DODGE MAGNUM: Why It Was Only a Two Year Production Vehicle
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- Опубликовано: 13 окт 2023
- Hey everybody this is Michael J with the Boca Brothers. Ya know two weeks ago, we dropped a video labeled Best Looking Cars of 1978 and the feedback was awesome to say the least. Believe it or not, we do read your comments. We just don’t always have time to respond to the thousands of comments but I did notice that many of our viewers commented the most the Dodge Magnum so we decided to produce a video. Here we go!
This is the story of the Dodge Mugnum
We all remember the Dodge Magnums that were around in the mid 2000s but not all remember that this station wagon which was only around for 4 years was bread from SRT-8. It was infact the second generation of the Magnum model.
The first generation Magnum was introduced for 1978 to supplement the Dodge Charger and the model was even shorter with only a two year run. It was sold in two forms, the "XE" and the "GT" and was the last vehicle to use the long running Chrysler B platform. What’s pretty cool is that Brazil and Mexico had their own versions of the Dodge Magnum, each with their own designs compared to that of our versions here and in Canada.
Looking back, the Dodge Magnum was actually a complete failure with only 80 thousand units sold in the two years of production. It was a muscle car that back in the day said had no muscle and many wondered why it was even manufactured. But yet chrysler had a couple of reasons for building it in the first place. 
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I'd have a '78 Magnum as my daily driver - I LOVE those cars - have since I was 18 in 1978!
Putting the Charger badge on the Chrysler Cordoba bodystyle was bad enough, but putting it on a lame excuse for a car, like the omni was downright sacrilege.
Yea, the Cordobacharger wasn't as bad as the Omnicharger 😂😂😂
At least the Cordoba was a B-body.
I'd love to find an affordable decent 76 Cordoba like Mom had when I was a little kid. That was her first "nice" car, despite being 10 years old.
Nobody will agree, but I do think the Cordobacharger looked better than the butt-ugly Coke Bottle Charger.
@@johneckert1365You're saying the Coke Bottle styled 2nd gen Chargers look hideous?
@@CJColvin No. The 3rd gen Chargers are the Coke Bottle Chargers. 71-74 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
@@johneckert1365 Oh ok gotcha.
@@johneckert1365I agree!
The Dodge Magnum of 78 - 79 were really cool looking cars. My parents bought a new 78 Plymouth Volare. It had to go back to the dealer for something not long after they bought it (electronic lean burn related probably). The dealer didn't have any loaners left so they put them in a salesman's demo. It was a 78 Magnum GT with a 360 4bbl. I remember my mom complaining about how much gas that thing used. It was a sharp looking car. It was black and had this real plush burgundy velour interior. It was almost like sitting down in a coffin.
I've got a 1978 Magnum has been off for road since 1980 something. It sets in the bar next to my Coke bottle charger. Both are for sale. Both are solid but need work.
I owned a '79 Magnum GT from 1981-1983. It had the rare E-58 Police Package, T-tops etc. It took me 40 years to find another one with the GT package, T-tops and E-58 Police package. In fact it was pictured on this program. It was the only one with the factory "GT" stripes on a Black colored car.
Mine was also the E-58 but in a strange Red / White +Landau base trim. With its headlight to headlight radiator, and that stupid 4 foot wide nylon carbonator. It would flood when hot, and was a monster with the 4bbl open. I have no idea why it had that package, unless it was for undercover or office work. To this day, was the strangest car in specs I ever owned.
My 78th and sit in the bar next to my Coke bottle charger. I guess I've just been waiting for them to be worth something. I had strength coach who drove one of these cars. Mine's just a cream color kind of bland Magnum.
Richard Petty had nothing good to say about that car! He said "The Dodge Magnum is undrivable at 190 MPH" and after the last race ”I’m glad it’s over. We’ll clean ’em up and put ’em in the corner of our shops. We’ll go with the Chevrolet for the next race.” pretty brutal criticism after being loyal to Chrysler for decades!
I remember reading and seeing Petty on that, since they had big/or fast tracks like Daytona, Talladega, Atlanta and no restrictor plates, you needed all the speed you could get. Plus I love that back then that drivers could pick a model from week to week, Dodge not fast enough so hop into a Chevy, didn't like the Chevy, hop into a Ford
He was absolutely right. They were trash.
I'm with you, I really lke the Magnum wagons! I was a used car manager at a Chevy dealer long ago and drove a Mirada as a demo for a while and loved it.
