SURVIVOR 1978 Dodge Aspen ALMOST JUNKED AND CRUSHED

I bought this car one cold snowy afternoon. The owner was considering junking it after being told by his mechanic that it had severe frame rot. I had other plans in mind to save this car and fix the frame rails eventually and give it new life.

[@gregoryp2859]

I took my driving test in one of these. Never thought I'd see the day we'd call it a classic car.

[@twinchantillytiffanysbenny8852]

That’s a beauty! My dad bought a brand new volare premiere with the 318 4bbl carb. It was a two door red w/white gut. My dad was a mopar guy, he even customized it with cragar rims and dunlop tires. And blacked out the grill to look like a roadrunner. It was cool. Then he traded it for a new custom dodge van. In California all dodge vans were customized by the dealers, and that van RoCkEd!!

[@RMRetro]

Absolutely loving this, well done for saving her. Aspen / Volare fan here in Scotland UK, Would love one one day :) Shall watch with much interest, please keep us all updated on this beautiful Special Edition :-) Hope you are safe and well.

[@johndoemama]

I have a 76 SE Coupe with the slant six. I’ve enjoyed every minute of ownership.

[@oldyellow8120]

Thanks for posting this very nice Aspen SE! It is really nice to see a four door get some attention finally. You made a great find in this one. It has a lot of nice options, and sounds like it runs great. The Super Six was optional on the coupes and four doors, and standard on the wagons. With only 55K miles on it, it has a ton of life left in in. I have a base '78 Aspen wagon with the Super Six and four speed "OD" transmission. It has just over 30K original miles and zero rust. In 2012 I found it for sale online in the Colorado desert and flew out there to get it and drove it home to Pennsylvania. I'm looking forward to seeing more updates about your beautiful red SE!

[@StreetSceneMotorsports]

Thanks, I also have a Volare Super Coupe rite now as well. Hopefully I’ll get a vid up of it soon. Please subscribe and stay posted on my latest projects and finds.

[@benwolford8793]

My Mom had a beautiful 1979 Dodge Aspen. It was a metallic soft mint green with a green vinyl top. The interior was a light green velvet that was button tufted. I loved that car!

[@mikebennett703]

Slant Six! One GREAT engine..

[@elnetoh1]

I have a 79 Dodge Aspen and I am planning on bringing it back to its glorious days.

[@joeknowz4898]

I love when cars like this show up at local car shows...they beat out any off the show room floor m hot rods of today...My grand father had one with the 318....what a hot rod that was...

[@gsnfan]

Wow, an SE model! Good find. The slant 6 engine will last forever. And it's a clean car, too! It's worth restoring, and keeping, too.

[@cellpat2686]

I hear that slant six and can smell its rich exhaust. Nice catch, almost like a dart sedan.

[@doug9066]

My grandparents had a Dodge Aspen wagon but the steering wheel was different than this sedan has. Been so long I had forgotten how the engine sounded when starting up which had a distinctive sound of all it's own which I liked the sound when engine started. Now all sound the same. This is a nice car & nice save from being scrapped. 👍

[@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL]

My 2nd car. Power everything and AC. It was reliable, but the front fenders were already rusting through on top, water leaked in, and electrical issues started. I paid $900 in 1984; had 78,000 miles. I had it for 3 years, so I did alright.

[@stansvoices]

My first car was a 1979 Aspen in 1992. Serious rot issues, but the slant six couldnt be killed. The exle aplit on me one day, and as I pulled over, I was passed by half of my own axle which was never found!

[@alterman156channel]

Power windows were an option on the Dodge Aspen and the Plymouth Volare probably throughout their production history. It is possible that they were only available in the higher trim line. Power brakes and power steering were available in both the Plymouth Volare and Dodge Aspen. A/C was also an available option. The electric rear window defogger was an available option and probably standard in the higher trim lines. 40 or so years ago, most base model cars only had very basic equipment. Many times radios were optional in base models though in many cases the dealer could add one at extra cost. Many times people would go for a mid range trim line since it provided a balance between a reasonable amount of extra equipment and cost. If one was to buy a mid-range Plymouth Volare/Dodge Aspen, they would get an AM/FM radio. Automatic transmission. Power steering and brakes. A/C. Electric rear window defroster. Interval wipers was a good available option at the time and sometimes came as part of a package. I think that a tilt wheel was available in these models. You could get power windows and door locks. Cruise control was available. I think that you could get a split front seat as an option. Optional engines included a 318 (5.2 liter) and a 360 (5.9 liter) V8s. The base engine was a 225 (3.7 liter) in-line (slant) 6. Note that there were a number of quality control issues with these cars. Though they were worked out, their reputation was tarnished. They helped to bring the Chrysler Corporation down to the knees. It was too bad as these cars did have the potential of being decent cars at the time. One of the most obvious issues were the prematurely rusted front fenders on the 1976 and 1977 models. It was because of a design error. It cost Chrysler plenty of money at the time.

