1979 Volare wagon

Raff

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I've always had a thing for Mopars in general and wagons in particular. While perusing the local classified sites everyday with just the intention of window shopping I came across a 79 Volare wagon at a price point I could live with and that I thought I could talk my Mrs into living with. I checked it out again later in the day, still available. Checked the next morning, still available. Messaged the owner, he still has it and it's sitting in an underground garage 20 minutes from my job and he'll be there right about my quitting time. From the pics and his description it seemed pretty good. In person it was solid, complete and damage free except for a few dings. Started it up and it ran a bit rough but he said it hasn't left the underground in four years and he would come by every few months a fire it up for 10 minutes. We took it around the block and the owner said to expect some noise from the transmission but he was including a rebuilt trains with the sale. It was making a nasty sound but I thought it might be the rear axle. I went home and mulled it over for two days messaged him and he said it was still available. We came to terms on a price that was agreeable to both and it arrived in my garage this afternoon.

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old yellow 78

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Congratulations!! It looks like OY's (my '78 Aspen wagon) younger sister. It looks like yours has a few more options on it including the light package and roof rack. The color, while quite similar, isn't the same as the '78's "Classic Cream." Being a '79, your interior will be more of a cashmere color rather than my darker butterscotch color. Very nice wagon, the chrome looks good and the grill is INTACT!! I like the Turbothrust wheels on the front. Looking forward to more pics and info on your new toy. Also, what is the early '50's Mopar in the foreground?
 

Raff

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Congratulations!! It looks like OY's (my '78 Aspen wagon) younger sister. It looks like yours has a few more options on it including the light package and roof rack. The color, while quite similar, isn't the same as the '78's "Classic Cream." Being a '79, your interior will be more of a cashmere color rather than my darker butterscotch color. Very nice wagon, the chrome looks good and the grill is INTACT!! I like the Turbothrust wheels on the front. Looking forward to more pics and info on your new toy. Also, what is the early '50's Mopar in the foreground?[/QUOTE


Yes the colour is cashmere. I'm still a newbie to the F body scene so I'm not up to speed on all the details. Chrome and all the trim is good. Interior is free from rips, carpet is good. The car only has 85000 km on it and it was originally from western Canada so it didn't see much salt. The car was originally a 318/auto. The guy I bought it from had a 360/4 speed installed as well as an 8 3/4 sure grip with 3.23 gears.The owner included a rebuilt 4 speed and a set of 73/74 360 heads that have bee rebuilt, ported and polished. The grille has a few chunks missing but he gave me a virtually perfect replacement! It's been in a heated parking garage fir the last ten years and hasn't been on the road since 2014. I think I got a great deal.
 
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Raff

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By the way the other car in the garage is a 1950 Plymouth Special Deluxe. I'll post a bunch more pics of the Volare as time permits.

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old yellow 78

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Very cool! You got yourself a really nice toy! My Aspen wagon ("OY" for Old Yellow) is also a four speed, but with the Super Six. Both factory. It's only got 30,000 miles on it.
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Your Volare wagon with a 360 should be lots of fun. I didn't know the A833 four speed would fit behind the 360. I think the four speeds used in the F's originally were either /6's or 318's. You were also VERY lucky to have found it, and that nobody grabbed it out from under you while you thought it out! I had to fly out to the Colorado desert near Pueblo to get OY, and then drive it back to Pennsylvania a few years ago, BUT, I wanted a rust free four speed, and they are extremely difficult to find.
Your '50 coupe is a nice old girl too! My first car that my father bought for me to use as a "field beater" when I was 13 was a '51 Dodge Coronet four door. I put over 1000 miles on it going round and round in the fields for three years until I turned 16 and got my licence. I really wish I still had that great old car.
 

Raff

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Very cool! You got yourself a really nice toy! My Aspen wagon ("OY" for Old Yellow) is also a four speed, but with the Super Six. Both factory. It's only got 30,000 miles on it.
View attachment 30110
Your Volare wagon with a 360 should be lots of fun. I didn't know the A833 four speed would fit behind the 360. I think the four speeds used in the F's originally were either /6's or 318's. You were also VERY lucky to have found it, and that nobody grabbed it out from under you while you thought it out! I had to fly out to the Colorado desert near Pueblo to get OY, and then drive it back to Pennsylvania a few years ago, BUT, I wanted a rust free four speed, and they are extremely difficult to find.
Your '50 coupe is a nice old girl too! My first car that my father bought for me to use as a "field beater" when I was 13 was a '51 Dodge Coronet four door. I put over 1000 miles on it going round and round in the fields for three years until I turned 16 and got my licence. I really wish I still had that great old car.

