I have a '75 Buick Skylark which I still have since new and it is still in great shape. It has 157,000 miles on it and it runs great! This car is 100% reliable!!! I will NEVER sell it!!!
Thanks for last answering. You are totally right. Stunning and good looking Mopar's. Here at Colombia we had them in 1978/1981. Called as a Dart, not Aspen. Also the Diplomat, renamed here as Coronet, for market porpouses, with CKD components at Colmotores plant. As a former seller Mopar auto parts, the cars were unbeatable, bulletproof ones, I really miss them. Why Chrysler collapsed having this excelent products, is that bothers me a lot. Thanks so much for this vintage footage.....Mopars for ever, my friends!!!!!.
Lee A Iacocca always said afterwards, "we never should have killed the Dart." He also said something to the effect that they lasted for ever and were damn good cars.
I thought that too, they could've facelifted the Dart in the mid '70s, maybe give the sedan more curves like the rear of the Duster had. Offer a wagon version.
2:20 The 360 four barrel option had delays with getting emission certified by the EPA. A lot of buyers who ordered the 360-4bbl had to wait until very late in the model year to get them. Some were asked to re-order their Aspen without the 360 because of the delays in production
I'm 19 and my first car is the 77 Nova with 355. My favorite thing about it is the handling, and the shift kit. Handles turns so easily and very tight turning radius. Plus new interior, and air conditioning.
@DodgeMan360 I still say, lean burn works great from a mechanical/computer control principle....the disaster part was poor training from Chrysler to it's dealers on how to work with it. I own three cars with lean burn and they all perform flawlessly and function well. I"m lucky and have a mechanic that understands how it works and how to adjust them. Chrysler did offer Fuel Injection on cars as far back as 1958. The IMperials of 81 to 83 had thier issues with FI.
my gramps had an aspen in the early 90's. lots of miles on it, but reliable. my really big sister had a Plymouth version about the same time. damn good car that held up to lots upon lots of abuse. she couldn't kill it.
@RabidKoala The Aspen/Volare were new from the ground up, not a single part of the car was derived from any other Chrysler Product. they look similiar to the Duster and Dart Sport but are completely different. The car won the Motor Trend Car of the year in 76 because of it's many new features. They did have teething pains in the first two years. The rust problem was confined to the front fenders on the top near the hood. The car lasted in the Diplomat/Lebaron/New Yorker form until 1989.
@adape0884frank this is one of my favorite films I've uploaded simply because of what you say...great film footage of the car in action. I love the shot of the blue aspen on the dirt road highlighting the suspension and torsion bars. One of the best films of the whole group of Dodge films...check out the Magnum XE film I have uploaded, it's pretty good too...so is the 78 dodge Diplomat film.
@campingkillen Yep, that was 1976 and 1977. Chrysler had a safety recall on all Aspens and Volare's and even some Lebarons and Diplomats to replace the front fenders. It was a design flaw and a very expensive mistake for a new car introduction. Lee A. Iaccoca said, they never should have stopped making the Dodge Dart and Plymouth Valiant. But to be fair after a few teething problems, the car was basically in production with a name change until 1989 with a solid dependable reputation.
@mikecameli I have to tell yah, I distinctly remember the 77 Aspen with the orange color and white landau roof. I worked for a Factory owned store at the time and the President of our Dealer took me outside to the lot and hand picked it out to put in the showroom....I remember him calling it our Pumpkin Special and he wanted in the showroom because it was Fall and the time of year where the colors were changing.
@RabidKoala thanks rabidkoala, appreciate it. What surprises me is how many people watch these videos, over 1.6 million hits on my sight now. thanks for watching!!
@skylark68 I agree, I was sad to see only a few seconds showing the car and no mention of it verbally. And yes, it does have the feel of the 70's, the music, the hair, the clothing.....thanks for watching. I have more films to come..........
@OsbornTramain Also, the front end suspension of the Volare, Aspen, Diplomat and Lebaron were vastly different from anything Chrysler had in 1957, yes they still used torsion bars, but they weren't the same at all as the forward look cars, it was a vastly improved system and way ahead of chevy's suspensions.
I fully miss my 76 Aspen!! it was in such good shape.. it only had the slant six but it was a tough little motor with decent fuel mileage,, if i had to do it over again i would have kept it and put a 318 in it : /
I think Chrysler sold itself short by offering these as "compacts" in 1976. The use of curved window glass and a slightly longer wheelbase than the Dart really pushed it into the midsize category. By the end of their production run, they were roomier than most mid sized cars, even though they had been pigeon-holed as compacts. Not only did the Aspen have a longer wheelbase than the Nova, but look at the huge stretch between the Nova's front wheel housing and the door. Those wasteful proportions were ideal for carrying a big block without overloading the front wheels, and for manual steering, but how many cars of either model would have been equipped with either in the late 1970s? The 78 Malibu pulled the front wheels in even further and was still marketed as a mid size, while the Aspen was still being compared with the very cramped Nova.
Not sure what you mean as "pigeon-holed" as compact cars? This platform was in production until 1989 in Dodge Diplomat Form and Plymouth Gran Fury. It was a compact by all standards in 1976, cars all began to down size in 1977 first with GM and then Ford and Chrysler in 1979. Despite what people thing, these cars sold in very large quantities and were a success long term for Chrysler. By 1984, this platform was Chrysler Corp's most profitable car. So profitable that they weren't cancelled as planned in 1985 and moved over to AMC in 1986 for production. The recall which was unfortunate and expensive was more about quality rather than safety and gave the car short term a reputation problem........but they were "compacts" originally, sold side by side the Valiant and Dart until those cars were phased out in 1977.
