"Jim Spanfeller" (awesomeaustinv)
04/06/2020 at 20:30 • Filed to: Mexican muscle
3
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"Jim Spanfeller" (awesomeaustinv)
04/06/2020 at 20:30 • Filed to: Mexican muscle | 3
| 14 |
You’ve probably heard of the Dodge Magnum from the 2000s, the Hemi-powered wagon that could haul more than just your family and their stuff.
You may have even heard of the Dodge Magnum from the 70's, a car known for playing Stayin’ Alive on repeat while causing its owner to spontaneously grow a mullet, and whose only driving mode was “cop show”.
But there was another Dodge Magnum... A Magnum that Americans never got, but would’ve loved. It was almost like a vehicle from an alternate universe, one which lacked the horsepower-sucking, performance-strangling smog equipment that plagued American cars of the time. It was... The MEXICAN-MARKET DODGE MAGNUM!
Made possible by Mexico’s less-restrictive emissions regulations, t hese glorious beasts may have looked like average American malaise lumps on the outside, but on the inside they were anything but. They came with cop suspension and a powerful, 300- horsepower version of the 360 V 8, which was coupled to either an A727 automatic transmission or a four-speed manual, depending on the customer’s taste. They also featured blacked-out trim, fancy rims, and several optional stripes.
Lasting only from 1981 to 1982, this generation of Mexican Dodge Magnum was repla ced in 1983 by a FWD, 150 hp K-car-based thing:
Which wasn’t quite as cool as the previous version, but still provided lightweight performance and decent fuel economy until 1989, when it was finally discontinued.
But during its brief production span, it gave the world a glimpse of what American muscle cars might’ve been like if emissions regulations hadn’t gotten in the way.
jimz
> Jim Spanfeller
04/06/2020 at 20:35 |
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my dad’s cousin had a ‘79 Magnum in that exact color scheme. Dodge had a brief fling with those clear headlamp doors; the St. Regis had them as well.
Talk about a frumpy name for a car. “ St. Regis.”
Grindintosecond
> Jim Spanfeller
04/06/2020 at 20:38 |
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I’m a fan of the south market cars. Brasil and Argentine 70's cars. Things like the Opala, with their straight-6. They had an aftermarket we never saw for those engines. Some remarkable drag Opalas with wicked 6's.
Just Jeepin'
> Jim Spanfeller
04/06/2020 at 20:42 |
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I believe “machinismo” m ay be the best thing I’ve ever seen in a car ad, non-Jeep edition.
fintail
> Jim Spanfeller
04/06/2020 at 20:45 |
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I like the Mexican market Ford Topaz, litera lly a Mercury Topaz with a Tempo front end:
Also IIRC the period Mexican Monte Carlo SS has Monte Carlo LS wheels and a Pontiac Grand Prix dash.
My citroen won't start
> Jim Spanfeller
04/06/2020 at 20:56 |
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Down in Bananland we also got our own Magnum.
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Jim Spanfeller
> My citroen won't start
04/06/2020 at 21:20 |
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Ooh, tell me more.
interstate366, now In The Industry
> jimz
04/06/2020 at 21:28 |
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Over 11 sold!
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My citroen won't start
> Jim Spanfeller
04/06/2020 at 21:48 |
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It was a 70's Dodge Dart (A-Body) with a fiberglass front end and a 318 V8 basically.
We also got our own Charger R/T base on the same body.
Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
> Jim Spanfeller
04/06/2020 at 22:05 |
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Guar anteed not to corrode for 36 months I see, which seems to be the lifespan they were built for.
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Jim Spanfeller
> My citroen won't start
04/06/2020 at 23:27 |
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Interesting... I knew about the Brazil ian Charger, but that Magnum is new to me. That’s really cool!
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Jim Spanfeller
> Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
04/06/2020 at 23:29 |
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Well, you know the way it goes, the second the warranty expires, the floor drops out, the engine explodes, and half the bodywork turns to dust ;)
oldmxer
> Jim Spanfeller
04/07/2020 at 18:14 |
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the funny thing about the 79 is you could grab the center grille section and squeeze the louvers together
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Jim Spanfeller
> oldmxer
04/07/2020 at 18:56 |
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Rubber/endura?
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oldmxer
> Jim Spanfeller
04/09/2020 at 04:20 |
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not sure the exact plastic but pretty sure it was too soft to be used as a fender on my dirt bike, if you could have put a gopro on it, it would have had more wiggle than the girls at Hooters going down the highway