The Plymouth Volare and Dodge Aspen: Specifications, Production, and Details

By Ed Hennessy

Introduction to the Plymouth Volare and Dodge Aspen

Click here for the main Plymouth Volare / Roadrunner and Dodge Aspen / Super Coupe page.

Drivetrain

Year	Engine	Carb	HP	Torque	Year	Engine	Carb	HP	Torque
1976	225	1	100 @ 3600 rpm	170 @ 1600	1979	225	1	90 @ 3600 rpm	160 @ 1600
	225 Calif.	1	90 @ 3600 rpm	165 @ 1600		225 Calif.	1	90 @ 3600 rpm	160 @ 1600
	318	2	150 @ 4000 rpm	255 @ 1600		225	2	110 @ 3600 rpm	180 @ 2000
	318 Calif.	2	140 @ 3600 rpm	250 @ 2000		318	2	140 @ 4000 rpm	245 @ 1600
	360	2	170 @ 4000 rpm	280 @ 2400		318 Calif.	4	155 @ 4000 rpm	245 @ 1600
	360 HP	4	220 @ 4000 rpm	280 @ 3200		360	2	155 @ 3600 rpm	270 @ 2400

1977	225	1	100 @ 3600 rpm	170 @ 1600		360 Calif.	4	160 @ 3600 rpm	265 @ 1600
	225 Calif.	1	90 @ 3600 rpm	170 @ 1600
	225	2	110 @ 3600 rpm	180 @ 2000
	318	2	145 @ 4000 rpm	245 @ 1600
	318 Calif.	2	135 @ 3600 rpm	235 @ 1600
	360	2	155 @ 3600 rpm	275 @ 2000

1978	225	1	90 @ 3600 rpm	160 @ 1600	1980	225	1	90 @ 3600 rpm	160 @ 1600
	225	2	110 @ 3600 rpm	180 @ 2000		318	2	120 @ 3600 rpm	245 @ 2000
	318	2	140 @ 4000 rpm	245 @ 1600		318	4	155 @ 4000 rpm	240 @ 2000
	318 Calif.	4	155 @ 4000 rpm	245 @ 1600		360	4	185 @ 4000 rpm	275 @ 2000
	360	2	155 @ 3600 rpm	270 @ 2400
	360	4	160 @ 3600 rpm	265 @ 1600

Available transmissions included the A230 3 speed (Slant Six only), the A833 4 speed overdrive (Slant Six and 318-2 only), and the A904 and A998/999 Torqueflite 3 speed automatics. These were coupled with either the Chrysler 7 1/4 inch rear axle (for Slant Six coupe and sedan, non-towing applications) or the Chrysler 8 1/4 axle for the wagon, heavy duty, and V8 versions. Axles were available in 2.45, 2.76, 2.94, and 3.23 to 1 ratios, depending upon transmission and engine. Sure-Grip limited slip axles were optional. Torqueflites got a lockup torque converter in 1978 for non-heavy duty engines.

Some performance figures (remember this was 1976-1980, not 2007!)

Car (with automatic)	0-60	1/4 mile	Top Speed*
1978 Volare Kit Car 360-4	7.3 sec	15.9 @ 88	111
1978 Aspen Super Coupe 360-4	8.1 sec	16.7 @ 85	108
1977 Aspen 360-2 HD	8.6 sec	17.4 @ 86.1	115
1977 Camaro Z28 350-4	8.6 sec	16.3 @ 83.0	105
1977 Corvette L82 350-4	8.8 sec	16.6 @ 82.0	n/a
1977 Trans Am 400-4	9.3 sec	16.9 @ 82.0	110
1977 Volare 318-2 HD	10.7 sec	18.2 @ 74.4	106

The 1978 Street Kit Cars and Super Coupes were somewhat faster and quicker, although the 360 4 barrel had 10 ft-lbs less torque than the 2 barrel in 1978 (HP was 20 more for the 4 barrel, though). Note that the 1978 kit car speed, with 1978 tires (not as grippy as current rubber), managed to do 0-60 in the same time as the Saturn Sky.

Other Volare - Aspen Specifications

	1977 2-Door	1977 4-Door	1978 2-Door	1978 4-Door	1978 Wagon
Wheelbase	108.7	112.7	108.7	112.7	112.7
Track			60 Front / 58.5 Rear
Length	197.5	201.5	198.8	201.2	201.2
Width	72.8	72.8	73.3
Height	53.1	54.8	53.3	55.3	55.7
Trunk			14.8 cubic feet
Gas, 6/V8			18 / 19.5	18 / 19.5	18 / 18

Weight: published figures indicate that an empty F body weighed between 3200 and 3500 pounds, with the V8s being about 110 pounds heavier than the Sixes. Obviously, the wagons weighed the most, and the coupes were the lightest. Generally, the 4 door was about 75 pounds heavier than the coupe, while the wagon was 200 pounds heavier than the 4 door.

