Woohoo! A first year Magnum XE! The original Magnum! Equipped with Chrysler's best invention ever: The Lean Burn system! This one may not have the 400 engine in it (which was a relatively rare first year only option), but the 360 was the top dog small block during this era and was a good compromise. I've gotta say though, this car looks incredibly original and well-preserved. I, too, have always liked the front end styling of these. They're a nice looking car overall IMO. When hot rodded, these cars can look pretty cool too. But I'd just keep this one the way it is (obviously). What a nice example of a late 70s Mopar.
This really looks like a showroom condition example. Can't be many still around in this shape. Yeah, I would not change a thing.
Again, great interior colour and I like how it's not gaudy and overly done. Looks like a great place to spend some time in. Too bad the seatbelts aren't a matching green though.
My brother had a '75 Cordoba, same paint and interior colors. It even has a working AM/FM/8-Track! And yes, it had working Lean Burn on its 400 engine.
I like the tail lights and the sheetmetal work too which, other than the change in front end styling, is (mostly) just a continuation of the 1975-'77 Dodge Charger model. As a side note, here's how these cars look like when given a bit more of a "performance" oriented look. Given the era, I actually think the Magnum XE is tastefully done.
Given the style and appointments of this green one, Chrysler Corp hit a home run with this car. This should have been more of a Monte Carlo killer, especially in light of the MC ‘78 redo. This car has it all over the Chevy. Especially in the looks department. Totally agree. Wouldn’t touch a thing on this beauty!
It's funny how the 1978-'80 Monte Carlo went on to become a cult classic within the hip hop and lowrider community, yet the Magnum XE, and the 1975-'77 Chargers before them, never seemed to get much love from anyone. Even though the earlier Charger model was more Cordoba-like in its front end styling, they could look pretty good too. Especially when hopped up.
two words...."full frame". it's a heck of a lot easier to do a lowrider with hydraulics on a full-framed car than on a unit-body vehicle such as this. Think of how many New Yorkers, Cordobas, later Imperials, etc. you see with hydraulics....none!
Ah, true enough. I didn't think about that. Still though, the Magnum XE and previous 1975-'77 Charger body styles just never saw a level of collectibility and value that many other cars seemed to attain. Oh well. I think they are nice looking and generally well-proportioned cars, and in the case of the green one above, I really like its interior too. This is just me, but the only thing I'd change about the Magnum XE/Charger's styling is that hump on the trunk. I'd keep it, but it would be slightly shallower and it would have the same angle as the tail lights. But hey, that's just me nitpicking. But IMO, the Magnum XE is one of the better looking and underrated cars of the late 70s. If people ever catch on to these, the price is going to go up more than people expect because there weren't many made, comparatively. As of right now, average examples like the purple one above can still be had relatively cheaply.
