1979 Dodge Aspen Special Edition Station Wagon
There has been a lot of talk here at CC in recent weeks about Disco and other such pop culture moments of the 70’s and how they relate to the colonnade styling of the era. This CC entry has nothing to do with that. Instead, it is the story of searching for and eventually finding a very well-kept car that I still own and use on a seasonal basis. Let’s dig into some family and personal history that led me to buy one of these “disco-era wagons” and why it is still in my collection doing its thing and making memories along the way!
For part one of this semi-epic tale, we must go back to my family’s photo albums. Sorry I do not have scans of these pictures currently, but this car is what got it all started for me:
If it is difficult to tell what this is, I understand. It would be for me too. What we are looking at here is a 1976 Plymouth Volare’ Premier Station Wagon. It was the first year for Chrysler’s F body Platform with the “all-new for 1976” “Isolated Traverse Suspension System”. I always called it the Tranverse Torsion Bar Suspension.
It was supposed to be more cushy and ” more thoroughly broughamified” than the last of the A body platformed Dart and Valiant that was produced concurrently with the F Body Volare’ / Aspen during MY 1976. The whole front K frame is not really touching the frame due to softish durometer rubber isolation on the mounting points to the front unibody frame rails. Similarly, the rear axle had rubber “Iso-Clamps” on the leaf springs allowing the rear axle to never really touch the springs either.
This car was owned by and still belongs to my dad. I believe he acquired it about 1978 before I was around. I grew up less than 5 miles from many of the Iconic Steel Mills that made Pittsburgh the “Steel City” from the 1880’s – 1980’s. After 1983 there were massive layoffs and the mills closed up and went idle for at least the next 10 years, then many of the old sites were redeveloped.
This white (yes it is difficult to tell, but it is white) Volare’ was acquired during the “good times” for steel in Pittsburgh – The Mills were working, and lots of people made good money, with 12 weeks of vacation in some instances.
Dad worked from the mid-1960s to about 1983 at 3 or 4 of those iconic USS Steel plants along the Monongahela River. Back then, every 2-3 miles up or down the river was another Carnegie/ USS Steel Plant. Going upriver you found: Homestead Works, Edgar Thompson Works in Braddock, then Duquesene Works, then National Tube in McKeesport, Irvin Works up on the hill, the Clariton Coke Works.
After 1983 however, a lot of people in this area had to readjust their lives, including Dad. It is from about that time that I remember this car from when I was around 3 years old. I rode in it around the town; no car seats, no special kid safety equipment, or anything like that. I remember the shape of the tail lights; they looked like overgrown Chevy Vega wagon tail lights. And I remember the shoulder belt going squarely across my nose and face. Dad would just have me put the shoulder belt behind my neck, and I survived just fine.
This car had some quirky option combinations (MoPar, from what I gather, was good for that in the 60’s through the 80’s)
- 318 2Bbl (likely with the lean burn computer)
- A833 / OD Manual Transmission
- Power Windows
- Power Locks
- Rear Defrost
- Maybe a 6 Way Power Seat? (I have not seen the inside of the car for over 40 years.)
- Magnum 500 Style Rallye Wheels 14″x6″
Somehow I only remember this car from age 3 or 4, then it got put into storage. Dad had a few places around town where he stored vehicles, as he had too many to store at our house. In 1987 when I was age 7 Dad bought a property that was a former AMC/ Rambler dealer. Eventually, he lost storage in the garage that housed the ‘68 Dodge Dart GTS and this car.
This Volare’ Wagon had been in storage with possibly a failing roof for a few years. It got towed to the spot you see in the picture above sometime between 1987-1989. It has not moved since. Needless to say, somehow it left an impression on me, as when I worked at the car lot for Dad from ages 9-21, I asked to get the keys and try to rejuvenate the car or even start or move it. Dad was not interested in any of that.
Fast Forward to 2002. I had been gainfully employed for a year out of college. I Had a small collection of Mopars at the time, but I still had that “off limits” Volare Station Wagon at the back of the car lot in my head from when I was 3 years old. Somehow, maybe I wanted to ride in the car again. The only way I figured to do so was to get one of my own.
