One of the most interesting go-fast decal packages of the 1970s, this 1978 Plymouth Volare A43 Street Kit Car is one interesting ride. We’ve seen a few of them here in the past and this one is listed here on eBay in Clinton Township, Michigan and the seller has a very ambitious opening bid price listed of $32,000 and a buy-it-now price of $35,000. Thanks to T.J. for sending in this tip!
I’m a huge fan of bold graphics and special editions so naturally, I like these things. It doesn’t get much bolder or graphic’ier than this. Bolt-on fender flares, bolt-on rear spoiler, bolt-on rear side window louvers, faux hood pins, and all sorts of things to make the person next to you at the stoplight think that you’re about to open a can as soon as the light turns green.
One incredibly odd thing with this listing is that we don’t see one inch of the driver’s side at all and I mean not even one slight glimpse. Is there a driver’s side? We don’t know because there is not one photo showing that side at all. So, I give you the above pic of one of the two faux hood pins. These Street Kit Cars are incredibly rare by the numbers but we have seen quite a few of them roll through the cyber doors here at Barn Finds over the last few years. This asking price, though, I don’t know where that came from, maybe 2022 pricing?
You know by the #43 that these cars were a well-earned tribute to King Richard Petty. The Volare was a replacement for the Plymouth Duster and I’ve always wondered what a 1976 Plymouth Valiant Duster A43 Street Kit Car may have looked like… hmmm… This car does look like one of the nicest examples that I’ve seen, the details are just about perfect from the seats to those window louvers to the window retention straps, and fender flares. The underside even looks good.
As far as that stoplight comment goes, these cars typically came with a 360 cubic-inch V8 with a four-barrel Carter ThermoQuad carburetor which sounds great but they only had 175 horsepower. This one has a few non-original pieces like a “Mopar Performance electronic ignition kit, headers, true dual exhaust, an Edelbrock intake and AVS II carb with electric choke” and more. Any thoughts on this one, condition, upgrades, or price?
It’s still a Volare.
So what was GM offering – a four year old Camero ? And lordy lordy was it still a Mustang II ?
Don’t get me wrong, the “King”,,well, is the “KING”, I just don’t know if I want to be driving around with that emblazoned all over the car. Petty doesn’t need the glitz, apparently someone feels strongly enough show how they feel. I think it’s foolish, naturally, I like the car, but the Petty graphics don’t add $20g’s,( unless old Richard gets a cut somehow) not yet anyway. Maybe when he’s gone. I’d have to think the attention it may get, would be more embarrassing. And someone may correct me, but I don’t think he ever even raced a Volare.
BTW, this car, or one just like it was featured here in 2015 for half the price, hmmm,,,I wonder,,
https://barnfinds.com/1978-plymouth-volare-petty-special/
You’re right, sir. I’ve written up several and I don’t think any of them have been remotely in this price range. I’m guessing they may be riding the 2022 wave before it crashes.
Either you get this setup or you don’t. It’s a shame it’s not a 4 or 5 speed stick. To make it real fast put a stoker 406 and update the rear end with the automatic and it will fly. The reason high in price .. how many are out there like this? Good luck to the next owner and have fun!! 🐻🇺🇸
All Sloppy and no Joe!
Petty was the man . But not my cup of tea .
“The King” Petty is STILL the legend-but I’ll bet you a jug of moonshine he NEVER drove a Volare with his number on it or even a Volare EVER..
Made a quick list of best cars for this treatment. Volare came in at 10,387th place.
HA!
I like the upgrades. These were too slow from the factory so they had to be upgraded to have any semblance of dignity given the looks. Price seems crazy to me. I wouldn’t pay anywhere near that but it’s 2022 as you say. Interesting they chose the Volare/Aspen for this treatment because they were not raced in NASCAR. Would have made more sense to offer it on the Dodge Magnum, which is what Petty actually drove then
Torqueflite auto on the column 👍
I only tangled with one of these cars once on the street. That jazzy little Volare must’ve had 4:56 gears or something, cuz I swear it left like a bottle rocket. My peg-leg 383 challenger had nothing for it.
At $35,000, there’s not going to be a race to purchase this pseudo-stock car.