I had a 79 Magnum back in the late 90s that I only paid $150 for and drove it until I burned the motor up in it. It was a grey XE with the 360. Wish I never got rid of it
Family owned both a 76 Charger SE and a 79 Magnum - both with 360s. The Mag had a 4bbl and the Charger had a 2bbl. They were not fast at all but nice highway cruisers and we did a lot of cross country travel. Also had 69, 71, and 06 "real" Chargers
These are some of my favorite all-time cars. They were one of the best-looking vehicles to come out of the 70s, in my opinion. They really hit it out of the park with the front end styling. It really signaled the end of an era for the original Mopar muscle cars and the B body itself. If it weren't for the horrible economic conditions of the time, coupled with insanely high gas prices, this car would have definitely been a success. It was really a lot better looking than the Monte Carlos and Cutlasses of the era, but those cars had long running nameplates and a loyal following while this car was under-advertised and didn't have the brand cred like the GM personal luxury coupes. It stuck out like a sore thumb in a time when the domestic automakers were scrambling to catch up to the Japanese with small, appliance-like, fuel efficient basic transportation, which is what the buying public didn't necessarily want, but NEEDED at the time. Sometimes it's just, wrong car at the wrong time. If they would have released it in the late 60s or mid-80s it would have been a hit.
It has been a dream of mine to find one of these in clean, unmolested original condition. But with production numbers being so low and the newest one being 44 years old, I doubt I'll ever find what I'm looking for, unfortunately.
Great video, as always! Keep it up.
I Owned a 77 magnum XC silver with all the bells and whistles and to date it’s the best Mopar I’ve ever owned and driven
My younger brother bought a '79 Magnum, red interior with t-tops and American mags. Loved the coffin nose design. He brought it over to show me and I pointed out to him lettering under the paint down the sides. It said, Kil-Kare Speedway, Xenia, Ohio. Turns out it was the track official pace car and we found photos with Darrell Waltrip waving to the crowd from the passenger side while Morganna, the kissing bandit, sat on the top with t-tops off. That was June 1979. No longer has the Magnum...got a '66 GTO that my brother still owns today.
I had one. A two-tone black/silver with T-tops. Loved that car. Looked great and was reliable.
Very good. I liked the fact you showed and discussed the Magnums from other parts of the world. That is how you keep the video interesting. You did a good job. I liked your footage and information provided. I liked how you covered the changes and models all the way until the end. Thank you. You know they sold the Magnum wagon in Europe with a Chrysler 300 front end. I am not sure about Australia, but they sold the 300 there too. Thank you.
Yep. Was a 300c touring here in Australia.
Thanks for watching and your support of our channel!!!
Yes, I never knew they used the name on overseas A and M body platforms, so I learned something today :)
Side note on the newer Magnum wagons: the same year Chrysler 300C front clip bolts right on, as well as all the interior appointments.
They sold that version in Britain as the 300C touring edition.
The "Cordoba" was really a pretty car. I forgot how similar the roof line with the opera window resembled a GM.
As usual, great content!! Very interesting and informative!!
I really enjoy you content and presentation. Your research is evident in the product. I was surprised when there was very little mentioned about the mid -2000s wagon. Please follow up with another segment focusing on it. Thanks!
I really wanted a Magnum wagon until I had to drive it at work. Backing up was impossible. I'd still take one. But it's not something that I would seek out.
Now the 78 Magnum is a great looking car. I'd love to have one
I always liked them. Especially the ones with the stripes on them. They should have had more than a 2 year run but the times dictated otherwise.
Love your videos - please consider doing one along the lines of weird car features, but specifically, uses for the glove box. History of the glove box, then odd ways manufacturers or aftermarket people have customized them (could probably include center consoles in this as well). Gun safes, refrigerators, filing systems are all modern uses, but probably some really odd ones out there that most of us have never heard of.
I remember seeing a 1978 Daytona on the used car lot as a kid. Very nice Chyrsler for a 1978! Back then pretty much everyone had the classic chrome Cragar S/S 5 spoke wheels as well. Loved growing up back in the 1970s.... Back then anyone who had 300 HP under the hood was fast... and NOS was just for those who ran their hot rods at the track. Today's kids are just insane and anything in excess of 500 HP is really unsafe on the street....
Great vid, miss my Dodge Magnum from back in the day.