Around this time we went to many local and regional cruise nights and MoPar Shows. I made a sign that read:
WANTED: ASPEN OR VOLARE’ STATION WAGON
Thinking back, it seemed to me that no one wanted any of those cars. There was eBay, but I wanted to find one and see it in person I suppose. There was some interest in my poster at car shows and events, but then I found one at the 2002 MoPar nationals in Columbus, Ohio. I did not even take my sign to this event, we were just there looking at the swap meet, and car show.
A fellow F-body collector from Owosso, MI brought the perfect car for me to buy that day; a ’79 Dodge Aspen Special Edition Station Wagon. She had imported it from likely the original owner out of the Bay Area in California to Michigan and then showed it to me.
It was a perfect vehicle to compliment the other F-body I already owned at the time. The wagon had original paint, and interior, and was a very well cared for and kept car. Additionally, it was in the 1979 Dodge / Plymouth Light Cashmere color. YES! it matched my other F body (Volare’) Duster (shown above), as that was also Light Cashmere, and was also a MY 1979.
At that MoPar Nationals event, I took the wagon for a test drive, returned to the show, and haggled a bit with the owner. We made a deal. It was mine! The former owner got her last ride in the wagon back to Bryce Road to arrange for transport back to Michigan.
The day I drove the car back from Columbus, Ohio to Pittsburgh, PA. The Odometer showed 101,979. Pretty cool for my lucky newly acquired 1979 “Disco Wagon”. Unintentionally, I was embarking on the beginning of my “Cashmere Conquest” All of my buddies prefer to call it “OLDMANTAN.” I am okay with that too.
The car has been largely untouched since I bought it. The biggest noticeable changes are the wheels and tires. I still have the original 14″ x 5″ stamped steel wheels and hubcaps, but up-sizing to the 245-45-17 tires on 17″ x 8″ wheels makes for a more usable experience and easily upgrades the handling.
Other small changes include a factory-correct tailgate interior trim panel with the proper painted die-cast speaker grilles, and a period correct factory style MoPar Block radio to replace the Audiovox Head unit that replaced the likely stock AM only mono speaker factory-delivered radio. Unfortunately, I have yet to find quality examples of the correct color and trim level front door panels to replace the originals that have the aftermarket speakers installed in them.
These photos were taken 22 years ago slightly after I drove the car home.
This is a California Spec Vehicle, it has a 318-4 barrel with the Thermoquad carburetor, air pump, and 3 Catalytic Converters to keep the emissions slightly cleaner. I have kept all of the original emissions equipment as intact as possible. 49 State Federal cars would get this equipment as standard fare in 1980 for some 318 MoPars, especially those with 2.41:1 to 2.76:1 rear axle Ratios. This wagon has a 2.41:1 rear axle gear ratio, and it is great on the highway, yet will not win any stop-light acceleration contests.
One of the previous owners hacked the door panels for speakers when an Audiovox Stereo Head unit with a cassette player was installed.
The rear seat and Cargo areas are quite intact for a 101,xxx mile 23 year old at the time California car.
This is where I will leave us for Part 1, up next some vacations!
It was not a wagon, but I had a 1976 Dodge Aspen Custom sedan from almost-new. It had the 318 V8 in California emissions tune. It burned a valve after around ten years and I had a valve job done on it. Later I had the timing gears and chain replaced, because of the nylon “silent” timing gear which, when the nylon teeth wore through and the engine skipped timing, would cause bent valves…the 318 was what we now would call an “interference engine.”
When the valve job was done, the air pump emissions system was blocked off and the catalytic converter was replaced with a bypass pipe…where I live in California, annual emissions control inspections are not required. The carburetor was rejetted and the distributor advance recurved. WIth all that and a suitable bump-up in spark timing, the car was lively from a standing start, accelerated strongly, and fuel economy improved, too. Win-win.
The car still looked virtually new and was a pleasure to drive, with an aftermarket cruise control, for which I adapted a Chrysler turn signal stalk for a factory appearance. Underneath, I added a rear stabilizer bar which transformed the handling (which I knew it would, as I drove a Plymouth Volare police package car on duty).
