Dodge produced a number of performance editions of its Aspen and Volare models, including the R/T seen here and other models wearing the moniker of “Super Coupe”, “Street Kit Car” and others. The compact F-Bodies, the end of the line for Chrysler’s use of rear wheel drive, are among my favorite designs despite being somewhat slow sellers when new. This is a rare R/T package 1980 Dodge Aspen, of which there are only believed to be only 285 in existence, according to Hemmings. Find it here on craigslist for $2,900 in Cumberland, Maryland.
The R/T was a shadow of its former self by the time the 1980 Aspen came along. Gone were the loud graphics, window louvers and flashy wheels. Remember when you could get a box full of Richard Petty’s number 43 graphics in the trunk? No more. The R/T came with the rear spoiler seen here, some discrete R/T badges and some basic wheels for rolling stock. Obviously, the seller has added the hood scoops, polished wheels and louvers on the back window (though a dealer could have added those, too.)
This is the only photo we get of the interior, which is unremarkable. Automatic transmission paired to a 170-horsepower 360 V8 that actually churned out a fair amount of torque. Performance was neither good nor bad, with the quarter mile passing in the 17s. The seller offers us few details on the health of the car, other than stating it runs strong and has had some new parts thrown at it. The driver’s seat will need some work and we can’t tell what’s underneath the passenger side seat cover.
The engine bay is quite clean, although I could do without the painted alternator shroud. My gut tells me the Aspen has been repainted, as I can’t believe there was this much red from the factory. Regardless, with so few made and likely not even half of those cars still on the road, this is a rare find and likely worth the asking price if it runs as well as the seller claims. It wouldn’t take much to bring it back to OEM condition, which is exactly what I’d do for such a rare bird. Would you restore it to stock or modify it further?
IMHO for $2,900 you can’t expect much and this car looks to be better than not much.
When this Aspen was built, there was talk of crude oil shortly being three or more times the then-current price, which may explain why Chrysler concentrated on the K-Car platform.
I recall a lot of talk within the industry of phasing out V8s in favour of sixes and fours. CAFE also had an effect on what was being planned for the 1980s.
At the time, I was very much involved in the automotive aftermarket and looked into developing a high-lift valve cover for the Buick V6, in case GM’s V8s were dropped.
However, it seems the forecasted increase in oil didn’t come to pass during that decade, so maybe Chrysler Captain’s idea would have had merit, back then? Hindsight is golden.
Sad looking front end, has K-Car written all over it but it’ll eat Fairmonts and Citations for lunch!
It reminds me of the Volare wagon that they used on Fantasy Island. I once read that one of them still exists, sitting in a lot in LA somewhere. Imagine driving that into a car show.
I so want to create one of those cars.
All I need is a red station wagon and a saw.
There is only one picture on Google of that car and I don’t know if that is enough detail to recreate it.
Like the idea here just as the other day there was a worked late 70’s Mercury. Looks like the engine has been warmed up, no smog means no way in California for me.
It would be nice if the seller added a little more information in their add, their car their choice I guess.
Gotta love the sticker in the back window- “Its not leaking oil, its sweating power”… at least the seller has a sense of humor.
Boy this seems like such a “just another boring sedan” I owned a dodge pickup with a 360 in it and it was gutless and burned more fuel than any regular vehicle I ever owned, most definitely NOT a fan of that motor during this era. Motor combined with a boring car just means NOT FOR ME!
I saw a new one of these on a dealership lot north of Atlanta back in the day. It was not very awe-inspiring but then-not much else was either, at the time. Those were some very dark days in the auto industry…
So they could open the door to get the interior picture? Lost the keys to get inside? Oh, it’s CL. Nevermind……..
He locked the keys inside. Took nearly 2 hrs to get his family out……
I have a set of the aluminum wheels these came with. Got them out of the junk yard when they were still the fun place to go. I didn’t even have a car to put them on. They are very light. I also grabbed a road runner rear spoiler from the same era. Anybody interested? Wife hates my hording. Lol.
