The Dodge Mirada succeeded the Magnum, which had already replaced the Charger in the personal luxury category. Neither attempt was overly successful, and the Mirada was in the mix for just four years. It shared the J-platform used by the Chrysler Cordoba and Imperial. The seller has a nice first-year edition (1980) with a rebuilt V8 engine and other upgrades. Located in Halethorpe, Maryland, this semi-survivor is available here on eBay for $10,000.
Dodge’s Mirada used rear-wheel drive, which was still common in Chrysler circles when the FWD K-Car was introduced (1981). 53,000 copies were produced through 1983, but more than half were sold during the first model year. A 225 cubic inch Slant Six was standard (for fuel economy rating reasons), with a 318 or 360 available as options. The seller’s Mopar was built with the latter, which has been rebuilt with a beefier camshaft and 4-barrel carburetor. Electronic ignition was also added.
This Mirada has 84,000 miles and looks good overall. It’s a shame that folks don’t take nice-running cars out into the daylight for photos, so this one has garage lighting to contend with. That may make the burgundy paint (original?) seem a little dull in places. For whatever reason, the factory rear suspension was jettisoned in favor of parts from a 1968 Plymouth Road Runner. The power steering box is from a Jeep, and the automatic transmission has also been redone.
From all indications, this Dodge is much peppier than it would have been from the factory. Considering how underpowered most Detroit cars were in those days, these changes are probably welcomed. This car has the typical velour living room interior that so many cars of the 1970s and 1980s had. As a footnote, this car was envisioned to be Dodge’s next hit on the racetrack and even had Richard Petty test it. The Mirada didn’t have the speed it needed to be competitive.
If the love online translates into the real world, this car should sell quickly if the pictures are representative of its actual condition.
Steve R
The dreaded steering wheel cover strikes again!
Along with hideous LED headlights.
The trend of using this style of LED headlight on an older car is a trend that cannot die soon enough.
Steve R
At least there’s no eyelashes over the headlights,or a
“Time Out” doll resting on it.
Hmmm? Only like 200 360s came from the factory untill the pollution police shut that down back in 1980. I believe all were 4bbls from the factory. What engine did this originally come with? Nothing wrong with that, but if they expect more cash for rarity, they are going to have to show proof.
Miradas were very beautiful. Too bad no one bought them because Chrysler was about to go belly up. Today when I see one, it makes me smile, and a little sad, thinking of what might have been.
From the article, it seems that this car came with a 360 ci 4 Barrel. That engine was rebuilt and a beefer 4 barrel carb was added along with Electronic Fuel Injection.
The seller’s Mopar was built with the 360, which has been rebuilt with a beefier camshaft and 4-barrel carburetor. Electronic “ignition” was also added.
The supplied window sticker shows the engine as an E44 code 318 2 bbl…
Moroney sticker says it came from the factory with a 318, if I’m reading it right. If it’s not rusty, beautiful car I’d love to own; and since the bumper fillers are still intact, she must have been a garage queen since new.
Pillow interior 🤌😌
In deep Bordello Red!
I have A 81 with A 360 create engine with 400 hp.looks almost identical.
Good looking car. Two door, V8, T-tops. Why ruin it with a bench seat, auto on the column, and white wall tires ???
T-tops?
Love it
This really sweet. Friend of mine had one in the day, slant six CMX. Had everything else.
boy that tach really looks stupid sitting in that interior.
I have no problem with white walls, but just clean them.
Lee Iacoca came from Ford and this was suppose to fight the T bird, didn’t work too good even tho it was a nice looking car.
Overall looks very clean, but being in NJ I’d definitely like to see some underside shots. First thing I’d do would replace those horrid LED headlights.
Halogen Headlights would do just fine.
Wanted one new. Was a starving college kid at PSU.
According to the window sticker photo, it had a 318 from the factory.
Lovely looking car. Although I was way too young at the time to drive a car, I remember cars like this.
In the book, “Cars Of The King”, there’s a story of how Petty Enterprises built a Mirada to test at Daytona. Dale Inman told Richard Petty to take it easy doing laps in it. When Richard pulled onto pit road, Dale said, “Now get on it.” Richard Petty replied, “I was on it.” Everyone realized “OOPS”.
It’s crazy, but I’ve always found the front end appearance of the Miranda way more attractive than the rear end.