In 1980, personal luxury coupes were one of the major breadwinners in every manufacturer’s portfolio. Of those manufacturers, the Chrysler Corporation needed loads of that bread to survive. Teetering towards bankruptcy, the company had a lot riding on the redesign of their popular Chrysler Cordoba and Dodge Magnum coupes. The Magnum went through a name change to Mirada, and both became much more angular in design. This 1980 Dodge Mirada, currently offered on eBay for a buy it now price of $6,950, is probably one of the most well preserved Miradas in existence. Is this root beer colored beauty worth a trip to Elmer, New Jersey with cash in hand?
As I have written previously in Barn Finds, my first car was a 1980 Chrysler Cordoba. It was a gift from my grandfather, who promptly picked up a 1980 Mirada in mint condition as a replacement. The Mirada had less than 70,000 miles on it and was in very good condition. Unfortunately, it just didn’t drive as well for some reason. It felt lethargic in comparison to the Cordoba. The build quality was noticeably poorer as well. It was, however, very reliable. A lot of miles were put on both it and the Cordoba. Of course, my car was driven as if it had two speeds: off and full throttle. No wonder I got 6mpg in the city and 8mpg on the highway! His Mirada got around 15 mpg. I guess my grandfather didn’t spend a lot of time attempting land speed records. In all, they were pretty good cars that were very comfortable. Just thirsty.
One Achille’s heel of these cars is the plastic panels attached to the quarter panels. These “tips” were made of a soft plastic that just didn’t get along with sunlight at all. They quickly became brittle and crumbled on every Mirada and Cordoba I ever saw. Cordobas had these tips at the front as well, but the one piece nose on Miradas were made of a much more long lasting material. The overall condition of this particular Mirada is simply amazing. Problem areas like the rear tips are showroom perfect. This car surely spent its life cocooned away in a garage somewhere. According to the seller, this car was one family owned.
Another problem area for these cars was the cloth interior. The mouse fur textured material was very intolerant of wear and UV rays. The seat bolsters on my Cordoba didn’t hold up very well, and neither did the top of the rear seat. The seats in this Mirada, in comparison, are showroom perfect. There is a noticeable lack of fading in both the seats and the carpet. I am curious about the seat belts. The dark webbing starkly contrasts the rest of the interior. The plastic buckle cover is also missing. Would a car this well kept ever need new seat belts?
Under the hood is Chrysler’s ubiquitous 318 cubic inch V-8. These cars came with either a 225 cubic inch “Slant Six,” a 318, or a 360 cubic inch V-8. I have never seen one with a Slant Six, and I doubt many were sold. These cars were just too heavy, and acceleration wasn’t brisk even with a V-8 under the hood. This Mirada’s engine compartment’s factory fresh look backs up the mileage claim of 76,254. There are no signs of tampering or modification at all. It as if you have gone back in time to a Dodge dealer to see a new Mirada.
Is this car worth the $6,950 asking price? That number is very much at the top of the market for these cars. Cordobas and Miradas competed with Thunderbirds, Cougars, Cutlasses, Monte Carlos, Regals, and the Grad Prix in a very crowded marketplace. While downsized, they were still pretty large and quite thirsty in comparison to the competition. They also didn’t sell very well, thus leaving fewer people like me around with good memories of them. I’d love to have this one to cruise around in, albeit with a lighter touch on the pedal. I just don’t think I’d pay quite what they are asking for this one. I’d need to keep some of that money for gas.
There is a button in the ad for making an offer…
I had a 81 w the slant 1 bbl elect. Carb…went through 3 of em…finally said screw it and put a super six 2 bbl carter carb and was much improved…put 300k miles on that car…i just wore it out…gave it away and it drove outta my driveway…
I have a rare 1983 model, only made like 5000 of them that year when the production run was canceled in February.. I bought it in the fall of 1986 when a three year old 40K mile pristine car sold for only three grand as no one wanted it but me. You see, I was in college when these came out and wanted one badly (I eyed up a 360 that had more standard HP then a Corvette of that year) but was beyond my finances. By the time I was able to purchase one, they were no longer made, and I tried almost in vain to get a clean used one. They were rare even in those days. I finally found my car, but alas he had the strangled lean burn 225. I have always been a fan of the slant six, great engine ten years earlier, but 1950s tech didn’t merge well with the new EPA and mileage standards and it was a problem. Couldn’t see changing out engine as it ran well, just a crummy 18 MPG and no gusto, though once on the road, what a wonderful long distance traveling car. I now have around 120K on her and the slant six runs good as new, just wish I had more oomph to work with. My question to you is, how hard was the Super Six conversion? That alone might suffice my need for a little more drive ability, though I spose an early 70s 318 would be nice (don’t need power, it is not the kind of car you race at street lights with). I have posted this pic before, but heck, why not, I love this picture. It was from the fall of 1992 when we were building our house. Presently the car is in over two years of slumber getting a little sheet metal work and a bare metal repaint. Should look at least as good as this when done. (taking a while, but the old guy doing it is a perfectionist) The wheels are Keystones. Bought those because in 1986 Chrysler wanted gold for NOS spoke wheels and I didn’t like the wheel covers it came with. These are like the wheels I saw on some of the small new Shelby Dodges at Trail Dodge in St. Paul Minnesota that year, liked the look and I think it still looks pretty good, maybe even more then the factory wheels.