My 1979 Magnum GT in black with red leather had the 360 4 BBL I hung out with a guy on the CB Radio named Mopar, he ordered it new but had to sell it because of a divorce. I put centerlines, and a 3:92 rear end, took off the cats, and ran with Corvair turbo mufflers. Changed the voltage regulator with a more powerful one and switched the rear leaf spring shackle in reverse to give the car a lower look in the back. Had an Alpine stereo CB radio with linear amplifier, and a police scanner. I would cruise the main drag and race people when I was 19. I dream of that car to this day. Thank you for showcasing this incredible car that made my youth a real fun time. All the mods gave the car a 2 second advantage but was a real gas guzzler.
I had an XE with T tops and a 400, its what I brought my daughter home in when she was born in 1990
👍👍 Another kool posting.. Think you guys could do a follow up on the magnum '04 model..?? Thanks again for the posting
I got my first driving lessons in 1980 on a Magnum XE that my high school driving school used.
Lots of fond memories cruising Fort Lauderdale in a Magnum back in the day. Thanks for posting.
My grandfather owned an XE Magnum. It was a very nice car. He got it to replace the Cordoba which replaced the LeMans witch replaced the Firenza.
That wagon version was cool as hell!
I remember the original Magnum, but was way too young to drive one. I did however put 250000kms on a 2007 SXT and loved it.
I had a 78 Dodge Magnum. It was a two tone green with a green interior. It had a 360 V8 with headers and a bigger cam.
Had a 2005 magnum bone white sxt and it had over 295K miles on it when I sold it. Great whip. Besides it being a cop magnet lots of fun. ☮️
I remember that Dodge Magnum, all right! I was a teenager when it was introduced (still too young to drive). It was okay for what it was - more like a luxury cruiser than an all-out performer.
I'd go find myself a '78 or '79 Magnum, and take it to shows. Okay, it's no Charger (or is it?), but I'd have something different to show off. I could have people stop to look at it and say, "Wow, a '78 Magnum! Hey Charlie, come look at this! When was the last time you saw one of these puppies?". And I would say, "Interesting, isn't it? And it's all mine!". _(10/14/2023)_
I had a 1978 magnum with power sunroof, 360, white with red cloth and vinyl seats and red landau top. Wish I still had it...
I had a 2005 Magnum just like in the opening of this video, same color too. Great car! Hemi and everything. No matter where I went people wanted to look at it....
I bought a 78 brand new 400 t tops, it was a great cruiser it had cruse control great car.
My cousin had a new '79, it was silver with grey cloth interior & Ttops! I really liked that car ✌💖☮
someone in my town had one when a i was youth, i found the headlight special since they were unique in north america until the taurus in 1985 , also for a kid who grow up in the 80's - 90's it was was that type of malaise era car ( old car ) that a still use as a daily unlike the collectible use during the sunny days
Wow this is a car something I didn't know of that will become a collector's for sure how many was produced in?
The two-tone paint on some of these was really beautiful.
Drove a 79 for 10 years. Best car I ever owned. I miss it. Maybe someday I'll have another one.
I remember these Magnums back in 1978. I thought they looked pretty good. Still like to have that black one with the red striping.
Wow, I had forgotten about the Mirada! Been so long since I've seen one.
Here in Brazil, this Dodge was relatively popular during the 70's and early 80's.
My Dad had a '79 Dodge St. Regis... the same styling in a 4-door sedan. It had a 318 V-8 and ran well, but beyond that, everything else in the car (power windows, power seats, A/C, even the radio) was a PITA.
Dad bought a 78 brand new. I bought a 79 as my first car in 86 and paid $750. It was a XE with T-tops and the 360. I accidently did a Dukes of Hazard impression and blew front shocks, bent tie rods and a few othe things. I loved that car!
I have an 06 5.7 and love it!
My friend had one and he loved it. It was a cool looking car.
I’ve only ever seen one Canadian model in 2001. It was an oddly captivating vehicle, just a really muscular looking boat.
I purchased from the original owner a ‘78 66k Magnum with the 400 and t-tops around ‘05. Nice car, but sold it in 2011 to help finance a ‘33 Plymouth PD coupe. I should have kept it, but selling it helped to persuade my wife in buying the ‘33. 😎
I remember growing up my uncle had a few. I think he had 4 at one time. My grandfather at that time even had a Cordoba of that generation.
