“Generally a ‘discount’ automobile seems to be lower than a discount when you’ve it outfitted the best way 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 popularity 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 bought on value. A major share 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 supplied the Particular, a form of base, base trim degree.
As seen beneath, the Aspen Particular was marketed as American’s solely 6-passenger sedan out there for lower than $5000. That’s $4994, to be precise. And for the children studying this, many vehicles 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, through the 1980 mannequin yr—Aspen’s closing yr–Dodge lowered the worth of its most soul-crushing mannequin, the Aspen Particular. The Particular, supplied as coupe and sedan (as seen right here) was positioned beneath the bottom Aspen, and got here customary with so few options {that a} small little one may rely them. Seems, there was nothing particular concerning the Particular.
Initially of 1980, per the Encyclopedia of American Vehicles, the most affordable Aspen began at $5151. Sooner or later through the ’80 mannequin yr, the worth 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 computerized transmission, options customary 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 take a look at what precisely did come customary—and what didn’t—for $4994. First, the usual stuff:
1980 Dodge Aspen Particular: Commonplace Gear
“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 computerized transmission with lockup Torque Converter
A regular computerized 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 customary 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 turn out to be passé. Amusingly, these are slim white-sidewall tires. Wider stripes value additional. 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 all the time appear to be 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 preferred add-on again within the day. Trying again, it didn’t work very effectively. Aspens appreciated 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) customary, which included a port for digital service entry to the automobile’s working system. The Aspen Diagnostic Plug was not almost so refined, and should by no means have truly been used.
I’d wish to assume that a minimum of one car-shopper’s spouse was, sooner or later, 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 customary on the 1980 Dodge Aspen Particular, however might be had on different trim ranges:
Not Commonplace Gear
Tinted glass
When you’re younger, you’ve been spoiled by low-glare, UV-shielding windshields and aspect glass your entire life. However, Aspen Particular drivers weren’t. Possible they all the time wore sun shades, and checked often for melanoma.
Radio
That’s proper, no tunes. To not fear, with out sound insulation (see beneath), there’s a superb probability you wouldn’t hear the music anyway.
Noise Discount Package deal, Particular Sound Insulation, Hood Silencer Pad
These choices might be ordered individually, or collectively as a part of the “Deluxe Insulation Package deal.” Appears that saving cash means coping with wind, highway, and engine noise.
Shade-keyed steering wheel
That’s proper, the colour of your steering wheel most likely didn’t match the inside of your automobile. Shade coordination is for wealthy folks.
Deluxe Steering Wheel
We don’t know what makes a steering wheel “Deluxe,” but it surely most likely matches the automobile’s inside.
Shade 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, if you happen to purchased this automobile, you shouldn’t be losing cash on cigarettes, anyway.
Day/evening inside mirror
Don’t drive at evening. No drawback.
Glove-box lock
Don’t maintain essential stuff in your automobile. No Drawback.
Glove-box mild
No huge difficulty if you happen to don’t maintain essential stuff in your automobile (see above).
Material headliner
It’s vinyl for you, buddy. (This most likely provides to the ambient noise degree within the automobile.)
Carpeting
Simply maintain your footwear on, no drawback.
Intermittent wipers
These usually weren’t customary on a lot, but, truly.
Commonplace-size white sidewall tires
Extra whitewall, extra money.
500-amp battery
Ouch. 500 amps isn’t a lot for brand spanking new automobile. Stepping up from the usual 325-amp battery was most likely widespread.
Protecting bumper strips
No matter.
Clock (digital)
Yup, no clock.
Heart console
Which is smart. 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 must be customary.
“Most” cooling system
We assume this included a high-capacity radiator. Most likely standard with the fleet consumers.
Customized Package deal
Lots of the smaller gadgets listed above as stand-along choices might be had is one fell swoop by ordering the Customized Package deal. The Customized Package deal was not supplied 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 possible loved extra sullen and joyless lives than the homeowners of different autos, a minimum of they may level to their wheel lip moldings with a nominal diploma of pleasure, and declare in truth, “These got here customary.” Particular, certainly. (To examine an much more miserly automobile, click on right here.)
Hearken to the Automobile Stuff Podcast
1980 Dodge Aspen Footage
Click on beneath for enlarged pictures