Good looking wagon. I like the magnum 500’s. Suit the car nicely.
 

DCAspen

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I remember seeing your wagon a few years ago,I think it was for sale then,The Tourque Thrust mags on the front jarred the memory bank.
 

droptop

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Great find. I have been looking for a wagon for quite some time to make a Load Runner. All that I have been able to find are, well let's just say they are used up.
 

BudW

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There are a few different versions of the A833 4-speed.
Those that fit an F-body would be any ’67-82ish A or FMJ-body 4-speed (I’ve heard different reports on availability in J or M-body 4-speeds – but that is not the point, here).

Of the A & FMJ 4-speeds, there is the overdrive and the non-overdrive versions.

The 318 2-bbl and /6 cars work well with overdrives.
The gear ratio differences do not work well for 360 4-bbl cars (or other performance engines) – but fit right in place with the non-overdrive versions.

I’m not aware of any 360 F-bodies made with a 4-speed (not saying they didn’t. I just not heard of any).

A nice car you have there.
BudW
 

old yellow 78

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The 318 2-bbl and /6 cars work well with overdrives.
The gear ratio differences do not work well for 360 4-bbl cars (or other performance engines) – but fit right in place with the non-overdrive versions.
Ah hah! I never knew why they didn't use the OD version with the 360. I don't know much about gear ratios and the mathematics of engines. o_O Thanks Bud!
 

1952 d100

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By the way the other car in the garage is a 1950 Plymouth Special Deluxe. I'll post a bunch more pics of the Volare as time permits.

View attachment 30109
By the way the other car in the garage is a 1950 Plymouth Special Deluxe. I'll post a bunch more pics of the Volare as time permits.

View attachment 30109
By the way the other car in the garage is a 1950 Plymouth Special Deluxe. I'll post a bunch more pics of the Volare as time permits.

View attachment 30109
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Raff

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I remember seeing your wagon a few years ago,I think it was for sale then,The Tourque Thrust mags on the front jarred the memory bank.
There are a few videos on YouTube of it doing burn outs and making a few runs at the local track. I found a 15second time slip under the front seat from 2010.
 

Raff

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Great find. I have been looking for a wagon for quite some time to make a Load Runner. All that I have been able to find are, well let's just say they are used up.
I didn’t really want it until I saw how rust free it was and then I had to have it.
 
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Raff

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There are a few different versions of the A833 4-speed.
Those that fit an F-body would be any ’67-82ish A or FMJ-body 4-speed (I’ve heard different reports on availability in J or M-body 4-speeds – but that is not the point, here).

Of the A & FMJ 4-speeds, there is the overdrive and the non-overdrive versions.

The 318 2-bbl and /6 cars work well with overdrives.
The gear ratio differences do not work well for 360 4-bbl cars (or other performance engines) – but fit right in place with the non-overdrive versions.

I’m not aware of any 360 F-bodies made with a 4-speed (not saying they didn’t. I just not heard of any).

A nice car you have there.
BudW
It’s got the overdrive 4 speed installed. Only drove it around the block at slow speeds due to the nasty sound coming from either the trans or the 8 3/4. He gave me a non overdrive 4 speed as part of the deal. Once I get some time to dig in I’ll figure out where the problem lies.
 

Raff

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Ok Raff, we need many many more pics and details! :D
Pics to follow. I’ve got a long honey do list I’m working on. My wife has 2 of her friends visiting for the weekend. I should be able to hide in the garage and remain unnoticed.
 

Raff

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Took the Volare outside to hose off years off dust and give it a good looking over.

Other than the obvious parking lot dings the body is great. Paint looks original except for a little blow in evidence behind the pas side rear wheel. Floors and frame are mint. Amazing for a Canadian car. Chrome is nearly flawless.

The interior is dusty and desperate for a serious cleaning but no rips in the seats, door panels are perfect. Headliner is good and carpet could be saved with a good shampooing.

Mechanically everything works, lights, signals, heat, wipers, gauges, idles good.

The grinding I’m almost certain is come from the rear axle. When I can I’ll pull the pumpkin and get it checked out.

Here’s a few pics of the exterior. I’ll get some inside shots later.
 
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