Yes, people seemed to accept the Diplomat as mid-sized, even though it was the same size as the Aspen. I just think they could have done better (and maybe charged more) by marketing the Aspen as "the first of a new generation of more efficient mid-sized cars" and promoted them as alternatives to the Malibu or Torino, given that they were already roomier than the Dart or most "compacts" of that era. As long as the public could be convinced that this was the size of most future "mid sized" cars, and it was, and that these cars could carry 5 or 6 people as comfortably as, say a Malibu (they had about the same leg room, more trunk and probably a little less shoulder room, though I don't remember any Malibus that seated 3 abreast comfortably enough to enjoy the room they had, with the differential hump under the seat), they could probably could have pulled it off. These did seem like nice cars for the money; the fender thing seems minor in retrospect, but I guess it attracted a lot of attention. Before the recall, didn't some owners replace them with aftermarket fiberglass parts to make the rust a non-issue?
I don't dis-agree with what you say above, but I'd take it one step further.....AMC could have done the same thing with their full sized cars, the Rambler Rebel and AMC Ambassador of 1967.....those cars were in production from 1967 thru 1978, Sedan and Wagon and could fit more people comfortably than any Full Sized car and all Mid-sized cars....they were almost identical in size and room as a 1977 Chevy which won car of the year in 1977.
My Mom had an Aspen. It was pretty bad it had a severe carburetor issue and some kind of exhausted leak she would always have the windows rolled down and kept yelling don't go to sleep
@Maichotho I laugh when I see people here commenting on the Nova being a better car than the Aspen or Volare. The Nova was really old technology by the mid 70's. The Volare/Aspen was a significantly better car. It's basic plateform was used until 1989, where the Nova's was finished by 1979. Don't get me wrong, I love a 1972 Nova with a big block and love the style, but it was old!! I always liked Dodges better than Plymouth. It's a preference thing I guess.
My dad bought a '72 Nova brand new. We also had a '79 that we inherited from my aunt in the mid '80s. I always preferred the styling of the '72 better, the later ones were more boxy and lacked the personality the curves gave it. Outside of the exterior sheet metal, the '72 and '79 were the same car. I have to agree, as much as I loved the earlier Nova's, the chassis, suspension, interior, transmissions, and the chunky body were pretty dated by the end of the decade. Malibu was a mid-sized car, but it's downsizing in '78 made it physically smaller than the "compact" Nova.
@tomsriv I don't know, the problems tended to more with Mechanics that weren't familiar with it and how to work on it. They system was used well into the 1080's successfully as mechanic leaning curve improved. My two non converted Lean Burns, a 78 St Regis and 78 New Yorker work flawlessly, 78 was the second year and actually second generation lean burns.
All auto manufacturers had/have production/design flaws the Aspen/Volare were the most recalled car in early 1976 but they were quickly outdone by the Ford Fairmont. I would be happy to have almost any car from that era at least they all had there own style "even if it was awful" today all car's look the same if it were not for the name badge's I wouldn't know a Taurus from a Corrola.
That's simply not true. Volare and Aspens had a difficult introduction year. It's a story thats been told repeatedly, but once the recalls were done, the car and underlying platform lasted till 1989 as a reliable and popular car. Clearly, you never drove a Mercury Zepher or a Ford Fairmont equipped with the 4 cylinder engine, they couldn't get out of their own way and were frankly unsafe autos. Aspen and Volare's consistently had better MPG's and power vs. Nova and Fairmont. Check facts.
OsbornTramain I had a 76 Dodge Aspen 4 door sedan with the 225 and Torqueflite Trans my only complaint was that it rusted out bad but it was very reliable and had a lot more pep than a four cylinder.
It's funny when they said that you can't get a compact station wagon from GM because there aren't any, and one year later in 1978 GM did come out with a compact station wagon in all of their make branches except Cadillac.
"Small cars" ehhh, not really:-) "Nova uses the old suspension from 1968". They "forgot" to mention that Mopars torsion bar system was introduced in 1957.....(Works pretty good though). Over here in Sweden most of these cars suffered a premature death because of severe rust issues. I know a man who bought an Aspen new for use as a taxicab, after only two years both front fenders had to be replaced!
@Crownbagavenger I wish Crown, I did work for Chrysler during that time frame. I saw a Mirada two weeks ago at a restoration shop. I always loved them. By 1979, Chrysler was no longer using this Super8 format. They converted to either Sony Beta or VHS, I don't recall what format they used. So the oldest films I have are from 1978. I've not seen any of those videos on youtube or anywhere? I think the dealers just threw them away at the end of the season.
nope, sorry. I am in the process of restoring many of these Mopar comparison films. I've got about 30 of them. So you'll be seeing more stuff, some new and some you've seen but they will have better color and quality.
No, every nut, every bolt, every bit of the car except the engines and transmissions were new. A whole different plateform. They do haave a very strong resemblence, the Duster and a Volare Coupe or a Dart Sport and a Aspen Coupe.
I don't think so? The one recall I remember was rusty front fenders that had to be replaced, it was very expensive for Chrysler to replace every car's fenders. What recalls occured were only the first model year, by 77, it was pretty much all sorted out.
I had both cars 1978 Chevy Nova 2 door V8 3 speed auto and a 1979 four door Dodge Aspen SE with slant 6 3 speed auto. Sad to say the Nova was more fun. Aspen was more reliable. You decide Junked Nova with bad Trans, rust and a bad paint job, head liner falling, A/C compressor fried, power antenna stuck up half way and two wheel covers left with 133,000 miles on it. Junk Dodge with rusted frame, no wheel covers left, faded paint, a/c compressor fried, head liner falling, driver side window no longer would roll down or up 126,000 miles on it. I would do both cars again.
