The Rise and Fall of the Dodge Aspen Wagon
Back in the 1960s, Chrysler made the decision to discontinue the wagon versions of their popular Plymouth Valiant and Dodge Dart compacts, leaving American dealers with limited options for small station wagons. The Mitsubishi-built Colt and Hillman-built Cricket were the only new choices available at the time. However, American Motors was finding success with their Hornet Sportabouts, prompting Chrysler to take action. Thus, the Dodge Aspen and its Plymouth Volaré sibling were born in 1976, offering a solution to the demand for compact wagons in the market.
During this period, American manufacturers often named their products after luxurious or picturesque regions, evoking an aspirational lifestyle. While Aspen, Colorado may not be warm, the association with its popularity as a ski destination made it an attractive name for the affordable Dodge Aspen. Later on, other ski-centric regions like Tahoe and Telluride were also used for vehicle names.
The Dodge Aspen was built from 1976 to 1980 and shared its name with a town that went on to become increasingly wealthy. This prompted Fiat Chrysler to bring back the Aspen name during the late 2000s, attaching it to a high-end version of the Durango with Chrysler badges.
The introduction of the Aspen and Volaré marked the replacement of the outdated Dart and Valiant models. The aim was to create slightly larger and more modern-looking vehicles while maintaining affordability and simplicity.
The chassis design for the Aspen was completely new, although it still retained the traditional torsion-bar front and leaf-spring rear suspension. The powertrains offered were quite similar to those found in the Dart/Valiant models.
This particular Aspen wagon found in a Colorado boneyard features an optional LA-series small-block V8 engine instead of the base Slant-6. While it’s challenging to determine if it’s a 318 or 360, the 360 would have the two-barrel version with 155 horsepower compared to the four-barrel’s 175 horses. It is also fitted with the optional three-speed automatic transmission.
In 1977, Dodge dealers provided customers with a wide range of wagon options including the subcompact Colt, compact Aspen, midsize Monaco, and full-size Royal Monaco. This year tied with 1964 for the peak wagon era in America, offering a staggering 47 different wagon models. However, the decline in wagon popularity began in 1984 with the introduction of front-wheel-drive minivans and the Jeep XJ Cherokee, signaling the gradual end of the American longroof.
Considering the pricing, the 1977 Aspen wagon in question appears to be a top-of-the-line Special Edition, retailing at $4,758 (equivalent to approximately $25,403 in 2024). The cheapest Aspen wagon with a six-cylinder engine and manual transmission started at $3,953 ($21,105 adjusted for inflation). Surprisingly, the Colt wagon was not significantly cheaper, starting at $3,900 ($20,822 adjusted for inflation). This Aspen wagon featured additional options such as an automatic transmission priced at $270 ($1,442 now) and air conditioning for $466 ($2,488 today).
One interesting feature of the Aspen/Volaré wagons was that their rear windows did not open. Nevertheless, Chrysler still felt the need to include warning stickers to prevent users from driving with the hatch-style tailgate open to avoid carbon monoxide inhalation.
Inside the wagon were some notebook pages dating back to the 1980s, detailing maintenance and repair items from that era. The Aspen/Volaré platform continued to be used in a slightly modified form until the 1989 model year when it underpinned models like the Dodge Diplomat and Chrysler Fifth Avenue. The final new Dodge wagon sold in the United States was the 2008 Magnum.
In conclusion, the Dodge Aspen wagon played a significant role in the American automotive landscape during the late 1970s. Its introduction filled the gap left by discontinued wagon models and aimed to offer consumers modernity and affordability. While it may not have gained the same level of popularity as some of its contemporaries, the Aspen wagon remains an intriguing piece of automotive history.