a "push" system of inventory. That is, "You tell us what you/the customer want and we build it". That shrunk inventory and saved them money.
Those kits are gold if you ask me. Never seen them !
78 Plymouth Volare was my dads last car that he bought used about 83. Being a big Dean Martin guy i believe the name volare really sold him lol.. i got to drive it once or twice.. it was like new and had good pick up from what i remember... pretty sure it was the 360... pops passed dec of 84 and my mom sold it RIP Dad ! Thanks for sharing
The 360 police specials had dual exhaust pipes back to the differential then two into one resonator on the passenger side of the fuel tank. The single exit diameter was so large some thought it was a diesel.
I put a lot of miles on that car, loved it.
I worked for a dodge dealer in 1979 to 81 and witnessed the recall on aspens and Volares. With the front fenders rotting off them. They were really good reliable cars otherwise. Our shop meetings were about prepping us for learning how to work on iaccocas k car rescue that was comin. Some older mechanics feared chrysler was gonna close shop. Thanx to k cars we were saved!
Those were truly some lean times back then at Chrysler. Factory literature came from Dyment Distribution.
'ccoca was the man! It would not be wrong to call him a hero.
@@kenttalsma7906 Indeed he did save Chrysler. An interesting watch is the 1979 hearings before Congress. He flat out says, "If you don't bail them out, the taxpayer is going to pay anyway---in welfare, job training and the like." The real reason (among others) Chrysler was saved was that they had military contracts with the US government, and it was seen as a national security issue if they failed.
I agree that Iacocca was Chrysler's "savior" (along with Uncle Sam and the U.S. tax payer). I had a bitter sweet experience with Lee Iacocca many years ago at Barrett-Jackson. He was a special guest in the broadcast booth along side Bob Varsha and Matt Stone (or was it Keith Martin? I forget). Anyhoo, I was 400 feet away down on the auction block with Mike Joy BUT we could hear the live-to-air conversation between Iacocca and Varsha on our headsets. I recall The Word was that Iacocca was into some form of age related dementia at the time and the producers had their fingers on the "cough button" just in case. Who knew? But you have to be ready when it comes to live TV. Well Lee starts by saying: "wow, big crowd in here today. Do these people have to pay to get in?" Varsha pitched Lee a softball question, hoping to lead into some deep conversation with the Father Of the Mustang. But Lee seemed off. So the interview was terminated after a couple of minutes and they threw it down to the auction block where Mike and I got to yakking about the car being sold. That car was one of the 2005-ish Iacocca Mustangs that had custom body work done IN METAL but never really took off with buyers - at over double the stock sticker price. Anyhoo, I will always remember - and respect - The Mighty Lee Iacocca and my momentary brush with greatness - even if he was faltering. I hope I'm as sharp when I get to be that old. Thanks for writing and watching. -Steve Magnante
@@SteveMagnante I guess I could relate two funny presentation stories/on air stories of sorts. LOL.
When I an undergraduate in college, one business class project was, "Pick someone you feel is a leader in what they do, and tell us about them in detail, proving they were a leader". This was about 1992, and my friend with the two Aspens (by that time he was driving a Dodge Shadow) was also in the class, as that's how we met---we went to the same college and were in the same orientation group. I picked Iacocca. I got up and did my presentation, only to get interrupted by the professor (a hard nosed supposed "military man" from the south) who said, "He wasn't a leader and you're not proving to me that he is". I said, "Well Chrysler still exists today and they are the third largest automaker. If John Riccardo (the president before Mr. Iacocca) was still in power, all the Chrysler people would be driving Buicks or Mercury products". The class laughed, but he didn't. He said, "The minivan saved Chrysler, your research is faulty". I said, "No, you're incorrect. The minivan didn't come out until 1984 and it was the brainchild of Hal Sperlich. If they waited until 1984, which is when they had paid back the loan they would have been out of business". He said, "The K car saved Chrysler, you're not correct". I said, "No, that's wrong again. The K car came out in late 1980. By then, the US government had already bailed out Chrysler and the Omni and Horizon saved Chrysler. My friend is the front row and he's snickering to himself as this is going on.
I finish my presentation and he said, "I'm not done with you yet. Ok, you made some points, but let's talk about GM. GM made most of their Corvettes automatics so women could drive them". I said, "Well besides being sexist, you're wrong again. The output of a 1975 Corvette's engine doesn't warrant a four speed in most cases, but it was available and if you did your research, you'd know that the first year for the catalytic converter was 1975 and that played into their decision making too". A week goes by and he calls my house, "Well, we have a problem. You scored higher than everyone on your final exam and your presentation. You're screwing up my curve and I don't give A grades". I said, "If I deserve an A and you seem to indicate that I do, me you and the dean will talk that one over. That is if you want to have a job in the fall...." I wound up with an A. The next week, his battery went dead on his Fleetwood Brougham and he said, "Anyone in the class know about these things?" I said, "Yea, your power antenna was running for a week and it killed the battery. But you can ask Roger Smith about that one. Perhaps he's the leader that you said Lee Iacocca wasn't". The class burst out laughing, and I walked out and gave him a wink. LOL.
About two years ago, I went to a Ford test/press event held in a sports stadium parking lot geared for fleet and government buying. The Ford people there said, "Ok, we're going to have you drive the vehicles. We want you to put them through their paces". They made one lap around with you and then you got two laps around the course. The guy said, "Don't hold back". With that, all of us were flat to the floor whipping around turns. I must say the Ford Interceptor hybrid beat them all. Then the moderators asked, "We like to put some of you on camera to interview you about today's events".
