Fun, meet function. Today, let’s appreciate a vehicle that wears multiple hats. Just because an individual needs to tote family members (and their cargo) around doesn’t that mean he or she has to settle for a ho-hum minivan or crossover. How about opting for a versatile station wagon with a high-horsepower HEMI V8 under the hood instead?
The Pick of the Day is a 2008 Dodge Magnum HEMI R/T station wagon listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Seattle, Washington. (Click the link to view the listing)
“In fantastic shape, shockingly low miles,” the seller says. In all fairness, the 61,820 indicated miles are not necessarily shocking for a 2008, but they are low: That figure comes out to about 3,900 miles per year. And the car looks the part of a garage-kept example – its red metallic paint and gray leather upholstery are preserved, and the seller says the car split its time between Phoenix and Seattle since new. A tow hitch has been equipped for added versatility.
Based on the rear-wheel-drive Chrysler LX platform (which also underpinned the Chrysler 300, the Dodge Charger, and even the Mercedes-Benz W211 E-Class), the Magnum station wagon was introduced in 2005 and was sold for four model years. Dodge’s marketing materials used the tagline “Open it up from either end,” emphasizing the fact that the car offered both performance credentials as well as cargo-hauling capabilities. I enjoyed this lighthearted commercial with the Magnum giving a Lotus Esprit a run for its money.
Today’s featured station wagon comes from the final year for the model, which was unique in the sense that it received a one-year-only facelift along with an updated interior. The design language similarities between the Magnum and its sedan sibling, the Charger, became more evident than ever before. In November 2007, Chrysler published the announcement that the Magnum, PT Cruiser convertible, Crossfire, and Pacifica were being discontinued due to slow sales so this would be the final send-off.
“This sleek sled has had a pampered life,” the seller says. “Garaged and diligently maintained.” The car was reportedly ordered new by a female in her mid-70s and it is now being offered for sale by her son since she has passed away. The car’s HEMI 5.7-liter V8 remains unmodified, and the powerplant was originally rated by the manufacturer as producing 340 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque.
This Magnum is right in line with the Future Collector Car Show, especially since it comes from the final year for the model. Pick it up while you can! The asking price is $18,500.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, motor over to the archives at Pick of the Day.
