I owned a Carmel Tan Metallic ‘76 Aspen Special Edition 4-door - purchased new at Holley Motor Company in Tyler, Texas - it was a great little car and I enjoyed driving it for several years - sure miss it
5:03 Note that this car has the three-on-the-tree manual, identified by the double-bend shifter, said lever also seen in Chevy models with automatic and tilt wheel. These were well-designed and nice-looking cars in the context of the time, cleaner in line than the Ford Granada they were intended to compete with. It could have been a great car, but flawed execution made the Aspen-Volare line a laughing-stock not surpassed until the GM X-cars began to rack up the recalls.
You can tell this is an early 1976 training film. 2 reasons 1. October of 1975 session date. 2. They are still listing the Imperial as a model line in the opening credits these were discontinued during 1975. June of 1975 as a matter of fact.
My first car was a plymouth volare. I loved that cars looks. It rattled and squeeked no matter what I did. The 4 speed overdrive trans ground 2nd gear almost from day one. The AC was horrible. It didmake it through college, but on the way home the trans let go and locked up so bad the driveshaft somehow went right though the floorboard. The slant 6 engine ran as good as it did the day it came off of the factory floor. It's probably sitting in a boat on a lake right now. The rest is probably a maytag washer.
My dad had a 1977 Plymouth Volare. It led him to buy a 1979 Toyota Corolla. I think the Plymouth Volare and Dodge Aspen did more to sell Toyotas and Datsuns than any Toyota or Datsun advertisement.
It is just too bad that 76 and 77 models tarnished the reputation of these otherwise fine cars. 1978 onwards, their reliability and rust issues improved and they were ok buys. My dad purchased a 1978 Volare and it ran without much fuss. It had over 220 000kms (140 000 miles) when we sold it in 1990. The slant 6 engine in this Volare, was as bulletproof as they came. My dad didn't change the oil or filter until the vehicle had a little over 60 000kms! It still ran well despite his poor maintenance habits. After that however, he changed the oil every 7 000kms and the vehicle ran better. These were 2nd generation Valiants but with worse quality control. If you found a good example, they were very durable cars. Their powertrains were indestructible. Their weak spots were the carbeuration, brake pads and rotors, weak shock absorbers, mainly the rear ones, body trim and hardware and the 76 and 77's rusted prematurely at the front fenders both inner and outer. Once these issues were dealt with, they were generally good vehicles.
I owned a Carmel Tan Metallic ‘76 Aspen Special Edition 4-door - purchased new at Holley Motor Company in Tyler, Texas - it was a great little car and I enjoyed driving it for several years - sure miss it
I put a Dodge Aspen K member under my 55 Ford pickup. It worked great!
5:03 Note that this car has the three-on-the-tree manual, identified by the double-bend shifter, said lever also seen in Chevy models with automatic and tilt wheel.
These were well-designed and nice-looking cars in the context of the time, cleaner in line than the Ford Granada they were intended to compete with.
It could have been a great car, but flawed execution made the Aspen-Volare line a laughing-stock not surpassed until the GM X-cars began to rack up the recalls.
You can tell this is an early 1976 training film. 2 reasons 1. October of 1975 session date. 2. They are still listing the Imperial as a model line in the opening credits these were discontinued during 1975. June of 1975 as a matter of fact.
My first car was a plymouth volare. I loved that cars looks. It rattled and squeeked no matter what I did. The 4 speed overdrive trans ground 2nd gear almost from day one. The AC was horrible. It didmake it through college, but on the way home the trans let go and locked up so bad the driveshaft somehow went right though the floorboard. The slant 6 engine ran as good as it did the day it came off of the factory floor. It's probably sitting in a boat on a lake right now. The rest is probably a maytag washer.
My dad had a 1977 Plymouth Volare. It led him to buy a 1979 Toyota Corolla. I think the Plymouth Volare and Dodge Aspen did more to sell Toyotas and Datsuns than any Toyota or Datsun advertisement.
exactly like mine
My dad had a Volare and an Aspen, he said the Aspen was crap but the Volare was solid...I guess he lucked out on the second one.
It is just too bad that 76 and 77 models tarnished the reputation of these otherwise fine cars.
1978 onwards, their reliability and rust issues improved and they were ok buys.
My dad purchased a 1978 Volare and it ran without much fuss. It had over 220 000kms (140 000 miles) when we sold it in 1990.
The slant 6 engine in this Volare, was as bulletproof as they came.
My dad didn't change the oil or filter until the vehicle had a little over 60 000kms! It still ran well despite his poor maintenance habits.
After that however, he changed the oil every 7 000kms and the vehicle ran better.
These were 2nd generation Valiants but with worse quality control.
If you found a good example, they were very durable cars.
Their powertrains were indestructible. Their weak spots were the carbeuration, brake pads and rotors, weak shock absorbers, mainly the rear ones, body trim and hardware and the 76 and 77's rusted prematurely at the front fenders both inner and outer.
Once these issues were dealt with, they were generally good vehicles.
At 6:56 that early production Plymouth Volare looked like it had Dodge Dart custom full wheel covers.
Well ... Cus they are the same Corporation ... Chrysler Dodge and Plymouth !!!
I do have a 76 Volare 4 dr. Sedan
6 cyl slant engine ... 99% original
I loved my Aspen... Why did I sell it😭
For the life of me, I can not remember that guy's name. We used to call him movie star as he did all the tech video and still photography.
Such a good thing UA-cam didn't exist in 1984. I would have hosed up mom's car even more that. I did!