Mirada

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

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

Related Models

• 1980-1983 Chrysler Cordoba
• 1981-1983 Imperial

Competition

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

Body Styles

• 2-Dr Coupe Only

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)

--Old Hippie 13:52, 17 May 2008 (EDT)

Transmissions

• TorqueFlite 904
• TorqueFlite 998
• TorqueFlite 999

Specifications:

• Wheelbase 112.7"
• Overall Length 209"
• Overall Width 72.7"
• Overall height 53.3"
• Front Track 60"
• Rear Track 59.5"
• Ground Clearance 10.2"
• Shipping Weight 3,453
• Front Suspension Independent, unequal-length A-Arms, transverse torsion bars, anti-roll bar, telescopic shock absorbers
• Rear Suspension Rigid axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs, telescopic shock absorbers
• Differential 8.25" with a 2.47:1 Ratio. Optional Ratio 2.94:1
• Steering Recirculating Ball with Power Steering
• Front Bakes 11.58" Vented Disc
• Rear Brakes 10" Drums

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

• 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

Magazine References:

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

External Links

• J-Body Forum