Dodge Aspens don’t have a great reputation…you readers make fun of them, Chad makes fun of me for liking them, and SURPRISE!…I don’t much care for them either. Yeah, they are basically the same car as every other weirdo Mopar I’ve ever owned, but I don’t care much for the F-body cars, even in Super Coupe/Kit Car trim. They just don’t do it for me, and I can’t explain why really. Maybe it’s because every last one I ever dealt with growing up was not running, was covered in that moss/algae mix that western Washington is famous for, and smelled like old wet gym socks inside. That’ll turn you off to pretty much any car under the sun.
But look at this 1977 Aspen SE for a moment. It’s clean. Way too clean. Outside of peeling door decals, the aftermarket speakers that some bozo cut the door panels for, and a couple of the most insignificant dots of rust in the paint of the trunklid, this Aspen is clean. Boring in it’s banana-cream-pie color combination, but clean nonetheless. With a claimed legit 34,750 miles on the odometer, with an underhood appearance that’s almost new-car in condition, this car is either a time capsule or a testament to someone’s insane desire to clean up one of the most derided Chrysler products ever released to the public. 
So long as the Lean Burn computer system has hit the dumpster and has been replaced with a standard electronic ignition, the $4,800 318-powered car will move around just fine. But since today is 4/08, you have to wonder how far you could go with the sleeper look, don’t you? A small-block Chrysler for a small-block Chrysler? You could even work up the 318 if your heart is set on numbers-matching, but leave the outside alone…it’s perfectly yawn-tastic in it’s non-offensive nature.
Craigslist Link: 1977 Dodge Aspen SE
I was working as a mechanic back when those were new-ish and looking under that hood makes me shudder now. Styling-wise, all I see is somebody like Lee Iacocca standing there saying “There’s no reason to not put a half vinyl roof on this doll, give it more trim shit!”, but I always liked the little swirly-thing on the rear which was something to gaze at while stuck behind one in traffic. And anything looks good w/ Magnum 500’s. Nice to see one got saved (maybe one’s enough), really that should be in a museum somewhere.
Please someone Hell Cat swap this and keep everything else completely stock.
I don’t get why people hate them so much. Sure was popular new and you could get any popular options on them and still simple to own,sure they rusted like crazy but that one isn’t and the wagons have a ton of room.
I’ve always liked them. The three I had provided me with trouble free transportation for years. They ride as good as any Abody and handle better. They got a bad rap right off the bat because of rust and fitment issues but my 76 Aspen R/T didn’t have a spec of rust on it until the late 90s so……I dunno.
I just can’t figure out why people are so down on them but think other cars from the same era that actually ARE pieces of junk are just great. Oh well, to each their own I guess.