The Plymouth Volare

[cawimmer430]

Don't give up! Get a Plymouth Volare! 

For only $ 4,362!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg5gcuE4VN4

[Northlands]

The US cars from the 50s and 60s are hot to, but my favorite design era is from the 70s and 80s. 

I mean look at this! 

If you like that, check this out:




My Dad had one of these when I was a kid.

[cawimmer430]

Wim are you being serious? Those cars are ugly as shit. You know what... maybe they look different to you... when I see them I'm instantly reminded of the era of sub-mediocrity that defined American cars from the late 70s up to... the mid 90s?

I'm being completely serious here. I realize these might not have been the best quality cars available back then, but from a design point of view I find them stunning, beautiful and attractive. 

I grew up with these cars seeing them in the movies. And of course it's extremely rare seeing such a car here (mostly at classic car shows). 

I'll say it again: the Plymouth Volare is hot! 

Reminds me of the 1970s Toyota Cressida, which looks similar. A neighbor of mine in the Philippines had a 1970s Cressida and I always liked the design of that car. Guess that's one reason why I find the Plymouth Volare so hot. 

[2o6]

I admit I have an inexplicable soft spot for the 1980's box-style Caprice. Not so surprisingly, a large portion of survivors have ended up in South Central L.A., but surprisingly, many of them are in great condition.

I think that early B-body Caprices look great, especially ones with the glass back.


The later ones look bad.

[cawimmer430]

If you like that, check this out:




My Dad had one of these when I was a kid.

Hot. 

You could throw a college party in the trunk of that thing!

[sportyaccordy]

Reminds me of the 1970s Toyota Cressida, which looks similar. A neighbor of mine in the Philippines had a 1970s Cressida and I always liked the design of that car. Guess that's one reason why I find the Plymouth Volare so hot.  

Strangely I can see the lineage. Without knowing the history of those cars I can see where one would find beauty in them- especially coming from a place where cars tend to be smaller, etc....

It's gonna be hard (read: impossible) to find any fellow fans of those cars though lol. Cars from that era are almost universally hated in America. Your viewpoint, if nothing else, is very interesting....

[ChrisV]

I love a lot of cars of the '70s and early '80s, as well.

from my own '76 Pontiac Grand LeMans (I want another one):



To cars like teh '78-81 Monte Carlo:



Same year Malibu:





And same years Fairmont:





These cars, in fact, are far from universally hated.

[ChrisV]

BTW, the Volare was the Plymouth version of the Dodge Aspen... Also far from universally hated. Oh, maybe by people ignorant of cars in general, through hearsay from other people that don't know much, or from young import fanbois who have little or no experience, but far from universally hated.











http://www.boogerracing.com/SuperCoupe.html

[Eye of the Tiger]

My '79 Grand LeMans was universally loved.

[Rupert]

I love a lot of cars of the '70s and early '80s, as well.

from my own '76 Pontiac Grand LeMans (I want another one):

However, while they aren't universally hated (after all, nothing is), there isn't exactly a huge following. I can appreciate the examples you've posted, as I imagine most car people would, but that doesn't do much to show that they were good cars. After all, the one's you posted are all modified. How many restored-to-period-correct examples of the above cars have you seen?

[the Teuton]

However, while they aren't universally hated (after all, nothing is), there isn't exactly a huge following. I can appreciate the examples you've posted, as I imagine most car people would, but that doesn't do much to show that they were good cars. After all, the one's you posted are all modified. How many restored-to-period-correct examples of the above cars have you seen?

If they were restored to period, they'd all have 180 hp 502 V8s or something. Those cars deserved better engines than what they got from the factory.

[MX793]

If they were restored to period, they'd all have 180 hp 502 V8s or something. Those cars deserved better engines than what they got from the factory.

The Volare/Aspen only had a slant 6 (except R/Ts, those had a 360ci V8 with 170 hp and ran the 1/4 mile in a blistering 17+ seconds at 86 mph).

[Rupert]

If they were restored to period, they'd all have 180 hp 502 V8s or something. Those cars deserved better engines than what they got from the factory.

