Your thoughts on the 1978 + 79 Dodge Magnum

[Magnumcharger]

OK.....I found a 1979 Dodge Magnum in a junkyard.
It's not your garden variety Dodge Magnum.

It's a GT. Which means "sport package" in every sense of the word. And it's basically all there.
It's got every option avaliable but the sunroof, which is only because it's a T-top car.
It's powered by it's original E-58 HP 360, which was the top of the line mill that year.
It's still covered by it's original black paint, and has a red leather interior.
The drivers fender is bent between the fender flare and the door.

I've just bought a set of the original wheels off of another dodgecharger.com member (thanks again Chris!), and other than a fender that's all it needs.
I'm a fan of the 70's B-bodies and already own it's twin under the skin, a 1979 Chrysler 300 (360 T-tops too).

http://mapleleafmopars.homestead.com/carsinbarns139.html

I seem to recall production of these cars was very low, and have heard 583 for E-58 cars, including GTs.
How many were GTs and T-topped? I heard as low as 16.

Anybody have the actual production numbers?
And what are your thoughts on this car?

Pictured is a car like the one I'm talking about, but without the t-tops.

[69charger2002]

1 of 16 for a reason....      

[Dave22443]

I used to own a '79 Magnum.  It was an SE with a 318 but it had 60 series tires and Keystone Classics.  It was dark blue, solid top, with a darl blue cloth interior.

Man... what memories.  I absolutely LOVED that car and to this day I still regret selling it.  It wasn't fast, but it was really comfortable to ride in.

[Dave22443]

I don't think you're being fair '02.  I don't think the car was that bad at all.  Particularly when you compair it to the Plymouth Horizon's and K-Cars my friends were driving.

You might not like the styling now, but back in the day, that car really attracted the ladies   

[69charger2002]

K cars etc are even worse.. the late 70's cars were ugly slugs.. about the only thing they had going for them was comfort. i mean let's be real. they don't hold a candle to a 66-74 dodge charger. which is the car that really matters right?
my totally biased opinion of course   
trav

[Brock Samson]

there was a thread recently about them, i went and found the earlier threads about them and linked em all togeather, search "t-tops" that ought to git it... if not, try "Magnum GT"
i'd drive it,..  but only after i put in a built BB..   

[Nacho-RT74]

I like them... not the 75 and laters Chargers, but yes the Magnums. Specailly T-tops. they are kinda charming

[no318]

I am the second owner of a 78 magnum for the last 17 years.  First car and that got me into all the mopars I am have now.  78 still had a 400 option.  79 E58 360 was the biggest.  GT's are quite rare.  T-tops are not real common.  I have seen several around though, like this one.  I don't think it is 1 of 16 or anything that rare, though.  GT had wheels, flares, spun alum dash and emblems.  Maybe suspension.  It was not a performance package itself.  Like the 300 had E58 as part of the package.  GT did not, I don't think.

[Ghoste]

I like them now but it's kind of through the hazy glasses of nostalgia.  I worked at a Dodge dealer when they came out and I can still recall my disappointment in the big slab sided styling.  It was like a couch potato Cordoba.

[TK73]

My thought:  Post MORE pics!!

[TruckDriver]

I love them, and I love the GT version better I just wish I could find a nice one. Here is a web site for them you might like to look at http://www.magnumgt.com/

[hemihead]

I liked the Magnums. I even liked the Cordobas. Better than what GM and Ford was making at the time and still better than any nightmare that DB is making now. 397 GTs in 78 made. 79 .

[NYCMille]

Dude, I like the Magnums... really cool front ends and just all together an aggressive looking ride. I'd roll one. 

[sunroofsuperbird]

The red and silver one looks like the car i had but it was a 78 and had black interior. If you get that car and want to sell it or trade it let me know.

[supserdave]

I like 'em! I think we have a set of T-Tops from one out at the farm yet.

[Magnumcharger]

Thanks for your responses guys.

I think I'll be picking it up shortly. It's a very low mileage car, and even though it's rough, I know I can fix it.
I guess the fact that it's a '79 is what makes it important to me.
I had a '79 Little Red Express truck with the same engine and it was a screamer! And of course, I regret having let it go.

