Happy Friday, Autopians! For our end-of-the-week special, we’re going to check out two coupes from that dismal decade between the mid-1970s and the mid-1980s. But these aren’t just any old slowpoke Broughamed-out two-doors. They’re both something special.
Why more malaise era cars? Because yesterday’s Little Beige Corvette did so well. I get the feeling that a lot of you voted for it under duress, and that if the RX-8 had had just one more pedal on the floor, the outcome might have been different. But a win is a win.
For me, it’s the Corvette anyway, regardless of transmission. Wankel engines are fascinating, but like Communism or a Vince Neil solo record, they sound a lot better in theory than they actually work in practice. I might not pass up a chance at an earlier Mazda rotary, under the right circumstances, but I’ll leave the Renesis work to serious rotary fans.
Now then: The so-called “malaise era” was full of objectively terrible cars. No one is going to deny that. But one category of cars reigned supreme during this era, and it’s a category I know a lot of us miss – the personal luxury coupe. Sure, they were slow, and excessive, and sometimes a bit tacky, but there’s just something about the idea of a big, comfortable car that’s just for you and one very special passenger that’s really appealing.
But we’re not going to bother with your run-of-the-mill Cutlasses and Cordobas. Today, we’re looking at one personal luxury coupe that has been turned into a dragstrip hero, and another that takes the whole concept of personal luxury to its ridiculous, glorious conclusion. Here they are.
1981 Dodge Mirada drag car – $16,500
Engine/drivetrain: 390 cubic inch overhead valve V8, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Dinwiddie, VA
Odometer reading: unknown
Operational status: Runs 11 second quarter miles, but isn’t street-legal
The dawn of the 1980s was a bleak time for Chrysler. The old rear-wheel-drive platforms were showing their age, the company was reeling financially from poor sales and the Aspen/Volaré debacle, and Lee Iacocca’s infusion of new ideas and government cash hadn’t kicked in yet. But somehow, out of this era came one of my favorite Mopar two-door designs: the Dodge Mirada.
Chrysler had a rich drag-racing heritage, of course, with the famous Hemi engine basically dominating the entire scene for a couple of decades. Chrysler could barely afford to keep the lights on, let alone field factory racing teams during this time, but it did supply cars to some folks who could, like drag racing legend Paul Rossi. The seller claims that this ’81 Mirada was one of the cars provided by Chrysler to Rossi for “testing purposes,” and has a long history of quarter-mile successes to its name. Currently, it is powered by a stroked 390 cubic inch Chrysler LA V8 and an A904 Torqueflite automatic transmission, both of which are relatively new.
Since this car was raced in NHRA’s “Stock” class, it has a full stock Mirada interior, carpet and all. It all appears to have weathered the years at the drag strip pretty well, and those velour bucket seats still look mighty comfy. This car has been a race car since day one, and as such has no title, so it isn’t registered for the street. There may be some loophole that would allow you to put license plates on it – I assume it has a VIN – but as of now, you’ll have to trailer it to the strip.
Honestly, I love the idea of this car, and if it were me, I think I would try to get it registered for the street, so more people could appreciate it. The idea of a beige malaise-era luxobarge that can run 11s just makes me smile.
1979 Cadillac Seville Opera Coupe – $24,000
Engine/drivetrain: 350 cubic inch overhead valve V8, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Granada Hills, CA
Odometer reading: 26,000 miles
Operational status: I assume it runs and drives just fine
“Downsizing” was a new word in Detroit’s lexicon in the mid to late ’70s. American cars had grown to comically large proportions, and to meet stringent new fuel economy standards, some fat had to be trimmed. General Motors saw the writing on the wall early, and in 1975 did something that would have been unthinkable a decade eariler: introduced a mid-sized Cadillac. Traditionalists may have recoiled at the idea, but the Seville sold well, and became a popular subject for customizers and coachbuilders, including the Grandeur Motor Car Company of Florida, who turned a few hundred Sevilles into the car you see here: the Opera Coupe.
Take a stock Seville, eliminate the rear doors, move the entire cowl and windshield back to about where the B-pillar used to be, re-use the front doors, and presto, you’ve got an Opera Coupe. Fill in the now absurd length of the front fenders with a pair of faux spare tire carriers to complete that oh-so-trendy “neoclassical” feel. Mechanically, it’s still a bone-stock Seville, with a fuel-injected Oldsmobile 350 V8 and Turbo-Hydramatic transmission – only now it’s got Cruella DeVil proportions.
It goes without saying that this new and “improved” Seville is now a two-seater. The entire front half of the stock Seville interior is simply moved rearward, to almost where the rear seat used to be. One can only imagine what it’s like trying to park a car from the back seat, with all that excess length sticking out in front. At least it looks like a comfortable place to be.
This car has a scant 26,000 miles on its odometer, and has recently been repainted. It looks – well, I won’t say “good” – but it is nice and shiny. The only other thing the seller says is that it’s “in excellent condition,” which I assume means it runs fine. It’s a pretty bulletproof drivetrain, as late ’70s cars go.
So there they are, the two extremes of what can be done with a personal luxury coupe. Go fast, or get weird; the choice is yours. You’ve got all weekend to think about it. See you Monday!
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
I can’t stop laughing about that Caddy! Inspired choices today, Mark.
I’d title the Dodge for the first time if it has a real VIN and a bill of sale.
It seems to be a little on the expensive side for what it is, maybe it has a bit of history there in NHRA Stock, who knows. The power brake delete is a cool option, I wonder what else? I could live with that as a street/strip car. The Caddy is something I would not want to be associated with.