With all of the good and bad cars I've owned over the past 40 years, I've never had a failed AC compressor. Could it be because I make a point of using it fairly often? I've always suspected that people who tried to avoid using the AC were more likely to loose compressors, with the oil settling to the bottom.
Any chance you could find something on the dodge mirada? My mom had one when I was like 2 or 3, I remember it but I say "mirada" and folks scratch their head lol
Aspen/Volares had more than a rough introductory year...It really wasn't until 1978-9 model years that Chrysler really got the car's major problems sorted out but by then it was too late. Besides woefully bad build quality, the front fenders on the early cars had to be replaced because they were rotting out after 2 years. You are right though, the F-body did go on to be quite successful as similar M-body cars, the robust Dodge Diplomats, Plymouth Gran Fury and Chrysler New Yorker models.
I beleive osborn is right about the later volares and aspens being better built I have seen tons of these still on the road in maryland some with no rust at all. And yes the diplomat minus sheet metal is the exact same car.
@landyachtfan79 I wish I did but no, I don't. I will be loading up three more videos this coming weekend if the Fed Ex delivers them this Friday as expected. I do have more to come but they are all from the 70's. If I recall, in 79, Chrysler converted to using a Beta format rather than film so they had a different look and fell to them. Not like these films at all from the 70's. I am not sure if they were produced by Roy Ross Advertising like these films are.
@tomsriv I'd go with the Aspen. For the so many better features compared to the Nova. The Aspen simply also got better gas mileage too. Just a more modern car. I have a Lean Burn in two of my cars and they still run well and have had no issues with the computer system. I think there were some bugs early on but the lean burn engines were used for years reliably.
@Maichotho wish i could help you. I've seen one in real life and almost bought it...it needed a lot of work...lots of rust....they had Chrysler 440's right?
@OsbornTramain I agree lack of knowledge was worst ennemy of lean burn. I had several cars with lean burn and they worked flawlessly with good fuel mileage. My 78 NewYorker with a Lean Burn 400 and lock-up gave me 22 mpg to the canadian gallon. My 83 diplomat leran burn 318 gave me 30 mpg to the canadian gallon.on higway speed of 65 to 70 mph.
I still love them electronic engine control management systems which did not help performance but could hinder it. Was the early EPA choke the engine system. I replaced a lot of these with a aftermarket ignition and a normal carb and well talk about waiting the engine up. A 350 4bbl Nova would smoke a 360 with this stupid computer BS on it.
The only thing wrong with Lean Burn were the idiot mechanics too lazy to learn how to make a proper adjustment. They worked fine what factory suggested maintenance was done properly.
@snowdria2000 I don't think I said it was crappy, just that the Aspen and Volare's were great cars....where some nova folks said they weren't. as far as styling, The coupe looks more like a Plymouth Duster or Dodge Dart Sport than a Nova, just the normal styling progression. I don't think the four doors look anything like each other.
They were nice cars but had alot of problems. The Nova, Skylark etc. were more reliable cars. Also in 78 Ford came out with the Fairmont Wagon which was the Aspen Wagon's competition.
Special Edition is a model of Aspen, the highest level, so when he's saying "on special edition", that's because he's telling you the features that's on one model versus the other.....it's the name of the Car, Aspen SE (which stands for Special Edition)
The Aspen and Volare's had their issues all resolved by the 77 year. Diplomats and LeBarons came out in 77 and were just fine cars. Aspens and Volare's get a bum rap for their really poor introduction in Fall of 75. The damage was done to thier reputation by introducing the cars too early. Overall, there's no difference really other than sheet metal front fenders and hood and rear fender caps and back body face panel from a Volare and a Lebaron.
The problem with Lean Burn is a myth. As I mention in my description, I delete negative comments for Lean Burn. Lean Burn lowered gas consumption, improved horsepower and made the car run smoother longer. The only problem with Lean Burn was a Hack Mechanic that tried to repair it outside a dealer service department with the wrong tools and diagnostic equipment. they ran great post 1976, series II version. It wasn't even available on all engines of the Aspen until 1978, only the 360 in 1977 which is when this video was made, It wasn't available at all in 1976 on the Aspen. All Aspens with Lean Burn had Catalytic Converters, you are incorrect with you comment which is typical of almost every comment about Lean Burn that's negative.
@OsbornTramain People are going to argue all day "NO MY CHEVY IS MORE RELIABLE!!!" and the reverse, "NO MY MOPAR IS!!!" but it all boils down to specific engines, specific cars, specific everything... I respect Chevy and Mopar both, personally I'm a Dodge guy, but I would build an LSX if that would be best for my budget. I'm restoring a 76 Aspen atm, but it won't have any of the same "problems" it did in 76. ;)
@2008ljr They had rust and quality issues in the 76 model year. This is well detailed in Lee Iaccoa's Auto Biography. But those issues were well sorted out by the 77 Model Year. I would disagree with the comment about the Nova and Skylarks being more reliable. I worked for both a Dodge Dealer and Chevy Dealer in the late 70's and recall the Nova's being crappy and cheap feeling on the interiors and a much poorer ride. The Aspen/Volare plateform was used until 1989, Nova only 74 thru 78.
We had two Nova's, '72 and a '79, 250 str. 6. Both were troublesome. The interiors were both cheap, the vinyl seating material and overall interior feel was cheap. Fit and finish wasn't the greatest. The transmissions in both failed around 40,000 miles. Both leaked water around the windshield and back window, even after returning to the dealer for repairs twice. The heat/vent controls were stiff to operate and the handles quickly broke off. The '72s gas capped leaked, even after a new tank. The ride was harsh, and noisy, and no amount of alignments could keep it from dog tracking.
