Dodge Aspen

Dodge Aspen
Dodge Aspen Coupe
Overview
Manufacturer	Chrysler Corporation
Also called	Plymouth Volaré, Dodge Dart, Chrysler Valiant Volaré
Production	1975–1980
Model years	1976–1980
Assembly	Hamtramck, Michigan, U.S. Bogotá, Colombia Mexico City, Mexico
Body and chassis
Class	Compact
Body style	4-door wagon 4-door sedan 2-door coupe
Layout	FR layout
Platform	F-body
Powertrain
Engine	225 cu in (3.7 L) Slant-6 318 cu in (5.2 L) LA V8 360 cu in (5.9 L) LA V8
Transmission	A230 3-speed manual A833 4-speed manual A904 3-speed TorqueFlite automatic A998/A999 3-speed TorqueFlite automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	108.7 in (2,761 mm) (coupe) 112.7 in (2,863 mm) (sedan & wagon)
Length	198.8 in (5,050 mm) (coupe) 201.2 in (5,110 mm) (sedan & wagon)
Width	73.3 in (1,862 mm)
Height	53.3 in (1,354 mm) (coupe) 55.3 in (1,405 mm) (sedan) 55.7 in (1,415 mm) (wagon)
Curb weight	3,200 lb (1,500 kg) (base coupe)
Chronology
Predecessor	Dodge Dart (Aspen) Plymouth Valiant (Volaré)
Successor	Dodge Aries (Aspen)/Plymouth Reliant (Volaré) Dodge 400 (1982)/Chrysler LeBaron (1982)

The Dodge Aspen, which was produced during the 1976 to the 1980 model years, was a compact car, along with its then-concurrent Plymouth branded counterpart, the Volaré (in Spanish, it means "I will fly away" or "I will blow away"; volare is also Italian for "to fly"), which was launched as a unique-for-the-segment four-door wagon (which its Dodge Dart/Plymouth Valiant predecessors had cut from both their line ups, from ten years earlier, during the end of the 1966 model year), a four-door sedan and a two-door coupe. By the end of their production run, the Aspen and Volaré would be considered intermediate cars.

The Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volaré were introduced during the fall of 1975 as 1976 models, and were collectively named Motor Trend's "Car of the Year" for 1976. They were the successors to the A-body — Dodge Dart and Plymouth Valiant/Plymouth Duster, which concurrently were sold along with Aspen and Volaré during the early part of the 1976 model year until they both were discontinued.

The Aspen and Volaré both were replaced by the smaller front-wheel-drive K-cars — 1981 Dodge Aries/Plymouth Reliant, 1982 Dodge 400/Chrysler LeBaron and the M-body — 1982 Dodge Diplomat/Plymouth Gran Fury four-door sedans, which were very similar in structure, size, and engineering to the F-body Aspen and Volaré.