Chronology

1976	Aspen had front turn signals in bumper, Volare between headlights and grille. The Volare Custom and Premier had a trim panel between the tail-lights, which were otherwise the same as the Volare's; the Aspen Custom and SE had a trim panel and different tail-lights than the Aspen.
1977	Same as 1976 - can only tell the year by the 6th character if the VIN code.
1978	Tail-lights became larger and got separate amber turn signals. Aspen and Volare grilles were different, with bigger patterns. Aspen turn signals were moved to between headlights and grille, like the Volare's. Lockup torque converters made standard on all but heavy duty TorqueFlites and big block engines.
1979	Same grilles as 1978, but the backup light moved to where the amber turn signal was, and the old backup light location became a reflector. New upholstery patterns, and a 85 mph speedometer replaces the 100 mph model due to Federal regulations. Interior and exterior trim packages unbundled and offered separately. Some slant sixes sold with hydraulic lifters (a few hundred) according to TSBs. Lockup torque converter universal.
1980	A brand new grille, squarish (with rectangular headlights) not dissimilar from the contemporary Nova. New bumpers and guards, new hood. Same taillights. A multi-function stalk was used, with wipers and the headlight control on the turn signal lever.

Production

Throughout its lifetime, the F body served Chrysler and its owners well, as a bread and butter family car. The F body was Chrysler's compact car as the 1970s ended. By the end of production of the very similar M body in 1989, the same size 4 door car was suddenly somewhere between a midsize and a full size. This transition began around the time of the F body's debut, and was very obvious by the end of the run in the summer of 1980. The cars nonetheless competed well with their American counterpart during a difficult period in American car history, both for reasons of quality control and gasoline economy. Chrysler sold many F bodies throughout the 5 year run.

	Coupes	Sedans	Wagons	Total
1976 Aspen	61,917	63,936	64,047	189,900
1976 Volare	85,289	85,031	84,688	255,008
			Total 1976 US Sales	444,908
1977 Aspen	66,675	87,815	111,522	266,012
1977 Volare	80,346	107,868	139,525	327,739
			Total 1977 US Sales	593,751
1978 Aspen	48,311	64,320	53,788	166,419
1978 Volare	61,702	85,365	70,728	217,795
			Total 1978 US Sales	384,214
1979 Aspen	34,882	53,386	33,086	121,354
1979 Volare	54,144	80,590	44,085	178,819
			Total 1979 US Sales	300,173
1980 Aspen	19,138	35,792	12,388	67,318
1980 Volare	14,453	25,768	16,895	57,116
			Total 1980 US Sales	124,434
			Grand Total US Sales	1,847,480

A few notes: one, Chrysler production figures are often spotty, so these figures may differ somewhat from others. Two, these figures represent F body production shipped to US dealers for sale to customers. It does not represent the total F body production, which also includes Canadian sales and export sales (export is foreign market and military personnel abroad). For instance, there were a total of 74,818 '78 Volare 2 doors built, or 13,116 more than those sold in the US.

One reason for the sales surge between 1976 and 1977 was that in 1976, the A body was sold alongside the F body. Those who wanted to buy the older design did so, to the tune of some 53,464 Darts/Dart Sports/Swingers and 68,044 Valiants/Scamps/Dusters, for a total of 121,508 A body US sales in 1976.

Sales appear huge for 1977, especially in comparison to 1978's sales. However, one must also remember that beginning in 1978, the F body was joined in the Chrysler line-up by the subcompact, front wheel drive L body Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon. This model undoubtedly stole sales from the F body and is one reason why sales dropped by 200,000 units between 1977 and 1978. In fact, Chrysler sold 70,971 '78 Omnis and 95,817 '78 Horizons in the US, or a total of 166,788 cars. Combining '78 L and F body sales brings Chrysler's total sales volume closer to the 1977 level.

Competition got tougher through the F body's model run as well. The introduction of Ford's successful Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr in 1978 increased the competition, as did two models from GM. GM's midsize cars were shrunk for '77, putting them on a 108 inch wheelbase. The more expensive ones competed with the Diplomat and LeBaron, but the Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac LeMans fought squarely against the F body. A second squeeze came when GM introduced its front-drive X cars in April, 1979. The Chevrolet Nova was also a competitor, but it changed little from 1975 through the end of its run in 1979, and probably had a smaller effect because it was not a new entry to the market.

Of course, these were the American companies' responses to each other and the times of the day. Foreign companies were getting stronger during the F body's run, chipping away at Chrysler, GM, and Ford alike. At the time, though, the F body (and their GM and Ford competition) were considerably larger than anything from Honda, Datsun (now Nissan), or Toyota.

Links

(Most of the information originally on this page is included in Ed Hennessy's article. However, there were some letters from viewers and information on making an Aspen bracket racer which are saved here).

The main Volare and Aspen page
The next local Aspen/Volare page
Aspen and Volare stories and photos
Performance modifications on a slant-six 1979 Volare Duster - includes rear end swapping
The A-Bodies (Valiant and Friends)
Other Aspen and Volare links
The Aspen/Volare message board.
M bodies (Diplomat, Gran Fury, etc.)