You guys, obviously, don’t know much about A) Chrysler’s factory race “Kit Car” program in the 1970’s, B) Chrysler’s E58 “Premium 360” engine that powered these cars, the Chrysler 300’s in 1979, and all of the Little Red Express trucks (which made them, at the time, the quickest production truck to date, or C) the rarity of this car, in this condition and the overall market these days for cars this nice. By the way, comparing this car to what it sold for seven years is laughable, at best.
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/a43-attitude/amp
All I got after reading this is the song Volare stuck in my head.
I remember these when they were new and seeing them on the show room floor at the local dealer. The column shifter is a huge let down on this car, but the performance upgrades certainly couldn’t hurt it in the driving department. I would guess anyone paying the owners price will be disappointed as I just don’t see the value. I do personally love the graphics and if I recall, these kits were made for the track, however customers put some considerable dollars into the drive train to make them competitive.
Last month on BAT, a 1978 Dodge Aspen Super Coupe with 80,000 sold for $36,250. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1978-dodge-aspen-super-coupe/
Rick in Oregon: Maybe you’re confused with this MoPar program?
https://bangshift.com/bangshiftapex/random-car-review-the-chrysler-kit-car-program-the-original-saturday-night-special/
Scotty Mac – thank you for the link, that was very interesting.
I could see a Richard Petty tribute car if it was a 1971-74 Charger but a Volare, pass.
I can understand all the graphics and the add ons, but fake hood pins is too much!
the body of the car is nice, kind of a Chevy Laguna wanna be,, the fender flares are hidious.
Had it not been for those flares, all else looks like sensible upgrades. As for the hood pins ‘faux’ they look real to me, unless they dont actually connect to rad support.. then ya, WHY all the effort to install them and not have them functional ??, if so, just furthers the flairs.
Take the 43 and the flairs off and its a cool end of the era muscle car, probably quick considering how light that body is.
Still, looks like a Laguna wanna be..
Factory Hood Pins were probably outlawed by then as some sort of “safety violation”. So, they go along with the rest of the cars faux racer look.
My buddy bought a brand new 77 R/T version of the Dodge, had nice lines, bucket seats, black on black with red R/T stripes, factory wheels, 360, tore it apart 3 years later, balanced blueprint 440, real all out race car
Were any performance changes made to the engine or exhaust, compared to the ’78 360 road runner?
Ralph.
No. I just can’t get into it. A 360 with 175 hp is a sin. Not a fan of all the bolt on stuff on any vehicle. It’s only a place for rust to hide.
Nowadays, it’s easy to pick on 175HP, but remember that we are talking about 1978.
There weren’t many cars that had more power than that. It was on par with the base engines in the Corvette, Z/28 and T/A.
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love the decal packages of the seventies!
if you leave the keys in it nobody would take it
Must be a typo perhaps an extra zero on the end of the price?
This very car was the subject of a feature article in Hemmings Muscle Machines. It’s possible that the seller thinks that increases the value of it, as some cars are worth more because of a certain provenance, such as having been owned by a major celebrity, for example.
Yes. I posted a link to the article above.
Wow! There is one bid of $32,000 for this car and there’s a day left on the auction!
Rare car at the time and more so today. These were fast at the time, and, as Michael B said, that motor powered the Little Red Express truck. Chryslers kit car program was a low cost? way for Henry Everyguy to race a factory stock car! GM and Ford had nothing to counter them. But, later GM had their hideous Aero Grand Prick and Aero Monte Crapo, Ford had, well, nothing. This car would blow them off the road
For a lot less money & I’m assuming the same 360 v8 specs, IMO this
https://barnfinds.com/road-stunner-1976-plymouth-road-runner/
would be a lot better choice. I like the steering wheel in it too – bigger & better if the car has manual steering.
Drivin this ’78 street kit car on the street would be begging to be pulled over – back in the day, at least, & almost borders on silly for the street but fine for the track – with mods.
I would get the road runner as stripped as possible with 4 speed(if possible) & & no power anything & ditch the back seat & put on fiberglass bumpers, cold air hood, etc.
Too bad the 400 cid v8 was not avail, but with above mods & true dual exhaust, i would think the lighter 360 ’76 road runner could keep up with a t/a 6.6.
Too bad both Volares(&’71 & newer dusters) have that silly rectangular speedo which means no fact tach was available.
& they might look better if the front trim was blacked out.
Auction update: this one sold for $32,000!