1980 Dodge Aspen review

[Mustangfan2003]

This is awesome

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGnMVijx5GE#

[GoCougs]

Ha ha. Mopar or no car.

I don't think it was as bad as that - the slant-6 though durable was an engine outdated by the '60s let alone 1980. In the '70s one could get the 2-door Volare ("Roadrunner") with 360 V8:

[Mustangfan2003]

I just don't see why someone thought it was a good idea to put the carb right above the exhaust manifold.  Likely not a good thing either if you end up with a fuel leak. 

[cawimmer430]

I love the extremely lifeless steering on this thing visible at around 1:40. 

I prefer the 1976 Aspens and Volares to these facelifted models. Still a nice design. 

[FoMoJo]

I just don't see why someone thought it was a good idea to put the carb right above the exhaust manifold.  Likely not a good thing either if you end up with a fuel leak. 

A lot of inline 6s were like that, for decades.

[Secret Chimp]

A lot of inline 6s were like that, for decades.

Right? And the Dodge will vapor lock if I try to restart it within a small window of time.

This video fucking sucks, why is this guy making terrible jokes fake-shitting instead of actually saying something accurately shitty about this car.

Oh a Jalopnik guy is in here that makes sense.

[Soup DeVille]

I love the extremely lifeless steering on this thing visible at around 1:40. 

I prefer the 1976 Aspens and Volares to these facelifted models. Still a nice design. 

That dead-center steering was ubiquitous on American cars for decades; not even the Corvettes and Mustangs were much better. Few were worse than the Eldorados, which never took more than a single finger to steer and never gave any feedback whatsoever. But even when GM started to realize this was an ongoing joke in the '80s, effort went up, but the steering was just as lifeless.

[Soup DeVille]

Right? And the Dodge will vapor lock if I try to restart it within a small window of time.

This video fucking sucks, why is this guy making terrible jokes fake-shitting instead of actually saying something accurately shitty about this car.

Oh a Jalopnik guy is in here that makes sense.

Still, even with the quadrajunk?

[280Z Turbo]

Still, even with the quadrajunk?

I've never had vapor lock with the Corvette's Quadrajunk

[Mustangfan2003]

That dead-center steering was ubiquitous on American cars for decades; not even the Corvettes and Mustangs were much better. Few were worse than the Eldorados, which never took more than a single finger to steer and never gave any feedback whatsoever. But even when GM started to realize this was an ongoing joke in the '80s, effort went up, but the steering was just as lifeless.

My dad has an 83 Chevy C10 for a little while and the steering was really light.  Felt really funny.  Guess it was just an American thing because my 300SD felt closer to the steering of a modern car.

[Secret Chimp]

Still, even with the quadrajunk?

I mean like a small window under certain conditions, not guaranteed. Not too soon after shutoff and not too long after when it's already warm out. I have a phenolic spacer but aluminum intakes get hotttt.

[280Z Turbo]

Ah, Corvette has cast iron.

[280Z Turbo]

I mean like a small window under certain conditions, not guaranteed. Not too soon after shutoff and not too long after when it's already warm out. I have a phenolic spacer but aluminum intakes get hotttt.

Do you have one of those lame-ass big spread bore to little square bore adapters?

[Secret Chimp]

Do you have one of those lame-ass big spread bore to little square bore adapters?

No it's a spread bore intake, spread bore spacer. Beeeyutch.

Seriously it happens like a half dozen times in the middle of summer. I do not bring shame to the name of 4 Junks, I promise.

[Laconian]

The narrator kind of sounds like Chimp.

[hotrodalex]

I think mine tends to vapor lock a bit. Need to run the fuel line and heater hoses a different way.

[FoMoJo]

I mean like a small window under certain conditions, not guaranteed. Not too soon after shutoff and not too long after when it's already warm out. I have a phenolic spacer but aluminum intakes get hotttt.

I thought vapour lock occurs mostly in the fuel pump.