I graduated high school, and met my future wife in the same year, so '79 was a good one for me.
I bought my '79 300 from the original owner back in 1991, and it had only 18,000 miles on it. I drove it for 8 years and racked up over 180,000 miles by the time I parked it. It was and is a great car, and still retains it's original belts, hoses, exhaust and paint.

I remember reading on Allpar I think it was, that behind the minivans, the Cordoba (and Cordoba-based vehicles) were the best selling series of cars in Chrysler's history.
And there's no doubt why....they were phenomenal cars.

As far as collectibility, and whether or not to put ones good money into a project such as this:
My 1968 Charger R/T was and is one of my favorite cars of all time. Would I want to restore it, even if it was valueless? Of course I would.
The Charger was not, and will never be an "investment" for me. And besides, it's only worth something if you sell it.
I rank the Magnum GT as another one of the coolest cars I've ever seen. And it's of my "era", not my older brother's, or my Father's.
It was on the new car lot when I was a young buck, along with the Volare Roadrunners, Aspen R/Ts, Z-28's, Trans-Ams and the Little Red Express trucks.

So what is the reason we're into old cars in the first place? To go fast?
I'm pretty sure a Factory Five roadster could kick the ass of anything on this website (having been in a few). And most if not all of the new "Supercars" would have our favorite vintage Musclecars for lunch.

Or is it just to been seen in something very few people have? Or to inspire jealousy in other car enthusiasts?
Or to express your individuality?
I think it's about recapturing your past, or at the very least, holding onto a point in your life. Because life goes by very quickly.

[pettyfan43]

I had one a few years ago NEAT car, it was the 360 2 bbl with the T-Tops. Mine still had the flares and I wanted a rear spoiler. If you get it let me know, I have a Cordoba Parts car and they share a LOT of parts, but sadly NO the trunklid is NOT good!

[Ghoste]

Excellent point and it's one I sometimes forget.  I'm no collector either and Iguess that's why I whine about the prices all the time.  I got into because I thought it was fun and it's still fun.  I'm sure the modifications I've done to my car have hurt it's investment portfolio worth and as for trying to impress others or express my individuality, well, it's a fastback so I guess that answers both questions.

[my73charger]

I owned two Cordoba's, one 75 and one 77 both with 360's.  I have fun with those cars.

[Argos_Chargers]

I currently own 5 of them.  You can't compare them to a Charger, but they're great cars to drive!  One of them is an E-58 T-Top '79.  White with a red interior.  It is not running, but it really doesn't need that much work.  I also have a '78 Sunroof car which is a lot of fun.  I parted out a '78 T-Top last fall.  The fender is interchangeable with a '78 or '79 Cordoba.  I think I currently have a couple of extra sets of tops for the car.  Buy the car and have a great time with it!  As much as '02 hates them, I see them as one of the next collectibles...being almost the last of the MoPar rear wheel drive 2-doors.  I haven't found much of a following for th eMiradas yet...


Argo

[TUFCAT]

I like them A LOT - - in GT trim of course.     

[Charger1973]

I currently own 5 of them.  You can't compare them to a Charger, but they're great cars to drive!  One of them is an E-58 T-Top '79.  White with a red interior.  It is not running, but it really doesn't need that much work.  I also have a '78 Sunroof car which is a lot of fun.  I parted out a '78 T-Top last fall.  The fender is interchangeable with a '78 or '79 Cordoba.  I think I currently have a couple of extra sets of tops for the car.  Buy the car and have a great time with it!  As much as '02 hates them, I see them as one of the next collectibles...being almost the last of the MoPar rear wheel drive 2-doors.  I haven't found much of a following for th eMiradas yet...


Argo

I dont think they are bad cars, id drive one... but I think they look alot like a Monte Carlo.  And those will become high dollar cars long before these will.... 

[Magnumcharger]

Mine will look a fair bit like this one....with a bit of work!
And of course, a red interior.

[TruckDriver]

I was thinking, I haven't seen one in person now in about 20 years

[h76]

I like the GT w/T-Tops and GT wheels.Nice car if it ends up looking like the one in the Lietzke ad.