In 1976, Plymouth rolled out the F-body Volare to replace the aging Valiant compact. Over at Dodge, the Aspen took over for the Dart. The cars were produced in a single generation but were plagued by quality control and recall issues early on. This 1976 edition is the car Plymouth could have produced, but didn’t, with a 383 cubic inch V8 and Plum Crazy paint. This custom build is in Sequim, Washington (as a tip from “Curvette”) and is available here on craigslist for $27,500.
We don’t know the history of this Volare, but it has styling cues of the Road Runner, like the louvered side windows. The Road Runner had transferred to the Volare in 1976 and limped along until 1980, but it was nothing like the monster it had been a decade earlier. Maybe this Plymouth was an RR (of which less than 9,000 were built), or it was a regular coupe made up to look like one. But the paint color, engine choice, and transmission (5-speed) were not on any order form back in the day.
This Mopar has seen 106,500 miles, though we don’t know how many of them were added after the changes were made (that helped the machine win some awards). The paint looks outstanding, and there is a good use of flat black accents, especially on the hood with a pair of “383” callouts. The interior has been redone to match the exterior and is mostly tasteful. The classic Cragar SS wheels look right at home as if it were the 1970s all over again.
Joining the big block V8 and Tremec tranny are a Pistol Grip shifter, disc brakes (2- or 4-wheel?), a custom exhaust, vintage air conditioning, and an aftermarket stereo system. The seller is probably right in that you couldn’t likely build this car for the asking price, but will its heritage as a Volare be a holdback? Surely none of the issues that Chrysler built in by accident 50 years ago are still around.
Ditch the rear wing and the purple in the interior and I think it looks pretty cool. The 383 and 5spd should make it a fun driver.
Sounds good to me Curvette 👍
great work on all the finds by the way 🤝
Thanks for the call-out Stan.
I’d ditch the horrid wing first, and also the purple in the seats and the louvers. In any case someone sunk a ton of money into this car.
Saweeeet! I get it that most don’t like the spoiler. I’m fine with it. The louvers for me are a heck yes! I could do without the purple inserts in the seats but I could live with them. Besides, you can get good fitting quality seat covers for 2 to 3 hundred so no big deal. I honestly think it’s worth the asking price but I’ll freely admit I’m a cheapskate so I’d like it with 7000 knocked off. To quote Mick Jagger though, You can’t always get what you want. Imo this is one of the coolest, mostly well thought out Aspen/Volare cars I’ve ever seen ❤️🔥
A very nicely done restomod. And I LIKE the purple in the seats!
The idea that someone would take a relatively unpopular version and drop a ton of time and money into it makes this a standout. I think they did a great job blending the older color and accessories onto this platform and it looks great. I would put an argent grill into it, but that is just me. Oh, and tuck in those hideous bumpers.
I’d be happy to own this, the price is acceptable and I hope a young person that appreciates what is here buys it!
Louvers didn’t appear until 1977. They were vertical, and only available on the Volare Road Runner with the “Super Pak” option. Horiontal louvers started for 1978, again available on only the Road Runner or Super Coupe. For 1979, the Volare Duster was introduced, which had the louvers as standard equipment.
It’s purple, all right, but I don’t think that it’s In Violet. Unless the lighting is shifting the appearance in a strange direction, this purple has more blue in it than did In Violet/Plum Crazy.
Great car. I’m in agreement with previous posters, remove the wing & seat inserts. Looks like it was carefully thought out & put together.
lose the wing and the seats
A 27,500 Volare?