The life of Chrysler’s F-Body was short-lived. With emissions and fuel consumption pressures changing the nature of the auto industry in the mid-to-late 1970s, Chrysler downsized from the long-running A-Body to the new F. There were only two real members of the F-Body family, the Plymouth Volare and the Dodge Aspen, neither of which are remembered fondly by most people. Still, many exist and as was the custom of the Malaise Era, appearance packages and trim names were far easier to create and sell than performance upgrades. This 1978 Dodge Aspen Super Coupe for sale in Maine, however, was more or less the performance model (as much as such a thing existed in 1978, anyway).
The rear window louvres, spoilers (front and rear), and fender flares were all part of the “Super Pak” options box. However, the rare “Super Coupe” trim came only in Sable Black Metallic—an extraordinarily Malaise Era color name—with three-color tape stripes, a matte-black hood, and 15-inch wheels.
The performance upgrades included beefier suspension with a bigger rear sway bar and a Chrysler 360 V8 that was, at least in 1978, unfortunately choked by the Lean Burn ignition control module. This Aspen Super Coupe looks to have the Lean Burn module still in place, a remarkable feat since most owners dispensed with the troublesome system, which was basically a solid-state computer to control spark, after only a few years. With the Lean Burn, horsepower figures I’ve seen have varied, but it’s unlikely that it was making anywhere close to 180 horsepower from those 360 cubic inches.
The car is unrestored and the seller admits that one of the frame rails has rust, though the car is clean inside with tan leather that isn’t quite as gaudy as the outside. Overall, it seems a serviceable relic of a bygone era and as cars from this time disappear, it’s evermore interesting to see them on the road.
Find this Dodge Aspen Super Coupe on CraigsList here.
Rust through on frame rails and no title. Pass. I don’t think these are bad looking cars.
I remember these cars well. A friend of my sons, wrecked his Road Runner version, back in the day.They found a stripper Aspen and transplanted the 360 and the bucket seat interior. Yes they pitched that lean burn crap and put real parts on it, headers, Holley aluminum intake, etc. With the old lady blue paint, it was quite a sleeper!
Remember these cars well back in the 70’s, including the advertisement of Richard Petty standing next to a Petty Blue Super Coupe. Title issues are one thing keeps me away as well.
hmm rotten framerails = tub job and blown injected 426