Fast forward to 1998. I went to a Mopar car show with the Aspen, then with 128,000 miles on it but still looking great. I was offered some really silly money for it and accepted. I don’t regret selling it, and have heard that it has been seen in car shows in another state. I would like to have another F-Body but the luxury of a late-1980s Chrysler Fifth Avenue on the same platform is tempting, too. Fortunately, I have four cars, and no more garage space!
Great COAL entry, and a sharp-looking Aspen wagon. The Aspen and Volare wagons, were exceptionally popular their first couple of years, so it is not hard to find people with experiences from that era. Chrysler also employed some varied, and occasionally confusing packaging on the F-Bodies. That even Mopar fans, might have a challenge following.
I thought the top level Special Edition package, meant the Aspen wagon came with exterior vinyl woodgrain trim? I understood, the chrome with vinyl insert exterior trim as on your Aspen, was exclusive to the mid-range Custom exterior package. As seen below, on this page from the 1979 Aspen brochure. So, not sure how yours is considered a ‘Special Edition’. Unless a previous owner, perhaps placed that badge on the rear quarter fenders. My dad bought a ’78 Aspen wagon brand new, on June 12th, 1978. In Light Cashmere, with the Custom exterior package. The exterior trim vinyl inserts on his were more of a bronze colour, than yours. Otherwise, looked very close to your example. Biggest differences between your Dodge and his, was the Super Six his came equipped with. And different interior trim, and seats.
As a young kid, It was one of the first cars I helped maintain for my dad. So, I became intimately familiar with them. I would use my allowance money, to buy ballast resistors, cleaning supplies, spark plugs, and STP Son of a Gun protectant.
My dad allowed me to chose the radio stations, when we went on summer trips. I always chose top 40 AM. So, many top disco hits were emitted from the speakers in his Aspen, the first three years he owned it. It was a Boogie Wonderland, riding in his Aspen.
More on my assumptions on the Custom / Special Editon in the next COAL edition about this car.
Great post! My father had a 77 Volare Premiere wagon. His last car. When he passed, opportunistic neighbors told me he had promised to give it to them. Long story but eventually SOLD it to them. Not a wagon fan, but the Volare was comfortable, reliable, and served well. I believe Rex Harrison did some commercials for ASPEN. Funny how celebrities used to do commercials for car companies and how automobiles had aspirational names. Volare (in Italian) means fly. Now names like CAPRICE, IMPERIAL, Fifth Avenue, New Yorker, Ambassador, Fleetwood Brougham deElegance, et al have been replaced with combined letters and numbers just as bland as the vehicles that wear them!
TO G Poon. I had 83 and 85 Fifth Avenues which easily held their own with other upscale vehicles I have owned. For me these were the last Chryslers that had any appeal for me. I regret selling!
In 1978, after my Charger had been totaled, I fell in love with the Aspen on the front of the brochure (which I still have). After a futile search, during which I was told by one “salesman” that Chrysler Corp. hadn’t made very many of the model on the brochure?!?; and then only finding a /6 model that had sustained tree damage, ended up buying a one owner, 29k mile ’74 Challenger (that I still own)! I still wouldn’t mind having one, but nice ones very rarely come up for sale now! 🙂
Very cool! I always love the story of someone who acquired an oddball, saw beauty in it, and hung onto to it for the long haul.
My mom had a metallic medium blue 78 Aspen sedan back when I was born til about 92 when it was traded in on a Plymouth Horizon. It was a great car for us!
My grandma had a deluxe emerald green and dinoc Plymouth Fury? Or whatever F body wagon around that time til about 2000? It was pretty rough towards the end!
During my first year away at college (fall of 1978) I did not have a car, and caught a ride home one weekend with a guy who had a relatively new Volare wagon. His was silver with red interior, and I recall thinking what an appealing package that wagon was, and how Chrysler had really upped its game in making nice interiors.
The wagon was the only body style of these cars that really spoke to me, but speak they still do! I actually prefer the slightly luxurified LeBaron and Diplomat versions from 1977-79.
I look forward to reading the rest of your story! A high-trim wagon like your father’s with the OD manual transmission had to have been unusual – I don’t recall ever seeing one.
Before Iacocca axed it, lots of strange option combination cars, particularly at the end of the model year, during the Sales Bank era at Chrysler.
I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if this manual-trans Aspen station wagon was one of them.