I would change those tires before hitting the road, Eagle ST’s haven’t been made for probably 20years.
Nice case!
Wow, 7k for a 2k car no thanks.
RE: the dark colored seat belts, images of other Mirada interiors online showed both belts color keyed to the interior and a matching darker color. I doubt these are replaced.
As ridiculous as it sounds, color-keyed seat belts were an extra-cost option on many cars at the time, including this one. Further, if this car came down the line and the guy installing the belts didn’t have the right color, he would have grabbed a set of black belts. This was the nadir of Chrysler quality, after all.
I had a black 1980 Mirada CMX, the one with the fake convertible top. It had the 318 V8. To get the fuel economy up, Chrysler equipped them with 2.29 rear gears and a lock up torque converters. I do remember that mine accelerated very slow, but the fuel economy was closer to what your Grandfather achieved.
Working for Dodge in the day I saw many 225’s and 318’s. I’m not sure a 360 was offered in these very neat cars.
One year, 1980 only. 195 net HP, I think. A lot of HP for that year.
Is this from a V8 engine?
Why are there paint runs in the door jamb? See picture on ebay in item description. Now I wonder if it is original paint.
I rented one of these when they first came out in this exact color combination on a trip to New York City. Every time I pulled up to an intersection the people walking by would look, point at it and make comments like I was driving some kind of show car. I was pretty surprised at the reception it got for being a bone stock off the showroom mopar product.
After 32 years of ownership, I still get thumbs up, smiles and waves as I pass by. People don’t seem to know what it is, even at some of the car shows. With my new paint job and the inside and outside pristine, should be even more so. I can’t afford to reproduce my high school drive (a 1970 RR), but this is my little part of the Chrysler history that I can afford. Besides, everyone seems to have a B or E body these days, I have always been a little but different (to say the least), why not in my choice of hobby cars?
I was working for Chrysler Credit in 1982. The inventory of our district showed several of these that had achieved birthday status, meaning they had been in floored stock for one year. I do not know why as they seemed to be at least as nice as most of the competition.
I knew someone with a 1982 Cordoba, and yes, it had a slant six which surprised me. They even tried to bring back the Imperial on this same platform without success. Not even Ol Blue Eyes could help.
I like the car, but it needs the 10 spoke aluminum wheels to pop. Anyone else notice the nice Magnum on the Sherlock Holmes TV show?? Driven by one of Sherlock’s friends who deals with megagazillion dollar exotics, and he drives a Magnum!
Awesome looking car! It’s damn incredible how 30 yrs of not seeing a car like this can change a person’s opinion of a car. The first time I saw a Dodge Mirada, as an 8 yr old, I thought it was the most hideous looking car. 30+ yrs later, as an adult, I find the Mirada, and other Mopar cars of this vintage, quite attractive.
I’m digging the powder blue alternator that matches the valve covers.
At the time, I thought the Chrysler Cordoba 2 door was better looking.
I feel bad for the 1,000’s of Corinthian mice sacrificed for the seats. What a senseless waste.
The 360 was only offered for the first model year IIRC. I always found Miradas very stylish. I have a Hot Wheels Mirada stock car in my collection.
Close to home in New Jersey. Always liked the lines of the Miranda.
Love the car but no money available to purchase it or time for a quick inspection.
Wonder if one could bolt the 707 horse motor and tranny from a wrecked Hellcat into this….
From the moment these came out I’ve been a fan of the design and how the 10 spokes really set it off. Style somewhat resembles the flow of a GN. Sharp lines with the sloping front end. Very clean looking. Nice car. Given what other cars are going for and how hard these are to come by, I think the price is fair. GLWTS.
That’s a better than fair price, particularly given how original it is, and how rare it is. I’ve not seen a Mirada in a very long time.
The plastic “thermoguard” cover over the battery is a hard to find item these days. Most shops threw them in the trash during a battery replacement.
I missed out on one in 1988, 175 bux. Would have been my first car
These are interesting, like a big V8 version of the forthcoming K-car.
I had a teacher in elementary school named Mrs. Marotta but I thought her name was Mirada like this car, which seemed extra cool. She had terrible cigarettte/coffee breath, this brown color reminds me of that.
I bought one of these for the motor once. It was a 7 year old car at the time and it was completely rusted to the ground. The quarter panels were flapping in the wind.Chrysler cars from this era if exposed to salt sure did not last if not under oiled.
What a much nicer car this is for about the same money as that boned-out POS 69 (70) Charger.