Earlier this week, I was looking at an article about which automobiles are still available with a manual transmission in 2026, and sadly, it didn’t take very long to read from start to finish. Shifting your own gears used to be commonplace not all that long ago, with numerous vehicles offering a manual, often as the standard transmission. However, even back then, one not typically seen with a stick-shift is the Plymouth Volare station wagon, such as this 1977 model for sale here on Craigslist. This one is in Scottsville, Virginia, and the seller states that the asking price of $7,100 may be negotiable.
We’d like to thank Barn Finds reader Tony Primo for taking the time to send in the great tip here! While the Volare and its corporate cousin, the Dodge Aspen, proved popular choices among compact buyers between 1976 and 1980, one issue was their propensity to rust. There’s no information from the seller on whether this wagon has ever suffered from severe corrosion, but most of the panels currently appear to be in fairly decent shape overall, and it’s possible this one has always remained a reasonably solid example, as it’s said to be a southern car. It’s nice to find that this one has a roof rack and a set of Cordoba-style wheels, the latter of which add a sporty appearance to the exterior.
Under the hood is Chrysler’s tried-and-true small-block V8, the popular 318, which is said to still be running great even after 174,000 miles. Some overspray can be spotted on a few parts under the hood, so the easily accessible engine areas have gotten some touch-ups. It’s also had recent mechanical maintenance, including a new double timing chain and a fresh harmonic balancer, so hopefully there won’t be any annoying vibrations. Also new are the pressure plate and throw-out bearing, so the manual transmission should still shift gears with ease.
We only get to see this one photo from the inside, and while it’s nowhere near perfect, the interior doesn’t look too bad considering the age factor and all the miles it’s accumulated. Probably the most attractive features in here are the extra pedal and that shifter coming up through the tunnel, which would be fun to find in any F-Platform Chrysler, but is especially cool for a station wagon. Is this one worth anywhere close to the seller’s asking price?
This is a cool find Tony Primo!! I’m really glad you wrote this up Mike. I’m wondering if its a 4 speed Overdrive. The 318 and a stick is a great combination in this wagon. I’m just guessing here, that it may have tall gears for better mpg, but still, love the shape of that shifter too. The Rattle Can engine rebuild definitely boosts the value here too ( just kidding). As Mike said, its a shame that the list of cars that come with a manual transmission is diminishing every single year. Hope someone gets some enjoyment out of this one.
One fairly affordable current stick-shift I wasn’t aware of until recently is the Honda Civic Si, which starts at around $33k, a lot less than the Civic Type R. The best thing about both is that the 6-speed manual is the only transmission available!
Wow. The 6 speed is the only transmission available? I did not know that. I would like to add…… As it should be. Bet its a blast to drive!!!
Yes, the wheels look nice. That’s it.
If supposedly a factory manual, then why does it have PRND21 in the dash cluster, and a shift indicator pointer on top the steering column?
Looks like a transplanted transmission from another car.
somebody is stroking us on that one, if it was original, and the column and dash both cast doubt on that along with the phony shifter, it would be a 3 speed with 4th being a overdrive, rare, nope, not hardly, gotta love the rattle can engine rebuild
One of the authors mentioned their parents having a 4sp wagon something like this. Fitch maybe, or J.O ?
I’ve seen the factory 4speed in these wagons before, most times with a slant six. I did drive Volare coupe with this setup and yes 4th was overdrive. I don’t know if this is worth the dough, but these are getting kinda thin in the wild. I’d look real close at it if I was serious buyer. I always liked stick shift wagons and vans. I’ve had a ’78 Pacer wagon with a 4speed, Cherokee with a 5speed, Dodge Caravan and Ply. Voyager both with 5speeds. And last year I got a new for me 2003 PT Cruiser (clean rust free Florida car) with a 5speed. I like to row my own gears.
Looking closer at the pics that’s not a pointer on the steering column. I think that is the button to push down to remove the key and lock the column. But that still doesn’t explain the letters on the dash.
The ‘77 Volare wagon with 318 CID V8 was available with a three-speed manual as well as a four-speed with overdrive. Both were a floor shift. My recollection is that only the slant-6 was available with the three-speed column shift. (Unfortunately, the 360 CID V8 was available only with the TorqueFlite automatic.)