I was a teenager when this car was new, and I always liked this butterscotch-y color. Sue me. 😉
I recall reading a reprint of a comparison, maybe right here on CC, between the Aspen/Volare, downsized Malibu, and Fairmont wagons. It was interesting, particularly in how the Mopars were old-school and heavier, but that seemed to make them a bit sturdier than the newer GM and Ford products. The Ford, while lighter and more ‘efficient’ than the other two, also seemed more flimsy, with the Malibu splitting the difference.
It strikes me that the car was 23 years old at the time and people were bringing them to cruise nights. Imagine the reaction to showing up to a cruise night now in a stock 2001 Dodge Caravan (which is kind of the closest equivalent in image I can think of). Maybe the cars in the road today are just older in general but that doesn’t strike me as old enough to be acknowledged as being collectible. Still, I love it. Good on you for keeping it so nice all these years.
Love the F-wagons..have several!
Awesome, You have scooped up a few nice examples.
Cool car, I like it. I seem to be developing an attraction for cars that wouldn’t exactly be called main stream. While I am in the Bay Area since 72 that wagon was a very uncommon site. Same with my 72 Ambassador wagon. Too bad you are on the east coast otherwise we could cruise in our two wagons and make people stare.
Thank you. Maybe time for a meetup in Kenosha?
AMC Headquarters for you and just a Fun trip for me😄
As a kid, I remember these being popular family cars for young professional couples with children, often accompanied by a Cutless Supreme coupe. And be it a Plymouth or Dodge version, they were always nicely equipped, nearly always with the roof rack option. The green Aspen Woddies were the most handsome of the bunch. Longlasting sturdy, right sized cars, if not in the rust brlt or lean burn carb not replaced. Then suddenly in my family’s neighborhood these all vanished for Audis. Accords and Volvo Wagons overnight.
If all this is original this is quite the beauty .
I hope you’ve removed those wretched mini cats at the exhaust manifolds ! they cooked everything under the hood to death .
I like your two door too, it’s nice you have a matching pair .
-Nate
Hello, It is all original. All of the emissions equipment has remained intact. I intend to keep it as original as I can while still using the car.
I had Quartet of them for a Short time – all Matching.
Theere is a writeup about them here:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cc-cohort/cohort-pick-of-the-day-a-pair-of-dodge-aspen-one-plymouth-volare-a-color-coordinated-trio-of-f-bodies/
The ’78 Sedan was very nice and it replaced the ’80 Sedan which can be seen here:
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzHxQj
and here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGnMVijx5GE
I never did Get a picture of all 4 of them together at the same place.
Aunt/Uncle got an “Aspen SE” sdn. Think it was a “79”. Inside and roof was likely the same color as the wagon interior.
Outside was more “yellow/gold”.
Was a pretty optioned up ride. Covered parking kept it quite clean.
“A/T” had to be warranty replaced in “81”.
My uncle totaled the car in spring “82”. Last time he ever drove as I recall.
What a cool car and great story. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen an Aspen or Volre with tilt and cruise. But then, like was mentioned, cars could have unusual options back then.
My dad ordered a new 73 Caprice Classic as a company car. He ordered everything including Comfotron. He was coming out of a 1970 Cadillac and his boss told him to get what he wanted.
However, when his dropped his own car off for service one Monday, and they had no loaner cars, he asked if my dad’s car had come in. He was told no, but that they had another in the same color. So his boss signed the papers on a Caprice that had cruise but no tilt, power windows not no locks or seat, and a stereo! My dad was not amused and only kept it a year before getting something else!
Looks great with those wheels i must say. That factory advertisement is a bit funny, or more of a desperate attempt at selling cars. Other than the hockey stick torsion bars which were really just a money saving attempt to combine the spring with the lower control arm every feature they are preaching would come on any other car available at that time.
Had a 78 Volare wagon – dark metallic green, green vinyl interior, contact paper “wood sides”, 318, lean burn I believe. Very good car mechanically, and to my eye, attractive. We had a 17 ft tri hull at the time and it was towed easilty. Got rid of the Volare because the wife said opening the doors took too much effort. Always thought these cars were the right size.
