It is always a vexing question. How far can a classic car deviate from its original form before it is no longer classed as a genuine survivor? That is the question raised by this 1977 Dodge Aspen R/T. It is a well-equipped tidy vehicle, and lifting its overall presentation to the next level would not be a complex undertaking. The owner has swapped the original engine for something more potent, and it is this move that motivates me to raise the question. If it makes no difference to you and you would like to park the Aspen in your workshop, you will find it located in Troy, New York, and listed for sale here on Craigslist. You could drive away in this Dodge by handing its owner $8,500. However, that figure isn’t set in stone, with the buyer indicating that he may talk turkey on offers. I have to say a huge thank you to Barn Finder Pat L for referring this classic to us.

By 1977, the American automotive landscape had become a pretty dismal scene. Once potent performance models like the Mustang and Camaro had become wheezing and asthmatic shadows of their former selves. The good people at Chrysler made a valiant (sorry!) attempt to inject some excitement into their range, and one of the results of their creative thinking was the 1977 Dodge Aspen R/T. Out of a total production run of 66,675 Aspen Coupes, only 4,468 were the R/T variant. Dodge equipped the R/T with a V8 engine, wider Rallye wheels, bold stripes, and minor suspension tweaks. For those who desired more, they could order the R/T with the Super Pack. In addition to the changes listed, the buyer received front and rear spoilers, side window louvers, and further improvements to shocks and sway bars. These were the rarest of the breed, with a mere 2,281 buyers ticking that box. This R/T presents reasonably well in its shade of Black Sunfire. The owner indicates that the Aspen received a repaint at some point within the past fifteen years, which helps explain why it still looks pretty tidy. The paint has some swirls, but I feel that a wet sand and polish might improve its overall presentation without spending a fortune. The distinctive R/T stripes and graphics look crisp, and the panels appear to be devoid of significant dings, dents, and rust. The owner indicates that there is rust in the passenger side floor, but it isn’t clear how extensive it is. The rear spoiler is intact, but the front is not currently attached to the vehicle. The Rallye wheels look like they would benefit from some restoration work, and at least one of the trim rings is missing. Making this Aspen more interesting is the original owner’s decision to order it with a glass T-Top. The owner has recently replaced the gaskets to eliminate the chance of water leakage, and a spare passenger side panel is included. However, there appear to be no pressing needs, so the buyer could drive the Aspen as-is and tackle any restoration work as time and circumstances allow.

This Aspen’s interior is something of a mixed bag. It looks like the seats wear aftermarket slipcovers, so the state of the upholstery beneath is an unknown factor. The carpet is slightly faded, but it remains presentable. The dash pad has some substantial cracks, and if the buyer wants to address this on a budget, high-quality caps are easy to find for around $120. A Sunpro tach is mounted on the column and a wrap on the wheel, but apart from those items and a Pistol Grip shifter, the interior is unmolested. It might not score highly because it lacks items like air conditioning and a stereo, but the T-Top and power windows are nice touches.

Dodge offered the R/T with a choice of a 318ci or 360ci V8, and it isn’t clear which this car featured when new. That statement should tell you that it isn’t a numbers-matching vehicle. The owner has installed a high-compression 318ci of 1969 vintage bolted to a four-speed manual transmission. There’s a fair bet that the driver will have more than the original 166hp under their right foot when they slip behind the wheel of this baby. The owner has spent some considerable money on the R/T in recent times. He has lavished TLC on the braking system, with new front discs, calipers, pads, and wheel bearings. The rears received new shoes and springs, while the pipes and hoses have been replaced with copper and braided stainless items. He also installed a new clutch, starter, and starter harness. The list goes on, and so does this car. He indicates that it drips some oil and rattles over bumps, but he has just completed a 3,500-mile cross-country journey without a single issue. The car is mechanically sound, and he includes a collection of parts that comprises high-performance 318 cylinder heads, a dual-snorkel intake system, and additional gaskets and other components.

The 1970s was a miserable time for performance car enthusiasts, and cars like this 1977 Aspen R/T graphically demonstrate that manufacturers were reduced to producing vehicles that placed style over substance. The owner of this car has sought to redress that imbalance by endowing the car with some performance credentials straight from the 1960s. That raises the question of whether these changes have increased its value or undermined its status as a survivor. Personally, I quite like this car, and while the asking price may be slightly optimistic, there’s a good chance that a motivated buyer might be able to negotiate a lower figure. At the end of the day, it costs nothing to ask, and the worst that he can say is no. So, are you feeling lucky?