The K-car line-up of automobiles, including the Dodge Aries, is credited with saving Chrysler Corp. from extinction in the 1980s. The company’s dependence on stodgy big cars in the 1970s almost did them in, but the front-wheel-drive, gas-sipping K-cars were the right vehicles at the right time. The seller’s 1987 Dodge Aries is a nice survivor that may only need some paint in places and is priced in cheap wheels territory. From Bakersfield, California, this little Mopar is available here on craigslist for $2,900 OBO. Kudos to Jack M. for the tip!
Lee Iacocca saved Chrysler’s bacon at least twice in the 1980s. First came the K-car sedans and wagons (Dodge Aries, Plymouth Reliant) in 1981, then the minivan in 1984 (which was based on the K-car). Chrysler went on to sell more than two million Aries, Reliants, LeBarons, etc. through 1989, making for quite a turnaround for the auto maker that was famous for powerful muscle cars just two decades earlier.
The seller bought this 1987 Aries off its original owner, who had become too elderly to drive anymore. Mileage stands at 75,000 after 38 years, indicating the decline in its usage in recent years. But it still runs great with a transversely mounted inline-4 and an automatic transmission. The Aries is a bit larger than the Omni that arrived in 1978, but didn’t sell as well as the Ks.
You could probably drive this Dodge as-is with a spot of primer applied to where some paint has chipped off the roof. Or repaint the roof, trunk lid, or even the whole car, as you’re not going to have a lot of money tied up in the acquisition. The seller makes mention of “no lights,” but we’re unsure if there’s really a problem, given the minimum amount of punctuation. Is anyone out there dreaming of owning a K-car?
The 1st pic reminds me of a notchback LX mustang lol.
I believe the K-cars deserve more credit than they are commonly given. No, they weren’t the basis for muscle cars like Mopar platforms of yore, but as Russ notes they were the right car at the right time. And Chrysler sold 2 million of them, in various flavors. And they provided the basis for the category-establishing minivans.
My folks had two. They weren’t fancy, just basic economy cars. But that’s what they wanted, and the cars did their job just fine.
Friends had a LeBaron GTS turbo, and a Caravelle both great family cars Bob. Credit to Mopar for offering stick shifts in so many models. Many of us learned to drive standard on them 👍
I bought a k-car station wagon as cheap wheels back when that’s what they were. The a/c worked nice, the bucket seats were nice and the driving position, for me, was the nicest I’d ever seen. FM radio worked nice, too. Fine value, cheap to fix, and dead reliable.
My family had several of them. I had an 86 Plymouth that I drove up to the early 2000s. It was a low mileage hand me down. I remember my insurance was cheap ($50/mo Cdn) and parts were too. I think I paid under $50.00 a tire from Walmart. These cars weren’t chick magnets by any means but they served a purpose of getting you from A to B. My car didn’t have AC, or FM radio. It didn’t even come with a passenger side mirror!. Only problem with these cars if you live up north is rust. Rustproofing was a must. Rockers would be the first to go. Then it was the floor pan and between the back door and wheel too. My car developed water leaks everywhere. Kept me busy trying to plug them. It had quirks like the taillights not working right (usually fixed by moving the sockets) and the seeds from the trees blowing through the vents when the heater fan was turned on.
We had a K car (Dodge Aries K), that my sister actually won in a contest. It had an AM radio, Automatic, and Full width hubcaps. It might have also had power steering, but I can’t recall. Could you even get them without PS?
We were an Oldsmobile family, and I’ll never forget my dad opening the hood, and shouting to my mom “(Expletive Deleted), Phyllis, the fan is PLASTIC!!!”
My tax dollars bought the left tailight on this beauty!
K cars had an shockingly large amount of interior room. They really filled a need when they were made, and were the platform for the Minivan which took America by storm. Great cars, with the exception of needing head gaskets about every 70,000 miles.
good durable appliance I’d take over the japanese of same era, esp if in wagon variety (which I drove in livery fleet). The slanty, K and these were all put to good use by that company (and my own pre & post-commercial driver). Cant say more abt them (rust aside) as I’m (positively) biased. Not for the company, just their ‘low-end’ offerings 1960 – 1990 (pre Mitsu partnership. Any comments past ’89 should be held off as ‘unfair’ to include since after that time it was a changed era for the company/buying public).
Back in 1990, I did some off-road mods on a friend’s new Wrangler. He returned the favor (?) by giving me his K-car. Kind of a dubious pay-back. I parked it behind my garage so the landlady wouldn’t see it. I drove it on the lawn with $100.00 written on the windshield. A newly minted divorcee was nearly crying when she drove off with it. I knew it was over getting a K-car and not getting divorced, or was it ?……..
Overall looks like a really clean K car, and if it’s CA based you can feel safe in knowing the underside probably looks just as good. Had a bench seat, auto on the column in my 69′ Satellite too and loved it. These were great, dependable cars for what they were. You could repaint the few areas that needed it if you wanted to and have a great car for not even the sales tax on something new today.
Looks like it has the 2.5 Chrysler motor. Easy and cheap to maintain in the day. Not sure how easy parts are to get now.
The K’s were all parts bin engineered so a lot of parts from Shadows, LeBarons, Dynastys, Caravans, Daytonas and a dozen more would fit. For example, all took 5×100 mm wheels with the same offset and centre bore.
The K’s saved Chrysler (only for post Iacocca management to mess it up again) and allowed Chrysler to repay the government loans ahead of schedule.
You want a sleeper? A lot of Shelby Charger/GLH/Daytona/CSX engine and suspension parts will fit this including turbos or superchargers.
Basic everyday cars back then. I would change the timing belt.
So I get a transfer to the big Dodge store. A promotion of sorts. OK I’m at my desk. The sales guy in front of me just sold the blue Aries in the showroom. the car was next to my desk. As the customer is waiting for finance he goes to his old car. He gets a big screwdriver and hammer! Remember brand new car! Takes the full size spare (remember them) and sets it down. He takes the screwdriver puts it in tire well then smacks it with the hammer! I’m just looking at him. He says 3rd k car,they all leak, I’m just putting in the drain holes !!!Man I miss selling cars!
I would buy this one! I need a decent car, decent size at a decent price! We live 1 hour North east of Kansas City Missouri and my F 150 gets a whopping 14.1 miles per gallon while going down hill with a 150 mph tailwind!