Dodge : Other Mirada CMX

INTRODUCTION AND DESCRIPTION

You are viewing my 1980 Dodge Mirada CMX.   Born with a 318-V8 engine. this Mirada now sports a high performance 318 cu. in  (5. 2L) engine with 4-barrel carburetor. and a 727 "TorqueFlite" three-speed automatic transmission from a 1988 Dodge Diplomat police car (see details below).  The rear end is the standard (non-limited slip) 2. 94:1 ratio rear end.  Finished in Patrioit Blue Metallic with blue cloth bucket seats and console. the odometer shows just over 62. 000 miles (which i believe to be correct) as of the date of this auction.  It has had two known owners including me (I bought this car 14 years ago).    The pictures and video are from July 2013.

Manufactured from 1980 to 1983. the J-body platform was shared by the "Mirada" and "Cordoba" nameplates. and only about 52. 00 total Miradas were made over those four years.  The 1980 Mirada sold about 28. 00 total cars. of which about 5. 00 being the 'top-of-the-line" CMX models like this one.  Note that the “M” body Gran Fury and Diplomat nameplates were the mainstay Mopar police cars from 1981 to 1989.   But. what many people may not realize is the “J” and “M" platforms shared many physical attributes. which in turn allowed a lot of part interchangeability.

Let me decode a few relevant portions of the RPO codes from the factory for my Mirada:  E44=318-V8. nbsp;A75=CMX package. nbsp;C16=Console with floor shifter. nbsp;SC9=Nightwatch Blue Exterior Paint. nbsp; H51=Air conditioning. P31=Power Windows. nbsp;B12=Heavy Duty Front Disc Brakes. S13=Heavy Duty Suspension Package. and S62=Tilt Steering Column.   The B12 and S13 options basically gave this Mirada many of the heavy-duty elements of the police car suspensions. meaning front and rear anti-sway bars. stiffer springs. bigger shocks. etc. . but kept the 10-inch rear drum brakes of the civilian models.  Other standard and optional features on this Mirada are power steering and brakes. dual mirrors. cruise control (works intermittently). tinted glass. rear window defroster (condition unknown). and trunk carpeting.  

The vehicle came to me without its original wheels. but given it had the beefy suspension already. I decided to install the "pursuit spec" 318-4V HP (high performance) engine. radiator. fluid coolers. and transmission from a wrecked 1988 Dodge Diplomat police car.  The police car was a former detective's car that had been rear-ended. had 44. 00 miles on it. and that I bought it in 1999.   This Mirada's factory rear-end gear ratio of 2. 94:1 is the same as the pursuit-class M body police cars used.

All the work on this Mirada was done in 2001. or approximately 4. 00 miles ago.  We freshened up the engine with new valve cover intake and oil pan gaskets. rear main seal. freeze plugs. and new filter and gasket for transmission.  These powertrain parts bolt right into the “J” bodies and no cutting. welding. or special fabrication is necessary.  If you do not know the HD police engine content of this era. the "360" heads. the various moly parts. windage tray. double roller timing chain. etc. . many online sources can help you.  All that content plus the different shift points (transmission shifts gears at higher RPM under hard acceleration versus civilian powertrains) in order to improve "pursuit" performance and powetrain durability.  

To complete the powertrain installation. I added a custom made. "true" dual exhaust (including catalytic converters and tail pipes) the police cars never had.  The Mirada gas tank position from the factory is biased toward the driver side and does not allow clearance for a tail pipe exit under rear bumper on that side. so we exited the tailpipes just behind the rear wheels at at downward angle.

The AC/heat works fine.   All gauges work as well but the digital clock and cigarette lighter do not function. I added a Chrysler factory AM/FM/CB radio and a magnetic CB antenna (not shown but will be included).  Note thought that while the radio works just fine using the factory antenna. it is not connected to the CB antenna.  The CB mode in radio does function.

