Bad Boy in Black: 1979 Dodge Magnum

The Magnum was a two-year Dodge (1978-79) that was developed because the Charger was no longer qualified for NASCAR competition. Richard Petty was the lead team for these cars, and while he had some success, he never won a race in a Magnum (and then switched to Chevrolet). This 1979 Magnum looks quite stout and has a bad boy look to it, even though it only has a 318 cubic inch V8. Located in Albany, Oregon, this night stalker is available here on craigslist for $10,000. Kudos to “Curvette”, the tip-meister.

Dodge still built the Charger, so the Magnum was an extra model that used the Chrysler B-body platform (the last new car to adopt it). To help solve the NASCAR problem, the Magnum had a more rounded appearance and used quad headlights and opera windows. A 318 V8 was standard, and that’s the engine found in the seller’s car, which has 112,000 miles. About 73,000 Magnums were built in its two-year run, with two-thirds in the first season. So, a 1979 Magnum like this one should be harder to find (should you want one).

You have to wonder how serious the seller is about letting this Dodge go, as the listing only comes with six words of detail. “One good old cruiser” and a reference to the 318. One of the most obvious things in the listing is that the car has no opera windows. The seller does not explain their omission, and it looks as though the vinyl roof was extended to cover them up (were they even removed?).

The black paint looks great, and the red interior is mighty appealing. The car also sports some aftermarket wheels, and the vehicle has the same kind of vibe as the modified Lincoln used in the 1977 horror movie, “The Car” (one of my favorites from that genre). We assume everything functions as it should, but if you’re hungry for more, you’re going to have to contact the tight-lipped seller.