Mirada

From MoparWiki
Revision as of 04:36, 4 March 2010 by Old Hippie (talk | contribs)
Jump to: navigation, search
Mirada4.jpg
MiradaInterior.jpg

In 1980, Dodge and Chrysler downsized their Personal Luxury Magnum and Cordoba from the B-body platform to the new J-Body platform.


This Wiki is mostly complete, but can always become better with fine tuning!


Please take a moment to add any information you might have on this topic. It is through member collaboration that the MoparWiki will grow into being the Ultimate Mopar Infobase. Please fill in any missing information you know to be factual. Correct any you know to be inaccurate.



History:

In 1978, Dodge released the Dodge Magnum, which was originally to replace the 1977 Charger, as its Personal Luxury car. However, a second Oil Embargo and the competition from Ford and GM downsizing their Personal Luxury cars kept the MagnumXE from ever cracking the 75000 mark for both years (1978 and 1979) of its production. The Chrysler Corporation was in serious financial trouble (at the verge of bankruptcy -- later bailed out with a Government backed loan) and had put Lee Iacocca at the helm to save it from ruin. Iacocca save Chrysler with the the K-Car -- but that's another story. Work had already started on killing the B-Body and moving to the J-Body before Lee Iacocca had arrived, but he was responsible for the styling direction -- like the very angular/starched lines and vinyl Landau top of the new car.

While the Cordoba name was for Chrysler, the Magnum name would not be carried over for the 1980 Dodge. The name was replaced with the Mirada name -- which is Spanish for "look" or "view".

The Mirada was never built in any great numbers, and it (as were Imperial and Cordoba) was finally discontinued in 1983 when the larger J-Body was dropped and Chrysler's focus was the K-Car. In 1984, Mirada's replacement would be the 2-door version of the Dodge 600 series.


Model Predecessor

1978 & 1978 Dodge MagnumXE


Model Successor

Dodge 600


Export Versions

Related Models


Competition

  • Ford Thunderbird
  • Mercury Cougar XR-7
  • Chevy Monte Carlo
  • Pontiac Grand Prix
  • Oldsmobile Cutlass
  • Buick Regal


Body Styles

Technical:

Class

  • Personal Luxury

Platform

J-Body

The J-Body was very closely related to the [[F-Body] and M-Body used on the Volare, Aspen, Diplomat, LeBaron, 5th Avenue, and Grand Fury of the era. The J-Body was shared with the 1980-1983 Cordoba and closely related to the Y-Body 1981-1983 Imperial.

Engines

  • 225ci Slant 6 (90hp @ 3600rpm & 160fp @ 1600rpm)
  • 318ci 2bbl V-8 (120hp @ 3600rpm & 245fp @ 1600rpm)
  • 318ci 4bbl V-8 (155hp @ 4000rpm & 240fp @ 1600rpm)
  • 360ci 4bbl V-8 (185hp @ 4000rpm & 275fp @ 2000rpm) ('80 only)

Transmissions


Specifications:

Year by Year Changes, Production Numbers, and Cost:

1980

  • Base Price $6600 range
  • 28,633 Miradas Produced in 1980
  • 1980 was the only year the 360ci was offered

1981

  • Base price jumped to $7444 -- mostly due to inflation and the US Dollar value dropping.
  • Production dropped to 11,899

1982

Mirada3.jpg
  • Base price again increased, to $8724 for 1982
  • Production dropped to 6818

1983

  • Base price in the final year increased to $9011
  • Final year production for the Mirada was 5597

Wiki Topic References:

  • Hemmings Classic Car, June 2007, Pages 25-30


This Wiki requires References


The information in this wiki will have more creditability with some references to back it up


Magazine References:

  • Hemmings Classic Car, June 2007, Pages 25-30
  • Collectible Automobile December 2000 Pages 84-88

External Links

Mirada5.jpg