I had this Mirada professionally refinished in "Patriot Blue Metallic" (in base coat/clear coat) for an updated twist on the original color.   I mono-colored the grille. deleted the pinstripes (they were faded anyway) and removed the wheel well trim and the  "CMX" fender and deck badges to "understate" the vehicle a bit.  I did not replace the plastic quarter panel extensions so they are original and somewhat brittle. so great care must be taken handling them.  During the refinishing. we noted no previous body work and no frame. underbody. floor pan. or trunk pan rust (or repairs of rust) whatsover.

The external bright. rubber and painted trim is in good driver quality condition and consistent with the age of the vehicle (so there are assorted scratches. dings. cracks and other age-related patina etc. ). All the glass is good. The original plated-aluminum rear bumper (a good weight saving tactic but very bad "cosmetic" idea from Chrysler back in the day) has some peeling on the underside. Trunk is clean. has the scissors jack but no spare tire.  

The interior is in good original condition but with areas of age and wear-related conditions. The original owner replaced the headliner several years ago in a way that eliminated the fabric.  It wasn't done the way I would have done it (they just removed the fabric and then painted the backing material) but its in presentable shape.  The dash panel is fairly straight. but slightly is faded in areas and has a four-inch long. quarter inch wide seam crack on top and to the right of the radio area.   There is also the common fading of the "brushed-aluminum plastic" surfaces on dash face and the console.

The seats and carpet are original. are in good shape showing normal wear but without defects such as splits. stains. or tears.  The door panels are in good shape and the upper door rails have the common breakage as this was a low quality part for the entire J-body model run unfortunately.  I do not have the owners manual but it can readily be purchased from a variety of sources.

The wheels 17x8 and 17x9. 5 Center Lines in polished alumimum.  The tires are used Goodyear Eagle F1 DS G3 "Z" rated high performance radials in the 255/45-17 and 285/40-17 size with excellent tread remaining.  Billet aluminum adapters were used to give the correct spacing as the wheels have a later model "offset".  I have an original set of polished 10-spokes with good. sed BF Goodrich Radial T/As in the beefy 245/60-15 size that I will evenly substitute in place of the 17-inch tire/wheel combo shown. nbsp;if you are the winning bidder and do no want the wheels/tires shown.

So let me take a moment to be clear here what you are bidding on:  This vehicle is offered for sale as shown with either the custom wheels/tires shown. or the original wheels and with Radial T/A's. but NOT both sets of wheels/tires.  If you want both sets of wheels and tires. we can discuss this possibility if you are the winning bidder but it will not be for "free".  If this tire/wheel thing is at all unclear. nbsp;please write me before you bid.

This 1980 Dodge Mirada CMX is a nice. old vintage cruiser of which only a few copies were ever made. With the obvious exception of powertrain and wheels/tires. the vehicle is highly original.  Also as obviously the powertrain is a measurable performance upgrade for this vehicle. but if for some reason you wanted to do it. another civilian powertrain will drop right back in and all most all the trim parts/CMX badging/pin striping can be reinstalled.  

In general. the J-bodies are starting to appreciate in value given they were the last rear-wheel drive coupes at Chrysler for many years until recently.  This Mirada is fast. fun. with understated modern looks. and you are not likely to see one pull up next to you on your local cruise nights.  I hope it finds a good home with an appreciative new owner to maintain and improve upon it where needed.

AUCTION SUCCESS CONSIDERATIONS

I have established a reasonable reserve (reserve will not be revealed while the auction is running) for this 1980 Dodge Mirada CMX.  Please consider bidding during the auction to the extent and level you deem appropriate and based on whatever factors are important to you.  This is not a "bargain-priced" car. so its fine if that is your objective but if so some other Mirada may better meet your requirements.

Note that I reserve the right to end this auction at any time at my sole discretion.   If you are not standing in front of me in person. please do not ask me for a BIN (Buy-It- Now) price . during or after the auction.  unless you accompany your inquiry with a potential offer you would like to discuss.  If for whatever reason you decide not or are unable to bid. or choose not to provide a value indication with your inquiry. we will not have a good basis to discuss the car.