Dealer in Muskegon Michigan had a Dodge Magnum with a 440 cubic inch engine.
Had a Dodge magnum when I was about 16 years old . It got about 6 or 7 miles per gallon . 10 tops. But it was comfortable and ran good when it got going .
I remember these when I was 13, my tennis coach had one. It was really just a Plymouth Volare all dressed up with a cheesy poor-running "Lean Burn" Carter carbureted 318 V8 that made all of 175 hp.
My tennis coach was this weird old guy who used to wear a chain with huge pendants and tight white disco clothes~
Back in 1989 I had a 78 Magnum with t-tops traded my 77 Plymouth volare wagon and four hundred bucks had to put a transmission in it the day I picked it up from the shop the motor blew replaced motor and transmission together. It was a nice looking car from Florida kind of wish I still had it.
The '78-'79 Magnum was one of the more attractive cars of it's day.
My mom did when I was a kid we had a dodge Magnum. It was metallic brown with Crager wheels and tan leather.
Yes I own a 78 magnum xe needs lots of work.😊😅❤owned it since 91 .
My x had a white one with a 318. I really didn't know what I was looking at. Ugly on the outside with no rims just plain steel wheels. My first impression was it rolled out of a junkyard. 😅 Then I started driving her around in it. Heavy metal, low to the ground with plenty of power. Very plush interior and she would slide over those red leather seats next to me. I soon learned the lesson of don't judge a book by its cover. What a low rider cruiser! 😅
when i was a kid my dad had a 78 xe it had the t-top it was white with a res red landu top n pinstripe along with red cloth interior n holy cow that car did not wana die! dad went thru 3 transmissions because he loved way more than the amc grimlin they also had at the time the only thing he HATED about it was the "leanburn" computer that kept frying i one day will get a 78 magnum
I've still got my magnum I bought in1992 and still love it has midnight blue paint and midnight blue leather interior and I have a am fm cd cassette out of a 97 dodge laser a friend of mine gave me when his daughter wreck it
I liked the '78 and '79 Dodge Magnum (without the T tops) It was a sporty version of the Cordoba. It was also a large car, compared to the trash we have today, and at least had a V8 engine. If you had one of these today, you could put whatever you wanted under the hood. I'd probably go for a late '60s version of the carbureted 426 Hemi.
Definitely a Good Looking Car! I liked them!
I bought a 78 Dodge Magnum in 1985 for $1,700.Awesome car,drove it till 1990.Wish I still had it.
I love the Magnum and the Mirada
My mom had a 76 Cordoba...silver with red interior. Nice car! I'd like a Mirada myself!
I had some of those Miranda's myself and loved those cars.
I had a beautiful ‘78 XE slick top in dove gray with matching interior. Bought at at the former Westside Dodge in Columbus, Ohio the week after the Blizzard of ‘78. I’ll never forget how my dad nearly stroked out when he saw the price tag was an even 12 grand. Can you imagine a brand new car for 12 grand today? Loved that car.
Yeah! My parents first house in the suburbs was $15k in 1961! That was a lot in ‘78!
I still have my 2007 dodge magnum and now the 2022 dodge charger, the magnum was a good car still running good.
Had a 1979, E58 4bbl., t-tops. Rebuilt and modified the 360 in the early 1990s then later sold it for a 1992 Canyon Sport Ramcharger
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Very handsome car, gorgeous for the time.
Back in 1997 Jr yr of high school I hada 1977 charger SE.... same color as the commercial that's played in this video around 2:50
My best friend in HS had a 78 Magnum
Great looking cars. I remember seeing a new Magnum at the Indianapolis auto show that had been converted into a very plausible convertible by someplace of the likes of Creative Industries (I don't remember real shop). I noticed that several of the cars in your video are customized, but each in my opinion is not as good as the original.
I've owned 2 Miradas with both 318 and the slant 6.
I would like to have a 200X Magnum with the 78 grill or the Mirada grill if it would fit better.
I'd also like to have an updated 318 with multiport fuel injection and computer controlled like the cars are now. Add a 5 speed automatic with performance features like the Challenger.
Anything more and then you'd have a Hellcat.
Also despite the newest Magnum looking like and called a Stationwagon doesn't make it one.
It's too short so it doesn't have the people carrying or cargo capacity.
It's really just a glorified hatchback.
A good looking one but still just a hatchback.
