NASCAR Wannabe: Cheap 1980 Dodge Mirada

You might consider the 1980-83 Dodge Mirada as a downsized Charger or Cordoba. Dodge had hoped the car’s aerodynamic look would pay off in NASCAR, but it actually had more drag and didn’t make much of an impact, even with Richard Petty. This first-year Mirada has been inactive since 1999, and no recent attempts have been made to revive it. The seller has had it since 2014 and doesn’t want to fool with it anymore, so it’s available here on craigslist for the really cheap wheels price of $900. The locale: Twin Rivers, Wisconsin.

The Mirada rode on the J-body platform worn by the second-gen Cordoba and the resurrected Imperial. The car sold only 53,000 copies over four years, with each successive model run attracting fewer buyers than the last. Chrysler was in desperate straits in those days, and the Mirada didn’t do much to help them get out of their financial pickle until the Federal government came along.

Due to its sporty nature, the Mirada came with bucket seats, yet a 225-cubic-inch Slant-Six was standard (you could opt for either a 318 or a 360 V8). The seller’s car has that usually solid motor, paired with a 904 automatic transmission. With just 90 hp SAE net, the base Mirada wasn’t particularly racy. It’s a shame the car didn’t do well in NASCAR, as that would have helped sales.

The seller thinks the Dodge has 129,000 miles, yet the interior is mostly okay after 46 years in total and 27 years in hibernation. The tires are as old as a buffalo-head nickel, but they will hold air for loading onto a trailer. The brakes drag, so you’ll do more pulling than pushing to haul it away. The black paint has run its course, and there is hail damage and a little bit of rust. Including the seller, this could be a two-owner Mopar. For $900, what have you got to lose? A nod goes to Tony Primo for the tip.