The Dodge Aspen was a brand-new model in the Chrysler stable in 1976.
The Aspen debuted that year with its lookalike counterpart Plymouth Volare and both shared Chrysler’s compact car market for one year with the Plymouth Valiant and Dodge Dart before the aging Mopar models (Valiant/Dart) were dispatched to the annals of automotive history.
Jim Sutherland
The Aspen offered a fresher design when it debuted in 1976 and pushed the outdated Dart out the door, but its impact was still being felt many decades later when a young car guy named Ross Pomper bought his 1976 Dodge Aspen RT.
Ross was born many years after his ‘76 Aspen left the Dodge dealership, but he has always been a fan of 1970s iron, specifically vehicles built during the back nine of the Me Decade.
His dad was an auto tech during the 1970s and worked on many vehicles from that era. Ross told MyStarCollectorCar that his dad’s mechanical career shaped his opinion about vehicles, mainly because his father owned a 1977 Dodge ¾ ton truck that was very reliable over the years.
As a result, Ross searched for vehicles built during the back nine of the 1970s because he wanted a car with both style and reliability. He found his ’76 Aspen RT and decided it was the right car for him.
The car still has its factory 360 cubic inch small block V-8, an engine that delivers plenty of punch, even though it was built during an era when performance was being squeezed out of domestic cars. The 360 is hooked up to an automatic transmission that delivers the engine’s power to a beefy rear end that feeds both wheels.
The net result is a car that can still do burnouts, according to its young owner.
The Aspen also has a few added features, including power steering, power brakes with front discs and rear drums, along with a sunroof to let in extra light. The stylish Mopar rallye wheels were also a factory item, according to Ross.
Ross knows he is an unusual member of his generation because most of them have little interest in the retro car hobby and “don’t want to get their hands dirty”, in his words. However, he has a different philosophy and is a hands-on owner.
In fact, he needed to repair a power steering issue on his car the night before MyStarCollectorCar discovered Ross and his Aspen RT at a car show. His dad was involved in the process and has always been a mentor for Ross when it comes to mechanical matters.
Ross said his car is comfortable on the highway at 75 mph (120 km/h), so the ’76 Aspen still stays true to its RT (Road and Track) label almost 50 years later. He also mentioned the car is a daily driver to work whenever he has an opportunity to use it in that role.
The net result is a retro car with a new age owner who respects its heritage.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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