The Dodge Mirada

The Dodge Mirada was a rear wheel drive car very similar to the Dodge Magnum, 1981-83 Imperial, and second-generation Chrysler Cordoba. It grew out of the F-body Volare/Aspen, which grew from the Valiant, Duster, and Dart. It was essentially the same as the M body Diplomat/LeBaron, introduced in mid-1977 (and joined by the Plymouth Gran Fury after the R-bodies left), using the same 112.7 inch wheelbase as the four-door Volare/Aspen, even on the two-door models.

In 1980, the two-door Mirada was introduced, using the common 112.7 inch wheelbase (as did the Cordoba, now moved to the same J-body platform) and the two-door Diplomat and Gran Fury went to the 108.7 inch wheelbase used by the two-door Volare/Aspen. Again, the F, M, and J bodies were all nearly identical under the “top hat” and could have easily all been called A-bodies.

The Mirada was doomed from the start. Rear wheel drive was out of fashion, and buyers who did want an old-fashioned, automatic-transmission, low-mileage, rear-wheel-drive vehicle were often unwilling to buy from Chrysler thanks to the horrific 1976 Volare-Aspen quality debacle. Few Miradas left the showrooms over its life, and it was easily beaten in sales by the once popular Cordoba.

The following is by David Lawrence.

NASCAR Miradas

1982 Dodge Mirada with optional T-top.

While Miradas ran at NASCAR, they did not have much success. The main Mirada driver was Buddy Arrington (number 67), who wound up carrying the flag for Chrysler in NASCAR after Petty Enterprises went to GM. Arrington mainly used the Mirada as a short-track car, while using a 1981-83 Imperial on superspeedways (the Darth Vader nose of the Imperial had better aerodynamics). At one point Arrington ran the Mirada with a 1980s Cordoba nose piece! J. D. Stacy, Phil Good and Maurice Randall drove Miradas in NASCAR as well.

As for why the name change from Magnum to Mirada, in street tune the Magnum name suggested a level of performance that the car was not able to back up at the lights. It is also possible that Chrysler wanted to use the Mirada name on something, since it had already chosen the name — the original planned names for what became the Horizon TC3 and Omni 024 were Plymouth Mirada and Dodge Solo, according to a contemporary account.

What's a Mirada? (Stuart D. Somers)

I was at the Dodge dealer, handing over the keys to the service writer, when he asked, "What's a Mirada?"

I suppose I shouldn't be too suprised. Ford sold 110,000 Edsels and AMC sold 300,000 Gremlins. Dodge sold 52,947* Miradas.

A Mirada is a mid-sized two door hardtop. It is a J body. The body is shared with two other Chrysler Corp. models -- Chrysler Cordoba and the striking but troublesome Imperial. They were produced from 1980 to 1983.

The engines used for these cars were the 85 hp Slant Six, 130 hp 318 V-8, and 150 hp 360 V-8. The Imperial used a fuel injected 318 V-8 that had problems with the injection, and Chrysler replaced a lot of these with 360s with a carburetor.

My Mirada is a 1983 model. I chose the Slant Six as an alternative to the Diesel fad that was in full swing then. While its acceleration is underwhelming, it makes up for it by being extremely smooth and durable.You cannot feel it idle. I must have tried to start the car dozens of times when it was already running. Ouch!

I have driven this car the distance from the earth to the moon {238,000 miles} with no major repairs. I still marvel at the way the torsion-bar suspension gives the car an excellent ride without being bouncy.

My only regret is: I should have bought two!

* Actual sales figures are, according to the Standard Catalog of Chrylser as acquired by Chris Rocen:

1980 Mirada - 27,165, 1980 Mirada "S" - 1,468, (5,384 Miradas in 1980 had the CMX package).
1981 - 11,899 (1,683 with CMX option).
1982 - 6,818 (1,474 with the CMX Package).
1983 - 5,597 (1,841 had the CMX package).
Total Mirada production from 1980-1983 was 52,947 cars — fewer than the 1979 Cordoba run.

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