I personally liked these cars and would STILL like to have one 👍💯
One of the prettiest cars ever made. I would have bought one new at the time but was still a poor college student.
The B-body Magnums of the late-1970's were nice, even if they weren't up to the standards of the Chargers from earlier in the decade. But the closest I got to even touching a Magnum was the possibility of renting the Magnum Wagon, after the Enterprise rental place flaked out on getting me the Ford Focus Wagon I tried to rent online. The thing was too expensive, but I'm sorry I didn't take it.
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i have one and love it
The Dodge Magnum was supposed to be a premium model. The body sheet metal was thicker than usual, to make it look better. The Magnum assembly line workers were all workers with at least 30 years experience on the assembly line. The thicker body panels and assembly worker experience was supposed to build a better quality car.
I own 4 in several states of disrepair. I love them though. 2-78s and 2-79s. 1 with a 318, 2 with the 360 and one with the 400. 3 XE's and one is a GT.
I loved these cars
Had a 78 Charger. Wish I still had it.
beautiful car.
I wanted a Magnum wagon REALLY bad when they were out. Just never had the money.
Would still love to have one, but again.........still no money.
I liked the 70's Magnum, except the tail lights. The tail lights killed it for me. Ick.
I'm a Pontiac guy but damn I like these cars. Don't see too many of them anymore.
I wanted one. I was 22. It was the coolest looking car I thought. I didn’t have the money. I ended up 5 years later with a 1983 Grand Prix. I still have that car. Both the car and myself are 40 years older.
Mom's 76 Cordoba (360 2bbl non-lean burn) had a howl in the rear end that always put me to sleep as a little kid
The late 70s-90s was the dark years for Chrysler/Dodge muscle cars
I wasn't aware that Chrysler built the Magnum so Richard Petty could continue racing. But it didn't surprise me knowing that the only reason why the 1970 Plymouth Superbird was built was so King Petty would return to Plymouth Racing.
I like these and the Mirada CMX from the 80s
It's amazing how many different names went on this same basic car. It was a Magnum, Cordoba, Charger, Fury, Road Runner that I can think of maybe more. I actually liked the style not sure of the quality.
You're correct that the Magnum, Cordoba, Charger, and Road Runner were all very similar, they were B bodies and remained mostly unchanged (except for sheetmetal) as a platform until 79.
The Fury started as a C body, had a short stint as a B body, an M body, and an R body but were fleet sales only, l believe.
People poopoo these cars but they've got the same architecture as any Charger, GTX, or Road Runner and will accept all of the same engine/trans combos w little-to-no modifications... I've owned several.
These Really are Great looking! Even if you want to call it a Underpowered Dog, Then yes you are correct because in addition they where more or less a Maliase era car and everything else was a boat anchor too... I've been wanting one for Years now but according to owners and a Friend of mine who has owned one, They've all told me aftermarket support is ZERO and finding parts is near impossible. So pretty much you'd be looking at buying parts cars or NOS... same with another car i always wanted a 1975 Ford ELITE. Gorgeous land yachts.
I had a '78 XE in Black on Black. 360 and a console auto. Wish I kept it...
1975-1977 Cordoba/Charger looks fkin great 👍
I honestly don't understand why people hate this car it was sharp. I think most people think bc it was made in the 1970's it's junk but there was several cars made in the 1970's that were pretty cool. Like this one and the Mustang 2's the Cobra models and what most people don't think about is that if they hadn't made the Mustang 2's Mustang would not be around today the Mustang 2's is the only thing that saved the Mustang.
I remember the first time I saw a 78 Magnum commercial. I was 14 at the time, and thought it was one of the best looking Mopars ever. I thought it was just as good looking as the E bodies, and B bodies of early years. In 1983, I was able to buy a used 78 Magnum. 360 2 bbl. Red with black interior, and no vinyl top. It ran and drove very good. Just wish it didn’t have the “lean burn” system, which fortunately didn’t give me any problems.
I bought a Magnum GT with T tops a few years ago and have a lot of fun with it.
I love Challengers and cudas but the Magnum is much more comfortable to drive!
Richard Petty did ok with his Magnum but said it was undrivable over 190 mph.
Kyle Petty got his only career win driving a Magnum in 1980.
I don't know what's worse. FWD Charger or current 4DR version.
To me the Charger name deserves better 😢
We had a Magnum K platform in México back on the 80's...I guess in 1985