[@robertdiehl9003]

A time when cars were built with craftsmanship .

[@jamespn]

Nice example of any survivor Aspen, I always liked the Aspen RT. I also like the white Dodge/Plymouth suburban too.

[@ProjectRescues]

I used to have a '77 Aspen wagon. Same hubcaps too! It was silver. Had a slant 6, and was the first car I ever worked on when I was 12. It bit the dust in 2004.

[@79tazman]

My First car was a 79 Aspen 2 door coupe with a super 6

[@lvsqcsl]

The frame rails are the same on a F-body and a J-body Cordoba, Mirada, and Imperial.

[@buckgonsalvez384]

Cool find Bro and great video ! These Aspen's sedans bring back fond memories , my parents used to own a 1976 Dodge Aspen sedan with a slant six engine . The Aspen/Volare,s were pretty reliable and durable and got the job done , I hope you have many years of happy motoring with this car . Cheers and stay safe ...

[@davepike6170]

Very nice! Very much worth restoring, good original paint and condition!

[@lvsqcsl]

That gear reduction starter Chrysler had for years still has that unique sound; I only ever replaced one of those on a 1978 Plymouth Volare and on the slant-six, I think the starter is next to the brake master cylinder. Great video!

[@ricardocavazos7114]

Congrats .. nice Dodge Aspen you own ... hope you put lots of miles & new videos too on that SUPER 6 ))

[@jimmycarter9099]

Love your video every time I wanted a kid I bought another old car no kids just cars

[@peteg4978]

I bought a 78 Volare SE for parts in 88. It was a 318 with power windows and am fm . Had the same interior as yours. I like the white wagon. My dad had a 77 sport suburban that I took my drivers license test in

[@brucebyrnes5996]

Great looking car. Worth saving. Don't see many around anymore. Have own 2 Dusters and a Volare wagon with slant 6.

[@StreetSceneMotorsports]

Nice, check out the 78 Volare Woody Wagon I posted in my earlier uploads. It was a super clean car with the Highlander Plaid interior. Please subscribe too, I could use your support

[@augiegirl1]

This was my FIRST CAR in 1995; my mom got it when I was in kindergarten (in 1984), & then I got it when I turned 16. I drove it till February 1999, when it was totaled in an accident that SHOULD HAVE KILLED ME (crossing a highway, the other car was likely going 50 mph when they t-boned me on the DRIVER’S SIDE), but I came out with only a SORE SHOULDER from the seatbelt! After that, I will NEVER own a 2 door car!

[@ImForwardlook]

Sweet SE, thanks for saving it!

[@terrylbateman4030]

Looks like you have several good Chrysler cars that I really liked

[@Chef4life79]

Good save!

[@jth1987leb]

It’s a beautiful car. I’ve been looking for one

[@milfordcivic6755]

How times have changed. It's funny to think that people from my parents generation didn't order an expensive stereo for their vehicles back then. Most came with only an AM or AM/FM monaural with 1 dash speaker. Or better yet, radio delete altogether. How did they ever survive? LOL. People didn't care about frills, impressing the neighbors or trading in a perfectly good vehicle because your phone won't connect to it.

[@22vx]

absolutely beautiful car

[@gearhead9943]

Really love your startup videos. Can you please show us what you do with the gas pedal when starting them? Subscribed!

[@Foxonian]

Used to have the Plymouth volare version of this same car. Called a Premier. My first car with A/C. Got rid of it when the rust got too bad to bondo up.

[@theoneandonly6431]

Was in several of those ( or Volares ) when they were used around here as taxis.

