Most of what we cover on BF dates to the sixties or seventies. The eighties make an appearance too, but not to the same degree. It seems that a lot of eighties models either haven’t lasted or just aren’t that interesting from a review perspective. Sure, we’ve got eighties Mustangs, Corvettes, Camaros, etc., so forth and so on, but how about something different like this 1983 Dodge 400 convertible? This one is out of a twenty-five-year collection, and the seller is ready to part with their “much-loved K car convertible.” Ridgefield, Oregon Washington, is where you’ll find it, and it’s available here on craigslist for $8,000. A tip of the hat is due to Scott for this discovery!

Dodge’s 400, one of a seemingly countless versions of ChryCo’s very successful K-car platform, was only in production for two years, ’82 and ’83. Body styles included two and four-door sedans as well as a convertible. The total 400 count for ’83 was only 25,000 units, with 4,900 of the drop-top variety. The seller tells us, “This car has never seen a winter and has always been stored inside,” and both the interior and exterior are in “near perfect condition“. No doubt about it, this is a very clean, well-cared-for ragtop. Speaking of that folding top, the seller mentions that it has been replaced and is brand new. My only reservation about this car’s exterior design is that it seems truncated with lines that are a bit smooshed together – the convertible in particular, with its lack of side quarter windows.

The red vinyl interior, which is not photographed in tight detail, presents well from what I can tell. There is no indication of upholstery splits or fade caused by too much top-down time. The front seats look comfortable, but I’m not sure about the spaciousness of the rear one – it may be adolescent-only approved. The instrument panel definitely has that economy car look to it, but it’s in perfectly good order. The A/C system is said to be cold – no word if it’s still running with R12 or has been converted to R-134a refrigerant.

Chrysler’s former close association with Mitsubishi is responsible for the 93 net HP, 2.6-liter, in-line, four-cylinder engine. The seller claims, “runs and drives straight” with forward (and reverse) motion provided by a three-speed automatic transaxle. Interestingly, this Mitsubishi powerplant, while being 0.4 liter larger than the standard and famous ChryCo 2.2, generates one less HP, though it is more torque-rich, developing fifteen additional pound feet.

The seller sums up with, “The price is fairly firm and I will not take any offers not made in person…This is a very low price for a car of this quality.” I find the “fairly firm” comment to be an interesting take on the meaning of firm, sorta like “mostly solid concrete”; the price is either firm or it’s not. I guess what he’s saying is that he has some wiggle room on that “low price”. And speaking of that, what’s your thought? Priced right or not quite?