SOLD 1981 Dodge Mirada

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Carmine

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First of all I apologize if this is a re-post, but I searched the site with a bunch of different keywords and haven’t found anything here. I felt for sure this car would get posted on FMJBO since I had it on both Detroit and Phoenix Craigslists, and I posted my “adventure” on FCBO.


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Down the coast, J-body style

Short version: Decided to visit my cousins in Portland, Oregon and timed it to drive down the Califonia coast, pausing for the 2018 Mopar Spring Fling in LA. From there it was on to a few days in my adopted second-home of Phoenix, AZ. Found a 1981 Mirada in Victoria, BC and figured I’d make it a road trip. Canadian-spec car sailed through customs with no problem, and my Dad, wife and 2 y/o daughter spent DAYS in our adopted Mirada without any (serious) issue. I left it with my friend Mark just outside of Phoenix in April. As much as I like the car, I’m jammed up with plenty of other projects and haven’t the time. I know this car would sell easily in the Detroit area where Mopar people fall out of trees, but I’d like to try selling it without moving it back east. Who knows my ultimate eBay buyer might be in Missouri; so that’s just wasted shipping.


The car is a factory 318 4bbl, which was an option for Canada. Also 3.23 SG, buckets, console and t-tops. The original tan interior was ratty, so the prior owner swapped it to a nice red interior (except the dash). Red dash with good pad included, along with a nice red Tuff wheel and other “extras” like the original Thermoquad, taillights, sunvisors, etc. You’ll note the right bumper shock is shoved in… a replacement is included. I’m sure it needs t-top seals and a new headliner. The car has had one decent repaint and would look good with a few spot touch-ups (chips on fascia, ¼ panel). Soft parts are in great shape. The body isn’t hiding any rust. Obviously this car is a runner… (We covered 1800+ miles in less than a week) not some decrepit “barn-find”. It isn’t perfect either (no radio, temp gauge inop, wiper linkage failed).


Let’s talk (PM me) and move this car along out of my friend’s driveway while he’s still my friend… Clear Michigan (USA) title in my name. Looking for $4500 as is/where is. Have more pics.

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Carmine

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Mopics

One shows the only rust spot, about a finger's worth of bubbles on the rt. 1/4.

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Carmine

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Thank you. You can see I don't believe in old cars as "museum pieces". Some of my daily drivers...

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Carmine

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Car was bid to $3650 on ebay. I'll consider offers below but near that price.
 

4speedjim

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I think this one was listed here not too long ago. It came with or without many extra parts if you had enough trailer space.
 

Tom Guilbault

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I purchased this car and had it shipped back to Michigan. I have 4200.00 into it. Unfortunatly the car was totally misrepresented. The drive down the west coast with 4 people must have been scary. The front end is falling out of the car. It is a 500.00 parts car. Headliner was held up with duct tape, now fallen. T top weatherstrip IS duct tape as is quarter window weatherstrip. Rear interior trim is all broken up. Front door panels are wasted. Takes minimum of 5 minutes to start the car if it sits for more than an hour. Good thing is engine runs great once it starts but exhaust is bad. I could go on. In over 40 years collecting this is my first bad purchase. Guess the odds were against me. It would take 4000.00 dollars on top of the 4200 to make this a 4000.00 car. Anyone want to give me my 4200 for it?
 

Carmine

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You're leaving out a few things my friend... First of all, no one represented a car that didn't need work. Let me quote from the ad at the top of this post:

I’m sure it needs t-top seals and a new headliner.

You'll also soon learn that J-body door panel tops practically cracked at the factory (Chrysler even issued a TSB). It's so common that I forgot to even mention it, but again, I refer you back to the original ad (photo attached).

I also refer you to the wear patterns on the front tires, which hardly look like the front end is "falling out". I don't even know how to answer the exhaust complaint... It's a flowmaster (or a knock-off) so louder than stock, yes.

Most interested buyers emailed questions which I answered. You only asked for photos, which I sent (more and larger versions than what is posted here). I didn't give it much thought because you had a friend go inspect it in person who I assume reported back to you.

Your purchase price was $2700, not $4200. I heard (3rd hand) that your shipper kept raising the price. Felt bad to hear that, but not something I had any control over... Although if we'd been in communication I would have said you can let the car sit and tell your shipper to pound sand. My buddy has sat on the car for a year, a couple weeks more would have been fine while you set up a new shipper.

Finally, the car is a stock 318 with an Edelbrock 4bbl w/electric choke and simple Chrysler electronic ign. It doesn't get much simpler than that. However I would expect it's not accustomed to temps below 50 degrees, so the choke is probably too lean for Michigan on the first day of spring (which snowed). You may wish to adjust it to remain rich for a longer period. That (and the new battery my friend installed) should help your starting issues. These are not EFI cars.

Hopefully you'll work through the issues and learn to enjoy it.

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