One of my better tricks to hunting cars is to find an area close to a military base. There are two reasons for that: there are young military members with decent pay, and there are usually deals that come flying out of nowhere when said military member gets paperwork saying that they need to pack up and move, be it to another base or to the other side of the world for a little bit. Vehicles in general are plentiful and relatively affordable, if you know where to look, and there is always a gearhead on base who has the hot ticket. I don’t consider this predatory…I consider it a lesson learned after years of being the military gearhead myself.
Hunting around Fort Reilly, Kansas drummed up this 1976 Plymouth Volaré…or, at least, that’s what the seller is claiming it is. We see a lot of Dodge Aspen ourselves, but whatever. You aren’t buying this Mopar F-car based on numbers-matching anything, are you? Nope…this little wonder scratches the fun beater itch just right. On the outside, Arrest Me Red and black trim paired off with slot mags looks great. Inside…well, it’s not too pretty, but three pedals and a four-gear isn’t an everyday find. And under the hood, if the seller isn’t a full-tilt BS artist, is a punched 318. Will it be super quick? Doubtful. But can it be good fun for the price? Oh, absolutely. Unless the subframes are rotting out of the car, this Volaré will be dirt-cheap fun, and if you feel like throwing money at it, you’ll wind up with a pretty decent malaise Mopar on your hands. Or save your money for tires and clutches, and maybe some nitrous for that 318…lord knows, it could use a dose or two of the blue pill.
Craigslist Link: 1976 Plymouth Volaré
Yes it does but you have to deduct 2/3 of the cool points for that hideous landau roof.
You do know that the so called 4 speed is really a 3 speed with a manual linkage overdrive don’t you? I had a ’76 Volare wagon with the same transmission and 318 2 barrel. Bought it new in early ’77 since it was not well liked by people looking for a wagon. 11 years later after 200,000 miles and 2 boys learning to drive in it I traded it in with the stock clutch still in it.
Yes, weren’t they big overdrive, something like 0.7: 1? But then after all this time who knows what trans is in it. The important thing is it has three pedals.
Get rid of the roof diaper and the hideous bumpers then slot in a late Hemi and matching transmission. Melt down the slot mags for ashtrays or whatever and you might just might have a hot ticket!
Is the car a Volare or an Aspen since it has an Aspen grille on it.
Gag Me
Cool, with a “demoted gentleman’s hot rod” vibe to it. Further proof that slots can upgrade almost anything – golf car, two wheeler, LeBaron…