1980 Dodge Aspen Special: Favorite Car Ads | The Daily Drive

“Typically a ‘cut price’ automobile seems to be lower than a cut price when you could have it geared up the way in which you need.” So opens the textual content of {a magazine} advert for the 1980 Dodge Aspen Particular, a car so bereft of content material it will not look misplaced on the lot of a Moscow used-car retailer.

For people not within the know, the Aspen was already one thing of an automotive equipment, that includes pedestrian design, underwhelming efficiency, and, sadly, a repute for disappointing reliability. As for the Aspen Particular particularly, learn on…

The compact Aspen, and it’s corporate-clone cousin the Plymouth Volaré have been, by 1980, horribly dated technically, and have been largely offered on value. A major proportion of interval gross sales have been to authorities fleets, this to the dismay of many law enforcement officials and low-level bureaucrats.

And to hit a value level that met the calls for of fleet consumers and the nation’s thriftiest motorists, Dodge provided the Particular, a kind of base, base trim stage.

As seen beneath, the Aspen Particular was marketed as American’s solely 6-passenger sedan obtainable for lower than $5000. That’s $4994, to be actual. And for the children studying this, many automobiles of the day featured entrance “bench seating,” which accommodated three-abreast front-row passenger placement. So, three in entrance, three in again, that’s six.

Curiously, throughout the 1980 mannequin 12 months—Aspen’s closing 12 months–Dodge lowered the value of its most soul-crushing mannequin, the Aspen Particular. The Particular, provided as coupe and sedan (as seen right here) was positioned beneath the bottom Aspen, and got here normal with so few options {that a} small baby may depend them. Seems, there was nothing particular in regards to the Particular.

At the start of 1980, per the Encyclopedia of American Vehicles, the most cost effective Aspen began at $5151. In some unspecified time in the future throughout the ’80 mannequin 12 months, the value of a Particular was dropped to $4994. Now, the all-new, and decidedly extra trendy and classy Chevrolet Quotation began at simply $4800, however that value didn’t embody a 6-cylinder engine, or automated transmission, options normal on the Aspen. It did, nevertheless, seat six. However, the Quotation was technically a hatchback, not a sedan, so Dodge’s cheapest-sedan declare was not challenged.

However, to place the Aspen Particular in correct historic perspective, we have to have a look at what precisely did come normal—and what didn’t—for $4994. First, the usual stuff:

1980 Dodge Aspen Particular: Customary Tools

“Slant Six” engine

Legendary for its sturdiness, the mighty Slant Six was simply plodding alongside by 1980. Strangled by emissions laws, the massive 3.7-liter engine was cranking out simply 90 horsepower within the Aspen Particular, good for a reported 15-second 0-60 mph “dash.”

TorqueFlite automated transmission with lockup Torque Converter

A typical automated transmission is good, however the TorqueFlite, although famously dependable, was nonetheless only a 3-speed unit, this at a time when many manufacturers had already moved to 4-speeds. Additionally, we’re unsure why Torque Converter is being dealt with as a correct noun by Dodge.

Energy Steering

Unbelievably, energy steering was not normal on most Aspens. So, it is a good add.

Whitewall P-metric radial tires

Yawn. Radial tires have been widespread by 1980, and albeit white-sidewall tires had develop into passé. Amusingly, these are slender white-sidewall tires. Wider stripes value further. Actually.

Deluxe wheel covers with wheel lip moldings

On this case, deluxe” is subjective, and we’re not sure lower-cost wheel covers would even have made a lot of a distinction. Additionally, Wheel lip moldings, which at all times seem like Okay-Mart-sourced equipment, tended to be the place rust developed first. Simply saying.

Physique-side accent tape stripes

It’s tape.

Entrance and rear bumper guards

Little, kinda ineffective, bumper guards.

Anti-corrosion safety

Rust proofing was a well-liked add-on again within the day. Trying again, it didn’t work very properly. Aspens favored to rust.

Diagnostic Plug

An fascinating characteristic, although this technique by no means went anyplace. The “plug” was a precursor to the industry-accepted On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) normal, which included a port for digital service entry to the automobile’s working system. The Aspen Diagnostic Plug was not practically so refined, and should by no means have really been used.

I’d prefer to assume that not less than one car-shopper’s spouse was, in some unspecified time in the future, at some dealership, heard to protest, “Honey, I gained’t drive a automobile with out wheel-lip moldings or a diagnostic plug!”

Now, right here’s some stuff that didn’t come normal on the 1980 Dodge Aspen Particular, however might be had on different trim ranges:

Not Customary Tools

Tinted glass

For those who’re younger, you’ve been spoiled by low-glare, UV-shielding windshields and aspect glass your complete life. However, Aspen Particular drivers weren’t. Seemingly they at all times wore sun shades, and checked recurrently for melanoma.

Radio

That’s proper, no tunes. To not fear, with out sound insulation (see beneath), there’s a great probability you wouldn’t hear the music anyway.

Noise Discount Bundle, Particular Sound Insulation, Hood Silencer Pad

These choices might be ordered individually, or collectively as a part of the “Deluxe Insulation Bundle.” Appears that saving cash means coping with wind, street, and engine noise.

Coloration-keyed steering wheel

That’s proper, the colour of your steering wheel in all probability didn’t match the inside of your automobile. Coloration coordination is for wealthy folks.

Deluxe Steering Wheel

We don’t know what makes a steering wheel “Deluxe,” nevertheless it in all probability matches the automobile’s inside.

Coloration keyed seatbelts

Yup. The usual belts don’t essentially match the seats. We’re guessing the usual belts got here in both argent, or ocher.

Cigarette Lighter

That’s what matches are for. In addition to, when you purchased this automobile, you shouldn’t be losing cash on cigarettes, anyway.

Day/night time inside mirror

Don’t drive at night time. No downside.

Glove-box lock

Don’t hold vital stuff in your automobile. No Downside.

Glove-box mild

No massive challenge when you don’t hold vital stuff in your automobile (see above).

Fabric headliner

It’s vinyl for you, buddy. (This in all probability provides to the ambient noise stage within the automobile.)

Carpeting

Simply hold your footwear on, no downside.

Intermittent wipers

These usually weren’t normal on a lot, but, really.

Customary-size white sidewall tires

Extra whitewall, extra money.

500-amp battery

Ouch. 500 amps isn’t a lot for brand new automobile. Stepping up from the usual 325-amp battery was in all probability widespread.

Protecting bumper strips

No matter.

Clock (digital)

Yup, no clock.

Heart console

Which is sensible. Add the console and your entrance/middle passenger goes to be fairly uncomfortable.

Rear defogger/defroster

These are literally listed individually. Assuming the defroster is for the windshield? Actually needs to be normal.

“Most” cooling system

We assume this included a high-capacity radiator. In all probability fashionable with the fleet consumers.

Customized Bundle

Lots of the smaller gadgets listed above as stand-along choices might be had is one fell swoop by ordering the Customized Bundle. The Customized Bundle was not provided on the Particular.

Dodge produced roughly 19,000 Aspen Particular sedans for 1980, making it the second-most-popular car within the lineup after the considerably much less miserable base sedan, which got here in at 26,000 models. And whereas drivers of the Aspen Particular doubtless loved extra sullen and joyless lives than the house owners of different automobiles, not less than they may level to their wheel lip moldings with a nominal diploma of delight, and declare in truth, “These got here normal.” Particular, certainly. (To examine an much more miserly automobile, click on right here.)