[Secret Chimp]

I thought vapour lock occurs mostly in the fuel pump.

The carb is going to be the hottest spot in the fuel system for most any carbureted car, unless you have some coolio divorced intake of some kind. I'm sure a really hot car on a hot day could eventually get the fuel down in the pump bubbling too, but I've never experienced it that bad.

[280Z Turbo]

The carb is going to be the hottest spot in the fuel system for most any carbureted car, unless you have some coolio divorced intake of some kind. I'm sure a really hot car on a hot day could eventually get the fuel down in the pump bubbling too, but I've never experienced it that bad.

I think that's more with an electric pump.

[FoMoJo]

The carb is going to be the hottest spot in the fuel system for most any carbureted car, unless you have some coolio divorced intake of some kind. I'm sure a really hot car on a hot day could eventually get the fuel down in the pump bubbling too, but I've never experienced it that bad.

I suppose if the fuel boiled out of the float bowl, there would be a delay in starting but as long as the pump was sending fuel it would start fairly soon.  If the fuel boiled out of the pump the diaphragm flapping up and down in air would take  awhile before it could suck some gas up the line.

[Madman]

Wait, this guy doesn't know how to pronounce Volare?

Clearly, this is a man who doesn't appreciate the music of Dean Martin, so therefore his opinion of anything is worthless.

Dean Martin - Volare (High Quality - Remastered)




Hell, Chrysler even used the song in their TV commercials for the Volare but, since they were probably too broke to get Dino himself as the pitchman, they had to settle for Italian-born Las Vegas lounge lizard Sergio Franchi.

1976 Plymouth Volare Commercial with Sergio Franchi same as Dodge Aspen




Oh, and just for shits and giggles, I had to look up that Rex Harrison TV spot for the Dodge Aspen.

What the fecking hell?!?!?!?  They sure don't make TV commercials like this anymore!

Dodge Aspen Commercial With Rex Harrison (1976)

[Mustangfan2003]

I like how Rex Harrison said Jaguar.  Also, I don't think you would be the envy of anyone in this car even for that time. 

[Madman]

I like how Rex Harrison said Jaguar.  Also, I don't think you would be the envy of anyone in this car even for that time. 

Yep, anytime you want to give your shitty product a veneer of class and sophistication, just rope-in an ageing out-of-work British actor with an oh-so-posh accent.

That commercial reminded me of this one for the 1980 Ford LTD, starring a well-past-his-prime Terry Thomas.  "I say, old chap. It's just like a Rolls Royce!" 


Terry Thomas Ford Commercial 1979

[Soup DeVille]

I think it would actually be awesome for Stephen Fry or Craig Ferguson to do a modern parody/tribute of those commercials

[cawimmer430]

That dead-center steering was ubiquitous on American cars for decades; not even the Corvettes and Mustangs were much better. Few were worse than the Eldorados, which never took more than a single finger to steer and never gave any feedback whatsoever. But even when GM started to realize this was an ongoing joke in the '80s, effort went up, but the steering was just as lifeless.

I'd imagine, but I had no idea that it would be THAT lifeless.

Still, I'd love to own a Dodge Aspen / Plymouth Volare not because of the [lack of] handling, [lack of] quality or [lack of] performance, but because of the lovely design.

[cawimmer430]

That Rex Harrison Aspen commercial was painful to watch. I fell asleep precisely 10 seconds into it... 

[cawimmer430]

Yep, anytime you want to give your shitty product a veneer of class and sophistication, just rope-in an ageing out-of-work British actor with an oh-so-posh accent.

That commercial reminded me of this one for the 1980 Ford LTD, starring a well-past-his-prime Terry Thomas.  "I say, old chap. It's just like a Rolls Royce!" 


Terry Thomas Ford Commercial 1979

The 1980/1981 Ford LTD Coupe, Sedans and Wagons are hot, though. Love their design! 

But how over the top is it that the commercial compared the coupe to a Rolls Royce!?