Sometimes the most historic vehicles are among the least collectible in the marketplace. This is generally the case for Chrysler’s K-platform cars. When Chrysler bet all the marbles on this front-wheel-drive platform, the company’s failure in the marketplace would have meant certain death. When the car debuted, common folks from all over the country took a chance on a new car and ensured the company’s survival. That is the story of the 1981 Dodge Aries K station wagon for sale on eBay in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. Purchased by the seller’s grandparents in 1981, this wagon served the couple for a long time, but not many miles. With an odometer that reads 29,843 miles and a current bid of $720, what is the fair market value of this historic, but non-running piece of history?
While Lee Iacocca became a household name for his role in leading Chrysler out of danger, a lot of the credit should go to a mechanical engineer who served both Ford and Chrysler as a product planner. Hal Sperlich had a hand in the planning behind the original Ford Mustang and spent an inordinate amount of time championing a front-wheel-drive platform for Ford that included what would later be called the minivan. Rewarded for his troubles by being canned at Ford, Sperlich ended up at Chrysler. It was there that the front-wheel-drive platform he fought for became the K-car platform, and the minivan concept emerged as the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager. Chrysler also used the K-platform to build well over fifty percent of its lineup in the following years.
So here we are, decades later, reflecting on a 1981 Dodge Aries K station wagon. When we talk about historic cars, we most often discuss Ford’s Model Ts and Model As, Packards and Deusenbergs, Chevrolet Corvettes and Ford Mustangs, and other popular vehicles. Yet, think for a minute what the automotive landscape would have been like post-1981 if the K-car had been a flop. All of the ingredients were there. The economy was in recession, Chrysler’s reputation for quality was never lower, and nothing kills sales faster than rumors of a company going under. Iacocca even mentions in his autobiography competitors encouraging customers to test drive a Chrysler in their ads out of sympathy for the company’s dilemma. It was that bad.
Those who did go down to their local Dodge or Plymouth dealer in 1981 found a car that was very unlike everything else in the showroom. Powered by either a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine or a 2.6-liter four that was made by Mitsubishi, the K-car was a light, very modern car with acceptable build quality for the time and understated good looks. These front-wheel-drive midsize vehicles were offered in two-door coupe, four-door sedan, and four-door wagon body styles. In the period from 1981 through 1988, the company built over two million of these K-platform cars. That was enough to put the company firmly back on its feet after coming so close to death. It is amazing what a good car introduced at the right time can do.
Looking at the pictures of this car reveals a simpler time in America. While the Aries K was considered a mid-size car at the time, today it would probably be considered a subcompact. There are no airbags, antilock brakes, infotainment screens, or even fuel injection. The 2.6-liter engine that this car came with put out under 100 horsepower and could be had with either a four or five-speed manual transmission or a three-speed automatic transmission. It was simple transportation at a reasonable price.
This car is also part of an estate for the seller’s grandparents. Sadly, they have passed on and the car was unceremoniously placed outside the garage it lived in since new around two years ago. It currently does not run and drive. However, the engine does turn over. The condition is described as having the usual bumps and scrapes of a car of its era. One interesting fact is that this car was built during the first month of the first year of production for this model. It was last registered for the road in 1999.
The current low bidding is a combination of both the car’s condition and a lack of interest in these interesting vehicles. That is also an opportunity in disguise for a collector on a budget. Parts are readily available for these cars, and there are a lot of folks out there willing to provide assistance and advice for getting this car back on the road. Once running, I would imagine this car would get a lot of attention at local shows. They were an important part of a lot of people’s lives and a hugely important part of Chrysler’s history. While a Viper may be orders of magnitude more fun to drive, that hot rod wouldn’t even exist if the K-car had failed.
Would you be interested in a K-car as a fun collectible with a story? Do you have your own K-car story? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.
Bought one of these brand new, had my first daughter and thought a wagon would work. Well ordered the car, black with tan interior. 2.6 as I traded a Colt in so the Mitsubishi engine seemed to make sense. Luggage rack and 14 ” sport wheels. Now I didn’t order the bright trim and that was supposed to be optional, turned out they made that standard. Dealer said they would scuff it up and paint it. I passed on that idea. Wasn’t a bad car, wasn’t one of my favorite cars. Did get a speeding ticket once and managed to convince the judge that that car couldn’t possibly leave the stop light to where I was stopped down the road and reach the speed the officer said I was clocked at. About two years later it was gone, just too hum drum for me. But I helped save Chrysler!