DISC BRAKES, RACK AND PINION STEERING, 4-WHEEL INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION, RADIAL TIRES, CONTOURED FRONT BUCKET SEATS, 3-POINT HARNESSES, 20+ IN TOWN 30+ HIGHWAY MPG, ETC, STANDARD??? JPNS AND GRMN SEDANS HAD IT AND IT BECAME THE NECESSARY STANDARD!!
@OsbornTramain Yea I Have a 1978 plymouth horizon right now and It Still runs Great No problems with it no lean burn problems either and it's a 33 year Old horizon
i get 25 miles to the gallon in town with my 77 chevy nova concours lol 6 cyl and 1 bbl my best freind growing had a 77 aspen that was orunge with a white half top and white int it was nice but a nove had the look first and aspen made it very close
@tomsriv Chrysler always seemed to try and find a way around fuel injection, this was their idea of economy. Didnt work however. Chrysler has been known to take risks, and many times they come out with a great idea, this however not so much
Me gustan los dos carros Chevrolet Nova y Dodge Aspen SE 1977; son excelentes automóviles; el Dodge Aspen SE 1977; yo lo prefiero con su motor 318 V8 de fabrica transmisión automática y el Chevrolet Nova con el motor 350 V8 de fabrica; transmisión automática; saludos y buenas noches.
LOL lets see CAR with MORE OPTIONS normally got a bigger juice maker. They have a Aspen 360 that came with a bigger alternator compared to the 6 cyl Nova which didnt need much a juice maker. The top of the line Aspen were better then the bottom of the line Nova lol OH PS on higher end Aspens low ball Novas manual get it lol I know they all did this , I love this video non the less
A lot of people are too dumb to realize what a dial is telling them. If the temperature guage is spiking over the mid point, they should pull over before they blow a head gasket or blow up the engine. But some people wouldn't realize that. But having a dummy light pop up, they might notice that and stop.
The first couple years of the aspen and volare were horrible in terms of quality control they were rushed out later years are a lot more solid. If i had to go with quality in 1977 it would have been a nova over an aspen.
You know, I agree, but I don't think it's him. Noory would have been in Detroit working on Radio and this is filmed in Palm Springs. The guy looks older than the age that Noory would have been, 26 years old. This guy looks like he's in the 30 to 40 range in age.....I do agree, they look alike, but I don't think it's Noory
We all love your videos, and if you EVER uncover more content on my #1 favorite (the Dodge Mirada) please upload!!! P.S. I was a teenager when it came out, and I actually sat in one in 1983 at a dealership- I vowed I would buy one as soon as I was working but I got into the army and it never happened sadly!!! :(
Buy one now, they are reasonably priced still....but it's hard to find one with it's rear vinyl inserts in good shape......I'm a bit older, I use to prep them. I remember them well, always liked them, I liked the dark blue with the dark blue fake convertible roof the best, the CRX package I think too?
yes, Aspen was the compact, then the Monaco was the intermediate sized car and finally, the big Dodge Royal Monaco was the Full Sized Car, it was enormous, the Aspen was tiny compared to the Royal Monaco.
I have a '75 Buick Skylark which I still have since new and it is still in great shape. It has 157,000 miles on it and it runs great! This car is 100% reliable!!! I will NEVER sell it!!!
Thanks for last answering. You are totally right. Stunning and good looking Mopar's. Here at Colombia we had them in 1978/1981. Called as a Dart, not Aspen. Also the Diplomat, renamed here as Coronet, for market porpouses, with CKD components at Colmotores plant. As a former seller Mopar auto parts, the cars were unbeatable, bulletproof ones, I really miss them. Why Chrysler collapsed having this excelent products, is that bothers me a lot. Thanks so much for this vintage footage.....Mopars for ever, my friends!!!!!.
My ‘77 wagon was one of the best cars I’ve ever known. And the music here is incredibly cool.
When was the last time you saw a bright red interior? Miss those days...
Lee A Iacocca always said afterwards, "we never should have killed the Dart." He also said something to the effect that they lasted for ever and were damn good cars.
I thought that too, they could've facelifted the Dart in the mid '70s, maybe give the sedan more curves like the rear of the Duster had. Offer a wagon version.
@@Progrocker70 But what would it have cost to keep the older cars compliant with the ever tightening federal safety regs?
2:20 The 360 four barrel option had delays with getting emission certified by the EPA. A lot of buyers who ordered the 360-4bbl had to wait until very late in the model year to get them. Some were asked to re-order their Aspen without the 360 because of the delays in production
That lavender Aspen with the white vinyl landau top is quite a sight
I'm 19 and my first car is the 77 Nova with 355. My favorite thing about it is the handling, and the shift kit. Handles turns so easily and very tight turning radius. Plus new interior, and air conditioning.
@DodgeMan360 I still say, lean burn works great from a mechanical/computer control principle....the disaster part was poor training from Chrysler to it's dealers on how to work with it. I own three cars with lean burn and they all perform flawlessly and function well. I"m lucky and have a mechanic that understands how it works and how to adjust them. Chrysler did offer Fuel Injection on cars as far back as 1958. The IMperials of 81 to 83 had thier issues with FI.
my gramps had an aspen in the early 90's. lots of miles on it, but reliable. my really big sister had a Plymouth version about the same time. damn good car that held up to lots upon lots of abuse. she couldn't kill it.
