Dodge 400 Classic Cars for Sale

It was 1982, the Cold War was all but boiling over and Ronald Reagan -- a former Hollywood actor -- had just come into power. Despite all that was happening in the world, Dodge had just celebrated 82 years of industry and released what they hoped would be an ample replacement for the revered 1971 Challenger. What car could possibly be worthy enough to ride on the coattails of an American icon? The Dodge 400, of course.

Brief history of the Dodge 400

Released in early 1981, the Dodge 400 was intended to be a polished alternative to the newly introduced Dodge Aries. Despite great expectations, the Dodge 400’s time in the proverbial sun lasted only two short years, being assimilated into the more successful Dodge 600 range after 1983. The Dodge 400 was available in 3 body types: 2-door coupe, convertible, and 4-door sedan. A car to suit all occasions, the Dodge 400 also debuted with either a 2.2L, or a 2.6L straight 4 engine, with a 3-speed automatic gearbox coming as standard.

The Dodge 400 LS: The same classic car, with a just a few inches of fancy

The Dodge 400 received just one variant in its momentary lifetime: the LS. Unfortunately for those who had high hopes of a revamped Dodge 400, the LS variant brought only aesthetic changes (in the form of a polished trim at the base of the car) to the line-up and lasted until 1983, where-after it was omitted entirely from subsequent iterations.

Dodge 400 in 1983: An untimely end

By the time the Dodge 400 was merged with the far more successful 600 model, it had sold a meager 57,000 units over 2 years. The Challenger, the car that the Dodge 400 was billed to replace, had sold more than 76,000 units in its first year alone. Ultimately, the Dodge 400 was an unfortunate disaster and its early assimilation was a testament to that.

Dodge 400: The future for Chrysler's forgotten patriot

Despite what Chrysler had intended, the Dodge 400 failed to live up to the hype and it truly is a shame. The car is in every regard, truly Americanesque. Its sharp, arrow-shaped bonnet and lack of unnecessary curvature makes it an absolute pleasure to gaze at. The car might not be the most rapid off the mark, nor the most exotic but it is making a comeback among classic-car enthusiasts because it represents everything that was America in the 1980s. Everything from civil unrest as a result of recession, to the defeat of the Soviet Union at the hands of the infallible Uncle Sam. So even though the Dodge 400 might have failed to catch our attention 30 years ago, it’s doing so now with great aplomb, as a car that is every-bit American... and then some.