For Al Reno, of Mattydale, buying a new 1979 Dodge Magnum was simple; he knew what he wanted and he was determined to buy the car. That was 37 years ago, and Reno hasn't regretted his decision for a minute.
"I saw the Magnum advertised, and I said to my wife, I'm going to buy that car," he said. Reno followed through on his promise and bought the Magnum in Chianti Red, although he had a choice among many colors. "There was something about that red that I liked," he said.
The Magnum was a two-year model for Dodge playing off a much more popular car, the Chrysler Cordoba, the so-called personal luxury coupe on the market from 1975 through 1983. The Cordoba, with its fine Corinthian leather, was marketed as the smaller Chrysler.
With an overall length of 215.8 inches on a 114.9-inch wheelbase, the Cordoba might have been smaller in those days. By today's standards, when compact crossovers capable of carrying six people are 178 inches long, the Cordoba was a boat. The Dodge Magnum, by the way, is a clone of the Cordoba with identical dimensions and mechanicals. The main differences are the grill and taillights and, of course, the name.
There's one more difference, the major difference: The Cordoba lasted nine years while the Magnum was around for two model years. As it turned out that brief production cycle is good for Magnum owners today because only 73,194 Magnums were manufactured and far fewer exist today, so they earn a special bonus because you just don't see them.
Another good thing for Reno is that his car has the coveted GT package and only 1,674 Magnums were equipped with the GT package during 1979. There's no way to know how many of the GTs still exist. Whatever the number may be, it's clear that Reno's car ranks among the best of the survivors.
Reno is aware of all of this and vows that he will never part with the Chianti Red car. And why would he? The Magnum is showroom from front to back, looking like it's never seen the highway even though an incredible 56,744 miles show on the odometer.
When the Magnum hit showrooms in 1978 and 1979 it was considered a sporty model, a GT package was on the equipment list but so was everything else, from air conditioning to so-called 'wheel lips,' or fender flares.
The sportiness continued with a unique three-spoked steering wheel, specially designed model-specific wheels and a firm feel suspension.
"When I got this car I knew I was going to keep it," Reno said. Even so that didn't stop him from driving the car over 56,000 miles, although he rolled up the miles in short order. "I wanted to make sure I got my warranty out of it," he said.
Miles or no miles, the Dodge looks like it's seen little use. The outside is as nice as the inside, red throughout including the instrument panel and steering wheel. The instrument panel has equal size speedometer and tachometer side-by-side, and two more gauges, one showing fuel and oil levels and one showing the engine temperature and alternator performance.
Even though Reno didn't order the car from the factory the dealer went the extra step and ordered the car for inventory with the optional 360-cubic-inch V-8 engine producing 195 horsepower.
Reno said the car, at 3,781 pounds, has always had enough power for him, more than it would have had with the standard equipment 318-cubic-inch V-8 turning out a meager 135 horsepower.
Otherwise the Magnum coupe is roomy enough for four people to be seated comfortably and five if needed. "The ride is smooth and it handles well," he said.
What mechanical work there is to do Reno performs himself, usually things like points and plugs, but since the car is driven only during good weather and stored during the winter it's never needed much other than maintenance.
•
Owner:
Al Reno, Mattydale
•
Cost new:
$7,939.05
•
Color:
Chianti Red
•
Motor:
360 C.I., V-8, 195-hp
•
Transmission:
Three-speed TorqueFlite
•
Equipment:
GT package, $578.70; seat belts, $19.75; tinted glass, $72.50; dual mirrors, $66.85; rear window defroster, $98; clock, $56.20; undercoating, $35.90; body stripe, $47.25; power windows, $137.05; tilt steering wheel, $77.25; 500-amp battery, $34.75 rub strips front and rear, $36.60; tachometer, $73.50; fender mounted turn signal indicators, $15.50
•
Dodge Magnum production:
1978, 47,827; 1979, 25,367
•
Wheelbase:
114.9 inches
•
Length:
215.8 inches
•
Weight:
3,781 pounds
Know about a car you'd like to see featured? Contact Kenn Peters: kpeters@twcny.rr.com. Previously from Kenn:
Pat Grosso and his high-end luxury cars.
More great cars and news about cars.