I love this. Brings back great memories
@RabidKoala The Aspen/Volare were new from the ground up, not a single part of the car was derived from any other Chrysler Product. they look similiar to the Duster and Dart Sport but are completely different. The car won the Motor Trend Car of the year in 76 because of it's many new features. They did have teething pains in the first two years. The rust problem was confined to the front fenders on the top near the hood. The car lasted in the Diplomat/Lebaron/New Yorker form until 1989.
The background instrumental to this video sounds like the music you would hear on porn movies from the same era
Hahaha, and if you owned one of these you were just as fucked as the actors in those pornos.
Probably produced by the same company!
That’s no accident lol. The beginning sounds just like the original “Theme from Shaft” by Isaac Hayes.
Funny how this is a compact in 77 but in 87 -88 diplomat ,grand fury these were full size!
That intro background music gives me this intense urge to randomly blurt out “Shaft!”
@adape0884frank this is one of my favorite films I've uploaded simply because of what you say...great film footage of the car in action. I love the shot of the blue aspen on the dirt road highlighting the suspension and torsion bars. One of the best films of the whole group of Dodge films...check out the Magnum XE film I have uploaded, it's pretty good too...so is the 78 dodge Diplomat film.
@campingkillen Yep, that was 1976 and 1977. Chrysler had a safety recall on all Aspens and Volare's and even some Lebarons and Diplomats to replace the front fenders. It was a design flaw and a very expensive mistake for a new car introduction. Lee A. Iaccoca said, they never should have stopped making the Dodge Dart and Plymouth Valiant. But to be fair after a few teething problems, the car was basically in production with a name change until 1989 with a solid dependable reputation.
I would have a difficult time deciding. Like the looks of both.
@mikecameli I have to tell yah, I distinctly remember the 77 Aspen with the orange color and white landau roof. I worked for a Factory owned store at the time and the President of our Dealer took me outside to the lot and hand picked it out to put in the showroom....I remember him calling it our Pumpkin Special and he wanted in the showroom because it was Fall and the time of year where the colors were changing.
@RabidKoala thanks rabidkoala, appreciate it. What surprises me is how many people watch these videos, over 1.6 million hits on my sight now. thanks for watching!!
@skylark68 I agree, I was sad to see only a few seconds showing the car and no mention of it verbally. And yes, it does have the feel of the 70's, the music, the hair, the clothing.....thanks for watching. I have more films to come..........
@OsbornTramain Also, the front end suspension of the Volare, Aspen, Diplomat and Lebaron were vastly different from anything Chrysler had in 1957, yes they still used torsion bars, but they weren't the same at all as the forward look cars, it was a vastly improved system and way ahead of chevy's suspensions.
I fully miss my 76 Aspen!! it was in such good shape.. it only had the slant six but it was a tough little motor with decent fuel mileage,, if i had to do it over again i would have kept it and put a 318 in it : /
I think Chrysler sold itself short by offering these as "compacts" in 1976. The use of curved window glass and a slightly longer wheelbase than the Dart really pushed it into the midsize category. By the end of their production run, they were roomier than most mid sized cars, even though they had been pigeon-holed as compacts. Not only did the Aspen have a longer wheelbase than the Nova, but look at the huge stretch between the Nova's front wheel housing and the door. Those wasteful proportions were ideal for carrying a big block without overloading the front wheels, and for manual steering, but how many cars of either model would have been equipped with either in the late 1970s? The 78 Malibu pulled the front wheels in even further and was still marketed as a mid size, while the Aspen was still being compared with the very cramped Nova.
Not sure what you mean as "pigeon-holed" as compact cars? This platform was in production until 1989 in Dodge Diplomat Form and Plymouth Gran Fury. It was a compact by all standards in 1976, cars all began to down size in 1977 first with GM and then Ford and Chrysler in 1979. Despite what people thing, these cars sold in very large quantities and were a success long term for Chrysler. By 1984, this platform was Chrysler Corp's most profitable car. So profitable that they weren't cancelled as planned in 1985 and moved over to AMC in 1986 for production. The recall which was unfortunate and expensive was more about quality rather than safety and gave the car short term a reputation problem........but they were "compacts" originally, sold side by side the Valiant and Dart until those cars were phased out in 1977.
Yes, people seemed to accept the Diplomat as mid-sized, even though it was the same size as the Aspen. I just think they could have done better (and maybe charged more) by marketing the Aspen as "the first of a new generation of more efficient mid-sized cars" and promoted them as
alternatives to the Malibu or Torino, given that they were already roomier than the Dart or most "compacts" of that era. As long as the public could be convinced that this was the size of most future "mid sized" cars, and it was, and that these cars could carry 5 or 6 people as comfortably as, say a Malibu (they had about the same leg room, more trunk and probably a little less shoulder room, though I don't remember any Malibus that seated 3 abreast comfortably enough to enjoy the room they had, with the differential hump under the seat), they could probably could have pulled it off. These did seem like nice cars for the money; the fender thing seems minor in retrospect, but I guess it attracted a lot of attention. Before the recall, didn't some owners replace them with aftermarket fiberglass parts to make the rust a non-issue?
I don't dis-agree with what you say above, but I'd take it one step further.....AMC could have done the same thing with their full sized cars, the Rambler Rebel and AMC Ambassador of 1967.....those cars were in production from 1967 thru 1978, Sedan and Wagon and could fit more people comfortably than any Full Sized car and all Mid-sized cars....they were almost identical in size and room as a 1977 Chevy which won car of the year in 1977.
