The Dodge Mirada is an intriguing choice for an affordable classic that has more pedigree than you might think. The Mirada is a big body coupe with an emphasis on luxury and some level of a sporting personality, and this body style even enjoyed a stint on the NASCAR circuit. The Mirada doesn’t rise to the top of most collector’s lists in terms of “must-have” vehicles, but it’s a great choice for an affordable option that you likely won’t see another one of at the local cruise-in. This Mirada is listed here on craigslist with 45,000 original miles and an asking price of $14,000.
The Mirada’s greatest asset, in my opinion, is its looks. It stood out in a big way in the early 1980s with its long hood and short rear over-hang. I don’t know what it is about a short decklid area, but it really does help the Mirada stand out from the crowd. Of course, the Mirada had a close sibling in the Chrysler Cordoba, but distinctive sheet metal helped separate the cars apart. The Mirada’s paint appears to be in excellent shape, but the seller doesn’t mention whether the Mirada has been repainted. Fortunately, there is no rust, which is great news considering how those vinyl roof sections can easily trap water at the bottom of the pillar.
Like so many other luxury cars from this era, the interior corresponds closely with the exterior paint job. The seller calls the interior “perfect” from the headliner to the carpet. While that’s a tricky word to use when describing a used car, the cabin does appear to be extremely nice, even if some small defects exist. The Mirada features a mix of convenience features and manual controls, and perhaps the best feature of this body style is the fact that the coupe proportions are tidy but normal-sized adults can still fit in the backseat. If this was a pillar-less body, it would be even more striking of a design.
Mechanically, this Cordoba has been significantly improved. The seller reports that it comes with a new dual exhaust; Cragar SS wheels mounted on Cooper Cobras tires; a custom aluminum radiator and transmission cooler; a Mopar air cleaner; Edelbrock valve covers; and an Edelbrock intake manifold. The seller states it is a “drive it anywhere” caliber vehicle, and given the clean cosmetics and long list of mechanical improvements, I don’t see any reason not to believe that. The Mirada is certainly underappreciated in today’s marketplace, and finding a good one will take some time – so I’d move fast if you’ve been on the hunt for one. The seller is also open to trades including a Hemi Challenger or Charger; Ram 1500 R/T or Durango R/T; an El Camino SS; an Olds 442; a Monte Carlo SS; or an LS-powered single-cab short bed truck.
Such a beauty, OH! if only it wasn’t RED! GLWTS!! :-)
Beautiful survivor! I’m wondering if that’s a 318, or 360? But in the article it mentions, “ if this was a pilar less body it would be an even more striking design”. Well technically it IS a pilar less design!
Ad says 318 (5.2).
I have four Miradas, one for each model year, and the ’80 and ’82 are going back on the road. Nearly everything else out there has priced me out of the market for it, so I’m hanging on my Miradas.
I knew a guy who had an 83. That has got to be pretty rare. I think they only made them for a few months for that model year and closed down production. How are your plastic rear end caps? They are almost all dust. One of the most beautiful cars to come out of the 80s. I really think that if Chrysler hadn’t been on deaths’ door, they would have sold well and been highly collectible today. My buddy says that people all the time have no idea what it even is when they see him at shows or on the street.
The Mirada might have been in NASCAR. I don’t remember them. The Dodge Magnum, maybe? But neither “enjoyed” the experience!
Dodge was trying to get Richard Petty to drive a Mirada after he left Dodge.
However when Petty’s team tested them, they were a lot slower than Fords & Chevys.
A 2nd rate NASCAR team did run them on short tracks for a bit.
They just didn’t measure up very well. Not at all on the Super Speedways.
It was Dodge’s last NASCAR attempt until the 2000’s.
Beautiful. In 1981, these were among the best looking cars on rhe market. You never see them today.
But, but, no Corinthian leather!
Corinthians are rare today.Chrysler used too many.They are on the endangered list.
Honestly, I like it!
Neighbor’s Dad worked for Chrysler and had a black beauty growing up…started my love of Mopar. Used to love when he would offer to take us for ice cream in it! I hope someone buys this and makes it their daily driver!
No AC?
Love that shade of “arrest-me” red! On this car with those wheels & tires, it’s a home run.
Love the red interior and exterior! Wow, so 80s! Like most cars from the early, looks like no AC. How did we ever survive back then with no AC. :)
I think AC was standard. I bet Mr I just gotta have oodles of power yanked it off. Even if it did have AC, I think it would have been Freon and that is pretty crazy expensive these days and to convert is expensive and hit or miss in effectiveness, or so I have been told. Funny fact, it was Dow Chemical themselves to have Freon removed from the market, but only after they were about to lose the patent on it and oh so conveniently, just happened to have a replacement that they also just happen to have patented. Gotta love politicians and the companies who buy them with a big ol smile.
I always liked these, but the padded landau half top and Cragars just don’t work together.
Normally I’d be inclined to agree, but here the landau vinyl being black with slight chrome trim IMO somehow nicely works together with the white-letter black tires and polished wheels, as seen in pic #3 of the CL listing.
I had an 82 Mirada about 25 years ago. It was silver with a beautiful grey leather interior. (Corinthian leather?)LOL. It rode and drove great but the a/c evaporator leaked so a/c never worked while I had it. It had had some bad body work done but I needed a car in a hurry and it was cheap, so I bought it. It served me well for about a year and I got most of my money back when I sold it. One feature it had was the hidden wipers. When you turned them off they went down out of sight, which I though was neat..
GM “invented” I believe the hidden or recessed wipers and they first appeared I believe in 1968. Clean design, but if you lived anywhere with snow…
Hidden wipers first appeared on the 1967 Pontiacs. There was an ad that read “Where did they hide the windshield wipers on the 1967 Pontiacs? Only your Pontiac dealer knows, and he’s not talking until September 29.”
This car was for sale at UMC Auto Sales in Illinois for over a year. Started out at around $19k and was gradually reduced to $9k when it finally sold last month, apparently to the guy who has it for sale now. Beautiful car, and fairly unique not having AC. I’ve owned an ’83 Mirada and an ’80 and ’82 Cordoba and currently have an ’81 Cordoba LS.
Had a 1980 in Champagne color, factory rims and bucket seats with console shifter. It looked sharp! Had the 318 but gearing was so bad to meet gas mileage mandates, it couldn’t get out of its own way! Finally blew head gasket and traded it in. Wish I would have kept it.
This Dodge model was only around for a short couple years.
I thought they were pretty sharp…..apparently most didn’t.
Walmart started in the 80’s too. Oh well !
I believe this car came with A/C as the HVAC control panel looks like the one used with A/C cars. The compressor is missing from under the hood.
Beautiful 🤩 Mirada, nice upgrades.
It’s hard to sell a car in Texas w/o air cond. Back in ’82 my brother moved to Houston from Pa. with his ’79 Dodge van, it was really done up with custom interior, but no air. He tried to trade it in on something smaller and no dealer would even take it. He had to bring it back home to sell it.
She is a beauty ,that car is missing one thing …….Me behind the wheel
Still want one, no money, no room. Got a set of the factory aluminum wheels.
Here’s your NASCAR connection.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Arrington