Neighbors across the street had a 76 or 77 Plymouth Volare wagon. Use to ride in it when going places with there kids. Always liked it even as a 8 or 9 year old kid. They drove that car into the early ninties! Man was it shot by the time they were done with it! But a very good car all those years.
A very attractive wagon.
My dad bought a very similar new Aspen wagon, in June 1978. The soft plastic inserts in the chrome bodyside molding, started to become detached in some places, as soon as 1980. I’m sure compounded, by our still frigid winters in Southeastern Ontario. And perhaps, the lack of advancements in automotive adhesives at the time, contributing. I also washed my dad’s car in self-serve power washer-type car washes, in winter. Which, I am sure, caused water to get behind the plastic trim. And freeze. Helping, to cause the plastic trim to separate, from the chrome base surface.
I noticed some other mid to late ’70s Chrysler cars, with similar plastic inserts glued directly onto chrome bodyside trim, would occasionally exhibit the same problem. The original factory adhesive Chrysler used, was transparent, and hard, when cured. I suspected it was hot glued, by the trim supplier. I didn’t go to the dealer, for a suggested product to re-glue the trim. Rather, I bought a small tube of GE silicone adhesive. A product, that was being promoted quite heavily by GE at the time. Both as a sealer, and adhesive. That could be used outdoors, as well. It worked, but not permanently. I’d have to re-glue any loose trim, about once a year thereafter. I suspect the winter car washing, being a significant cause, once the original factory glue failed.
I enjoyed driving our 1978 Dodge Aspen Wagon for 185,000 miles. Power everything, and all options. Great car. Slant Six that year was the “Sup[er Six” which made it a slighter faster slug.
Great wagon and a real time traveler! Thanks for the tour. A cousin of mine bought a new Volare wagon in about 1978. The first of three kids had arrived, and it was wagon time. His was also a 318 with a very tall differential ratio. They lived in a very rural and beautiful area of Pa., where going anywhere involved crossing steep grades. From one to three mountains (and return) depending on far you had to go. That Volare struggled mightily with those mountains and he traded it after a couple of years. I assume he got the same fuel mileage as my father’s new ’78 LeBaron 318. Low 20’s mpg in anything close to open road driving. With the torque converter locked up in third gear of the auto, it seemed that 70 mph was a high idle.
Great to see an article on these really wonderful wagons! I looked for YEARS for a rust-free A833 four speed “overdrive” F body wagon. Finally found a ’78 base Aspen wagon out in the high desert area of Pueblo Colorado. Somewhat neglected, but only 27,000 original miles and NO RUST! Slant Super Six and A833 trans AND an original AM/CD transceiver with the original mic and never used factory clip. I bought it sight unseen and my friend and I flew out to get it and drove it home to Pennsylvania with no problems. That was 12 years ago, and I have since swapped out the original base interior with an complete, excellent original same color SE plaid “Highland” 60/40 interior that I found in Oklahoma, all new carpet, a factory AM/FM/CB transceiver, and a beautiful set of road wheels. It’s an interesting car with a base wagon exterior and an upgrade SE interior. One year only “Classic Cream” light yellow original paint. Not a race car, but an excellent cruiser. I love it! It’s my 7th (?) F body wagon, and it’s definitely a keeper.
Hello, We came close to making a deal last year on my ’78 sedan. You told me all about your car on the phone. Great story. Thanks for sharing!
So awesome to read about your Volare wagon. I have a soft spot for the F-body wagons. My parents bought a 77 Aspen wagon brand new and it remained in the family until 2011.
I chronicled ours here: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/cars-of-a-lifetime/coal-1977-dodge-aspen-wagon-the-party-wagon-for-the-whole-family/
I can’t wait to read the next installment. That top picture looks great!
@ MagnumSRT8 Brian:I look forward to reading that when I get a moment.
Thanks!
Hi Slant Six! I wondered if it was you. I remember your beautiful sedan, and did indeed come very close to buying it last year. Wish I had room, time, and money for all of them! It’s great to see how many others appreciate these cars. Hopefully our paths will cross again. Maybe sometime perhaps at the Chrysler Nationals in Carlisle. Really enjoyed your article! Your dad’s white Volare wagon sounds like it was a fantastic loaded four speed at one time.