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Car of the Day : April 15, 2013; Hot Wheels '80 Dodge Mirada
Topic Started: Apr 14 2013, 10:51 PM (505 Views)
craftymore
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Support your local demo derby.

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The car for today is Hot Wheels' 1980 Dodge Mirada.

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Wikipedia.com
 
The Dodge Mirada was a mid-sized, rear-wheel drive coupe built from 1980–83, and was one of the three cars based on the Chrysler J platform, the other models being the second generation Chrysler Cordoba and the Imperial, these three vehicles being Chrysler's response to the downsizing of its car lines. The Mirada was 800 lb (360 kg) lighter and its wheelbase 2.3" shorter (112.7" vs 115") than the Magnum it replaced. Production numbers were low, with just under 53,000 units sold during its production run. The Mirada would stay relatively unchanged during its 4-year run, with the exception of paint colors and engines. Because of the low production and survival rate, Miradas today are garnering some limited interest from collectors, particularly models with the 5.9 liter V8.


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There were several different types of rooflines offered. The base models all received a basic metal roof with a chrome beauty strip extending from the bottom of the opera windows and across the roof. Those who chose to have their Mirada look a bit sportier could opt for either a power sunroof, or a glass T-top roof; and those who wanted a more luxurious look could choose either chose a vinyl Landau roof or a Cabriolet roof, which was basically a mock convertible top. The T-tops and Landau would be offered every year except for 1983, and the Cabriolet top would be offered every year. However, the power sunroof was not very popular and was only offered for 1980 and 1981.


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Check outWikipeida.com to learn more on the Dodge Mirada.

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The Mirada was basically offered with two engines, the slant 6 and a 318 cubic inch small block V-8. A 3rd, the 360 cubic inch was offered as well but was only installed on about 100 premium packaged cars. The early 80s were a trying times for the Chrysler Corporation. The Mirada was only around for a few years and offered the most get up and go of a any Dodge for the time.

This replaces a childhood car from my collection which was bitten by the custom bug many years back. The red Mirada was one of my early favrorites as a kid and I had one for long as I can remember. It often would place in the top three of 'young Craftymore's demo derbies' as a kid. It was used so much one wheel eventually fell off and in my teenage years it was converted a more proper derby car. I wish I'd never had done that. It still resides in my collection but is typically in a large diecast pile reserved for diecast bodies and other misc parts. It was with great relief and happiness that I was able to snag this replacement from Pegers. Thank you so much Dan! I've been looking for a good copy of this model for years. :wave:

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pjedsel
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Muscle Car
A nice, simple stock car model- the Mirada stock car from Hot Wheels was a nice casting - great play value as a race car.
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JeepXJLover
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Minivan
Back when I was a wee lad my mother remarried in 1989 to my stepfather. At the time he had what was a collection of cars tucked away a few Vettes, a early 80s Monte Carlos, Regals, Cutlass Supremes and Grand Prixs and some other oddballs he had picked up for as new car trade ins shortly before they married. As you can imagine most of these cars had insanely low miles and often weird by today's standards color combinations. Obviously cars most owners didn't feel that 'cool' in or what have you after purchasing them. Didn't help that at the time Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth even the domestics at large were behind the times on what the buying public was largely interested in. One of those cars tucked away was a Bright Lipstick red Dodge Mirada CMX with a full white imitation top and white interior. It was an UGLY car. Coffin nosed and the color combo just screamed 'look at me over here'. The Mirada was an '81 if I remember correctly and my stepfather later sold it in 1992 at Mecum auction for what I seem to remember was $7,900.

At the same time he also sold an 82 Chrysler Cordoba from the collection. It was a little more tame, but still ostentatious with Dove gray paint, Dove gray Landau top, light gray interior and Turbine style wheels that really didn't match the car's plushness. The Cordoba sold at the same auction I think for around $5,400. These ugly cars help my folks finance their first home they owned together and got my stepfather back into a partnership as a used car dealer.
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ivantt
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New casting? Quick! Take it apart!
JeepXJLover, that was a really interesting story and sidebar to this casting.
I forgot all about this casting until now. Nice to see it up for CotD
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juantoo3
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is a classic from the early blackwall era.
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mbx64
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Matchbox Collector
I know you like derby cars, so I'm not surprised you're so happy to have such a beautiful one in your collection.
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Billy Kingsley
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The Mad Documenter!
This one always struck me as odd. They tooled up a Mirada clearly to NASCAR specs- yet never issued it in a NASCAR paint scheme.

I have to wonder if they were intending to make Richard Petty's car, as the King tested one of these at Daytona, and all signs pointed to him switching back to Dodge...however, the car ran horribly (I can't remember if it was this one or the Magnum he referred to as a brick!) and he went with Buick for 1981...which turned out to be a wise choice as he won his 7th and final Daytona 500 that year.

A few teams did use the Mirada, but it found little success. Buddy Arrington was the most well-known, and he was also the last holdout for Dodge. (he also raced a Cordoba, as did a few others).

I have one of these I'm slowly correcting- Hot Wheels took it's usual liberties with wheel openings (far too large, especially at the rear) and the exhaust dump is not accurate- they used the same style with the other two NASCAR toolings they issued in the mainline in the 80s- but my lack of skills make it a slow process- already on year 3 or 4 of the correction.
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