I really don’t want either, but I voted for the Dodge just for the burnouts.
For $2400, I’d take the destroyed caddy. But $24000? They’re smoking the same stuff whoever made it was on.
I’ll find a way to make the Mirada street legal.
This is a tough choice, but only because I don’t think I could get the Mirada registered/street legal here in Florida without a title. I am not interested in owning something that can’t be driven on the streets. The racing modifications probably make it a mediocre daily driver, but I still think it would be a lot of fun. It is from the malaise era, but I don’t think “malaise” is an accurate description of any car that can run an 11 second quarter mile. If this had a title and could be registered, I would vote for it without hesitation.
I also have zero interested in the Opera Coupe, even though the first generation Seville is one of my favorite Cadillacs. The Opera Coupe eliminates what was great about the first generation Seville. I really liked the styling of the car in stock form; it is understated and not ostentatious. It also like the size of the car. It is big enough to be roomy and comfortable, but not so big that it is difficult to drive and park like the ’50s and ’60s land yachts. The Opera Coupe modifications give it garish styling and minimal interior room, and the long hood presumably makes it harder to drive. As alway, taste in cars is subjective, but I don’t see much appeal to the Opera Coupe.
I can register that drag car in Tennessee, as long as I have a bill of sale, TN will even give me a title, and then I could sell it to anyone, even out of state. Not saying I want any part of either of these cars, but the fact that TN will let me do that is hilarious,
Uhhh… $16,500 of never gonna drive it vs. $24,000 of wouldn’t be seen in it?
You did it Mark, I’m up to THREE “NOPES” IN A ROW!
What happened to the links to the actual ads?
The sub- heads for each car are always links to the ads. Always have been.
These are both fucking stupid!
Maaaaaaan…both of these rule so hard. You’re making me PICK???
I voted brougham. If all else fails, I will default to the silliest brougham. Coachbuilt Opera Coupe is peak silly.
IMO, this is worse than the “rusted shitbox vs. rusted shitbox” faceoffs. Neither of these are particularly cheap. Neither are very desirable.
I’d go Dodge, because it is cheaper, arguably looks better, but then I remembered the fact this car may never be street legal. What the hell is that good for? I’m not living my life a quarter mile at a time.
But that Caddy is just terrible. Expensive and terrible.
I like weird, but the proportions of that bizarre Seville gives me the yucks. I don’t know why, but just looking at it makes me uneasy.
I’d be far more interested in taking the differential between prices to get the Mirada street legal again, if you know, someone was forcing me to make a choice between these.
I half expect to see the ghost of Richard Pryor step out of the Caddy and ask me if I have an extra razor blade handy. CP.
yeah, that Mirada isn’t street legal, was built when quality was job 6 and precise tolerances were basically, “hell that’s close enough”.
I’d imagine it wouldn’t be cheap to get that Mirada back on the road, but it’s a hell of a lot better project vs the chopped Caddy. That thing is terrible. Hideous. Someone did not think of what this abomination would do to poor, impressionable children when they hacked that turd together.
(Trailer Park Boys’ Jim.Lahey’s voice:) “Randy, that Caddy isn’t even a shitbox. It’s a shit rectangle.”
Who are you–Sheryl? Be cool, Sheryl.
I’d rather try to figure out how to make that Mirada titled than be seen with that novelty Caddy.
Inject that Mirada into my *veins*
If I could figure how to road the Mirada, maybe.
But that Caddy’s never going to be cool. Awkward proportions, a hood that goes on for ages, and the mechanical cut-paste behind the scenes likely means the cars likely a bit of spaghetti under there. And then there’s the pricetag.
Honestly, I’d rather have a Mitsubishi Mirage than the Caddy. It’s a cooler car which, I might add, comes in colours. Did you hear me VW?
The Miranda….by a 1/4 mile! But no power brakes? Whoa! Not.
Caddy all the way. It’s bizarre and wild and kind of insane. It looks like a villain car from something like Big-O
I’ll take the Dodge, slap on some MT’s and go hunting for a title. I’d DD that sucker.
I was tempted to offer a ‘neither’ cop-out, given my distaste for all things Malaise-era, but at least the Dodge is good at something. And doesn’t look like it’s driven by Alabaster Jones.
Alabaster Jones was wimp. He got smacked down with just a harsh glare from the Mack Daddy of Heimlich County!
The Mack Daddy of Heimlich County plays it straight up, yo.
I like Sevilles, but that disaster of a conversion looks so awkwardly scaled. It is basically a caricature of 70s american luxobarges.
I’ll take the mirada
No. Just…no.
I came in liking the looks of the Mirada, then its stats. Gave the Cadillac a view, the 3/4 wasn’t bad, but hit that side profile and cringed. The vote option “Cruella Seville” is hilarious, but this car looks terrible. Even if the prices were swapped, I think I’d go for the Dodge.
I remain continually impressed with the prices those hacked up Sevilles still command – they were originally built for a very specific clientele, wealthy men in their 50s and 60s who had childhood memories of when 1930s coachbuilt luxury cars were new and high status, but all those people are now aged 90 to dead, and all the generations after them have had very different tastes when it comes to new luxury cars, which is why you can’t buy any from the factory with opera windows and coach lights anymore, yet these neoclassics continue to sell for the same general prices they were commanding 10 or 20 years ago (granted, they have declined in value with inflation taken into account, but, still, not much of a crash)
The Mirada is more unique, so at least there’s that