If anyone has ever driven a Volare or Aspen, especially a V/8 can tell you what horrendous handling car coupled with worse reliability than a Yugo these POS are. The fact that this one avoided the crusher is amazing.
Unfortunately I can’t agree with you at all on the Aspen and Volare. I owned one of each. Both with V8s. Of course I did drive them in a normal fashion. Maybe you tried being a corner burner? If that was the case then yes, the handling would suck. Completely agree with you on the Yugo though. Had one given to me when they were still around. Sold that thing the first chance I got!
I wouldn’t even bother putting the turd buffer to this. Even a shiny turd would be better than this POS.
One man’s treasure …
Don’t forget the chassis is almost identical to the dodge mirada 80-83
Nice looking style! I had a Volare, but it just had the slant 6 in it, but the car itself looked very much like this! It was a great dependable car until the X wife wrecked it! I was sad mainly because her grandmother gave it to us! I miss that old car it was mechanically bullet proof!
I owned a 78 Volare and it handled great with big F shaped torsion bars
Can’t be many of these left, much less of the R/T models. 360s of this era were very down on power, as were almost every other engine of the day. OK,pull the bumpers back into the body , freshen the body and inside, thumper cam and headers & free flow exhaust, EFI and bring the suspension into the modern age!! Love it or not.
Ha ha ha. They were dogs. The scoops and side louvers even make it look worse. They were built in terrible automotive times and it shows.
Couldn’t give me one of these.
Hey Beatlepat go get you a Faitmont to take your mommy to the grocery store on Wed.afternoons. This 80 model MOPAR was king in it’s day. With a few more upgrades it would be a bracket killer at the local track on Fridayn Saturday. It’s like the ghouls say MOPAR OR NO CAR. Owner of the KINGS ride a 1970 Roadrunner Superbird.
My old man just bought a 1980 Dodge
Aspen r/t. It has a built slant 6 and we thought someone was just trying to find a sucker. But come to find out it is in fact a r/t and did roll off production with a slant 6
I had a four door 225 1980 Dodge Aspen as my first vehicle back in 1995 when I was 16 years old. That engine was very reliable and the car handled great, believe me, I was hard on that car. The car handled great and even had a little torque: from 0-35 it could stay ahead of my friend’s rusty 80s 305 firebird, but then the bird would cruise right on by by 40 mph. The Aspen handled good for a 1980 4 door, I slammed it around plenty of corners, all four seasons. I loved the car. I also owned a 72 Cougar with 351 Cleveland before I graduated high school. There was another kid with a coupe aspen he had stuffed a 440 into, he could smoke my Cougar, for sure!
I’m not stupid, I drive Toyota’ now. Own three say what you want, my cost of ownership is less, and I spend less time repairing them, even my old 93 T-100, although pieces of it literally fall off while I am driving down the highway.
Back on track: I’m 40 y/o now and have been shopping Cougars, Mustangs, and Aspens. Personally, I think the Aspen Coupes have better lines and for ends than 70-73 Mustangs. Those years’ Cougars look better than the Mustangs. To be honest I think the Aspen Coupe’s might be the best looking cars out of all three. Out of all the cars I’ve owned I had the most fun with that Aspen too. Say what you want, I think I’m asking for an Aspen Coupe either an RN or something I can turn into an RT clone. They are cheaper than early 70s Mustangs and Cougars too. Not too mention way way cheaper than Chargers, Cuda’s, or even Darts and Dusters. I mean I’m not a millionaire, I just want to burn rubber and slide around corners.
SO I think 2 door Aspen Coupe’s handle good, look awesome and the 225 was a reliable engine. My next one will have a V8, but, FYI, I’ve seen 225 turbo build blogs claiming 500+ HP and I’ve seen one 225 turbo in a Dart for sale on Minneapolis Craigslist within the last year. That could be kind of a unique build, I wish I had thought of that when I was 16.
Good enough! Have fun. I love Shelby’s, I love banging on Tercel’s too. When you get good at driving the challenge becomes “what can you do with the car you have?” But yeah, fast is funner