I too have nothing but praise for this car. I simply can’t understand the mindset to say, these were poor cars. The only thing I can think of, is those naysayers weren’t around then, and what a devastating blow the demise of Chrysler would have had on our economy. These cars saved that catastrophe from happening,,,for a while anyway. I, or the old man, who repaired slightly totaled mini-vans, had many of the fwd cars, from my daughters 1st car, a Shadow, to several mini-vans, a 600 sedan and a wagon similar to this. I don’t recall the motor, and wasn’t so concerned about “saving Chrysler”, as I just thought they were good, simple cars. Something that is a breath of fresh air these here days.
Agreed! My mother needed a new car in 83. Chrysler/ Plymouth dealer was walking distance from her home and she was newly living alone. We picked up a nice new 83 reliant sedan with the 2.3. The cars served her really well and when she had to stop driving I took it and used it as an extra car. I enjoyed it for several more years, actually until 2010. At that point I had no room for it, it needed a head gasket, heater core and a bit of body work ( mom used the side of her garage somehow to guide herself in and out so both sides were scraped from front to rear, hence taking he license). Wish I still had it.
Yes, they are under-rated. Had a 1988 Dodge Aries 2.2 and it was a great car for me. Everything I needed (AC, radio, cruise control) nothing I didn’t-(Power seats/windows, airbags, etc). Got 116,000 miles out of it until the head gasket went and it over-heated. Son had hot-rodded it around town without telling me. It had a weak 2-blade fan and aluminum block. So if I had known over-heating would be a problem (Texas), I would have installed a better fan and maybe an engine-oil cooler. Wish I still had it!
Hot damn that is one ugly road vessel…
LS SWAP IT lmao
Don’t forget to slam and blow it!!..big block hemi aughta do it👍👍
Parked there two years ago? Methinks not.
Unless someone decided to dig ruts out for those K car wheels to sink into and keep things cozy, I’d suggest this little green wagon has been sitting there for a while longer than that. And thin ’80s sheetmetal parked over dirt for a few winters makes me wonder how much of that little Aries will be left behind when it’s finally yanked out of its resting place.
I agree, plus the milage is probably 129,843
I share that sentiment. I’d be very concerned about the condition of the floor pans and the underside in general. These are unibodies of course, so rust under there can be disastrous. Dirt of course breathes and pushes up moisture.
Not to mention the condition of the front bench seat they didn’t bother to uncover for the pics.
Those were terrific vehicles back then. My in laws had exact same one, but there’s was silver color with red interior. Had the automatic transmission. My uncle had a red 1986 Reliant LE Coupe that he had for 13 years and 310000 miles. My wife owned an ice blue Aries LE Sedan back in 1988. Great car. Loved to get my hands on one so badly. They were and still are extremely dependable. Good luck to whoever purchases that station wagon.
My brother had a k-car wagon and he spent all of his wages
on engine problems & transmission problems until he finally
had spent too much and decided the car had to go directly to
the junk yard to be crushed like all k-cars of that era.
k-cars were a mechanic’s dream come true.
Bob
PT Barnum said “There’s one born every minute.” And the fact that these evil tin cans were remotely successful, proves that.
My wife had the last of the K Cars, and it was wonderful. 1995 Plymouth Acclaim in white with the Mitsubishi 3.0 V6. She bought it new just before we got married. That car was a newlyweds dream and we went everywhere in it. Grey interior, plenty of room everywhere, respectable power, arguably good, clean looks with the added garnish of understated V6 emblems. 286,000 miles logged over ten years of ownership, with only a grenaded transaxle at 180,000 that still got us home. I miss that car something fierce.
The second generation “Special K” cars were much better designed and engineered than this little green buggy. Most all the previous problems were ironed out (the transmissions were still weak sauce) and improvements to interior size and trim made these perfectly adequate cars.
I grew up in Portage, IN. The neighboring city of Valparaiso purchased K-car sedans and wagons for it’s Police Dept…crime ran amuck.
OMG!! your town too…I thought piqua Ohio was only town dumb enough to use k cars as cruisers. I liked them but not for rough service as police cars.
William, just out of curiosity, are you with any relationship with Kenneth Ray Folkerth, or Dennis Folkerth who lives in Dayton, Oh
The whitewalls are oddly very clean and white, though
Seen plenty of clean white whitewalls on junkers in salvage yards. It’s called sun-bleached.
