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1980-1981 Dodge Mirada

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1980  Dodge introduced the replacement for the Dodge Magnum this year, the Dodge Mirada. The Mirada was identical to the restyled Chrysler Cordoba LS, and was 6-inches shorter, and over 300 pounds lighter than the Magnum it replaced. Built on the J-Body platform, it was a rear-wheel drive sporty coupe, available with a standard six cylinder, or optional V-8 engines. The Mirada was one of the most strikingly styled vehicles to come out of the eighties, with sharp angles connecting to flat horizontal sides. The front end had a sharply angled nose, with 5-horizontal bars creating the grill opening, with single headlights inset on each side. In the rear of the flat roof was two differently angled supports which created the sharp edged opera windows. In the back, the trunk lid closed to a crisp 90 degree angle, with large rectangular taillight housings with 5 horizontal slots that looked similar to the front grill. Behind the front wheels sat five nonfunctional angled louvers. All in all, a very good looking car, and a welcome design exercise considering all of the boring jelly-bean cars that would be coming in the near future. 

 

The suspension was transverse torsion bars with an anti-sway bar in the front, and leaf springs in the rear. An optional Sport Handling Package gave you heavy duty front and rear anti-sway bars, heavy duty shocks, heavy duty torsion bars, and heavy duty springs. The package also upgraded the tires to P215/70R15 with raised white letters on extra wide wheel rims. Brakes were power front disc and rear drum. The standard engine was the 225 cid slant six, with the 318 cid V-8 optional. Also optional only with the CMX package was the 360 cid V-8. Vinyl bucket seats were standard on the Mirada, with 60/40 cloth and vinyl seats, or leather and vinyl bucket seats optional.

 

For enthusiasts, the CMX Package was offered on the Mirada. Along with unique CMX body moldings, stripes, and rub strips, the CMX package also included dual outside mirrors in either body color or chrome. The tires were upgraded to P205/75R15 white sidewalls on 10-spoke forged aluminum wheels, one of the best looking rims to ever appear on a Dodge.

Just to show that the Mirada was related to the Cordoba, a vinyl Landau roof, and the Cabriolet simulated convertible roof, were both available on the Mirada. Other optional look-great goodies was a center console with floor shifter, a 3-spoke "Tuff" steering wheel, a power operated sunroof, and T-Tops. Optioned right, the Mirada had the ability to be a very sexy and exciting vehicle.

 

                          

 

1981  The Mirada body and options continued essentially unchanged this year. The 225 slant six received hydraulic valve lifters this year. The rear bumper was made of high-strength steel instead of aluminum. Sadly, the 360 V-8 was dropped from the Mirada option list. Beginning this year, ordering the CMX package also gave you the Cabriolet simulated convertible roof as standard, which was unavailable otherwise. The rest of the Mirada options were still available, such as T-Tops, leather seats, Sport Handling Package, center console, and those awesome 10-spoke forged aluminum wheels.