Chrysler’s B-body intermediates started life as the be-all, d0-all platform for the company. About the only thing that wasn’t put on the 1962-1979 chassis was a truck-based vehicle. Wagons, sedans, coupes, and hardtops of all types would be produced with more-or-less the same underpinnings, from basic Satellite sedans to the almost unrealistic Wing Cars, to one of the most respected and feared police cruisers to ever be put out onto patrol. Most of the light shines on anything made before 1974 to most people, but as you know I’m a fan of the oddball Malaise years, especially the coupes. There were three flavors of coupe sold in those years: the “Cordoba” body that my 1976 Charger shares, the “Coronet” body that underpins the Charger Sport, Fury Sport, 1975-0nly Road Runner, and Monaco, and this beauty, the Magnum.
The Magnum really exists for one reason: Chrysler knew that the biggest star power in their corner was Richard Petty, and Richard Petty had a problem. The 1975 Charger’s flat, blocky nose did it no favors in NASCAR, and Petty’s extension to use his 1974-bodied Charger was just about up. The Magnum was a stop-gap, with it’s smoothed over headlights and slightly raked nose. The huge Cord-inspired grille should’ve helped with cooling, too. On the street, the Magnum fixed the biggest wrong with the Charger (you know, not making it look exactly like the Cordoba) but on the tracks, The King wasn’t so impressed.
But this 1978 T-top Magnum isn’t for the circle tracks. This is something else…something wicked for the street, something with attitude, something that seems perfect for some Rocky Mountain Race Week action. Who gives a damn if it isn’t top of the class? Run the number at the track, then put the street tires on, pop the tops off and go hit the open road. The only thing stopping you is the lack of a GearVendors unit for the built TorqueFlite. Seems like a worthy upgrade, right?
From the ad:
$37,500 or best cash offer. I have over $60,000 in receipts, and documents for every part on the vehicle. Included is a bunch of spare 78-79 Magnum parts.
All of the chassis fabrication was completed by Roger and Larry Knapp of K&K Chassis in Colorado Springs, CO. Everything is professionally tig welded. All of the suspension, front and rear is powder coated.
Engine: Built by Ridge Reamer Inc. In Arvada, CO 512 CI Stroker 440, 10.83:1 comp, – 654 HP / 728 Ft. Lbs. Torque (I have Dyno sheets). Eagle 8-bolt crank, Eagle H-beam rods, Mahle coated pistons, ARP main studs, Milodon single line oil system, Milodon 7 qt. low-profile oil pan, Crane hydraulic roller cam/roller lifters, Hughes 1.6 offset Rockers, Smith Brothers pushrods, Edelbrock Victor aluminum cylinder heads, Edelbrock Victor aluminum powder coated intake manifold, Quick Fuel 950 black diamond carburetor on 1” spacer, TTI 2 1/8” ceramic coated polished headers, Full 3 ½” exhaust with X-pipe, Dynomax bullet mufflers, through the body exit, MSD 6AL2 Ignition W / Pro Billet distributor, Mopar Performance valve covers, Tuff Stuff 130 Amp alternator, Fluidamper balancer, Mancini Racing aluminum water pump housing w/ high-flow pump, March Performance 6-rib serpentine pulley/belt system, Powermaster XS high torque mini starter, All ARP and stainless steel fasteners
Transmission: Competition Built 727 Torque flite, Coan10” torque converter w/billet stator and cover, custom built specifically for this car, Derale remote cooler with electric fan, B&M 8-bolt flex plate, Fairbanks manual reverse valve body, TCI finned aluminum deep trans pan.
Chassis/Suspension: Competition Engineering 4-link rear sub-frame, frames are tied front to rear with 2”x3” box steel welded through the floor top and bottom. Competition Engineering 3-way adjustable coil over shocks, A.R.T. chromoly pro wheelie bars, Strange Engineering S-60 rear end, 35-spline pro axles, Detroit locker w/ 3:73 pro gears, trunk mount battery, New 31” Northern radiator with twin electric fans, BD racing 20 gal. fuel cell, Quick Fuel electric fuel pump with twin filters, Wilwood Dyna-lite Pro 4-wheel disc brakes, Wilwood master cylinder, custom hydro boost power brake conversion. Jegs line lock, Deist safety dual parachutes on custom dual mount with single cable. Firm Feel Inc. front suspension, tubular upper control arms, reinforced lower control arms, custom sway bar, .106 torsion bars, adjustable strut rod conversion, Bilstein front shocks, all urethane bushings and solid aluminum k-frame mounts. Borgeson power steering conversion w/CVF Racing power steering pump.
Interior: Custom 8-point roll cage, RCI 5-point camlock harnesses, gen 3 Dodge Viper leather bucket seats Autometer phantom series gauges, Cheetah SCS console mounted manual reverse shifter, Chrysler minivan in-dash 6-disc cd w/ Kenwood speakers, custom suede / carbon fiber / aluminum door panels, custom overhead center console, LJRC steering wheel with 2-step and line lock activation switches. tilt steering column, twin Nitrous Outlet nitrous bottles with gages and blow down tubes, custom fabricated and polished aluminum wheel tubs and interior panels.
Body: Factory T-Tops, gloss black, painted in 2007-2008, has some chips and scratches. custom six pack hood, new windshield, custom powder coated aluminum rear spoiler. Wheels/Tires: Billet Specialties Street Light black, 15” x 6” front, 15” x 14” double bead-lock rear.
Tires, front – Mickey Thompson s/r radials 26” x 8” x 15”. Tires, rear – Hoosier pro-street radials 31” x 18.5” x 15”.
If anybody needs me, I’ll be over here, seeing what the going rate is for donating body parts to science.
Day-um!
Looks like a great place to burn up during some of these drag and drive events. Most happen in hot summer weather, a black car with black interior, no A/C and a steel, black steering wheel seems like a miserable ride.
No amount spent on paint, wheels, rear back half and drivetrain can possibly wipe the fuggly off this thing.
Shoot! That’s the kinda ride ya bring out after the sun goes down. Sharp mopar or no car.