If reserve is not met. I may provide Second Chance Offers (SCO) through the Ebay system. but note that this is only possible with people who actually bid during the auction.   If you get a SCO (which is a Buy-It-Now auction that only the seller and the bidder to whom it was sent can access). it will only come through. the Ebay system (meaning it will appear in your Ebay mailbox) and it will be for a 24-hour duration.  

Depending on where the recorded bidding ends. and if the reserve is not met. nbsp;I may also write the high bidder(s) through the Ebay system only. nbsp;one at a time in the order of their final recorded bids. to discuss the item.  If I do not hear back from a bidder within 24 hours after writing them. I will assume that person is not interested and I may move on to the next person.  

I am sorry in advance for the following realizing it will not apply to the vast majority of responsible Ebay members:   Encountering non-paying or unresponsive bidders is a very disruptive event that makes the auction experience quite unpleasant for both the seller and any legitimate potential buyer(s).    Please BE SURE BEFORE YOU BID that you have done whatever you need to do to STAND BEHIND the actual bid(s) YOU MADE and were recorded during the auction.   

Because of a tendency to simply misunderstand or just outright ignore Ebay and seller auction requirements. bidders with less than 5 (five) feedback ratings may. nbsp;at my discretion have their bids canceled (I may or may not try to contact you before canceling your bid) and then blocked from further bidding on this auction unless they contact me in advance of bidding. Bidders who make and then cancel their bid(s) will also be blocked from further bidding on this auction.

Bidders outside the continental United States are welcome to bid but also must email me before bidding to discuss important payment and shipping procedures.   

INSPECTION AND WARRANTY INFORMATION

Please ask any questions that you may have that may not have been answered by this detailed listing narrative and visual media attachments. My listings are constructed in complete sentences in order to communicate my knowledge of important facts and to encourage independent thoughts and then any questions from interested parties.

But respectfully. I do not know what is important to you that may not have been discussed or depicted herein unless you ask me.   Any and all relevant and appropriate questions you submit while the auction is running will be answered promptly and as thoroughly as possible by email only to ensure clarity of any correspondences.  

Given that this is a used vehicle. nbsp;please do not have unreasonable expectations as to its current condition or future condition under your ownership. Also given its obvious age. this vehicle represents whatever standards of quality and workmanship that existed when it was built. so comparisons to improved build standards of today's vehicles is not appropriate.

Your bid forms the basis for a binding. legally enforceable contract.   As such. if you require it. please make all pre-purchase inspections (at the sole expense of the bidder) before committing to purchase the vehicle.  Inspections can be done by appointment only by you or your designated inspection service.  Although I believe I have described and depicted (with numerous high-resolution photographs and video) this vehicle accurately. nbsp;please note that this vehicle is sold "as-is. where-is” with no express or implied warranties or guarantees of any kind.

With the required legal statements provided. I am a reasonable person and I know potential buyers may not be able to see this vehicle before bidding.  If the winning bidder was unable do a pre-bid inspection and then determines that. nbsp;after submitting a timely deposit but before taking delivery. I did not accurately represent the vehicle in some significant and obvious way. I will immediately refund your entire deposit and we can both move on without any further obligation to each other.  Please recognize that this is not an invitation for potential bidders to skip your own pre-purchase due diligence and is not an opportunity for me and the winning bidder to try later to negotiate away our respective contractual responsibilities.   

PAYMENT AND STORAGE

A $500 deposit is required from the winning bidder. due electronically via PayPal within 24 hours after the auction ends. to hold the vehicle.  I will not be accepting trades.    Full payment is due within 3 days of auction end via cash. bank-to-bank or wire transfer. or certified bank check (drawn on a major US bank).  Clear title in my name is in hand and vehicle can be scheduled for buyer pickup by appointment at anytime after full payment is received and cleared.   I can hold the vehicle in indoor storage for 15 days (or longer. if weather or other uncontrollable factors emerge) at no charge to the winning bidder after the auction (the charge is $15. 00 per day after 15 days).

Thank you for viewing my auction.

Also published at eBay.ca

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