My Mom had an Aspen. It was pretty bad it had a severe carburetor issue and some kind of exhausted leak she would always have the windows rolled down and kept yelling don't go to sleep
@Maichotho I laugh when I see people here commenting on the Nova being a better car than the Aspen or Volare. The Nova was really old technology by the mid 70's. The Volare/Aspen was a significantly better car. It's basic plateform was used until 1989, where the Nova's was finished by 1979. Don't get me wrong, I love a 1972 Nova with a big block and love the style, but it was old!! I always liked Dodges better than Plymouth. It's a preference thing I guess.
My dad bought a '72 Nova brand new. We also had a '79 that we inherited from my aunt in the mid '80s. I always preferred the styling of the '72 better, the later ones were more boxy and lacked the personality the curves gave it. Outside of the exterior sheet metal, the '72 and '79 were the same car. I have to agree, as much as I loved the earlier Nova's, the chassis, suspension, interior, transmissions, and the chunky body were pretty dated by the end of the decade. Malibu was a mid-sized car, but it's downsizing in '78 made it physically smaller than the "compact" Nova.
@tomsriv I don't know, the problems tended to more with Mechanics that weren't familiar with it and how to work on it. They system was used well into the 1080's successfully as mechanic leaning curve improved. My two non converted Lean Burns, a 78 St Regis and 78 New Yorker work flawlessly, 78 was the second year and actually second generation lean burns.
Good video was impressed by the footage features of the cars.
All auto manufacturers had/have production/design flaws the Aspen/Volare were the most recalled car in early 1976 but they were quickly outdone by the Ford Fairmont. I would be happy to have almost any car from that era at least they all had there own style "even if it was awful" today all car's look the same if it were not for the name badge's I wouldn't know a Taurus from a Corrola.
That's simply not true. Volare and Aspens had a difficult introduction year. It's a story thats been told repeatedly, but once the recalls were done, the car and underlying platform lasted till 1989 as a reliable and popular car. Clearly, you never drove a Mercury Zepher or a Ford Fairmont equipped with the 4 cylinder engine, they couldn't get out of their own way and were frankly unsafe autos. Aspen and Volare's consistently had better MPG's and power vs. Nova and Fairmont. Check facts.
OsbornTramain I had a 76 Dodge Aspen 4 door sedan with the 225 and Torqueflite Trans my only complaint was that it rusted out bad but it was very reliable and had a lot more pep than a four cylinder.
Quality wise the Nova was the better car but actually comparing the cars I think the Aspen/Volre was the better overall car
Aspen and Volare were great cars of you kept spare rotors, ballast resistors and an alternator in the trunk.
The Aspen, Granada and Nova were roughly the same size. I had no major issues with that!
just bought that same aspen 👌
It's funny when they said that you can't get a compact station wagon from GM because there aren't any, and one year later in 1978 GM did come out with a compact station wagon in all of their make branches except Cadillac.
"Small cars" ehhh, not really:-)
"Nova uses the old suspension from 1968". They "forgot" to mention that Mopars torsion bar system was introduced in 1957.....(Works pretty good though).
Over here in Sweden most of these cars suffered a premature death because of severe rust issues. I know a man who bought an Aspen new for use as a taxicab, after only two years both front fenders had to be replaced!
But those were longitudinal torsion bars, not the transverse type here, which were all-new on F-body, so...
@Crownbagavenger I wish Crown, I did work for Chrysler during that time frame. I saw a Mirada two weeks ago at a restoration shop. I always loved them. By 1979, Chrysler was no longer using this Super8 format. They converted to either Sony Beta or VHS, I don't recall what format they used. So the oldest films I have are from 1978. I've not seen any of those videos on youtube or anywhere? I think the dealers just threw them away at the end of the season.
Is there a comparison between the Fairmont/Zephry and Volare/Aspen. That in my opinion would be interesting.
nope, sorry. I am in the process of restoring many of these Mopar comparison films. I've got about 30 of them. So you'll be seeing more stuff, some new and some you've seen but they will have better color and quality.
No, every nut, every bolt, every bit of the car except the engines and transmissions were new. A whole different plateform. They do haave a very strong resemblence, the Duster and a Volare Coupe or a Dart Sport and a Aspen Coupe.
I don't think so? The one recall I remember was rusty front fenders that had to be replaced, it was very expensive for Chrysler to replace every car's fenders. What recalls occured were only the first model year, by 77, it was pretty much all sorted out.
My father owned a 76 plymouth volare wagon. BIGGEST PILE OF JUNK. During that time chrysler quality was crap. Chevy Nova was a much better car.
I had both cars 1978 Chevy Nova 2 door V8 3 speed auto and a 1979 four door Dodge Aspen SE with slant 6 3 speed auto. Sad to say the Nova was more fun. Aspen was more reliable. You decide Junked Nova with bad Trans, rust and a bad paint job, head liner falling, A/C compressor fried, power antenna stuck up half way and two wheel covers left with 133,000 miles on it. Junk Dodge with rusted frame, no wheel covers left, faded paint, a/c compressor fried, head liner falling, driver side window no longer would roll down or up 126,000 miles on it. I would do both cars again.
With all of the good and bad cars I've owned over the past 40 years, I've never had a failed AC compressor. Could it be because I make a point of using it fairly often? I've always suspected that people who tried to avoid using the AC were more likely to loose compressors, with the oil settling to the bottom.
Not sure I use mine often both they lock up solid and these were not the only two cars I had do it I have it happen in several cars.
@landyachtfan79 sorry it took so long to load it up...but yes...and i do have more films so more to come!
