With almost 50,000 of them having been made in the first of only two years of production, when was the last time you’ve seen a 1978 Dodge Magnum XE? I mean, other than here on Barn Finds?… The seller has this example posted here on craigslist in Van Nuys, California and they’re asking $16,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Rocco B. for sending in this tip!
Dodge made the Magnum in two flavors, Gran Touring, or GT, and the XE, as in this example. The GT was more performance-oriented, although it had no more horsepower than the XE did, and was more of an appearance package with color-keyed fender flares, white letter tires, etc. The Dodge Magnum was related to the B-Body Dodge Charger of the era, and also the Chrysler Cordoba, Plymouth Fury, etc., which is clearly visible, but with some interesting features like the glass-covered headlights.
The seller says that this car has new American Racing Torque Thrust wheels and new tires. It originally would have had one of three types of wheel options. As always, I’d personally prefer that this beautiful car be all original, but that’s just me. This Eggshell White car has over 4,000 factory welds in order to make its 4,100-pound unit-body structurally sound, and a “seven-step dip-and-spray anticorrosion treatment” helped make them a little better than previous cars as far as rust goes.
This car is loaded with options, including those nice white leather seats and an optional console. This car also has power windows, speed control, AC – which blows cold – and a trunk dress-up kit. The back seat looks like new. The seller has included many good photos in the listing, a rare thing these days, and also a nice link here on YouTube showing the car in all its glory. This looks like one nice car. Hagerty says to plan on around $15,000 for a #3 good condition car and up to $30,000 for the best examples, so maybe this is a good deal?
This Dodge 360-cu.in. OHV V8 with a four-barrel carburetor would have had 170 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque, and the three-speed TorqueFlite transmission has a new-for-1978 lockup clutch feature that offered a little bump in MPG. This engine and car, in general, have so many new parts that I’d go into 2023 if I listed them all here. Please check out the seller’s listing to see everything that has been done to this car. How much would you pay for this ’78 Magnum XE?
I always liked the look of these especially the covered head lights. Yes, it was the 70s and this was as good as it got. It was blasphemy to slap a Charger name on this body. I think a 5.7 Hemi swap from a modern junk/wreck would be an awesome cheap fun project. I have to search if that’s ever been done. GLWTA
Modern hemis have had a lot of problems & recalls – when they start ticking, best to get rid of the car.
Magnum’s were sharp cause they gave the Charger a new front clip and called them Magnums.
The rest of the car looks almost identical to 1975 to 1978 4rth Generation Chargers.
Magnums replaced the Charger as Dodge’s entry in that sector, personal luxury car market in 1978.
The Fluffernutter interior always seemed to be less common than blue or red dash/carpets with white, or all-golden tan. Definitely in the “they don’t make ’em like this” bracket though.
The comment about modern Hemis is true. I work at a Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealer. All we do is replace cams in Hemis, exhaust manifolds, etc. The sensors that knock out four cylinders on to improve fuel mileage also fail. Nothing but garbage. In 1978, all GM intermediates were butt ugly. These Magnums were beautiful and yes, rarely seen today. The Mirada was another good looking car. Ah, everyone complained about the 70s and 80s, but truth be told today really sucks.
I have definitely heard about the tick. My deep dive into it before I bought my Challenger was that it was mainly 5.7 autos with MDS and a lot of idling. The answer for those guys was to disable MDS (hopefully) I bought a 2012 SRT8 392 6 speed. So far so good, best car I’ve ever owned. Which years and engine/tranny combos are you seeing back at your dealership for work? I have heard it is very rare with the 6 speed.
Interesting as I have had a few vehicles with the 5.7 all with over 150,000 miles including a Jeep we still have. Never an issue of any kind with any of them. I am aware of the cylinder deactivation lifters failing due to the incorrect oil being used. And exhaust manifold studs breaking on vehicles with modified exhaust systems. Currently one can make a living off of the chronic cam and lifter failures in the Chevy LS engines. I wonder if someone has mixed up the information between the two engines.
Read this (including the comments – some good, some bad – i guess it’s hit or miss) …
https://tuningpro.co/the-4-most-common-dodge-5-7l-hemi-engine-problems/
also other problems – with the Chally, that is …
https://www.hotcars.com/heres-what-dodge-challenger-owners-never-tell-you/
I would say the merger with Fiat only makes matters worse. lol
“Fluffernutter”. OMFGROTFLMAO!!!!!!
I’d love to have it just for the white interior. Automakers stopped offering ‘colored’ interiors about 1992 or so, and I’m probably in the minority in saying how nice a clean white interior looks. I miss it. And this Magnum is fairly well equipped.
I like this car just because there are so few left and the condition of this one is very nice. Price it’s hard to say ,but I think a number around 15 K is reasonable. The price needs to be based on the buyer as always. There is the flipper price and a fair price for someone that wants the car. It seems all there are is flippers, its sad everyone wants to make money. It seems no one just wants the car.
I love American Racing Wheels just not on this car. It screams for “Magnum 500’s.”