I had a blue K car bought & flipped . That one would make a great street sleeper.
Great deal on low mileage car, company here had like 6 for deliveries, ran them all into the ground with 175-200k each , then rust took them to scrap yard.
I always thought the Chrysler K cars had the wow factor of a plain saltine cracker. However I do like the convertible, the mini pickup called the Rampage and the New Yorker with its high tech for its time — computer voice reminder system. I had a plymouth acclaim with a peppy 3.0 V6 too
$780 and reserve not met its already $200 over valve for this mouse house that hasn’t been on the road in 24 years good luck to the winning bidder
Paging Guy V. Coulombe…it’s an “ultra-rare” K-car for you to pontificate on.
Clean body says maybe miles are accurate, gotta wonder about the underside though, and no engine pics. Hopefully, one could just flush the fuel system, change the head gasket and timing belt and go on your way.
Loved your write up , a great historical perspective , truly well written.
Whatever’s been sitting on the back seat for 25 years has left a permanent indentation.
Well I see this K car is doing what they did best…. Sitting out in the weeds and putting shadow blisters on the ground, just like the Omni’s did
My neighbor’s Omni is doing just that with 350,000 + on the odometer. Low oil finally did it in.
Bought a brown one new from Hiller Dodge in Marion, MA. Plenty of room, good mileage, ran decent and at a cheap price.
Ran it for 3 years traded it in on a minivan.
Good option for a family without a fortune to spend on a vehicle. Never needed repairs in 3 years.
I was a little bit interested, but bidding is up over $1k with the reserve not met!!?? This is a non runner of a not very desirable car. I’m a Mopar guy, who likes wagons, but this is getting to the point where it could be a money pit.
I’m surprised there is a reserve to be honest. Start the bidding at $500..no reserve.
Bought the first minivan, special order, sight unseen, just the brochures and car magazine write ups, it made sense, it was great around town, hauling kids to baseball games, touring colleges up and down the east coast, hauling kids to colleges, (although by the time it had 200,000 miles on it I rented vans for the Boston/DC run), more power than a VW bus, but not much, 5 on the floor, the 2.2 Chrysler 4. Kids learned to drive stick on it, a lost art, son trying to sell his Subaru WRX, mechanically great, body great, no buyers since kids today can’t use a clutch. My van finally died of body rot. Bought 4 more over the next 25 years, the best was a special ordered Dodge version, 2000, the most luxurious a used 2006 Chrysler version which I suspect had been flooded over the door sills, not disclosed by shady dealer, bottom rotted out, rest was OK.
I’m glad what you said about the WRX – i find the exhaust/or is it the engine? sound coming from/of those flat 6’s to be exceptionally annoying. & even the sound of some older Acura V6’s with even factory exhaust systems.
Had a 84 model of this in maroon paint in the late 80’s. Bought used with extremely low mileage. Fun car for a daily driver. Good mileage. Till the now ex-wife totaled it. Would not mind having an other now.
Ex wife or ex car?
These things are to the automotive world what Cold Duck is to the world of fine wines.
The only time (for me) that low miles are relevant is if the car is taken care of. Not the case here.
For those who wonder, yes the Aries was a very solid car, im glad that I was able to find someone who will enjoy it.
Solid,
I had the opportunity to look at this wagon in person. Seller was super accommodating and stories about 1 owner/low mileage checked out via documentation. The car is completely rust free underneath/ rockers/ door bottoms/trunk. Only rust is on some exhaust components. Original Mopar paper stickers in engine compartment are still intact! Seats, dash, headliner are like new and imprint on rear seat is gone. Fluids were all up to level. No leaks. Trans fluid is bright cherry red, but brake fluid is brown, and pedal goes to floor. I’m amazed at the keyboard warrior experts negatively speculating/commenting about “mouse house”, rust, no engine pics, “must be 129k miles” etc without having any first hand knowledge. Engine came to life on first bump, and runs smooth and quiet. Needs brake fluid etc changed and maybe master cylinder rebuild. All lights and switches, door locks, etc work. All glass is intact. Right front turn signal lense has crack and rear hatch struts need replaced.
Even these lowly cars got a bright airy FULLY color keyed interior. I’m guessing also blue, maroon, tan, etc. were available.
Surprised it has hidden wipers.
Try finding either on today’s “modern” “cars”.
Not sure if 1 could get velour or even bucket seats on these early ones.
A front seat that needed to be covered with just 29 – 30k ???