Any chance you could find something on the dodge mirada? My mom had one when I was like 2 or 3, I remember it but I say "mirada" and folks scratch their head lol
Aspen/Volares had more than a rough introductory year...It really wasn't until 1978-9 model years that Chrysler really got the car's major problems sorted out but by then it was too late. Besides woefully bad build quality, the front fenders on the early cars had to be replaced because they were rotting out after 2 years. You are right though, the F-body did go on to be quite successful as similar M-body cars, the robust Dodge Diplomats, Plymouth Gran Fury and Chrysler New Yorker models.
I beleive osborn is right about the later volares and aspens being better built I have seen tons of these still on the road in maryland some with no rust at all. And yes the diplomat minus sheet metal is the exact same car.
currently driving an 80 Volare sedan with 112k and plenty of rust lol galvanized frame rails were the difference
To be honest, I love both cars, but with those V8s, the last thing you’d think was “small”.
@landyachtfan79 I wish I did but no, I don't. I will be loading up three more videos this coming weekend if the Fed Ex delivers them this Friday as expected. I do have more to come but they are all from the 70's. If I recall, in 79, Chrysler converted to using a Beta format rather than film so they had a different look and fell to them. Not like these films at all from the 70's. I am not sure if they were produced by Roy Ross Advertising like these films are.
I had no idea alternators were of such importance to 1977 new car buyers...
Makes sense to me. The hood ornament will get more eye time than any other feature of the car.
Because cars in earlier years had GENERATORS, which were not as reliable...
Spent many days as a kid in my dads aspen wagon.. They are fairly cheap now even one in good shape.
@tomsriv I'd go with the Aspen. For the so many better features compared to the Nova. The Aspen simply also got better gas mileage too. Just a more modern car. I have a Lean Burn in two of my cars and they still run well and have had no issues with the computer system. I think there were some bugs early on but the lean burn engines were used for years reliably.
@Maichotho wish i could help you. I've seen one in real life and almost bought it...it needed a lot of work...lots of rust....they had Chrysler 440's right?
Every Aspen or Volare I ever saw in New Hampshire was riddled with RUST
@OsbornTramain I agree lack of knowledge was worst ennemy of lean burn. I had several cars with lean burn and they worked flawlessly with good fuel mileage. My 78 NewYorker with a Lean Burn 400 and lock-up gave me 22 mpg to the canadian gallon. My 83 diplomat leran burn 318 gave me 30 mpg to the canadian gallon.on higway speed of 65 to 70 mph.
I still love them electronic engine control management systems which did not help performance but could hinder it. Was the early EPA choke the engine system. I replaced a lot of these with a aftermarket ignition and a normal carb and well talk about waiting the engine up. A 350 4bbl Nova would smoke a 360 with this stupid computer BS on it.
The only thing wrong with Lean Burn were the idiot mechanics too lazy to learn how to make a proper adjustment. They worked fine what factory suggested maintenance was done properly.
0:20...........no, the Volare was "The (new) small car with the accent on comfort". The Aspen was "Unbelievable".
@snowdria2000 I don't think I said it was crappy, just that the Aspen and Volare's were great cars....where some nova folks said they weren't. as far as styling, The coupe looks more like a Plymouth Duster or Dodge Dart Sport than a Nova, just the normal styling progression. I don't think the four doors look anything like each other.
They were nice cars but had alot of problems. The Nova, Skylark etc. were more reliable cars. Also in 78 Ford came out with the Fairmont Wagon which was the Aspen Wagon's competition.
@OsbornTramain - I had a cousin that had a 78 aspen and a friend that had a 79 volare. Both cars died around 80,000 miles.
Could you get a 4 speed overdrive on these?
I believe four speed overdrive manual was standard on Chrysler compacts.
I can't help but notice that he keeps on saying "on special edition"
Special Edition is a model of Aspen, the highest level, so when he's saying "on special edition", that's because he's telling you the features that's on one model versus the other.....it's the name of the Car, Aspen SE (which stands for Special Edition)
Funny !!!!!. But I´d take the Nova in a heart beat !!
Yeah I'm about to trade for one myself and restore it
The Aspen and Volare's had their issues all resolved by the 77 year. Diplomats and LeBarons came out in 77 and were just fine cars. Aspens and Volare's get a bum rap for their really poor introduction in Fall of 75. The damage was done to thier reputation by introducing the cars too early. Overall, there's no difference really other than sheet metal front fenders and hood and rear fender caps and back body face
panel from a Volare and a Lebaron.
That lean burn computer really put a dent in their reputation, because they refused to use catalytic converters
The problem with Lean Burn is a myth. As I mention in my description, I delete negative comments for Lean Burn. Lean Burn lowered gas consumption, improved horsepower and made the car run smoother longer. The only problem with Lean Burn was a Hack Mechanic that tried to repair it outside a dealer service department with the wrong tools and diagnostic equipment. they ran great post 1976, series II version. It wasn't even available on all engines of the Aspen until 1978, only the 360 in 1977 which is when this video was made, It wasn't available at all in 1976 on the Aspen. All Aspens with Lean Burn had Catalytic Converters, you are incorrect with you comment which is typical of almost every comment about Lean Burn that's negative.
@@OsbornTramain ok
@OsbornTramain People are going to argue all day "NO MY CHEVY IS MORE RELIABLE!!!" and the reverse, "NO MY MOPAR IS!!!" but it all boils down to specific engines, specific cars, specific everything... I respect Chevy and Mopar both, personally I'm a Dodge guy, but I would build an LSX if that would be best for my budget. I'm restoring a 76 Aspen atm, but it won't have any of the same "problems" it did in 76. ;)
@2008ljr They had rust and quality issues in the 76 model year. This is well detailed in Lee Iaccoa's Auto Biography. But those issues were well sorted out by the 77 Model Year. I would disagree with the comment about the Nova and Skylarks being more reliable. I worked for both a Dodge Dealer and Chevy Dealer in the late 70's and recall the Nova's being crappy and cheap feeling on the interiors and a much poorer ride. The Aspen/Volare plateform was used until 1989, Nova only 74 thru 78.
