1 of 285? 1980 Dodge Aspen R/T

With the introduction of the 1976 Dodge Aspen/Plymouth Volare, the R/T moniker returned after a brief absence. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the R/T at Dodge stood for maximum performance with every assembly. But that ship had sailed by the late 1970s, and it was more about appearance with just a hint of muscle. The seller has a 1980 Dodge Aspen R/T, one of only 285 said to have been produced in the last year for the Aspen/Volare. Located in Ionia, Michigan, this cartoon character on wheels is available here on eBay, where the reserve is unmet at $3,950.

The Aspen replaced the successful Dodge Dart in 1976. A new F-body platform was deployed, and the cars were pretty similar engineering-wise. But the Aspen/Volare became the poster child of the Malaise Era with their poor build quality and long list of product recalls. During the cars’ five-year run (through 1980), the Aspen R/T was optional, and its graphics went from mild to wild over the duration. You could get one with a Slant-Six (R/T, really?) or a 318 or 360 cubic inch V8. We understand the 360 was gone after 1979.

This 1980 Aspen R/T (not described as an R/T by the seller, but the graphics say otherwise) is not numbers-matching. A newly rebuilt 360 V8 from 1977 has been in this car for fewer than 100 miles (the seller has owned the car for eight years). It’s been souped up with a host of goodies, so the performance the car may deliver justice at stop-light standoffs. The tires are new on rims that are wider in the rear than the front (typical of the decade).

We’re told this Mopar has no rust or body problems, and we don’t know how much of the exterior bling is period-correct vs. added later to create a cartoon-in-motion look (sorry if it all seems a bit of overkill). The interior is okay, except for one seat bottom, but the seller is sending the correct materials for the buyer to fix. The automobile has 64,000 miles, but what’s the story for the past 46 years?