[@EnriqueLopez-hb5jn]

And to think these cars that are rarely seen are the ones still going strong, when they first came out the people said a lot of negative things about them,

[@AngelHernandez-ls5wr]

Its a classic and it still in good shape how junked and crushed save it and bringing love.🤦‍♂️🥺

[@rickyredhookbk9048]

I had a mint condition 78 Plymouth Valore 225 slant six in high school in the early 90s. My best friend had a boat Buick Wildcat 455 & decided to slam into the back of me on purpose in front of school for laughs. Payback on the way home from a keg party that night we played demolition derby coming down a mountain. Took out every mailbox. Yeah! Our cars looked like shit Monday morning at school

[@bauertime]

Those are seats get my vote for best seats in any car. I even put a set in my 62 Olds f-85 convertible, from a Volare.

[@velttoveltoin67]

Wow this is great!!!

[@mexicanspec]

Yes these were offered with power windows in the SE model.

[@usamwhambam]

I had a 78 Volare Coupe. It was hell on wet surfaces and ice to drive. The weight distribution was bad. If I pushed too hard on the brakes, it would tend to spin around. On wet surfaces, it would often slide. (And for the Mopar fans, yes, I had good tires mounted on it.) When it wasn't trying to kill me, it was a faithful companion. I cannot recall it ever failing to run (much respect to the Chrysler designers that copied the Italian engine that became the 225 slant 6 that I had), but I was also diligent in servicing it and that certainly helped. Funny thing, it came to its the end on a rainy day. A big truck slid into it while the driver was making a turn as the truck was passing over a muddy patch on the road, while the Volare was parked. The managers of the company that owned the big truck were really good about taking responsibility and it all turned out OK for me, but I didn't buy another Volare or Aspen.

[@scliradalandsman8201]

New Subscriber Awesome Car!!

[@joseluisbrache6652]

Beautiful Mopar

[@toberlorenz8784]

Power windows and power locks were available on the Aspen, Valarie series. I'm not sure about power seats. This is one that needs to be saved.

[@TheLawrenceWade]

Aspen Special Edition was like the Dodge Dart Special Edition or Plymouth Valiant Brougham. Top-end compact car, the Valiant Brougham was called "a miniature New Yorker" - a compact but still huge by today's standards. And comfy flying down a freeway or a city street, won't bankrupt you on fuel, and if you can get the Aspen's emissions control systems and Lean Burn computer working properly, reliable. I would imagine they're also safer than GM's body-on-frame offerings of the era. They still look good. Dated, yes. Of the time, yes. But something about the proportions of the body and especially the C-pillar just holds up. GM's stylists had gone on a break, Ford was sticking opera windows into everything until the Fairmont came along, and the Japanese didn't view a car as anything more than a utilitarian box that goes from home to work. The Volare and Aspen were, for all their checkered history from a car company known for innovation but on the verge of bankruptcy, still a car where the mechanical and the aesthetic design worked beautifully.

[@toberlorenz8784]

@@TheLawrenceWade Since I lived and bought cars in that era, I want to throw this into the pie; the 318 federal certified engine was available with an optional N-91 smog pump that didn't require a catalytic converter. With the Aspen and Volare this was a one year only 1976 option. The Aspens sold in Canada could be equipped with a smog pump on the 225 slant six and the 318 engines as well. Many of those engines went into the Road Runner and Aspen RT.

[@Underappreciatedclassics]

That’s a keeper for sure

[@joeseeking3572]

The upper level Aspen/Volare were in part a response to the Granada, so you could load them up with all the customary lux features - power windows, locks, driver seat. Dollarwise, they were a much better deal than the Granada. The 4dr twins grew slightly to become the LeBaron/Diplomat (same basic design a slight wheelbase stretch) which eventually became the 5th Avenue and ran until the early 90's. They went from taxi to to tufted leather by the end.

[@johnmaki3046]

These were GREAT!

[@michaelmurphy9593]

Nice car👍

[@leonardgoldberg2879]

Slant 6 4 doors are unloved . Glad you saved one.

[@Thunderrolls87]

Glad you saved it. 4 years later are you still driving it?

[@coinslotsandjoysticks2572]

The Brady bunch wagon is sweet

[@subseeker]

My condolences, anyway... for owning it. I had a pieve of shit like that in the sad 90's.