Um, yes, exactly.

[the Teuton]

Um, yes, exactly.

That's not a whole lot of power for such a massive, yet constricted, engine.

[ifcar]

That's not a whole lot of power for such a massive, yet constricted, engine.

His point was that the ones that have survived have been modified because they rolled out of the factory lousy.

[Rupert]

His point was that the ones that have survived have been modified because they rolled out of the factory lousy.

Yes, indeed.

[Cookie Monster]

Teuts is having a hard time reading lately. Not so good for a journalism major.

[the Teuton]

Teuts is having a hard time reading lately. Not so good for a journalism major.

I work 10 hours a day a lot of days. I have writing projects for other shit. I wish I were more talented.

And I'm not a journalism major.

[Rupert]

Boohoo 10 hours a day!

[the Teuton]

Boohoo 10 hours a day!

[Rupert]

The only time I can't spell, grammerate, or comprehend the written word is at 3 am, after eight or so strong drinks.


(Yes, I am aware that grammerate is not a word).

[ifcar]

The only time I can't spell, grammerate, or comprehend the written word is at 3 am, after eight or so strong drinks.


(Yes, I am aware that grammerate is not a word).

Yeah, it's "grammarate."

[Rupert]

I was referring to Kelsey Grammer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelsey_Grammer

*shifty eyes*

[cawimmer430]

Strangely I can see the lineage. Without knowing the history of those cars I can see where one would find beauty in them- especially coming from a place where cars tend to be smaller, etc....

It's gonna be hard (read: impossible) to find any fellow fans of those cars though lol. Cars from that era are almost universally hated in America. Your viewpoint, if nothing else, is very interesting....

The reason I like these cars is because of their design. Most Americans seem to think these are boring and bland but I find them exciting and lovely from a design point of view: classiness is written all over them. I don't expect them to be high quality since Detroit was going through a turbulent times in those days (especially Chrysler), but there's no law that states I can lust over them. 

When I see something like this in Germany, which is rare, I seriously get excited. My pulse doesn't even rise anymore when I see a Ferrari, Lamborghini or exotic sports car in Munich - but when I see a classic American car from the past for example I almost suffer a heart attack. 



Check this out: Plymouth Volare Estate in Germany!




And here's a Plymouth Volare Taxi in Switzerland!



Even American cops loved them! 

[cawimmer430]

I love a lot of cars of the '70s and early '80s, as well.

from my own '76 Pontiac Grand LeMans (I want another one):

Sweet ride. 



By the way, what was the underlying difference between Plymouth and Dodge? Was Plymouth a sort of entry-level brand below Dodge?

[dazzleman]

The US cars from the 50s and 60s are hot to, but my favorite design era is from the 70s and 80s. 

I mean look at this! 

I think you're losing it, Wimmer.....

[3.0L V6]

Sweet ride. 



By the way, what was the underlying difference between Plymouth and Dodge? Was Plymouth a sort of entry-level brand below Dodge?

That was Plymouth's role exactly. It was to compete with Chevrolet and Ford as the everyman's car - in fact Plymouth was in the top selling three brands from the 1930s to 1970s in the US. Sadly, Chrysler corporation shifted Dodge into that role and neglected Plymouth by limiting the number of cars in Plymouth's lineup (Plymouth never had a version of the Dodge Intrepid, for example) letting the brand slowly expire in 2001.

[Onslaught]

Like most cars from that time I find it ugly and probably a POS.

[cawimmer430]

I think you're losing it, Wimmer.....

The '80s Caprice was one of the hottest American cars ever. IMO it should have won an award for its pure classiness and beauty. I've seen a handful over here - beautiful. 

[cawimmer430]

That was Plymouth's role exactly. It was to compete with Chevrolet and Ford as the everyman's car - in fact Plymouth was in the top selling three brands from the 1930s to 1970s in the US. Sadly, Chrysler corporation shifted Dodge into that role and neglected Plymouth by limiting the number of cars in Plymouth's lineup (Plymouth never had a version of the Dodge Intrepid, for example) letting the brand slowly expire in 2001.

Sad that Plymouth had to die.