My coworker who is a Chevrolet fan (who has a 1973 Buick Riviera) said, "Oh yea, we got a taker here. Over here. Ford fan....." Of course, I'm not, so they put a mike on me and have the boom set up and the interviewer goes through the whole thing and said, "Be honest and forthright about the product". I had all to do to keep from laughing about the company's products as anyone who knows me knows I'm not really a fan of them. Afterward, the local government rep said, "Wow, I wasn't expecting that from you, Mr. GM and Toyota fan". I said, "Don't worry, we drove here in a GM vehicle". LOL. I have to get the footage of the interview from them.
My parents bought a brand new volare wagon in 76, 318 motor and 4 speed trans. Would not start in cold weather from the get go and started rusting within the first year. Shortly after purchasing the steering wheel started coming loose. Kept it about a year than traded.
It sounds like they got one of the better ones.
My first car was a 1978 Aspen 2 dr with a slant six. Drove that thing everywhere.
I had a 78 2 door aspen I drove daily for a few years in the early 2000s. Connecticut road salt sadly ate the front driver side rail, and I had to scrap it.
Steve I love that you are totally into ALL the details! Totally dig it, brother man.
Guy I worked with had a 78 Roadrunner. Had a 360 w/4 gear. Kinda violent. Really fast but didn't want to be. Like a spaceshuttle ride, 375hp sketchy.
That’s a dope ride. Never seen one out in the wild before
Not many survived.
I started wrenching in the early 90s. I never worked on one of these. I guess I could say the same thing for Vegas and Monzas too. All rusted away.
Chrysler actually had a 76 RR on the books with dealer promo literature sent out. It was scrapped at the last minute since 75 RR sales were poor. Thus the sticker package. The last legit code RR is 1975, but the 76 almost happened,
I had the same green Duster in the background. 74 with the 225 and manual drum brakes that worked great unless they got wet then they did nothing. Basic car yet it had power steering.
I always thought those engines were real dogs. Now I know why.
Lots of Mopars in that area Steve! I had a 78 aspen.. 318. It must have been a good one. It actually went pretty good! I pounded on that thing like it owed me money, and it never broke! Lol. Great episode. Keep the Mopars coming please.
I bought a 1979 dodge aspen back in 1986 for $100.00 to drive while I was waiting for my 1968 RS/SS Camaro 396/4spd to get finished being restored.
I beat that Aspen unmercifully. I blew up 3 baby torqueflite 904 transmissions and then upgraded to a 727. Also blew up 2 rear axles which was finally upgraded to a 8 3/4 and all this damage was done with the stock 225 supersix engine. I forgot to mention the rear axle was flipped for 6 inches of lift in the rear with a frame stack in the front to fit 33x12.5 R15 Super Swampers. It spent more time at the bottom of a swamp hole than on the street.
Thank you Steve Get well soon
The first family car I can remember spending long road trips around Newfoundland in was a aspen 4 door sedan it was that Sandy light brown color, I called it our camel car. Then, like any good dodge owner we got a second one to replace it, kinda make one good one from two cars. The second one was red and a 4 door custom sedan like in your brochure. This was in 83 or 84 the cars weren't that old but we're worn out. We then upgraded to a 84 Chrysler E class! / 86 Chrysler LeBarron gts That was nice!
Couple nice rare expensive kits I love the model car add ins to your awesome vids
Back in the early 90’s I had a ‘78 Dodge Aspen as a winter beater. It was unremarkable in every possible way, but very reliable with the tried-and-true Slant Six under the hood and actually very little corrosion for a Minnesota car! On a cost-per-mile basis it was probably the cheapest transportation I have ever had short of my two feet and a Huffy 10-speed……😂
Brings back memories of my first car, a 77’ Volare wagon complete with the “woodgrain” on the sides.
My parents bought it new in Germany, 318/ auto without air and without all the emissions equipment required on cars sold in the U.S.
That car is why I have a soft spot for wagons.
I had a brown '79 Aspen sedan. It had the 225 / 6, fake wood trim on the side & an AM only radio. I was 19yrs old & it was the best I could do at the time. Got me around town, just not in style.
We're all pulling for you Steve. Hope to see you soon
I remember those!! Haven't seen one in decades.
I was never a Mopar guy (even though I have owned a couple over the years).
But I always thought that the Aspen was a decent looking car.
My best friend had a ‘76 Aspen station wagon with a slant six and a three on the tree. It was kind of a light brown color which he always referred to as “babyshit brown” lol! It was actually a pretty versatile car, apparently he was one of the lucky ones because it didn’t give him much trouble. Sad what the once great slant six and torque-flight combo came to! My dad bought a Reliant when they came out, it was a dog and had lots of fuel delivery and management troubles!
Another great video and yes sir you have some awesome model car kits 😀
Yay! Love the dog, hate the rotting deer head. Great video as always!
Had a 77 Aspen RT loved it!
An awesome underdog, Steve.
I saw thousands of these things go through an auto auction where I worked in the early 80s. When things were slow on the lot, we would be sent to the rail head to pick up Volares and Aspens. About once a month we would have a Chrysler only sale. I think these cars were coming off Chrysler leases. I thought they were all junk, but just a little better built than the Ford Fairmonts I saw come through the auction.
Good point, the Fairmont was a car that Aspen and Volare owners could look down on 😉
Everything was junk in that era
@@FrankBullitt390 Depends on what it was. Not all of them were, but the US carmakers were realizing that they couldn't get lazy anymore and still get the sale. The Japanese showed us that they could eat our lunch.
I was wondering if those Aspens and Volares you're talking about were sales Bank cars.