[@davidbartley989]

3spd TorqueFlite too - bulletproof - just like the slant six.

[@MrZdvy]

Nice car👍 But cutting up an Imperial to save an Aspen🧐 That Imperial must be in real bad shape...

[@79tazman]

Yeah no doubt If that was a 2 door Aspen I could see it but a 4 door and that Imperial are cool cars I would fix it up before a 4 door aspen

[@peterketchijian6989]

I owned the 80 model , had same starting problem, takes lots of time to start unlike a GM car which starts immediately even if kept for more than a month

[@B_smart.ppl-BrandonSmith]

What kind of car is the gray coupe in the background?

[@julianrinta]

Hey! Great channel! I was wondering if you know where I can get some parts for my car, also a Volare.

[@StreetSceneMotorsports]

Let me know what your looking for and I may be able to help. Also check out my group “Malaise Mopars” on Facebook. We have a ton of F body guys on there that can help you locate what you need.

[@thomasreese9977]

And still has the hood ornament

[@TheLawrenceWade]

Lovely little car. I assume the Imperial was done, scavenge what you can to save another Mopar. I'd personally take a Volare/Aspen (especially a Slant-6 four-speed wagon!) over an Imperial any day, but I would not sacrifice one to save the other. Fix what you can. Do your best to save the parts from the rest.

[@StreetSceneMotorsports]

The imperial was a 66,000 mile car that sat for easily 15 years mostly outside. It was fixable but by no means worth it.

[@jimthegatormantwopoint0]

Judging by the 85 MPH speedometer, looks more like a 79-80.

[@canadiancatgreen]

New fan and subscriber love your cars

[@lisacharles1959]

I HAVE A 1979 dodge Aspen? The Heat and air is not working... Do you know where I can find Parts?

[@79tazman]

I had two of them cars my first one was the first car when I got my DL was a 1979 Aspen red on red with a Super six it was a 2 door coupe junked it because of frame rot and I have one now it's a 1979 Aspen R/T it has the louvered windows a spoiler with a tuff wheel console shift with a 360 police interceptor same thing they had in the lil red express trucks it's in great shape. But I would not cut up that Imperial to fix a 4 door Aspen unless it's really bad

[@jmkpns]

Where I live, the police had 78, 79, and 80 Aspens and Volares. I'll bet these cars were great and fast with the police 360 motors.

[@Spennyman10]

Nice, what's up with that 81-83 Imperial? I had an 81 sure do miss it.

[@StreetSceneMotorsports]

The grey 83 Imperial is a project car I bought off my friend Bryan Mctaggert. He’s a writer for bangshift.com and you can read all about that car in his online articles on the bagshift website. The car was known as “Project Raven”.

[@Spennyman10]

@@StreetSceneMotorsports Cool. Thank you.

[@manoelgid4283]

Existe algum Dodge Aspen original diesel??

[@mrceleb2006]

Where's the harsh seat belt buzzer?

[@thebassplaya34]

Supersix... That means it has the two barrel engine, right?

[@79tazman]

Yeah your right that had a 2 bbl carter carb on them instead on the 1 bbl many had on them

[@Monaghan]

Can you make a video on your 1979-81 Newport?

[@StreetSceneMotorsports]

I plan on shooting a vid on the 79 Newport in the near future. In the meantime I could really use the support if you wanna subscribe and stay posted on my latest projects and adventures.

[@Monaghan]

Street Scene sounds good. Subscribed!

[@StreetSceneMotorsports]

The Newport video has been uploaded. Check it out in my recent uploads.

[@serg6717]

Would you sell this vehicle?

[@joseluisbrache6652]

How much for that Mopar

[@jimmycarter9099]

O one more thing here in my car Gary Newman

[@frontlinecars20yroldfinds78]

Not my style but I like cars, 1 guy wonna trade me my 79 el camino for one of these 👀

[@atomicorang]

Pump the shit out of the pedal.

[@improperbostonian6722]

Can't kill a slant 6

[@justsumguy2u]

As hideously ugly as the 4 door sedans were, it wouldn't bother me if they all got crushed

[@jimmycarter9099]

A lot cheaper no child support no pets just cars well the cat died I well car peradise by the dash board lights

[@laterranceross748]

Sell it

[@mohamhead9701]

Junk it!