We had two Nova's, '72 and a '79, 250 str. 6. Both were troublesome. The interiors were both cheap, the vinyl seating material and overall interior feel was cheap. Fit and finish wasn't the greatest. The transmissions in both failed around 40,000 miles. Both leaked water around the windshield and back window, even after returning to the dealer for repairs twice. The heat/vent controls were stiff to operate and the handles quickly broke off. The '72s gas capped leaked, even after a new tank. The ride was harsh, and noisy, and no amount of alignments could keep it from dog tracking.
both the nova and the aspen were decent cars....easy to work on
DISC BRAKES, RACK AND PINION STEERING, 4-WHEEL INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION, RADIAL TIRES, CONTOURED FRONT BUCKET SEATS, 3-POINT HARNESSES, 20+ IN TOWN 30+ HIGHWAY MPG, ETC, STANDARD??? JPNS AND GRMN SEDANS HAD IT AND IT BECAME THE NECESSARY STANDARD!!
That is one small one what have you to get around
They were comfortable and smooth. All the government meddling they were all weak.
@OsbornTramain Yea I Have a 1978 plymouth horizon right now and It Still runs Great No problems with it no lean burn problems either and it's a 33 year Old horizon
And I had my wide bell bottoms on listening to wls with KC and the Sunshine band on
The Aspen is nice cars:-)
@OsbornTramain I Have a 1978 Plymouth Horizon..first car..LOVE It so much!!
Dale Earnhardt at 3:38?
My parents bought a 77 Newport with the lean burn system. What a complete failure on Chrysler's part. That car could barely get out of it's own way
It's longer than a S-class and they called it 'a small car' ?
i get 25 miles to the gallon in town with my 77 chevy nova concours lol 6 cyl and 1 bbl my best freind growing had a 77 aspen that was orunge with a white half top and white int it was nice but a nove had the look first and aspen made it very close
@jakesaintsrow123
My freind has 78 charger and I ask him about lean burn all the time. He says he's never had any problems with it.
They were nice cars but had alot of problems. The Nova, Skylark etc. were more reliable cars.
Lean burn was a disaster. Plus all the mopar engines are gas guzzlers. In this class I would go for the Nova.
@tomsriv Chrysler always seemed to try and find a way around fuel injection, this was their idea of economy. Didnt work however. Chrysler has been known to take risks, and many times they come out with a great idea, this however not so much
Me gustan los dos carros Chevrolet Nova y Dodge Aspen SE 1977; son excelentes automóviles; el Dodge Aspen SE 1977; yo lo prefiero con su motor 318 V8 de fabrica transmisión automática y el Chevrolet Nova con el motor 350 V8 de fabrica; transmisión automática; saludos y buenas noches.
Dodge got lost after 1982.i loved the 70s cars
LOL lets see CAR with MORE OPTIONS normally got a bigger juice maker. They have a Aspen 360 that came with a bigger alternator compared to the 6 cyl Nova which didnt need much a juice maker. The top of the line Aspen were better then the bottom of the line Nova lol OH PS on higher end Aspens low ball Novas manual get it lol I know they all did this , I love this video non the less
100% Dodge el mejor de el mundo
@quickguesswho but apparently, the Aspen would handle better according to this video.....lol....just saying
A lot of people are too dumb to realize what a dial is telling them. If the temperature guage is spiking over the mid point, they should pull over before they blow a head gasket or blow up the engine. But some people wouldn't realize that. But having a dummy light pop up, they might notice that and stop.
The first couple years of the aspen and volare were horrible in terms of quality control they were rushed out later years are a lot more solid. If i had to go with quality in 1977 it would have been a nova over an aspen.
@OsbornTramain Well this video was made by dodge.. But hey it could handle better, but I've never drove a 77 Aspen.
@OsbornTramain Most of us other mopar guys rip it all off the motor haha.
I that a young George Noory driving 03:35??
You know, I agree, but I don't think it's him. Noory would have been in Detroit working on Radio and this is filmed in Palm Springs. The guy looks older than the age that Noory would have been, 26 years old. This guy looks like he's in the 30 to 40 range in age.....I do agree, they look alike, but I don't think it's Noory
Agreed, you have an AMAZING channel Sir!!!! I've been watching for many, many years!
btw, more commercials coming at the end of the month......
We all love your videos, and if you EVER uncover more content on my #1 favorite (the Dodge Mirada) please upload!!!
P.S. I was a teenager when it came out, and I actually sat in one in 1983 at a dealership- I vowed I would buy one as soon as I was working but I got into the army and it never happened sadly!!! :(
Buy one now, they are reasonably priced still....but it's hard to find one with it's rear vinyl inserts in good shape......I'm a bit older, I use to prep them. I remember them well, always liked them, I liked the dark blue with the dark blue fake convertible roof the best, the CRX package I think too?
An Aspen was a compact car???
yes, Aspen was the compact, then the Monaco was the intermediate sized car and finally, the big Dodge Royal Monaco was the Full Sized Car, it was enormous, the Aspen was tiny compared to the Royal Monaco.
El tiempo lo confirmó el mejor es nova hermano
El tiempo lo confirmo el nova fue mejor
The Aspen was not as good as the car it replaced, the Dart Sport and Plymouth Duster.
I CAN HEAR IT RUSTING
lol lean burn was such junk. Best thing to do is just rip it off and the car will run better.